As a child, he was pock-scarred and a bully, taunting and tormenting Pug ever since they are young. His father, Dick, had looked the other way whenever his son sprang a trap on Pug, and the orphan was always held responsible for any difficulty that arose. At his Choosing, he became apprentice to Horsemaster Algon. One Sixthday, while playing with a leather ball, Rulf was about to hit Tomas from behind when Pug ran onto the field and placed a foot before him; Rulf went down in a tangle of bodies, and Tomas broke free.