Childe Morgan Read Online Free PDF Page B

through the hall and then a gradual quieting. Simultaneously, those milling in the center of the hall began to drift to the sides, clearing a center aisle and also the space directly before the dais. Being already withdrawn into a far window embrasure, Alyce and her Lendour party had only to turn their attention toward the dais where, very shortly, a chamberlain came forth with his staff of office and rapped smartly on the oak floor of the dais.
    â€œMy lords and ladies, pray, attend.”
    The royal family began to enter and assemble in their appointed places, not down the center aisle, because of the inclement weather, but directly from the doorway to the left of the dais, which led to the withdrawing room behind.
    First came the younger royal children and their attendants, followed by the queen’s ladies and the king’s household, including Sir Jiri Redfearn, Kenneth, and several of the king’s other ministers of state. As the king and queen appeared, attended by Prince Brion in page’s livery, the chamberlain again rapped with his staff of office and announced, “Their Majesties: Donal Blaine Aidan Cinhil Haldane, King of Gwynedd and Lord of the Purple March, and Richeldis his queen, and also His Royal Highness the Prince Brion, Prince of Meara.”
    The royal couple proceeded to their thrones, but did not yet sit. Prince Brion stood attendance on his mother. The two Archbishops MacCartney followed close behind—Desmond of Rhemuth and William of Valoret, both of them coped and mitred appropriate to the season—and were shown to chairs of state to the right side of the dais. Before taking their seats, Archbishop William blessed the assembled company, “In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, Amen.”
    Court began with the usual business peculiar to Twelfth Night Courts, with the king receiving a dozen new pages into royal service and promoting several senior pages to squire. Prince Brion was among the latter, having turned twelve the previous June, and proudly knelt before his father with three others to pledge his ongoing fidelity.
    After each of the new squires had received a pair of blued-steel spurs and a dagger from the king’s own hand, they exchanged their simple pages’ tabards for the more elegant scarlet tunics of royal squires, with the king’s cipher embroidered on the left breast. Prince Brion was the first of the four to be so invested, and stood thereafter at his father’s elbow as duty squire for the remainder of the afternoon. Last of those received as squire that afternoon, separate from the first four, was Jamyl Arilan, nephew of one of Donal’s council lords, who previously had trained as page and squire at the court of Illann King of Llannedd, brother to Queen Richeldis.
    â€œMaster Jamyl, you are most welcome,” Richeldis said to him, as she helped him don the scarlet tunic of a Haldane squire. “My brother speaks highly of you. I wonder that he was willing to give you up.”
    Jamyl smiled, a poised and confident young man of fifteen, and handsome as his uncle must have been in his youth.
    â€œThe king your brother is a man not easily parted from what he wants, my lady, as well you know,” Jamyl replied, “but the king your husband can be very persuasive. And I am given to understand that my lord uncle also pled my cause.” He nodded to Seisyll Arilan, standing behind and at the king’s right hand. “I am honored now to be the second Arilan serving the Crown of Gwynedd.”
    Richeldis inclined her head in acknowledgment of the gracious reply, and glanced at Seisyll, proudly watching.
    â€œWe thank you for your efforts, my Lord Seisyll,” she said. “I am certain that this new squire will be an asset to our court.”
    â€œThat is my fondest wish, Majesty,” he replied with a bow.
    Next on the agenda was the dubbing of the season’s new knights, some come from far afield to