A Gryphon by the Tail Chapter 26

[Alkari]

Previous chapter: http://www.rhemuthcastle.com/index.php?topic=590.msg2971#msg2971.

Chapter 26   

There was much mirth up and down high table as the three women related the morning's events during the midday meal.  

"Something to entertain them for weeks," remarked Nigel cheerfully on hearing Meraude's account. "Alas, it's hardly scandalous - no one can complain that the marriage isn't appropriate, or unusual in the circumstances.  Many will no doubt see it as a very sensible arrangement for Marley's future."

"Then I'm happy to take all the credit," grinned Kelson. "His Majesty has persuaded Alaric Morgan to get married at long last for the good of the kingdom!"  

"Purely in the interests of Marley and Corwyn," Nigel deadpanned. "The King had a difficult task to persuade his Champion to do precisely what he intended to do all along!"  Alaric snorted, and muttered darkly about watching as all the women now chased after Kelson.  

With Brendan likely to tell others about his "new Papa", Richenda had already asked Giles and the other men to attend her immediately after the noon meal, so she could inform them herself.  They were good men, she thought, as they filed into her dayroom and listened to her news: she'd chosen her escort carefully, mindful that anyone from Marley would not be popular and wanting sensible men who'd not give offence or end up in stupid fights because of insults from others round the palace.  

"The Duke of Corwyn?" Giles glanced at his four companions, none of whom seemed particularly surprised.   Perhaps they'd even been expecting this, as Giles and Thomas had been part of their escort when she had gone riding with Alaric to try Ruffian before the hunt, and two of them had accompanied her with Meraude the other day.

"Yes. The banns will be posted in Marley, and the wedding will take place in early May.  We'll be returning to Marley next week, in company with His Excellency Bishop Ifor.  His Majesty and Duke Alaric thought it would be better if I travelled with the Bishop, and word will be sent ahead of us for accommodation.  I know you'll be looking forward to going home again."

"Yes, m'lady, that we will," agreed Giles. He paused, obviously wondering whether to say anything further.  "M'lady, if you don't mind us asking – what will happen to Marley now?"

Of course: they'd be wondering whether Alaric would be in charge there too, or even whether there'd be a new earl.  The men of Marley had been loyal to the Coris family for generations, and whatever Bran's own actions, she knew they retained their affection for his son.  "His Majesty has promised that Brendan will become Earl of Marley when he is of age.  Until then, I will continue as his regent, with the assistance of the regency council."  She smiled reassuringly.  "Brendan will be well looked after, and may even spend time here at the royal court as a page or squire.  Duke Alaric will be a fine stepfather and guardian for him."

Their relieved expressions showed she'd judged their concerns correctly.  With awkward but obviously sincere murmurings of their best wishes to her and "the young master", they took their leave.  At least there had been no comment about marrying a Deryni.

She was gathering her sewing things together when Lily announced another visitor, this time most unexpected.  A beaming Lord Rhodri bowed in greeting and offered his warmest congratulations and best wishes, Alaric having told him the news that morning.  

"I've just heard gossip suggesting that your betrothal was arranged by His Majesty.   But I've always found it much easier to arrange something when it meets the wishes of the people concerned."  His eyes twinkled knowingly.  

"Thank you, Lord Rhodri.  I am indeed very happy," she smiled.

"As is His Grace," he chuckled. "He spoke to me before your arrival here in Rhemuth and was most concerned for your welfare and comfort.  I do hope you have found these apartments satisfactory."

"Very much so, thank you, and the servants have been polite and efficient."  She sent Lily for some wine and the sweetmeats, and gestured to Lord Rhodri to take a seat.  "Duke Alaric says you have known him for a long time."

He settled himself in the chair.  "Since he first came to court as a page when he was nine years old, Lady Richenda. Though of course I remember him before then, as a little boy with his parents.  He would have been only three or four years old when his father was created Earl of Lendour.  There were several young men from Lendour who were knighted that day, and the young Duke helped with their spurs."  He smiled at the memory.  "Very solemn and well behaved he was, and delighted to take part in something so important.  A proper little future Earl and Duke."

How old was Rhodri? How long had he been Lord Chamberlain? she wondered.  Under his thick white hair, his face was almost ageless – he could have been anywhere between fifty and eighty.  

"You knew his parents too, then?" she asked softly, as he accepted a glass of wine from Lily.

"Ah yes."  Another smile of reminiscence.  "The Lady Alyce de Corwyn.  A lovely young girl, who grew into a beautiful and gracious woman.  Her parents too – Earl Keryell and Countess Stevana.   And of course, the Duke's father Lord Kenneth Morgan.  A very fine man – no one could have served his kings more loyally or devotedly. They would be very proud of their son."  

"Which one of them does he take after?"   She offered him the sweetmeats.  "Please do have one.  Otherwise my young son will want to eat them all.  He loves the honeycakes here – I think he's developing a very sweet tooth."

"Hmm – I remember how my dear lady wife used to sneak occasional treats to a certain duke when he was a page.  She would make them for our grandchildren, and somehow I would always be asked to slip one or two to a little boy with golden hair and a mischievous smile."   Again, that knowing twinkle in his eyes.  "As for which parent he takes after – well, both I would say.  The Duke has his mother's hair and her fine features, but his eyes are grey, more like his father's. Of course, Lord Kenneth was fair too, and tall.  The Duke has many of Lord Kenneth's mannerisms."  He settled back to talk.

It was more than half an hour later when he sighed and reluctantly rose to his feet.  "My dear lady, I have so enjoyed talking to you.  Please forgive me if I have kept you from other matters.  I should be about my own work too, as there is much to do for Saturday with all those bishops and the state dinner.  I hope you will be attending?"

"Yes.  And you haven't kept me from anything other than more ladies' gossip and a little sewing," she laughed.  "Hearing about my future husband and his family is infinitely more interesting.  And – without making you sound much too old, of course - I enjoy talking to someone who has known people who've only been names in history books to me before.  I do hope we'll talk more in future."

"I should be delighted, Lady Richenda.  Meanwhile, may I wish you many years of joy and happiness with Duke Alaric."   Smiling, he took his leave and departed with a swish of burgundy robes.

Once more Richenda gathered her sewing things.   Right now I probably know a great deal more about Alaric, his family and childhood than he does about me, she thought in some amusement as she headed for Meraude and the other ladies.  

This situation was short-lived, however, as that evening she was invited to dine privately with Kelson, Alaric and Duncan.

"Kelson's fed up with court procedures, crowns and formal robes and eating under public gaze in the great hall," Alaric explained cheerfully as he escorted her to the royal apartments.  "And on Saturday he has the state dinner with the bishops, with the Mass and oath-giving on Sunday.  I think I agree with him."

"I'm sure most fifteen year-olds could think of more entertaining things to do than all that," she agreed.  "You'll be attending too?"

"Oh yes.  I'd probably have found an excuse to be absent if Loris or Corrigan were still around, but now there's no need.  Besides, I actually enjoy Mass in the Cathedral."   He glanced at her somewhat apologetically. "And I want to witness every single one of those bishops swear undying loyalty to their king.  Who happens to be part Deryni.  We came near to losing a kingdom because of a few fanatic bishops.  Kelson won't be so lenient next time."

She squeezed his arm gently and he gave a rueful chuckle.  "Sorry.  I'm still getting used to the idea that I can converse with a couple of Archbishops without them wishing me in Hell or worse.  So I'll be there on my best behaviour.  Meanwhile, a quiet dinner with you is a much nicer prospect than any number of bishops, no matter how friendly."

Duncan and a relaxed-looking Kelson welcomed her warmly, and the evening passed pleasantly.  Kelson seemed keen to get to know her better in a more informal setting, and she enjoyed talking to him.  The men were amused at her meeting with Lord Rhodri: "finding out all about my reprobate cousin", as Duncan teased.   But she soon found herself drawn into speaking of her own family and childhood, the court in Andelon, and even some of the formal Deryni training she'd experienced.  Duncan and Alaric were particularly interested in that: not for the first time, she wondered if it would be possible for Alaric to be formally trained by one of the experienced mages.  A partly trained Deryni who'd nevertheless managed to rediscover the gift of Healing would surely be of great interest to someone like Uncle Azim.  Meanwhile, she could offer them both the benefit of her own skills and knowledge, if they so wished.

"Formal training?  Perhaps I can learn more than just a shower spell," Alaric murmured as he held her in his arms back in her apartments.

"Oh, I'm sure we can teach each other lots of very interesting things, my lord," she whispered mischievously, leaning up to kiss him and brushing his mind with a tantalising caress.  "Especially if you insist that both pupil and teacher are naked!"

*     *     *

Brendan almost dragged his uncle William through the door, Joan following with a resigned "more mud!" look on her face.    "Mama!   Mama!   We saw Duke Alaric fighting!  Proper sword fighting.  With a real sword.  And he had a bow and arrow.  He shot arrows right in the middle of the straw!  And he was teaching the King too.  He was fighting Master Chaiban, Mama."

Richenda smiled at her rather dirty son and waited until he had to pause for breath after this torrent of words.  "So you've been down in the practice yard watching Duke Alaric, have you?"

"Yes.  He was doing proper fighting to show us.  And he won the fight.  And then he came and spoke to us, and he said he'd teach me to fight like that too.  And we watched him shooting arrows, and then Robert and I practised with him."   Brendan was bouncing up and down in delight, though given the state of his clothes, Richenda was very glad William kept hold of him.  

"Well, Duke Alaric is very good at all sorts of fighting.  It was nice of him to practise archery with you and Robert, wasn't it."  

"Yes.  I'm not very good.  But Duke Alaric says I'll get better."   William was grinning broadly, and winked at her as he steadied his nephew.

"Of course you will.  You'll just have to practise, like you do with your sword. How did you get so muddy this time?"  

"I felled off Joker.  Before the sword fight.  He did a big jump."   Well, at least he didn't smell as bad as two days ago, and clearly wasn't worried about the tumble.  She hoped Alaric hadn't minded practising archery with a muddy pupil.

"You've certainly had an exciting afternoon, haven't you.  Now, why don't you go with Joan and get cleaned up, and you can tell me more when you have supper.  Sir Knight will want to hear about it, too."    She breathed silent thanks for Meraude's gift of Payne's old tunics, which she'd already shortened.  

Joan marched Brendan away into the inner room, Lily following closely with the large jug of water she'd been keeping warm in front of the fire.   Richenda turned back to William, who'd flopped into a nearby chair.

"Sounds like an interesting afternoon.  What happened?  Duke Alaric fighting Master Chaiban?   He was practising, surely?"  Richenda shook her head and sat next to him.  

"Very interesting!"  William grinned.  "I think I like your Duke more and more."

"What happened?"

"Just general practice.  The weather's good, so everyone was outside this afternoon.  The Duke and Prince Nigel were sparring with some of the senior squires, putting them through drills, and Masters Chaiban and Nestor were helping.   I don't know how it happened, but Duke Alaric and Master Chaiban ended up having a bout, apparently demonstrating some of the more advanced defensive moves.   There were a lot of people watching."   His eyes danced.

"And?"

"Master Chaiban is certainly a good swordsman.  I can see why he holds his post."  He paused for effect.  "But Duke Alaric is a very, very good swordsman."   He chuckled.  "He got right through Master Chaiban several times, and in the end, knocked the sword out of his hand.  Ended up with his sword almost at his throat."  Richenda gasped.

"Oh, don't worry – the Duke carried it off perfectly.  He just laughed, and everyone applauded.  He went up and clapped Master Chaiban on the shoulder, smiled and said something to him, then came back to talk to some of the younger boys, including Brendan.  Only," he regarded her thoughtfully, "I was watching Master Chaiban's face.  I don't know what the Duke said to him, but you can bet the whole of Marley that the man will never insult or bully Brendan again."   He shook his head, then let her see his own memory of the session.

She was silent for a moment or two, absorbing what she'd seen.  "William – did Duke Alaric know Brendan was watching?  Before he did it, I mean."

"Öh yes."

So Alaric had intended him to see.  It wasn't just his own message to Master Chaiban.  "Do you think anyone realised what he was doing?" she asked at last.

"I doubt it.  The only thing everyone else saw was that it was a good bout, and your future husband is a superb swordsman.  You'd be mad to take him on." He winked.  "It certainly wasn't lost on Brendan though!"

"And then he went off with Brendan?"

"Yes.  He towelled off, pulled on an overtunic and took Brendan and Robert off to the archery yard to watch the King who was practising.  The Duke gave him some help, and had a few shots himself."  He grinned again.  "I suppose you wouldn't be very surprised if I told you that the Duke is an excellent archer, too?   Right in the middle of the target, even with a much smaller bow.   Anyway the boys watched it all, and then someone found them a couple of little bows, and Duke Alaric gave them a quick lesson.  By then it was starting to get dark, so we came back up here."

"Did you see Brendan fall off Joker?"

"No.  But one of the squires told me he just sort of slid down the pony's shoulder when he jumped a pole a bit higher than expected – not a heavy fall.  Brendan wasn't worried, just got back on and kept going.  Sir Knight indeed!"

She was silent for a while, remembering the other evening and Brendan's question about a traitor's son.  She hadn't realised that Alaric would take his own action against such taunts.

"Richenda?"  William was looking at her quizzically.  "You weren't in the hall for dinner last night.  Nor was the Duke."

"No.  No, we dined privately with His Majesty and Father McLain."  She smiled. "If you'd told me a year ago that I'd be sitting in the King's private apartments, dining with him and a couple of dukes, I'd have said you were touched by the sun.  Or you'd had a few ales too many!"

"Not to mention being betrothed to one of those dukes," he laughed, climbing to his feet.  "Well, maybe I'll see you down there tonight.  If you're not sitting with the Duke, perhaps you can come and join your poor lonely little brother for the meal."

"Lonely?"  She chuckled and kissed him affectionately.  "William FitzEwan, every time I've noticed you in the hall at meals, you've been sharing a trencher with a different girl and haven't looked at all lonely. Though if you want me to come and chaperone you ...!"

"Not unless I get to chaperone you with the Duke," he laughed, and blew her a kiss as he ducked out the door.

___________

Next chapter: http://www.rhemuthcastle.com/index.php?topic=601.0.

[AnnieUK]

I like Rhodri. Lovely to see him at greater length than in the books.  And it sounds like Master Chaiban probably got the message loud and clear!

[Evie]

Maybe Sir William should be thrilled his sister is newly betrothed, and therefore kept far too busy to pay too much attention to his mealtime visual explorations of the loveliest sights in Rhemuth....   

[Elkhound]

Morgan's archery was helped by a little Deryni telekenisis I presume?

[Alkari]

Why would you think that?  He is a 'superb' swordsman, because that is obviously his favoured (and most usual) weapon, but he has been very well trained with all weapons and is a fine archer anyway.     "Centre of the target" doesn't mean the absolute precision shooting down to the last millimetre we saw in TKJ.  It means - as we saw with Kelson and Sicard - that if Alaric aims at someone's left eye, he'll hit it, and not the victim's other eye or nose or left boot   

[Evie]

Actually, an eye is a very small target, even for someone at close range, and especially if Sicard was wearing a helmet in that scene (I don't recall off the top of my head), and medieval longbows didn't have the advantage of having handy targeting cross-hairs like modern sniper rifles either.  (On the target I used to shoot at, I remember the bulls-eye being more like softball size, not eyeball size!)  I always got the impression that one reason KK showed that earlier scene in TKJ about Deryni being able to fine-tune their aim by using their powers was to make it more plausible in those later battle scenes that Kelson really could execute Sicard with one very well-placed arrow going exactly where it needed to go in order to kill him instantly, and so that Dhugal would be aware of that trick also and therefore able to aim his arrows carefully enough to stop Duncan's attackers from being able to burn him at the stake before Dhugal could reach his side.

[DesertRose]

Well, Sicard at least was holding still, knowing that Kelson was about to kill him one way or another.  I'm sure a non-moving target helps when you're trying to hit something as small as a human eye.

But I see no reason why Morgan wouldn't be a pretty darn good archer as well as a superb swordsman.  Necessary skills for a duke in that time frame, doncha know?

[Evie]

Oh sure, Morgan could probably hit a regular bull's-eye on an archery target, and even the center portion of it, without difficulty each and every time, because he'd be quite well trained at the martial arts.  Just saying that one can't assume that even as skilled a marksman as Alaric (or Kelson) would hit a very small target like an eyeball each and every time without ever having to resort to powers.  There are so many variables in archery, s/a wind speed and direction, that influence aim when you're talking about targets that small. And even a target holding still has some movement if that target is alive.  Sicard was breathing, after all, which would cause movement, no matter how miniscule.  Kelson would also have allowed for the fact that Sicard, being human, might flinch uncontrollably at the last second when seeing an arrow heading directly for his head.  It would be an involuntary reaction, I would think, no matter how courageous one is, to have some sort of reaction to seeing certain death coming straight at you.  Which is one reason why I lean towards Kelson having augmented his targeting for that shot.  He'd have wanted to be 100% certain of making a clean, humane kill, not simply 95% sure, because of the various people Kelson had to execute during that campaign, Sicard was the only one he had some measure of respect for.  (Which is why he allowed him a more honorable form of death than hanging.)  It was only the assumption that Kelson didn't draw on his powers at all for a shot that even one of the career Haldane archers might have preferred not to go for, if a larger target were available, that I was questioning, not Alaric's skill at the longbow.

[Alkari]

Well, whatever powers Kelson may or may not have used with Sicard, it's hardly relevant to this particular scene.  Morgan was in controlled conditions in the practice yard, not at any huge distance and as you say Evie, he would expect to hit the target dead centre without any resort to Deryni powers, even using a slightly smaller bow than he'd normally have used himself.   Archery in those days wasn't just a nice recreational sport - as Desert Rose noted, it was an essential skill, especially for someone supposed to lead armies.  Morgan would have been learning it from the time he was big enough to hold a bow.  The surprising thing would have been if he'd missed!  

Mind you, as William himself isn't the world's best best archer, he tends to admire anyone who can get within an inch of the bullseye, let alone put an arrow smack into it!     He's really quite satisfied if he hits the man and not the horse: seems that his own Deryni training has not yet extended to using his powers for martial arts ...

[Elkhound]

Why would you think that?  He is a 'superb' swordsman, because that is obviously his favoured (and most usual) weapon, but he has been very well trained with all weapons and is a fine archer anyway.     "Centre of the target" doesn't mean the absolute precision shooting down to the last millimetre we saw in TKJ.  It means - as we saw with Kelson and Sicard - that if Alaric aims at someone's left eye, he'll hit it, and not the victim's other eye or nose or left boot    

I'm sure he's an excellent archer; but this is an occasion where he has to be seen as not just excellent, but supreme, even perfect.  In a competitive situation, using one's powers would be cheating; in battle, it would take too much energy except for absolutely vital shots, like Kelson's executing Siccard.  Deryni telekenisis--unless the person were highly trained--wouldn't make an incompetent archer competent, but that little extra bit of energy could make a good one excellent and and excellent one supreme---particularly in conditions when one has the leisure to focus.  And in this case he was trying to make an especial point--that anyone messing with his stepson-elect would have to deal with not just the Duke of Corwyn, the King's Champion, but a p.o.-ed Alaric Morgan.  And a p.o.-ed Alaric Morgan is enough to make strong men run screaming from the room to crawl under their beds, there to curl into the fetal position and suck their thumbs.

[Alkari]

Alas, Elkhound, the archery wasn't in any sense a competition or intended to make a point.  Morgan had finished his 'lesson of the day' with Master Chaiban, and that poor gentleman is probably having recurring nightmares about just how close the Duke's sword was to his throat!

After that, Morgan was simply taking two little boys across to the archery yard to watch King Kelson, and if a number of people took note that one of those kids was his future stepson, then so much the better   As far as Morgan was concerned, he just gave Kelson a hand with his normal practice and had a few shots with him, then gave the kids a bit of a lesson - all very low key.  

But the message is out there, and as you say -

anyone messing with his stepson-elect would have to deal with not just the Duke of Corwyn, the King's Champion, but a p.o.-ed Alaric Morgan.  And a p.o.-ed Alaric Morgan is enough to make strong men run screaming from the room to crawl under their beds, there to curl into the fetal position and suck their thumbs.

ETA:  Morgan is realistic though, and knows from his own experience as a Deryni kid (when he had Brion's protection) that even with his stepfather's protection, Brendan will have to cope with various taunts or whatever as fallout from Bran's treachery, hence his discussion about how to deal with that sort of thing.  He knows he can't wrap the kid in cotton wool.   What neither he nor Nigel will tolerate however, is true bullying (from kids or adults) or 'real' nastiness from teachers and adults who should know better, such as Chaiban (who was also rude to one of Richenda's servants).  

[Evie]

And a p.o.-ed Alaric Morgan is enough to make strong men run screaming from the room to crawl under their beds, there to curl into the fetal position and suck their thumbs.

Elkhound, that's such a delicious verbal description, I just want to frame it and hang it on the wall!   

[Elkhound]

Elkhound, that's such a delicious verbal description, I just want to frame it and hang it on the wall!   

Thanks, Evie; that's especially appreciated coming from you.

[Evie]

I have a very vivid and visual imagination.  So when I read this, I immediately "saw" a glowering, gray-eyed Alaric practically looming over this barracks (probably in Rhemuth Keep) filled with grown men in sweaty fighting tunics all cowering under their bunks, curled up and sucking their thumbs, whimpering "Mama!"   Giggled for several minutes afterwards.   

*recovers composure*  OK, now where were we?  Oh yeah.  Alkari, how many more chapters can we still look forward to on this story, or do you know yet?  (Not that I'm at all in a hurry for it to end!  You'll just have to start another one soon, you know....    )

[Alkari]

Oh yes, it was a great description, Elkhound!!      

Master Chaiban acknowledges that the Duke was indeed smiling when he spoke to him - which for some reason didn't help at all.