The King's Deryni by Katherine Kurtz Read Free Book Online

into the water and scrubbed vigorously at face and neck and hands, then toweled off and slicked back his hair before donning a gold circlet. Richard, meanwhile, had begun gathering the squires and pages as requested.
    Kenneth stayed by the king’s side as they returned to the front of the pavilion, where Brion took his place in the center chair between his mother and King Illann. Politely but firmly, he declined to comment on what had just transpired on the field. Brion’s younger sisters, Princesses Xenia and Silke, settled onto stools at their mother’s feet, raven hair glistening in the sunlight like blackbirds’ wings, with several ladies-in-waiting ranged to either side. Moving to his customary place behind the chairs, Kenneth politely fended off all questions.
    â€œIt is not for me to say,” was all the comment he would make, good-natured but firm, when pressed for information about the king’s mysterious opponent.
    At Duke Richard’s summons, all the squires and pages in the competition began gathering in front of the dais, many of them with fathers or other male relatives trailing along to gather at the edges. Among them Kenneth noted the glowering presence of Sir Errol Seaton, whose son Cornelius had turned in a less than stellar performance.
    Briskly Richard began moving among the boys, rapidly sorting them into some semblance of order, by age. Most of them had varying numbers of rings looped over an arm: booty from the competition. Conversation immediately ceased as a herald thumped on the floor of the dais with his staff of office and called for attention.
    â€œPray, attend the words of the king.”
    Brion smiled and sat forward, glancing to Duke Richard, who was standing among the pages. Most of them wore Haldane page’s livery and looked much older than Alaric and Duncan, who stood together with Llion in their house livery of Corwyn and Kierney. A few were senior pages, nearly ready for squiring. The dozen or so squires were grouped to one side, including Duncan’s brother Kevin, but some of the squires clearly were no longer children.
    â€œI see that we’re starting with the pages,” the king said easily, looking over the sea of Haldane crimson. “Uncle, I understand that these young gentlemen competed at the rings.”
    â€œThey did, my Liege,” Richard said formally, still annoyed at his nephew’s refusal to identify his opponent. “The rings were a handspan wide, fixed so that they would not rotate during a run,” he added, for the benefit of King Illann and Prince Ronan. “Contestants were given ten runs in which to take as many rings as they could, but a fall disqualified from further participation, as did three consecutive passes without taking a ring.”
    â€œA worthy practice for future knights,” Brion said with a droll nod, glancing at his royal guests. “As you know, the exercise teaches hand and eye coordination, as well as horsemanship. Mind you, the rings will be smaller when you compete as squires, lads,” he reminded the assembled boys, “and as some of you found out the hard way, it’s more difficult than it looks. How many of you were unhorsed during the competition? All those who fell off, please move over by Duke Richard.”
    Fully a third of the boys moved sheepishly to the duke’s side, Cornelius Seaton among them, though many of them bore at least a few rings. Cornelius had none, and looked none too happy about it. Brion merely raised an eyebrow, shaking his head lightly as he pursed his lips and scanned them.
    â€œWell, I see that some of you at least managed to snag a ring or two before tasting dust. That’s commendable, but I know that all of you can do better in the future. It isn’t that you will never fall off your horses—my uncle will tell you how often I used to land on my backside when I was first beginning my training—and even the best rider gets