was. There was a desk by a window that offered a lovely view of the harbour, a single ancient tapestry hanging on one wall, a small table with a pitcher and goblets on it, and a single chair at the desk. In the chair sat the King.
Hal bowed and the King rose, extending his hand. Hal gripped it and looked into King Gregory’s face. He was shocked.
In the few months since he had been presented at court, the King’s health had obviously declined. He was thinner, his complexion gone sallow, and his hair hanging lifelessly to his shoulders.
‘My boy,’ said the King. ‘We fear we bear grave tidings and wished to be the one to tell you.’
Fearing the worst, Hal said, ‘What is it, sire?’
‘Word has reached us from Krondor that your father was taken in battle. You are now Duke of Crydee, Henry.’
Hal was too stunned to speak.
The Princess, Ty, and Gabriella comforted Hal as best they could. While they waited for the summons to the royal dinner Hal recounted his boyhood in Crydee and the good times he remembered with his father, mother, and two younger brothers.
At one point he looked at the ring on his finger and said, ‘This will go to my eldest son one day.’
‘Your father’s signet?’ asked the Princess. ‘You will take that?’
‘It will be buried with him as is traditional, and a new one will be forged for me. My brothers will then give me theirs and will receive rings for whatever offices the Crown sees fit for them.’ He sighed and sat back. They were in the little garden next to the Princess’s chamber sipping iced drinks of fruit juice and white wine as the afternoon heat was falling away. ‘I knew this day would come, eventually, but to come so soon and … unexpected.’
Stephane took his hand and gripped it for a moment.
Trying to lighten the mood, Hal said, ‘Ty, why don’t you come to Crydee? You’d be the greatest swordmaster in history.’
‘You’re drunk,’ said the young man from Olasko. ‘Or you should be.’
‘Maybe later,’ said Hal. ‘I do not want to embarrass myself before the King in my first official act as Duke of Crydee. What about it? Care to train farm boys how to be soldiers?’
Ty laughed. ‘I don’t think I’m cut out for that life, Your Grace.’
Hal held up his hand. ‘Not yet, please.’
‘I’m an eastern lad, Hal. I love the cities and the dining, the gambling and …’ he looked at Gabriella, ‘the ladies too much.’
She fixed him with a slightly disapproving eye.
Hal went on, ‘Assuming there’s a Crydee to return to. The reports forwarded to me are not good. A great deal hinges on what sort of peace the King can arrange with the Emperor. I may be a duke without a duchy.’
‘I’m sure something good will come out of all this,’ said the Princess.
Gabriella smiled. ‘Her Highness has always had a far more cheery outlook on how life works than most.’
‘Not a bad way to be,’ conceded Ty. ‘Many get worn down by worry and fretting over things we cannot control.’
‘But you have to be prepared for all eventualities,’ said Hal, ‘including the most dire.’
‘Which is why you’ll make a wonderful duke and I will not,’ said Ty, lifting his glass.
A page arrived and announced the reception would be underway soon. Hal and Ty excused themselves to retire to their quarters and when they reached them, found that sumptuous court raiment had been laid out for them.
Hal was given a russet tunic with the ducal crest of Crydee over the heart, a golden seagull in flight, black leggings and boots adorned with what appeared to be real gold buckles. A finely-made chain sword-belt with a scabbard covered in matching russet velvet set with a line of black opal surrounded in gold completed the outfit. ‘Gods, what this must have cost!’ he said examining the clothing.
Ty was equally impressed with a powder blue tunic with a small insignia denoting the earldom where his father was reputedly a squire; a fiction created by the Conclave of Shadows for his father when he served them, but as far as the Kingdom’s heraldic office was concerned, young Ty was entitled to the rank of squire, even if they had no idea where he was from, or to whose service he was pledged. White hose and black boots and a silver chain sword-belt with a gold-topped scabbard in dark blue velvet studded with three diamonds completed his regalia.
Hal looked at it and said, ‘I see your title of Champion of the Masters’ Court won you the better scabbard.’
Dryly, Ty said, ‘Yes, Your Grace,’ as he began to change. That earned him a pillow thrown at his head. ‘Better get used to it, Hal. You’ll hear it a lot tonight.’
Hal was silent for a moment, thinking of his family, then he began to dress.
They entered the vast hall and a squire showed Ty to his place at a lower table, as befitted his rank, and then escorted Hal to his place at the King’s table. He found himself standing next to Lord Chadwick who quietly said, ‘Sorry to hear about your father, lad. He was a very good man.’
Between Chadwick and the empty chair next to the throne where the King would dine stood two other men who nodded politely. Hal recognized them as Lawrence of Salador and Geoffrey of Bas-Tyra. He returned their greetings and they waited until at last the Master of Ceremonies announced the King.
The King entered with his queen on his arm, and Hal was struck by the contrast. The Queen was a beauty to rival Princess Stephane, yet there was something about her that was … empty. She smiled and nodded to various members of the court, her behaviour bordering on the flirtatious, and Hal wondered if some of the rumours about her that had reached Crydee before he left were true. However, the rumours were immaterial as she had still not given the King a son, so questions of paternity were moot. And from what he had seen of the King’s deteriorating condition, it appeared unlikely there would be one.
Behind them came James, Duke of Rillanon, perhaps the single most powerful noble in the Kingdom. Behind him walked two other men, one whom Hal recognized instantly as Sir William Alcorn, and the other he reckoned must be Montgomery, Earl of Rillanon, the Duke’s second-in-command. Suddenly Hal began to understand what a dog-fight would erupt over power if this king died without naming an heir. The only other player who would matter was Prince Oliver of Simrick, who was absent. Hal felt his stomach tighten as he realized he would be concerned with none of this had his father lived.
Once the King was in his place, he waved for the assembled guests to sit. ‘My lords, ladies, and gentlemen, our first duty tonight is a sad one.’ He motioned for Hal to come and stand on the other side of the table, which the young lord from Crydee did at once. ‘I present to you Henry of Crydee, now Duke, upon the death of his father also named Henry, our most loyal servant in the west, and our beloved cousin.’ He motioned and a page brought over a cushion upon which sat a golden signet ring. ‘As is custom, the late duke will be buried with his signet and I have taken it upon myself to present the young duke with this new one, as a token of affection for my beloved cousin. Kneel.’
Feeling a little awkward, Hal did as ordered. The King stood up then declared, ‘Rise Harold, Duke of Crydee.’
There was a smattering of polite applause in the room and Hal received the new signet from the page. He felt the weight and realized it wasn’t gold over bronze as his father’s ring had been, but rather made of solid gold. He put his old signet in his belt purse, against the day he had a son to whom to give it, slipped on the new ring and found it a good fit.
As he came back to his chair and sat, Duke Chadwick leaned over and said, ‘That was a bit of an odd play, don’t you think?’
‘The table certainly made it awkward.’
‘No, not that. He could have waited until court tomorrow to invest you, but he chose to do it here, before all the members of Congress. He might has well have gone out to the archery range and fetched back a target to affix to your back, boy.’
Hal was still coping with the gravity of his new title and missed the point. ‘What? I’m sorry, I don’t …’
‘He named you cousin, before every lord in the palace. He’s tossed you in with me, Oliver, and Montgomery.’
