(Page 1 of 19) Cry for the Wolf, Chapter 12. by Richard WalkerSUMMARY: The arrival of the royal party for the yearly fête is nigh, and trouble breaks out between the king's steward and his son over Rhiarra.Chapter 12.
His Royal Highness Owain, by the grace of the Light, King of Shanria, High Clan Chief of Albion, Lord of Diverse Foreign Places, etc., to our faithful Steward Sir Brandon de Chalmers, Count de Monet.
To our trusty and diligent servant, greetings unto thee and the consolation that we are in very good health as to our person, praise be unto the glorious Light which grants unto us the same. Our thanks for the regard thou shewest us in the regular correspondence with which thou kept us abreast of matters of import to thee and thine interests as affects our household in thine unfortunate absence.
On this the occasion of the yearly commemoration of our vanquishing of our evil uncle Cynric who did so grievously oppress Our people and our blessed accession to the throne of this marvelous gentle realm, known as the Crown Fete and referred to largely by the commons as the All-Feast, we expressly exhort and require thee to attend us and our court and the needs of our household which lieth within thy charge and receive our pleasure at the annual hosting of the nobility of the realm who shall attend us during the course of this event at the square before Balm of All Sorrows cathedral temple in the good city of Bridgeport on this, the last day of May , no later than the twelfth hour by the church bells, there to remain with us and our court at Our pleasure for the run of the same, not to be less than two weeks.
There is little news hereabouts but that we are sure thou'rt already well apprised of't. Insofar as it lieth within thy duties as Steward of the Royal Household we would express to thee our most urgent will and desire that all be made ready at the royal palace called Fairingay overlooking Our good city of Fallon, whither our train be bound, as is well known to thee, according to thy best judgment for our relief following our arduous journey and our continued comfort as befits our royal station, as is our wont. This we charge thee as thou wouldst wish to please us and thereby maintain the privilege of our continued good graces and those of our queen, in so jar as thou hast enjoyed them in the past.
Given under this our Privy Seal at our palace of Pelham Hall, our city of Bridgeport, Stapleshire, this 30th day of April in this, the one thousand two-hundreds and seventieth year of the Dominion of the Light.
H. R. H. Owain, Rex Shanricum
Sir Brandon watched with a fai~ached amusement as the round and blustery clerk stopped his fUSSing with the head of the chamberlads to make a beeline for him. The clerk's name was Hugh de Begginton, bailiff of Fairingay Palace, and had been Sir Brandon's deputy and close associate for many years now. Brandon depended on him, especially at this time of year, with so much to be done. He appreciated the man's energy, his industry, and ability to get eve~ balky bureaucrats and feudal functionaries to do as he wished. The two of them had been hard at work all the day since first light with the small residen6~cting the last stages of cleaning and airing of the chambers, inspecting the stores for damag goods rearranging the stores as compactly as possible to be sure there would be ample storage and accomodations for the mass ~nd important personages that would be arriving with the train.
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