10th of
Jenslu’s Moon, 1195
The blizzard was in full force outside. No one was on the
gates for no one with any sense would be roaming in white-out conditions. In
the private solar, Queen Gaelynn, her husband, Duke Ranulf, their one-year old twin
sons Gawain and Gilbert along with her children from her previous marriage to
King Arken I: six year old Arken II, and
two year old twins Prince Rivolyn and Princess Ranaia lounged in comfort by a
roaring fire. Gaelynn’s brother, Sir Christopher of the Silver Serpents had
made a rare journey from Foxwarre to visit.
Chris and Ranulf were enjoying a bottle of vorane while
Gaelynn sipped on a nice white wine. Her ever present Lady, and fast friend,
Beatrice of Wymerth, worked on a piece of embroidery. After the death of Arken,
Beatrice had become a permanent member of Gaelynn’s household and had taken the
place of Sophie, who was now happily married to Sir Edward of Faucione, and
head of her own household.
“Ranulf, you have been promising to tell me how the
practice of heraldry started. We’re a captive audience.” Gaelynn begged her
husband.
“Now, Gael, you don’t want to hear that boring old story.” her husband replied as he moved a knight on the chess board.
She fixed her gaze on her husband “Don’t make me get on
my knees and truly beg, my love. You know how I love history.”
He sighed “See, Chris, what I do for my wife?”
Gaelynn's brother studied the game board, looking for a way to avoid loosing. Ranulf had managed to set-up a win and one more move would have his Queen. “Don’t have to tell me, Ranulf. Remember, I grew up with
her! She’s settled down from the wild girl I remember.” He let out a growl and moved his High Priest.
Gaelynn threw a pillow at her brother.
“Hey, watch it, sis. You almost knocked over the vorane!”
Ranulf immediately pounced, "Check-mate. I think we should put chess away and get out the dice or cards."
"Are you kidding? My pouch is light enough as it is without you relieving me of the few coins I do have. No thanks, brother, I'll hold on to my silver pieces."
“Suit yourself...very well, everyone get comfortable…” Ranulf warned “and
please don’t interrupt me.”
Nareska was a place of hills and meadows interspersed with forests and known for its close proximity to the sea. The tribal folk relied on the local rivers as a means to access the Southern Sea. When King Rhagheale the First conquered Greycliff and united the tribes, he understood the importance of Nareska to the area. He gave the land to one of his trusted knights and bid him marry the eldest daughter of the former warlord. Considering her choice was to lose everything or marry the new Baron, she made the right decision.
As Rhagheale’s successor, Rhagheale II discovered,
winning a few battles and executing those who protested the change of
leadership doesn’t always make for a smooth transition. Rhagheale and his son
fought dissention for decades until the local population realized the new ‘King’
was better than a slew of warlords. One leader instead of a dozen meant
stability and consistency, with a few exceptions.
“Taban, sit up straighter. Sneer a little.” Kail observed
while he studied the men gathered in the forest.
Cadyl sniffed and added “That’s right; you’re supposed to
be a lord. How are the guards going to believe you’re the new lord if you don’t
act the part?”
“I don’t like this. Must we slaughter everyone?” Taban
asked his companions.
Kail’s face became dark with anger. He grabbed the reins
of Taban’s gelding. “Not only are we going to kill every man, woman, and child,
but we will drive off the livestock and kill those that won’t leave, plunder
the keep for treasures, and cart off the food. Nothing useful is to be left. I
want that usurper to know he is not welcome in our land. The fake king needs to
march his dainty ass back to Seimerki where he belongs!”
XXX
A party of men approached the keep gate. They waved to
the guards.
“Ho, I’m the new Baron of Nareska. I’m here on the
authority of King Rhagheale II to take residence and marry the Lady Walburga.
We come in peace. Let us in.” Taban held out his hands in peace.
The guard was told to expect the new Baron anytime, but
no one had provided any description of the man nor had he been given the Baron’s
given name. “Open the gates. The new
Baron is here.”
Kail grinned. They
have no idea what will be riding through their gates. We should have pulled
this trick ten years ago. He shot a glance to Cadyl. His friend winked as
they urged their mounts inside.
XXX
A guard admitted a nervous messenger to King Rhagheale’s
conference chamber. Rhagheale was 34
years old and still as fit as the day he had been knighted. His black hair was
thick, with a bluish sheen and his green eyes were said to be the color of the
finest emeralds. The King’s wife Mareena had retired from Court due to her
advanced pregnancy. His brother, Prince Averick,
sat by his side as his High Counselor.
The messenger wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. He
dreaded being blamed for the news he was about to relay. Approaching the
throne, the man fell to his knees and stared at the tile floor.
“From the looks of you, the news is not pleasant. Stand
up and speak. I shall not hold you accountable for the news.”
Nairne sputtered his thanks and opened the missive. “My
liege, word has been sent from an anonymous source. The Lady Walburga and all
who resided in her home were slaughtered by rebels. A mote was left by the
killers demanding that you and yours leave Greycliff.”
“How did rebels enter the gates?” Rhagheale asked, his
expression hiding the internal fury he felt.
“A villager heard that those responsible claimed to be
the new Baron and his men. No one knew what Sir Acwyn looked like, or even his
given name, the raiders were allowed inside.”
“What is left of Nareska?” Averick asked Nairne.
“The keep was left intact but it was cleared of all
possessions.”
Rhagheale felt sick. A
tribesman had pretended to be a Greycliff Baron only to go in and kill all of
the people inside? Sweet Thaelia: most of the servants were locals from the
village! “Averick, gather our army. We will personally respond and rout the
men who performed this outrageous offense to Our people. Have a bird sent to Sir
Acwyn. I want him there. I will have to find him another bride once the rebels
are caught and punished.” He gazed at the courtiers watching him “I will come
up with a way to ensure this never happens again, if at all possible.”
Two weeks later Sir Acwyn followed his King on a survey
of Nareska Keep. A score of servants scrubbed and put the hall to rights. Along
with the army, Rhagheale brought wagons of supplies. The larders were now full.
The bed chambers had linens, the kitchen was stocked with pots and utensils,
the barracks with a cache of weapons, and a contingent of guards and knights
had just sworn oaths to Sir Acwyn as the new Baron of Nareska.
“Acwyn, I have an available female of good breeding, Lady
Palma, I will send to you via my own guard. She is of Seimerkin blood and is
one of my wife’s ladies. I’ll dower her. She’s a little long in the tooth at 17
years but she’s a good-hearted lass and fair of face.”
“I swear to treat her well, Sire.”
“Excellent, my wife worries over her ladies.” He nodded
with satisfaction. “Now that we’ve rid
the land of those flea-bitten curs, I pray for peace.”
“Hanging their carcasses up at different parts of the
realm should send a strong message to any who might even think about trying to
overthrow you, Sire.”
“I should you so.”
Rhagheale and Acwyn wandered to the Lord’s private solar.
They settled down with a goblet of wine. Averick soon joined his brother and
the Baron.
“I was thinking about one method to prevent this,
brother. It was said Lady Walburga didn’t know her intended husband’s name. How
about a law that requires the full names of both man and woman, in a signed
contract, with copies to each party and one to the main Temple in Foxwarre? If
she’d known who the Baron was, her guards could have questioned the invaders
first.”
“Good point, Averick, but not enough. I think it is time
to make our nobles and knights stand out.”
“Stand out how, Your Grace?” Sir Acwyn asked.
“We all know what the flag of Greycliff is. I think every
ranking man, Baron and higher and knight, shall be required to have their own
individual familial insignia of heraldry. I shall appoint an official to approve
and record each sigil – an Officer of Arms- so that no noble house or knight
can duplicate another’s. In addition, there needs to be a way to mark standing
within the house to determine the ruling lord and the rank in birth order of
the sons, including a mark of bastardy.”
“What of females?” Averick said thinking of some women he
knew that preferred dressing in leather and fighting with the local guard.
“They take the colors of their father and in the case of
Royalty, will half theirs with their husband’s.”
Rhagheale said as he thought
more on the system. “Knights sworn to a lord will wear their sigil or colors. Guards
or men-at-arms will wear the colors only. Royalty will have the option of
having special heraldry made for positions as needed. Only a King can confer a
title and before that is done, he will work with the Office of Arms. Just
think, Acwyn, had my system been in place the guards would have been watching
for your colors.”
“Sire, couldn’t those men have fabricated my coat with the
arms?”
“'Tis possible, but I shall make it a death sentence to
wear a coat of arms if the person is not entitled to have them, or to wear the
wrong one for the purposes of deception without the permission of the King”
Averick raised his eye” You’d let a man put on another’s
colors?”
“I am the King, brother. If it was to serve my purpose to
protect my realm, yes I would. Once we return to Foxwarre, I will have the High
Priest draft a letter and send it out. Meanwhile, think of a man whom you
believe will make a good candidate for the position.”
“Don’t you have an empty building close to the palace
that would serve as the repository for the Office of Arms?” Averick asked his brother
“After all, you are speaking about a process that will go on for generations. I
also think you will need to have at least two or three men to help out and a
couple of scribes.”
“Yes, you’re correct. The initial work alone will keep
them busy. Let’s tack on a fee to register the sigil and colors. After that, I’ll
include it in the knight’s fees. That will cover the cost of the men to look
after the records. The families can pay for their own surcoats, tabards,
tunics, shields, and flags.”
The End
Stay safe out there.
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