"Not until you learn and practice." Wulfsen said.

"I could still beat yer." Oscar knocked the smaller boy down.

Liam scowled and got to his feet. He glared at Oscar. "You don't be doing that once I've learned ta fight. Then I'll make ye sorry."

"Yer'll never make me sorry, yer runt." Oscar said and pushed Liam down again.

"Oscar!" Sileas exclaimed. "That is quite enough! One more move against Liam and you will be missing this meal," she stated.

Oscar bunched his bony hands into fists, considering it. "I've nicked food before."

He did not want to lose face in front of the other boy, but he had never gotten food that smelled as good as the scents wafting from the main building.

Sileas arched an eyebrow at Oscar. "Young men don't go around beating up people for no reason, especially when they are to be family."

"But I'm bloody well the chuffin' boss of 'im." Oscar argued.

"No, which ever knight he gets assigned to as page will be his boss. Liam has expressed his wishes for what he wants to do. And hitting someone does not make you the boss, it makes you a bully. A bully is never something to aspire to be. You should only fight when you absolutely have to, to defend your home, your family or your friends."

"I'm the boss because I'm bigger and stronger than 'im." Oscar insisted.

"If that is the qualifications, then I am your boss. And I am telling you, no more picking fights."

"Yer might be the boss of me but I'm still the bloody boss of 'im." Oscar was stiffening his shoulders.

"No, you aren't. And he'll be going with the knights and squires. You won't even be seeing him that much. And when you do, young man, you will be on your best of behaviors."

"I'm bloody well always the chuffin' best! Honest guv!" Oscar exclaimed.

"Then we will have to set about improving your behaviors. A young man does not act in such a manner."

"A bit of them do and worse. At least I didn't cut up 'is face wiv a broken bottle." Oscar made a violent motion in the air about level to his own face.

"Then a young gentleman doesn't act in such a manner. And just because others do doesn't make it right."

"I'm not a gentleman." Oscar said. "Can I go eat now?"

"No, not yet you're not a gentleman. Yes, let's go eat." Keeping Oscar in front of her, Sileas headed into the keep.

Lek stalked out into the Inner Bailey angry and confused. He spotted his cousins playing with Uncle Aron and lightened up a little. Aron would be the perfect person to talk to.

"Aron!" Lek called, running over to his uncle.

Aron looked up from playing with the little ones and smiled. "Hey Lek!"

"I need to talk to you about something." Lek said.

"Sounds serious. Let's go over here." He moved a few feet from the children so they couldn't overhear. But he wanted to make certain he could keep an eye on them.

Lek made up his mind not to tell Aron about what happened to Pinja, or that she was pregnant.

"You married Aunt Lia?" Lek realized that the question had an obvious answer after he said it. "I mean, she had Yehudit and you married her?"

"Of course. My heart was claimed by Lia and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. Yehudit was an innocent in what happened, and totally adorable. I couldn't help but fall in love with her too."