Rose Victory - Eagle Series Read Online Free PDF

bowed, his eyes on the ground.
    “Do you have somewhere to go?   Is there someone you can go to?”
    “I can take care of myself, sir.”  The slight tremble in the boy’s voice did not stop him from straightening his shoulders and looking up directly at Roydon.
    He saw pain and despair in Ivan’s eyes, but also pride and determination awash in tears that he refused to shed.  He could see Sir Marcus’ strength of character and purpose in the boy, and his pride Roydon knew, would not allow him to accept charity.
    “I have a problem,” he stated in a neutral voice.  “Your father had agreed to accompany me to Eagle Rock as a household knight to my father.”
    The boy nodded, biting his lip in an attempt to stop the tears.  “We…we were looking forward to it, Sir Roydon.”
    Roydon turned a blind eye to the boy’s struggle, his voice brisk and impatient he continued.  “I have already made arrangements and now I find myself a man short.”
    Ivan bowed his head again.  “I am sorry, sir,” his voice a mere whisper, he apologised for what he could never have prevented.
    The knight smiled at the boy’s bowed head.  “But if you are prepared to honour your father’s word.  I would be willing to wait a few years until you are knighted.”  Quickly he wiped the smile from his face before Ivan looked up at him.
    “Sir?”  For a moment a tenta tive ray of hope sparkled in Ivan’s eyes as he looked up at his father’s commander; at the leader of the king’s army.   Then it disappeared, “I have no sponsor, sir.  No one to teach me, now that my father is…gone.”
    “Hmm … You have a point there, but maybe we could help each other out.  My servant is overworked because I do not have a squire,” he improvised on the spur of the moment.  “If you were to fill the position you would be helping me out.”
    The boy’s face under went a transformation, from abject despair to hopeful joy.  But before he could say anything, Roydon held up his hand the expression on his face now completely serious.  “Think and be sure before you commit yourself.  Training for knighthood is not easy and I am a hard task master.  I will demand all you can give and then I will ask for more.  I will accept nothing less than complete obedience and unstinting loyalty.”
    Ivan looked him in the eye then, his expression equally serious and sober, especially for a nine year old.  “My father trusted you, sir.  I can do no less,” he said in a surprisingly grownup voice and there in the middle of the noisy camp the boy knelt.  “I offer you my service, Sir Roydon.”
    Roydon did not think he would ever forget the look of complete trust and gratitude he had seen in Ivan’s eyes that day.
    And this morning he had abused that trust.  Ivan had lived up to his word.  No task had ever been too hard or too menial, he always tried his best.  Looking at the dark haired boy now, Roydon felt a spurt of affection as he acknowledged that the young scamp had wormed his way into his heart.  This was not to say that the boy did not need to grow a thicker skin and learn to take his moods and temper in stride.  “Ivan!” he called sharply.
    The boy jumped up startled, the dull practice sword that had been resting on his lap, fell to the ground at his feet.  “Your pardon, my lord!  I did not see you.”  Nervously he glanced up at Roydon’s face, uncertain of his mood and then lowered his eyes to the ground.  “Is there something I can do for you, sir?”
    “Look at me for a start; I did not take you for a coward.”
    “I am no coward, my lord!”  Ivan’s cobalt blue eyes fairly bristled with anger as he stared at Roydon.
    “So I see,” the earl nodded .  “So why the doldrums?” he asked pointing at the bench.
    “I have displeased you, my lord.”  The boy spoke softly but he did not glance away.  “And I don’t know how or why.”
    “You have not displeased me, Ivan, far from it.”  Roydon leaned