Childe Morgan by Katherine Kurtz Read Free Book Online Page A

coronet as a mark of my esteem and trust.”
    He set the coronet on Kenneth’s brow, then kissed him on both cheeks and nodded for him to rise.
    â€œThat’s done, then. You may stand, Earl of Lendour. And for your first official act, if it is your pleasure and that of these young men, I give you leave to bestow the accolade on these, your knights of Lendour.”
    Kenneth rose uncertainly at the king’s gesture, looking both pleased and somewhat taken aback by this further demonstration of royal favor.
    â€œSire, it is an honor I am right willing to confer in your name, but surely they would prefer to receive it from the hand of their king.”
    â€œI should think that, given a choice, they would prefer to receive it from the hand of a loyal and noble knight who has many times saved the life of that king,” Donal countered, with a measuring glance at the two kneeling candidates. “And this is fitting, since it is you they should emulate, rather than a warrior no longer in his prime. Sir Jovett, is this acceptable to Lendour’s candidates?”
    Jovett glanced at the Lendour sponsors, who clearly approved, then made a graceful bow, taking his cue from Alyce’s unperturbed expression and the lightning thought she sent his way.
    â€œSire, it has long been the honor of Lendour’s knights to receive the accolade from Lendour’s earl, when that has been possible. When young Alaric attains his majority and is himself a knight, such will be his happy duty. But until that day arrives, I can think of few finer exemplars for our young knights than the noble father of their future earl.”
    â€œThen, let it be done,” the king replied, extending the hilt of the Haldane sword across his forearm to Kenneth. “You may use this.”
    Kenneth knelt briefly to receive it, reverently touching his lips to the holy relic enclosed in the hilt, then moved beside the throne and turned to face the candidates and assembled court, indicating that Alyce and Alaric should stand to his other side. He occasionally had knighted men in the field before, but the hilt of the Haldane sword in his fist made concrete just how different this was, and would be henceforth. As the first candidate, Yves de Tremelan, came to kneel before him, his older brother following with sword and spurs, Kenneth leaned down to whisper to his son in a sudden flash of inspiration.
    â€œSon, would you like to help Sir Jovett with the spurs?”
    The boy grinned delightedly, scurrying to Jovett’s side to receive one of the spurs. He watched with grave attentiveness as Jovett affixed the first spur, then knelt to do the same with the second. The straps and buckles were a little stiff, the spurs being new and never worn, but the boy very nearly managed on his own, so that Jovett only had to help him with the final adjustment.
    Their whispered consultation brought a smile to the candidate’s lips, but he did not speak or turn to look. When the two had finished, the pair of them stood to either side of the candidate and Alaric shyly slipped his hand into Yves’s large one as he gazed up expectantly at his father, obviously aware of the solemnity of what was about to occur. Alyce, watching from Kenneth’s side, could only barely contain her smile and her pride. Tears were glistening in the candidate’s eyes.
    â€œYves de Tremelan,” Kenneth declared, lowering the Haldane blade to touch the young man’s right shoulder, “in the name of the Father, and of the Son,” the blade arched to the left shoulder, “and of the Holy Spirit,” the flat of the blade rested briefly on the bowed head, “be thou a good knight and true.” He brought the blade to his lips in salute. “Arise, Sir Yves.”
    He offered the new knight his hand and raised him up.
    â€œAnd now, since I am Earl of Lendour by the grace of my lady wife as well as the king’s favor, perhaps it would be