A Darkness at Sethanon Read Online Free PDF Page A

he realized that someone always had to
work. Someone had to prepare all the food being served today, and
someone had to clean up tonight. And he had to stand ready to serve
Arutha and Anita should they require it. Sighing to himself, he
considered again the responsibilities that seemed to find him no
matter where he hid.
    Locklear hummed
softly to himself while the heralds continued to take up position,
followed by members of Arutha’s Household Guard. The arrival of
Gardan, Knight-Marshal of Krondor, and Earl Volney, acting Principate
Chancellor, indicated the ceremonies were about to begin.
    The grey-haired
soldier, his black face set in an amused expression, nodded to the
portly Chancellor, then signalled to Master deLacy to begin. The
Master of Ceremonies’ staff struck the ground and the
trumpeters and drummers sounded ruffles and flourishes. The crowd
hushed as the Master of Ceremonies struck the ground again, and a
herald cried, “Hearken to me! Hearken to me! His Highness,
Arutha conDoin, Prince of Krondor, Lord of the Western Realm, Heir to
the throne of Rillanon.” The crowd cheered, though it was more
for form than out of any genuine enthusiasm. Arutha was the sort of
man who inspired deep respect and admiration, not affection, in the
populace.
    A tall, rangy,
dark-haired man entered, dressed in muted brown clothing of fine
weave, his shoulders covered with the red mantle of his office. He
paused, his brown eyes narrow, while the herald announced the
Princess. When the slender, red-headed Princess of Krondor joined her
husband, the merry glint in her green eyes caused him to smile, and
the crowd began to cheer in earnest. Here was their beloved Anita,
daughter of Arutha’s predecessor, Erland.
    While the actual
ceremony would be quickly over, the introduction of nobles took a
great deal longer. A cadre of palace nobles and guests was entitled
to public presentation. The first pair of these was announced. “Their
Graces, the Duke and Duchess of Salador.”
    A handsome,
blond man offered his arm to a dark-haired woman. Laurie, former
minstrel and traveller, now Duke of Salador and husband to Princess
Carline, escorted his beautiful wife to her brother’s side.
They had arrived in Krondor a week before, to see their nephews, and
would stay another week.
    On and on droned
the herald as other members of the nobility were introduced and,
finally, visiting dignitaries, including the Keshian Ambassador. Lord
Hazara-Khan entered with only four bodyguards, forgoing the usual
Keshian pomp. The Ambassador was dressed in the style of the desert
men of the Jal-Pur: cloth head cover that left only the eyes exposed,
long robe of indigo over white tunic and trousers tucked into
calf-high black boots. The bodyguards were garbed from head to toe in
black.
    Then deLacy
stepped forward and called, “Let the populace approach.”
Several hundred men and women of varying rank, from the poorest
beggar to the richest commoner, gathered below the steps of the
palace.
    Arutha spoke the
ritual words of the Presentation. “Today is the three hundred
tenth day of the second year of the reign of our Lord King, Lyam the
First. Today we present our sons.”
    DeLacy struck
his staff upon the ground and the herald cried out, “Their
Royal Highnesses, the Princes Borric and Erland.” The crowd
erupted into a near-frenzy of shouts and cheers as the twin sons of
Arutha and Anita, born a month before, were publicly presented for
the first time. The nurse selected to care for the boys came forward
and gave her charges over to their mother and father. Arutha took
Borric, named for his father, while Anita took her own father’s
namesake. Both babies endured the public showing with good grace,
though Erland showed signs of becoming fussy. The crowd continued to
cheer, even after Arutha and Anita had returned their sons to the
care of the nurse. Arutha graced those gathered below the steps with
another rare smile. “My sons are well and strong,