XXXIX. On the 8th of the third month, all kingdoms received words from the capital summoning the Council of Princes—when not electing a King, the great lords assisted him in governance. The quickest respond came with the arrival of lord Senthaig the plain of house Niensor, lord of Hannosya, which was geographically closest to the capital, accompanied by several members of his household. They arrived by ship, upon the second day since their summoning, and their vessels were still covered by some snow, despite the warmth of spring, for harsh reign of winter seldom wavered in the northern lands of Fenland. Little before the first hour of the eleventh day of the month also by vessel arrived at Culgarost lord Mendal of house Nillöre, lord of Beltos, his lady wife Melaine, whom some called the black siren and their friend and advisor the sorcerer Nochax Jex—whom less than a month ago had been expelled from the guild of wizardry of the Order for meddling with the dark arts.
Elbracht spent some time with members of both houses. Due to the simplicity in manners and character of lord Senthaig, the lord of Ceor always found it tiringly dull to converse with him and surely if there was something of value the Northern Mark had to offer besides snow or ice, prince Elbracht showed little interest in it. Instead he placed his attention in the far more intriguing Nillöre. According to Elbracht, lord Mendal was half deaf and his quick temper made him tedious to deal with, without the sudden outburst of bile common to the unhearing.
To get to lord Mendal, one had to first win the favour of his wife, the only person in the Realm of Men he listened to patiently, and to get to her one had to get used to the queer manners of her dutiful companion the Rogue Sorcerer, who had no respect for any noble courtierand would often openly jerk about the royal household and the king himself. Many who would meet him mistook him for the royal jester and would find it hard to believe, he had any knowledge in magic or any other hidden art at all. Some courtiers, especially sir Henn Forne would have loved to see him hung for his calamitous insults, yet none dared to harm it, not even the king or lord Osguald, since he was immensely dear to the Nillöre, and the Nillörean fleet was so equally dear to the Realm.
Elbracht by this time did not have a particulary great in the naval prowess of the real, still was very much aware of the huge import of the Nillörean fleet—for it played a pivotal role in the commerce and communications among the kingdoms. The lord of Ceor certainly hoped to find allies among the members of that house, unfortunately for him, his ties to the house of Senn—wherewith the lord of Beltos had a big ‘misunderstanding’, to say the least—prevented him honouring them with little more than a kind welcoming gesture or cordial talks.
At the noon of the eleventh day, also by sea came the vessel of house Durne. In part owing to the internal struggle and vivid wound of the house Sentriary, the lords of Villadel, freed themselves from their suzerainty to their neighbours to the east. During the time of Caradon’s Rebellion, Mallerin was the only kingdom which remained unspoiled neither by the cruel winter nor by any domestic quarrel nor by riots or war. Under these conditions Mallerin experienced a brief period of relative prosperity; its rich soil provided grain and cattle which fed the northern kingdoms in their hours of need. Lord Horoglas grew fond of his new-found wealth, in his country they affectingly called him the Ample, for none more than he enjoyed of the fruits of his lands.
With lord Horoglas the Ample also, came his similarly sonsy daughters; lady Carall and lady Gellen, both of which fell love-stricken by the beauty and fair guise of the lord of Ceor. Horoglas did not pay much heed to the Elbracht—which suited him best, since he disliked the idea of having to mellow a former rival. Nevertheless, the Durne grew to be much more and influential and clever than most had expected. Their herald and main spokeman, sir Tom Buttdom, on behalf of his liege.lord did carried out most of the business and negotiation with the King’s chamberlain, lord Osguald, while the lord of Hannosya minded for the banquets and supper. Lord Mendal and lady Melain seemed to be in oddly amicable terms with lord Horoglas and they held many audiences in private. Carédock the younger suggested, they even shared each other’s quarters in the palace.
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On the 18th of the third month, after three hundred miles of journeying, came the convoy of the Sovaros, the house of the late king Elorio III; bumptiously waving the banners of the griffin were seven famous knights, who, after the passing of Elorio III, deserted their post in the Golden Guard to server the Sovarós in Fyore, many at court frowned upon these honour-stripped men. Among these escorts, sir Hans Woodmot—lord Gens Woodmot’s brother—was of some distinguished renown, often called ‘the greatest swordman of the realm’. Sir Hans was the sworn protector of lord Hadril of Fyore, a thin tall man to whom people referred as the Slimmer Griffin. He came along his brothers, sir Carth, sir Anio and sir Antuel. Elbracht found none of them affable, for they shared in the pride and sternness of their most senior companion, lord Jaerech of Fitz.
The elderly lord of Fitz also showed his proud face in the capital, but now it was unrecognisable; his age earned him the name of the Old Gold Crow, since most of his strengths were wasted and was carried hither and thither on a wheelchair. To many at court it started to seem preposterous that at his advanced age, he still tried to live up to his moniker, by which he was erewhile known: King in the Shadows. Alas, a shadow of his former self, little more than a laugh or mock he’d received, whenever he intended to negotiate with any lord of high standing.
From among the many golden-haired Sovarós, there was only one man Elbracht truly esteemed; lord Carathuel of Beardt, cousin to lord Hadril. They had spent some time together following the siege of Fyore and on many regards they were of the same mind; the lord of Ceor knew that if, indeed, he ever needed allies among the Sovarós, the Black Griffin would be key to restoring the once good terms between their houses.
For the first time in centuries, the house of the Griffin had the least advantageous political standing from among the great houses; the poor reign and subsequent death of Elorio III had tainted the family name and prestige. Nonewithstanding, the lands of the Graythland remained the richest in the realm; with winter gone, it was only a question of time for the Sovarós to rise up again in status. For the time being, however, they had no allies in Culgarost besides the capirote-hooded priest of the Sagrary, only Elbracht showed, himself, wilful enough to interact with them, and yet every time he would approach to lord Hadril or his brothers, lord Jaerech would stand in his ways.
A day an a half later, on the 19th of the third month, by noon, the vessels of the Sentriary came to the capital. In essence, their presence was not needed, yet lady Aveline’s plea swayed his brother, lord Dundos, to attend the Council of Princes. Along with him came also his son, sir Avor Alcobos, who was barely as old as the king, though what he lacked in age, he made up for in strength and size. Lord Dundos arrived at the capital officially with the intent of ‘sharing his wisdom’ with his kinsman, the King, this subtle phrasing was perceived by lord Osguals as a hindrance to his influence on the crown. Upon his arrival, lord Dundos dined with the lord of Ceor and his brothers, reassuring them of his allegiance to their mother. The Alcobos shared a good deal of time too lecturing the king on the Sentriary ways.