The knight

"Twelve shillings? Do I have twelve anywhere?" asks the auctioneer. Currently the bid rests with a brutish looking man who glares at you. You worry about what life might be like working for him, he looks violent. Suddenly the knight raises his arm and nods to the auctioneer. "Twelve!" says the auctioneer triumphantly. The violent looking man growls but doesn't seem to be able or willing to bid further. Despite further goading, the crowd seems tapped out and the knight is successful in his bid for you. He makes his way through the crowd and tosses a coin purse to the auctioneer "A pleasure doing business with you sir" he says as he covetously checks the contents. You see Hogarth beaming with greedy little eyes.

"With me boy" says your new owner. His voice is commanding but not cruel or aggressive. You quickly follow him as he strides away from the market place. You catch up and walk a few steps behind him. "What's your name boy?" he asks.
"Eric" you reply.
"When you address a knight, you call him 'sir'" he snaps.
"Sorry, sir" you stutter.
The knight nods approvingly. "Good. I am Sir Ulfric. If you learn your place and serve me well, you'll find me to be a gracious master. Cross me and you'll quickly wish you hadn't, understand?"
"Yes sir" you respond. "Am I to be your squire?" you ask.
Ulfric laughs "You're a little old to begin training as a squire and a commoner besides. You'll do all the tasks usually left to them though, if that's what you're asking. Your job is to keep my equipment in good condition, tend my horse, arrange my lodgings and anything else I order" he says.
"Yes sir" you say, despite him not actually asking a question.

Something about his demeanour was commanding, his every word was an order and not one you'd ignore. But there was true nobility to him, not the brutish condescension that many nobles met out against the peasantry, commanding fear rather than respect.

As you walk along with Ulfric, you find yourself looking him over. A large travelling cloak covers most of him, obscuring the details of his body, but you can tell he's powerfully built. His shoulders and chest are broad and his arms are thick and muscular. He walks upright and confidently and walking alongside him makes you feel a little more confident. You estimate he's in his mid 30, but the years have been kind, giving him a good balance of youthful energy and maturity. The people milling around the market move aside as he approaches, letting you both pass. It's strange to suddenly feel so important.

Eventually, you arrive at the stables where your masters horse is stabled. Ulfric reaches into the saddle bags, retrieves another coin purse and hands it to you. From the weight of it, it must contain a considerable amount of coin. "Go and secure lodgings for me. I require a private room. The Lord's Arms in the upper merchant district should suffice, I will be along after I attend to some other business." he tells you.

Hefting the coin purse in your hand, the thought crosses your mind that you could make a run for it. You certainly have enough coin to make it to the other end of Briton, but could you really betray Ulfric's trust like that?