Chapters 5-7 Summary

Richard St. Vier goes up to the Hill to collect his payment for the fight with Lynch and de Maris. Afterward, he stops into a nice bookshop, and requests the most common textbook for University students, as a gift for Alec. When he comes out of the shop, Michael Godwin recognizes him, and asks Richard if he will train him as a swordsman. Richard answers that he does not teach. When Richard gets home, he gives the book to Alec, who is not pleased with the gift. When Alec sees the royal quality of the book, he is horrified that Richard has bought him a priceless book, and tells Richard that it is unnecessary.

Since Michael still wants to train with the sword, he finds a school run by an aging swordsman named Vincent Applethorpe. Although Applethorpe is skilled, he has...