It is snowing. Light spills out of an
open doorway, within which stands a lone figure. He is leaning on the doorjamb,
a dishtowel thrown over his shoulder. He is resting, drawing in deep breaths of
cool night air and watching the patterns of the falling snowflakes. Behind him
stretches the hall of his inn, which that day had seen a grand tournament take
place within its walls. He turns, his feet sore beneath him, and looks down at
the melting water tracked across his floors and momentarily considers mopping
it up, but decides to let some local scullery boys do it for a penny or two.
Stepping back into the vast empty belly
of his inn, he gazes at the benches and tables—now empty—which earlier had held
laughing people with mugs of frothing ale. His eyes move to the far wall, where
the king and queen of the kingdom—and their heirs!—had sat to watch the
tournament. He shook his head, smiling. To think that the king and queen would
ever grace his establishment with Their presence. His sons—if the Lord ever
graced him with any—would never believe him when he told them of this day.
As this thought flits through his brain,
his wife emerges from the kitchens were she has been cleaning. Together they
sit at a bench, stretching out their feet, and the innkeeper imagines how he
will one day tell his sons of this day....
****
The day had begun early, of course.
Before the sun ‘ad risen, we ‘ad all been up and workin’. Tables ‘ad to be set,
ovens ‘ad to be stoked, floors ‘ad to be cleaned. Baron Sir Siegfried
Brandbeorn, Lady Mahault van der Eych and Lord Berend van der Eych, they was
labouring in one of the kitchens, preparing a great feast in the manner of far
off Italy .
In our other kitchen the Welsh dancer, Tarian verch Gadarn, stirred large pots
of stew. The smell of bread permeated the hall, but we had no time ta sneak a
bite. Lady Naja Kesali and her team set up the gate, and many took a hand at
puttin’ together stands for decorative walls and banners.
The list poles were erected, and a
gallery was set to one side. To another were placed the presences of Their
Majesties, Their Highnesses, and Their Excellencies of Septentria and
Ramshaven. I kid you not, my sons. All of those good nobles were that that day.
To a third side was set a row of tables, upon which all fighters present
displayed their ‘elms. One fighter, in particular, amazed all with his ‘eraldic
display of his ‘elm. For it stood on a decorative stand, and was mantled and
crested, and set before a banner bearing his arms. That good gentle was Lord
Robert de Bray, new to our lands, having moved ‘ere from the Kingdom of Ansteorra
A table of games were set in the back,
under the eye of Lord Raffe Scholemaystre, while THLady Anne Tinker watched
over the Arts and Sciences competition beside ‘im. Both tables saw much
activity throughout the day, let me tell you.
Now, those tables filled up pretty quick,
and soon the hall was packed full of people. People were dancing, teaching
classes, playing games, drinking, eating, singing and making merry.
The main focus for the day, my boys, was
a tournament, a “pas d'armes” the ‘eralds called it. The Company of the White
Hart had issued a challenge to meet all comers upon the field of honour at our
very inn. When the Company was introduced to Their Majesties, one of them
raised quite a stir. His name was Sir Nigel MacFarlane, and he was a night of
the Dragon, of the great Middle Kingdom. Our king, Sir Rory Cennedi, asked ‘im
if, as a foreign knight, we had any need to fear him. The good Sir Nigel
replied coolly that no Ealdormerean ‘ad need to fear ‘im, as he was now living
within our lands. And so our king and queen did grant this knight citizenship,
and our kingdom was richer for it.
The Company then met in combat with the
other fighters so assembled, numbering almost twenty as I recall. They fought
in matched weapon forms, sometimes at a barrier. Oh my sons, if only you could
have seen them, three men per side, battling over the barrier with short
lances. Never have I seen fighting such as that. Now the ladies of these great
fighters, their consorts, watched from the gallery, and when the fighters ‘ad
all exhausted themselves, these ladies came onto the field and handed out
tokens.
Count Sir Aaron Worgensson was recognized
for ‘is prowess, Robert for generosity, Lord Etian du Naval for his
entertaining manner, Lord Tiberius Justuc Brittanicus for ‘is courtesy, Sir
Nigelf or ‘is chivalry and the Honourable Lord Richard Larmer for ‘is service.
At
the end of the pas, Tiberius stepped forth clasping the Sword of the Company of
the White Heart, and he spoke of its lineage. Of ‘ow it came to our lands with
Sir Nigel MacFarlane, of how it was given to ‘im at a tournament in the south,
of ‘ow he gave the sword to the Honourable Lord Kasmir of Stargard at Snowed
Inn I as the grand champion of the day, of ‘ow he himself ‘ad been lucky enough
to ‘old it after him. Then, that sword, it was given into the keeping of Lord
Etian, to great applause. For a year Lord Etian was to ‘old the sword, and
return to Snowed Inn in the following year so that another could win its blade.
That same Lord Robert was taken aside by
the seneschal of Ardchreag, who told ‘im of how it was a tradition in our lands
to give rings to those who inspire us. And he gave Robert such a ring for ‘is
‘eraldic display and his chivalry upon the field. Lord Robert's lady wife,
Isabella of Ardchreag, was also given a ring that day—no, wait, two rings—and
she served Their Excellencies of Septentria in court later that same evening.
Truly these two were also a great boon to our lands. Ansteorra’s loss was our
gain!
When the tournament was completed, the
‘all was set in order for feast.
While those eating dined, many good
gentles entertained them with dance, song and story. Her Excellency Dame Alyce
de Sheppey, Baroness of Ramshaven, presented an entry for Her Majesty Susanna's
bardic challenge. The winners of the arts and sciences competition were
announced, and they were, as I recall, Lady Mahault van der Eych for beginner's
belt buckle, Lady Lassarfhina
Inghean Uilleag for
her intermediate bone carving and Lady Deirdre
of Carlyle for
her stitch work. Many raved over the food, especially the lamb stew and
sausages.
At the end of the meal court was ‘eld. I
can still remember everyone who was recognized that night. You may laugh, and
say that I can't even remember if the chickens have been fed these days, but I
tell you it ‘ad been such a grand day that I still remember them all. Their
Excellencies Septentria first called for their taxes to be presented. Each
canton in attendance then sent a representative forward carrying a Septentrian
wardoor with their canton's arms in the chief. That plaid wearing bard you’ve
heard me go on about, that ‘Ector fellow, ‘e also paid some taxes, in the form
of a sword. Pleased, Their Excellencies then set Their taxes for the following
year; they asked that each canton send an entry to the Pennsic War A&S
display. Lady Cahtarine of Eoforwic, continuing our ring givin’ tradition, gave
such a ring to Dame Tsivia bas Tamara V’Amberview. The barony's army, the Iron
Companions, were called into court to renew or make their pledge of service.
The van der Eychs, Mahault and Berend, were then inducted into the Order of the
Bear's Heart and Lord Tiberius made a formal challenge to them White Bear
Fian. Finally, Laird Colyne Stewart and
Thorfinna gra'felr returned the Horn of Wessex, at which time it was retired and
given into the care of Baroness Gaerwen of Trafford. At that time, Corwyn and
Domhnail unveiled the ‘Oorn of Wessex's successor—the Horn of Muinnen. The Horn
was to be presented to an exemplary Septentrian, who inspired others in all
their deeds, to be carried by them for one year. To mighty applause, the
Honourable Lord Ulvar van der Nederlanden was called for to be the first bearer
of the Horn of Muinnen. All Septentrians were then charged to keep the Horn
full.
Their Majesties then held Their court.
The Brewers and Vintner’s Guild put in an application for a charter from Their
Majesties. Lady Corrina van Rensealer and Ihvon Thorne were called into Their
presence and awarded with an Award of Arms. (And though Corrina had previously
received an AoA at Ealdormere War Practice, our king and queen could not be
wrong, and Corinna was called Lady Lady by many.) Both Lady Deirdre of Carlyle
and Laird Colyne Stewart received Awards of the Maiden's Hearts, while Lord Wat
of Sarum ‘ad his martial skills recognized with an Award of the Scarlet Banner.
Lord Raffe Scholemaystre was inducted into the Order of the Wain (making him an
Honourable Lord), while Lord Berend and Lady Mahault van der Eych and Lord
Volodymyr Blahuciak received Awards of the Orion.
At court's conclusion people began again
to dance, or converse and generally carry on until past midnight, at which
point they left to the home of Robert de Bray and Isabella where a post-revel
was held.
It was a great and glorious day, my sons.
Great and glorious.
******'
The
innkeeper's wife tugs at his arm and brings him out of his reverie. He blinks
and stands up and realizes that he had been close to sleep. As some scullions
begin to mop the floors, the tired but happy couple trudge up the stairs to
their room in the upper floor for a well earned sleep.
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