Do You believe in fate?

The beginning of a friendship

It was not long after that christmas that Lord Owley was transferred to our team. He was three months behind us, and had to work extra to catch up with us. For the first few days, the whole team ignored him beyond courtesy, he was a Lord after all.

But as Liam had said, Owley was just like me a hard worker and we began to secretly be impressed with him.

After living the same lifestyle as the rest of the nobles for a few days, he followed me one morning over to the canteen. He lined up behind me and sat down next to me at the table. For the first time since he transferred, I looked directly at him,

"That's Liam's seat!" I said, pointing at his seat with my spoon. He looked at me in surprise,

"Have you been allocated permanent seats?" He looked around, we were early in and there were not many at the tables yet, but we could see the others from our team in the foodline. It did not escape Owley's attention that the others looked at him curiously and several frowned.

"No," I replied with a shake of my head before pulling on one shoulder. "That's how we just always sit!"

Owley nodded and looked at the other chairs.

"Which chair is free?" I looked up just as Liam came down towards the table. He grabbed a free chair from one of the other tables and set it at the end of the table on my other side. Owley began to get up and take his tray with him. But Liam shook his head and put his tray at the end of the table.

"Sit down my Lord," Liam sat down and laughed, "I always wanted to sit at the end of the table with a Lord seated!" The others looked curiously at Owley who just sat down and laughed.

"Well then I should like to fulfill their dream, sir!" The others also laughed and began to sit in their usual seats.

"They are alright for a nobility!" Declared Liam before he started shoveling food in.

"But seriously," Owley said, "where can I sit from the next meal?" Liam looked up from his food, first at Owley then at me. I just shrugged, I had no idea why a future Duke had chosen to eat with us and not the other privileged.

"Wouldn't they rather eat in the dining hall?" I mumbled as I looked askance to see his face. He grimaced and shook his head.

"Otherwise, thank you, there's a reason I never live in the capital! I can do without the kind of civilization that accompanies the other nobles!" Liam shrugged,

"I guess I could live with it, especially when I think about the food you get in there!" One of the others said, but Owley just shrugged,

"It's not that bad here, although the porridge might need some butter!" Which made everyone at the table laugh. Owley looked at us in surprise and I nodded towards the kitchen.

"For a few coins you can get a whole glass!" Owley looked down at his porridge before getting up and going to the kitchen. Shortly after, he returned with a glass that he put on the table after taking a lump himself.

"Just take it, do not let it go to waste!" The glass was grabbed while everyone mumbled a thank you.

As I got up to go, Owley also got up and followed me out and towards our barracks.

"Is there anything I can do for them?" I dared to ask, without looking at Owley.

"Yes, actually there is!" I stopped and now looked directly at Owley.

"I've noticed you the last few days, you know more than you show!" I failed to cover my feelings, I did not care that he had kept an eye on me.

"Don't look at me like that," Owley waved a hand in front of me, as if it were nothing, but I shook my head.

"Help them Lord?" Owley sighed deeply,

"My name is Maxwell, but just call me Max!" I shook my head in rejection. I was the son of a first foodmen, I did not call a future Duke by his first name and then not an abbreviation of that at all! Owely shook his head.

"If that's the way you want it, but is it not much easier to correct someone if you are not forced to address them with Lord every time?" I frowned, confused.

"What can I do to help them?" Owley nodded and started walking towards our barracks again.

"As I said, you know more than you show, I need help with the work if I am to catch up with rest of you!" I shook my head.

"They are not that so much behind Lord, I'm sure they can handle it alone!" Owley laughed and patted me on the back.

"They're an intelligent man! Believe me, I know, they know it's far better to be friends with me than enemy!" I sighed and locked myself into my room, and to my surprise Owley followed unsolicited.

He was standing in the middle of my room, which I was sure was similar to his own.

"It looks like mine, but I do not have nearly as many books!" he mumbled, as if he had read my thoughts, and picked up a book.

"Where did they get this from? I have be looking for it!" I went and took the book from him, it was from the Earl's library. I handed it back.

"From the Earl of Marbel Manor! I borrowed it when I was home for Christmas."

Owley whistled softly.

"Do you think I could borrow it?" I nodded,

"I'm sure the Earl will be honored that they find his library special and would like to borrow from his books!" Owely looked at me, then he narrowed his eyes a bit.

"Are they always so humble and modest?" I shook my head laughing,

"How do they think I knew about the butter? They were not the first to bring butter to the whole table!" Owley laughed out loud.

"I like that they know things, and are not afraid to be different ... but do not try to be anything other than what they are!" I wanted to contradict him, but he continued.

"I did not say that there was anything wrong with being humble and modest, for there is not, but I will always prefer that they be honest with me!" I straightened my back in surprise.

"Do they think I lied to them?" I could well hear myself how my tone became angry, but who did the Duke think he was? (A rather superfluous question!) Owely shook his head.

"Not at all, but they know they're smart, yet they hold them back during class so they do not seem so much better than their peers!" I sighed and sat down on my bed, leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees and put my head in my hands.

"Would they believe me if I said it's the first time I have friends?" Owley came over and sat down next to me.

"Yes, and will they believe me when I tell them I only have one true friend in the whole world?" I raised my head and looked at him in disbelief, but he nodded seriously.

"Eighteen years on this earth, and only one friend whose little sister I'm going to marry when I finish this academy, which will make my friend my brother!" I sighed, we were a little pathetic.

"Listen, I want your help, but after this, I'd rather have your friendship!" Owley held out his right hand to me.

"What do you say, friends?" I nodded and took his hand.

"Friends!" Owley smiled big.

"Good, and then remember to call me Max, that's what all my friends do!" He said as he got up from my bed, took the book and started walking out into the hallway.

"What are all your friends, I just thought you had that one?" Owley turned in the door.

"You were right here did you not follow? Now I have two!" he said, winking at me.

I sighed and laughed as I got out of bed, grabbed my folder of paper and writing utensils before following him out into the hallway.

I guess I had better start calling him Max then!