4 The Fortress
Robert woke up the next day, feeling good he tried getting up and as no pain drove tears into his eyes he stood up.
Without waiting for his maidservant, he opened the trunk that was placed before his bed.
Opening he could see some fresh clothes plain but to his taste. As he put them on, he started searching for his boots which were placed by the side of the door.
Finished, he slowly opened the door, as outside was still dark he couldn't see much through the small windows in his chamber the only light source was a small candle on the night stand.
Making his way through the door in one hand the candle and with the other following the wall.
What greeted him was a small corridor which lead to a staircase who winded itself up and down.
After weighing the two paths he made his way down, the staircase so narrow that only 1 person could climb it at a time Robert thought to himself that this should be the keep of the castle, as it was the only place he knew where the noble family lived and where staircases this narrow where usual.
Reaching the ground floor, Robert could hear noises in the distance and as his stomach started rumbling, he made its way in the direction, passing corridor after corridor he arrived before a closed door where light shone through the gaps.
Opening the door a cacophony of noises assaulted his ears, pots hitting each other, fire crackling, laughter of the people, as the gathered staff members looked who was the newcomer all noise suddenly vanished. Everyone bowing respectfully in his direction and greeting him.
"Young Master Robert."
An old woman with wrinkled face made its way from the cooking place before Robert.
"Young Master, what are doing up so early? And why did you come to the kitchen? This is not very appropriate; this is the place for the servants. Where is Lisa that good for nothing is she slacking off again?"
The last part the old woman asked more to herself than Robert.
"Don't mind me Granny, I'm just here to grab something to eat as I'm starving right now you all just continue what you were doing."
Robert grabbed a sausage and bread that lay on the countertop, turning around and leaving through the door he came in from.
The gathered servants gaped in shock, the overbearing and bullying young master just so ignored their misconduct and he even called the head of the kitchen "Granny".
"What are you all waiting for? Continue your task, the young master is hungry today so you should put in your all."
The "Granny" said still looking at the departing Robert.
As Robert wanted to look around the castle mainly to know how powerful his family truly was, he got lost a few times in the endless corridors, one time arriving in an empty grand hall, then standing before a privy, but soon he found a small side door which led outside.
Standing in an inner courtyard what surrounded him where high stone walls, on the back of the complex he just came out off he could faintly see the Tower of the Keep where he came from.
Looking imposing from the distance and towering over everything in its reach.
Looking around, he estimated that the inner court was roughly 400 square meter wide surrounded by walls and only opened in one direction where a gate with portcullis and closed portals could be seen.
In one direction he could hear and smell horses, giving the size of the court, some 150 horses should easily fit in here to line up. So, the stables would have to house at least 300 horses.
Robert was impressed the sheer size and cost was astronomic not only for the upkeep of the animals. Every 2 animals were normally attributed to 1 knight and if Robert assumptions were right at least 150 Knights where present here. And that was not respecting the entourage of a knight, the man at arms, a squire and all other accompanying him. A simple knight with the right to assemble men could easily gather 300 men and respectively these men were not greenhorns. They were battle hardened veterans and ruthless.
On the high walls Robert could see shadows and slowly the sun began to rise, it was dawn.
"This is no family castle" he said to himself.
"This is a fortress heavily guarded and armed to the teeth. With a massive force backing it. Seems like before anything else I will have to do some studying and get a general understanding of the situation."
The door behind him opened, the Maid Lisa came to his side.
"Young Master, breakfast is ready Lord Governor and your sisters are waiting for you."
"Of course, please lead the way Lisa."
Being called by name the young girl blushed, but quickly regained her wits and guided Robert to the grand hall he stumbled upon before. But now this place was brightly lit, coal pans warmed the room, and the before empty hall had now a long table in its middle.
Sitting at that table where his Father now in coarse clothes instead of armor, his sister Maria that he knew already and then 2 other girls, twins as far as Robert could tell, 6 to 7 years old with braided golden locks.
"Son"
"Brother"
The family greeted him.
"It is rare for you to accompany us for breakfast, isn't it the time for your "beauty" sleep?"
The father asked.
The little girls started giggling.
"Big brother is lazy." The twins said simultaneously.
"I just got hungry early today." Robert retorted.
"And a glutton." the girls continued giggling.
Robert started laughing with the little girl's while warmth filled his heart.
"They sure are teasing me these little devils." he thought to himself.
"Are you all better now? Your "injury" healed yet?" The Father asked.
"I'm as good as knew. But father tell me where is mother?"
His father's expression turned dark.
"Your mother is not feeling so well she wants to stay in her chambers."
"Daddy is a liar; daddy is a liar." The girls teased.
"Mommy and Daddy had a big argument yesterday; Mommy doesn't want Big Brother to work on the fields, but daddy didn't compromise. So, Mommy won't talk to him anymore."
One of the twins said and continued with her breakfast.
"Oh, well that's awkward" Robert said.
"But I don't really mind the punishment, its fine with me."
After saying that the people on the table started coughing and looking at Robert as if he were an alien.
"Is this a ploy?" the gathered family thought to themselves but looking at Roberts kind and naive face it shouldn't be.
"And father I would like to go to the study to read if that is ok with you." Robert said
What followed was another coughing fit of the gathered people nearly choking on their food.
They were dumbfounded,
"Could Robert even read? And since when was he so active?"
"You may do as you see fit" the father said
"As long as you don't spread any chaos you are more than welcome."
"Thank you, father." Robert smiled
"And now you two make place for me I'm hungry!" he said to his sisters planning to sit between them on the bench."
"But you are so big." the little girls teased as they yielded a place to him.
