Princess Elena stood at her mothers side. She looked a fair compromise between her parents, having red-brown hair and fair skin from her mother but her fathers dark and intelligent eyes. Those who knew the royal family well often observed that if Borric and Erland resembled their uncle, the King, then Elena resembled her aunt, the Baroness Carline of Salador. And Arutha had observed on more than one occasion she had Carlines renowned temper.
Prince Nicholas, Arutha and Anitas youngest child, had avoided the need to stand next to his sister, by hiding from his fathers sight. He stood behind his mothers throne, beyond his fathers gaze, on the first step off the dais. The door to the royal apartments was hidden from the eyes of those in the hall, down three steps, where, in years past, all four children had played the game of huddling on the first step, listening to their father conduct court, enjoying the delicious feeling of eavesdropping. Nicky waited for the arrival of his two brothers.
Anita glanced about with that sudden sense mothers have that one of their children is somewhere he shouldnt be. She spied Nicholas waiting down by the door, and motioned him to stand close. Nicky had idolized Borric and Erland, despite them having little time for the boy and constantly teasing him. They just couldnt find much in common with their youngest sibling, since he was twelve years younger.
Prince Nicholas hobbled up the three broad steps and moved to his mothers side and, as it had every day since his birth, Anitas heart broke. The boy had a deformed foot, and neither surgeons ministrations nor priests spell had any effect, save to enable him to walk. Unwilling to hold up the deformed baby to public scrutiny, Arutha had ignored custom and refused to show the boy at the Presentation, the holiday in honour of a royal childs first public appearance, a tradition that may have died with Nicholass birth.
Nicky turned when he heard the door open, and Erland peered through. The youngest Prince grinned at his brothers as they gingerly slipped through the door. Nicky scrambled down the three steps with his canted gait to intercept them, and gave each a hug. Erland visibly winced and Borric bestowed an absent pat on the shoulder.
Nicky followed the twins as they slowly mounted the stairs behind the thrones, coming to stand behind their sister. She glanced over her shoulder long enough to stick out her tongue and cross her eyes, causing all three brothers to force themselves not to laugh. They knew no one else in court could see her fleeting pantomime. The twins had a long history of tormenting their little sister, who gave back as good as she got. She would think nothing of embarrassing them in the Kings own court.
Arutha, sensing some exchange between his children, glanced over and gifted his four offspring with a quick frown, enough to silence any potential mirth. His gaze lingered on his elder sons and showed his anger in full measure, though only those close to him would recognize it as such. Then his attention was back upon the matter before the court. A minor noble was being advanced into a new office, and while the four royal children might not find it worthy of much dignity, the man would count this among one of the high points of his life. Arutha had tried to impress such awareness upon them over the years but continuously failed.
Overseeing the Princes court was Lord Gardan, Duke of Krondor. The old soldier had served with Arutha, and his father before him, thirty years and more. His dark skin stood in stark contrast to his beard, almost white in colour, but he still had the alert eyes of one whose mind had lost none of its edge and a ready smile for the royal children. A commoner by birth, Gardan had risen on his ability, and despite an often expressed desire to retire and return to his home in Far Crydee, he had remained in Aruthas service, first as Sergeant in the garrison at Crydee, then Captain of the Princes Royal Household, then Knight-Marshal of Krondor. When the previous Duke of Krondor, Lord Volney, had died unexpectedly after seven years loyal service in his office, Arutha had awarded the office to Gardan. Despite the old soldiers protestations of not being suited to the nobility, he had proven an able administrator as well as a gifted soldier.
Gardan finished intoning the mans new rank and privileges and Arutha preferred a terribly oversized parchment with ribbons and seals embossed upon it.
The man took his award of office and retired to the crowd, to the hushed congratulations of others in court.
Gardan nodded to the Master of Ceremonies, Jerome by name, and the thin man brought himself to his full height. Once a boyhood rival of Baron James, the office suited Jeromes self-important nature. He was, by all accounts, a thorough bore and his preoccupation with trivia made him a natural for the post. His love of detail manifested itself in the exquisite stitching of his cloak of office and the pointed chin beard he spent hours in trimming. In pompous tones, he spoke: If it pleases Your Highness, His Excellency, Lord Torum Sie, Ambassador from the Royal court of Great Kesh.
The Ambassador, who had been standing off to one side, conferring with his advisors, approached the dais and bowed. By his attire, it was clear he was of the true Keshian people, for his head was shaved. His scarlet coat was cut away, revealing a pair of yellow pantaloons and white slippers. His chest was bare in the Keshian fashion, a large golden torque of office decorating his neck. Each item of clothing was delicately finished in almost imperceptible needlework, with tiny jewels and pearls decorating each seam. The effect was as if he was bathed in shimmering sparkles as he moved. He was easily the most splendid figure in court.
Highness, he said, his speech tinged by a slight singsong accent. Our Mistress, Lakeisha, She Who Is Kesh, inquires as to the health of Their Highnesses.
Convey our warmest regards to the Empress, responded Arutha, and tell her we are well.
With pleasure, the Ambassador answered. Now, I must beg of His Highness an answer to the invitation sent by my mistress. The seventy-fifth anniversary of Her Magnificences birth is an event of unsurpassed joy to the Empire. We will host a Jubilee that will be celebrated for two months. Will Your Highnesses be joining us?
Already the King had sent his apologies, as had the ruler of every neighbouring sovereignty from Queg to the Easter Kingdoms. While there had been peace between the Empire and her neighbours for an unusually long time eleven years since the last major border clash no ruler was foolish enough to come within the borders of the most feared nation upon Midkemia. Those rejections were considered proper. The invitation to the Prince and Princess of Krondor was another matter.
The Western Realm of the Kingdom of the Isles was almost a nation unto itself, with the responsibility for rulership given to the Prince of Krondor. Only the broadest policy came from the Kings court in Rillanon. And it was Arutha, as often as not, who had been the one to deal with Keshs Ambassadors, for the majority of potential conflict between Kesh and the Kingdom was along the Western Realms southern border.
Arutha looked at his wife, and then the Ambassador. We regret that the press of official duty prevents us from undertaking so long a journey, Your Excellency.
The Ambassadors expression didnt change, but a slight hardening around the eyes indicated the Keshian considered the rejection close to an insult. That is regrettable, Highness. My mistress did so consider your presence vital a gesture of friendship and goodwill.