Sir Walter had not expected to be used as a training tool for the heir presumptive, and caught himself half-wishing he had kept back one of the minor priests to balance out the numbers. No. The priests had important tasks of their own to manage, which they should have begun once Sir Walter had been admitted to his audience. The temple guard would be standing only outside the door to the hall, and somehow gave Sir Walter the sense that, perhaps, the board was a little more even than he had initially supposed. He smiled and inclined his head in acknowledgement of the prince when he was introduced, but otherwise spared him no further attention. Sir Walter was here to see the king, and he considered himself of importance enough that no delegate would do. The prince was here purely to observe the two important men at work, and would not be expected to contribute towards the conversation.
"Thank you," he replied in gravelly tones, taking the seat he was offered. "I'm not one for beating about the bush, so I will get straight to the point."
There was a brief pause while he composed his thoughts. He sat straight-backed in the chair which was lower than the throne, but somehow seemed to match the king in height. He was a tall man of a healthy weight, with a build which told of athleticism in his younger days, and his unyielding brown eyes held the king's gaze unhesitatingly. Although he would not expect the Shamanite royals to recognise it, he had graced them with the uniform of his church: white robes with a pair of blue stripes down the front, and the the familiar blue star symbol twinkled from the ceremonial brooch on his chest. Followers of the original fairies commonly wore jewellery designed in imitation of the divine pendants, but this brooch was unusual for its quality: it was the exact size and shape of the original, and had clearly been painstakingly crafted with expensive materials. He rested his hands neatly on his lap, politely refusing the wine.
"Since the tragedy which occurred last year, the church has temporarily taken possession of - most of seba'iqer Aura's property." The reference to the previous year indicated the time difference between Earth and Shaman; in Shaman, it had already been several years since Aura's passing. Sir Walter's face altered slightly and a brief expression of displeasure flashed across it. "There have been one or two difficulties with a small portion of the property, which certain members of the Council of Originals seem to consider their own, but the church is doing its utmost to acquire it in order that the complete inheritance may be passed on to its rightful owner."
The plural reference to the council was delicate and tactful, and it did not take a genius to work out who might be causing the Aurans problems. There was only one member of the council left on Earth, after all. That perhaps explained why, in the brief pause which ensued, Sir Walter's eyes flicked with barely disguised curiosity to Tristan's face. The heritage of the prince, it seemed, was no great secret.
"I understand from communication with the council that the orphans of this land are the custody of the state. Quite so," he continued. "However, the church considers it prudent to relieve your government of such responsibility concerning Aura's son. The church would like to take custody and have him return to Earth, where he may claim his inheritance. The priesthood cares deeply," he elaborated, "and it is the opinion of the church that, in these troubled times, the child's safety should be the highest priority." |