Dominic didn’t miss the way that the emotions in the King’s eyes shifted when he saw the empty spots in the front row where the third and fifth Princes should have been standing.
"As you must all be aware by now, tragedy has befallen Cygnia in the last twenty-four hours. Not only one, but two strong contenders for the position of Heir Apparent were killed by foreign forces.
We have traced the source of these attacks back to the King of Dagos, and his advisor, known as the Archmage. That provocation cannot go unanswered.
But first, there are commendations to be made and Ranks to be reassigned."
A group of Palace servants stepped forward, and placed boxes in the hands of the Royal Family members who had been attacked. Then the King cleared his throat, and began to speak again.
"There are additional subjects who are due special consideration for their roles in the battle, and those announcements for the Commoners will be released in the near future along with the awards.
However, there are three names that cannot be overlooked. Royal Guard Jerome, for your role in the protection of the fourth Prince, you shall be awarded the title of Baron, and a Barony Estate of your own.
Royal Guard Amelia, for your role in protecting the eighth Prince, your title shall be elevated to Countess, inheritable by your offspring.
And finally, Dominic Wavemates, Apprentice Smith at the Royal Forges. For your role in protecting the thirteenth Princess, you shall be awarded the title of Royal Sorcerer, and the privileges that come with it."
Dominic bowed in response, as the others had. But he was unclear what the title of Royal Sorcerer entitled him to. It sounded very fancy, but it was unlikely to amount to much when he got back to the forge in the morning.
Perhaps it came with a salary? Many of the titled residents among the Palace Staff got a lifelong salary. That would be quite the improvement in lifestyle, having two sources of income at once.
The King stood and left the room, and the guard beside Dominic turned to him with a smile.
"I will make sure that the staff knows to keep you abreast of all the mandatory and optional events within the Palace, Lord Sorcerer." He joked.
"Wait, there are mandatory events?"
The other Royal Guards all laughed. "Indeed. In fact, the same ones that we are obligated to attend as Noble employees of the Crown while we’re stationed in the Palace. We might not have inherited a title, but the Royal Guards still get the basic privileges of Noble Status. Attending functions, a clothing allowance from the Royal Tailor, an additional salary on top of our military ranks. Or, in your case, your trade rank.
You could also now marry a Lady of the Nobility without it being a stain on her honour, so be sure that you dress up well when you go out. Many of the Barons are struggling to get by with what their Barony produces, and sending a younger daughter to a Royal Smith with the Royal Sorcerer’s title would ensure her future."
One of the other guards smirked at Dominic. "And, if the city gets attacked again, you’ll be expected to fight alongside the Noble Officers, with rights to any loot you should obtain by your own might."
Dominic smiled, and the guards began to laugh.
"I thought that might get your approval. Royal Sorcerers are a bit like the Advisors, but with a lower position, unless you become someone’s personal Sorcerer. Perhaps one of the Princesses would like a cute bed warmer once you’re old enough." One of the Guards teased.
"I’m nearly twenty summers old. I’m just short. Wavemates Dragonkin grow slower and live longer than others." Dominic muttered.
"Oh, that’s unfortunate for you. By the time that you can be the handsome, slightly older Sorcerer in the eyes of the Nobles, the debutantes will be young enough to be your daughters.
Though, I hear that some of the Guards are into that." Someone behind Dominic’s shoulder joked, and he saw everyone’s head turn to one of the guards.
"Firstly, screw you. Secondly, it’s an arranged marriage, and she’s the only daughter, while I have no sisters." The accused guard, a man in his early forties, retorted.
The Guard beside Dominic, who had appointed himself as Dominic’s assistant for the evening, chuckled.
"He suggested that she marry one of the nephews, but they’re not in line to inherit the Barony, and her family didn’t approve. But I hear that she was quietly adamant that it had to be him and nobody else. No accounting for taste, I guess."
Dominic chuckled. "You haven’t seen what young ladies read in their spare time, have you? Older muscular, tattooed Royal Guardsman with a secret Noble title and a ’spare club’? That’s peak Romance novel right there."
The Royal Guards burst into laughter. "I did not expect you to know about such things. Who has been corrupting the Apprentices?"
Suddenly, arms were wrapped around Dominic’s shoulders, and the clang of armour on armour rang through the room.
"No corrupting the new Lord Sorcerer. We’ve all got work to do, and rewards to collect. Come along now." Princess Alexis insisted from right beside Dominic’s ear.
Dominic and the Guards fell in behind her, and they made their way up through the Royal wings of the Palace to the courtyard reserved for the secondary Royals. That was the children born of concubines, the offspring of the King’s siblings, and their families.
Most of them didn’t live there full-time, but tonight, everyone had been summoned back.
Princess Alexis stopped them as they entered the courtyard. "Prepare yourself for chaos. We had the largest attack, by far. And we only have a dozen survivors who all get a full share of the mana cores, with a smaller share to the enlisted and commoner workers who were part of the battle.
They have to speak the count out loud and verify it as they hand it over, and it’s going to cause some resentment among the other Royals and their Guards."
The other ten didn’t seem surprised by that, but Dominic thought it was a bit petty. Hadn’t they gone through hell for this reward?