Childe Morgan by Katherine Kurtz Read Free Book Online Page B

fitting that you be invested with the further symbols of your rank by the Lady of Lendour—if Her Majesty will allow,” he added, with a glance at the queen.
    â€œMost certainly,” Richeldis replied, extending the strip of white leather to Alyce, who nodded thanks and moved closer to Yves. Young Alaric stayed beside Jovett, now under Jovett’s hands, watching as his mother girded the new-made knight with the white belt.
    â€œSir Yves, I gird you with this symbol of your unstained honor,” Alyce murmured, as she leaned close to pass the belt around his waist. “And I am very happy that you should have received this honor from my own dear husband’s hand.”
    â€œSo am I, my lady,” he whispered, hastily knuckling at a tear as she fastened the buckle.
    When she had finished, he bowed over her hand and kissed it, then waited as his elder brother brought forth the goodly sword to be presented, laying it into Alyce’s hands with a bow. At the king’s nod, she gave it into the keeping of Sir Yves, who slipped it into its hangers and then sank to his knees uncertainly between Kenneth and the king, glancing at both of them as he lifted joined hands.
    â€œSire,” he said steadily, “I am now prepared to offer my fealty.”
    â€œHe is your knight, Lord Kenneth,” the king said quietly. “It is you who should receive his oath.”
    â€œIt would be my honor and privilege, Sire,” Kenneth murmured. “But is this acceptable to you, Sir Yves? I know that you were expecting to give your oath to the king.”
    â€œYou are Earl of Lendour, my lord, and I am your knight,” Yves said steadily. “I am pleased to give it to you .”
    With an inclination of his head, Kenneth reversed the Haldane sword under the quillons and returned it into the king’s keeping, then took Sir Yves’s joined hands between his own. The young man met his gaze steadily, his chin lifting as he spoke the ritual words.
    â€œI, Yves de Tremelan, do become your liege man of life and limb and earthly worship. Faith and truth will I bear unto you, to live and to die, against all manner of folk, so help me God.”
    â€œAnd I, for my part, will be a faithful liege to you, Sir Yves de Tremelan,” Kenneth answered, “giving justice and protection so long as you keep faith with me. So help me God.”
    Murmurs of approval surrounded the pair as Kenneth raised up the new knight, accompanied by young Alaric’s joyful jumping up and down, quickly curbed by a look from his father. The boy stood with his mother as the knighting process was repeated with Xander in its focus, Alaric again helping with the spurs. He followed happily with his mother when all the Lendour contingent, save Kenneth, retired to the rear of the hall for the next candidates to approach.
    â€œDid I do it right, Mummy?” the boy whispered, when they had gained the relative privacy of the rear door.
    â€œYou did it very well, indeed, darling,” Alyce replied, with an affectionate ruffling of the silver-blond hair. “I was very, very proud of you.”

Chapter 5
    â€œThere be spirits that are created for vengeance.”
    â€”ECCLESIASTICUS 39:28
    S IR Kenneth Morgan’s ennobling as Earl of Lendour became the topic of many a conversation in the hours following that year’s Twelfth Night Court. Not all of the discussion was favorable.
    â€œMy lord, are you ill?” Father Rodder asked in a low voice.
    Jarred from his introspection, Bishop Oliver de Nore shook his head. Though normally a witty and articulate table companion, he had been brooding over his trencher through the first several courses, and had already earned puzzled glances from his superiors, the Archbishops Desmond and William, seated a few places up the table on the other side.
    â€œNay, I am well enough,” de Nore allowed. “I was reflecting how well the Deryni witch continues to