«Well, not until I've had his service in Meara again», Donal declared. «And meanwhile, come Twelfth Night court, I intend to knight him and confirm him as Earl of Lendour. We'll save the ducal recognition until they've gotten used to a Deryni earl».
Alyce de Corwyn was one of the few with advance knowledge of the king's plans regarding her brother — necessary, since it was she who had the privilege of girding him with his white belt. Sir Jovett Chandos buckled on the golden spurs, and it was Sir Sé Trelawney, arrived only minutes before the ceremony, who presented him with his sword, black-clad and silent as he knelt to watch the king's Haldane blade flash above the head of his childhood friend, the flat of it touching right shoulder, left shoulder, and head.
Ahern himself was not able to kneel as the three other young men did, who were dubbed that afternoon, but the king had made a point of reiterating the high points of the new knight's exemplary service, both the summer previous and three years before, and personally assisted him to rise from the faldstool moved into place before he was called forward.
And while the Archbishop of Rhemuth cast cold glances at the king, both then and later, when Ahern was called forward to be formally invested as Earl of Lendour, the king again spoke of Ahern's sterling service hitherto, and kissed him on both cheeks before placing the coronet upon his brow and the gold signet on his finger, emblematic of his new legal status.
When Ahern reiterated the fealty he had sworn at his knighting, now pledging further leal fidelity as earl, several dozen knights of Lendour and of Corwyn knelt at his back, affirming their support and loyalty as well. Though Gwynedd's clergy might have their doubts about this setting aside of the law, Ahern's record spoke for itself among Donal's other knights. If any disagreed, no one spoke out.
As for Sir Sé Trelawney, present as promised, he appeared much changed in the months since Alyce last had seen him. His long black robe, fastened at the shoulder, had a vaguely eastern look to it, unrelieved by any color save the white slash of his own knight's belt. In truth, he looked as much the monk as warrior now, a close-clipped beard exaggerating the leaner lines of a form that now was almost ascetic in its sparseness.
Afterward, he had words of congratulation for Ahern, and a kiss on the cheek each for Alyce and Zoë, but he did not stay long after court, quietly riding off into the snow whence he had come, while the hall cleared to set up for the feast.
I think he may have made profession with the Anvilers, Alyce whispered mind to mind to Vera, who was seated across from her and sharing a trencher with an exceedingly attentive Earl Jared McLain. I had hoped he might stay longer.
Vera, offering Jared a morsel of succulent pheasant lavished with plum sauce, spared her sister a sympathetic glance.
I'm sorry, she sent. I know you were fond of him.
Turning her attention back to the revelry in the hall, Alyce forced a resigned smile as she lowered her head slightly to listen to a comment from Sir Jovett, seated on her other side.
Her brother, meanwhile, seemed to be quite enjoying the company of Zoë Morgan. He had put aside his coronet, but his gold signet flashed in the light of candle and torch as they fed one another tidbits. Sometimes his lips nibbled near her fingertips, or his hand lingered near hers, occasionally caressing the back of a hand, brushing a wrist. Later in the evening, Alyce saw the two of them standing in a shadowed recess of one of the window embrasures, Ahern with one hand set on her waist and she with her face upturned to receive his chaste kiss, fingertips brushing at his chest.
«For someone who made little of our suggestion that she might really become our sister», Alyce said to Vera much later, in the room the three of them now shared, «it did look like the two of them were getting along rather well».
Vera laughed and wrapped a shawl more closely around her shoulders, settling down beside Alyce on the sheepskin rug before the fire.
«It did, indeed. I noticed them well after dinner, sitting in one of the window embrasures, just holding hands and looking into one another's eyes. I — uh — don't think they noticed me».
«I don't think they noticed much of anyone besides one another». Alyce picked up an ivory-backed brush and began brushing her hair, gazing into the fire.
«Oh, Vera», she said after a moment. «Six months ago, it was Zoë and I who were waiting for Marie to come in. I hope Zoë will be luckier in love».
«So do I», Vera replied. «I think Ahern is quite smitten. And I think Zoë would make him quite a wonderful duchess. Here, give me that and I'll brush». She took up the brush that Alyce surrendered and fell to, saying, after a moment, «What would you think of having two duchesses in the family?»
Alyce turned to stare at her twin, eyes wide. «Jared McLain?» she breathed. «Truly?»
«Well, it's early on, as yet», Vera said, smiling somewhat self-consciously, «but he does need a wife — and a mother for that baby boy of his. One would think he invented babies. At first, he spoke of little else — until he started asking about my family. Apparently, the daughter of a Lendouri knight would be well regarded in Kierney — and Cassan».
Alyce found herself containing a grin. «Well, Keryell was a Lendouri knight, among other things», she said. «And he would have approved of such a match for you, I feel certain». She cocked her head to one side. «Could you find contentment as Jared's countess, and eventually his duchess?»
«I think I could», Vera said softly. «He's very sweet and gentle — and he isn't at all as grand as I'd feared».
Giggling together, they sat there, gossiping and brushing one another's hair, for the best part of an hour before Zoë came tiptoeing in, quite flustered to discover that they were still awake.
«I'm not even going to ask», Alyce said, laughing, as Zoë dropped onto the sheepskins between them and reached for one of the cups of mulled wine set on the hearth. «We both saw you with Ahern earlier this evening».
«Well, I might have been with someone else», Zoë said slyly, gulping down some of the wine. «But I wasn't», she added with a grin.
She set down the cup and hugged her arms across her chest, closing her eyes in happy remembrance.
«We talked about Cynfyn, and Castle Coroth, and he asked me if I liked them. He told me about growing up with you and Marie — and Vera, I'd forgotten that you lived at Cynfyn for a while as well, after Alyce and Marie came to Arc-en-Ciel. He showed me the signet that the king gave him today, and asked if I'd like to try it on».
«Now, that sounds serious», Vera said, grinning. «He's only just got it, and already he's letting pretty girls try it on».
«Well, he will need a bride», Alyce said reasonably, «and the king told us in Coroth that he intends to marry off both of us soon. He thinks a great deal of your father, Zoë. That might make you quite an acceptable wife for a future duke».
«Do you really think so?» Zoë asked, wide-eyed.
«More unlikely things have happened», Alyce replied. «Remember when Marie and I asked whether you were campaigning to be our sister?»
«But, that was just in fun. I never dreamed…»
«Well, you may well dream tonight», Vera said, grinning as she poked Zoë in the ribs. «Alyce, you'll have to speak to that brother of yours, and make sure his intentions are honorable, where our dear Zoë is concerned. Dare we tell her about my prospect?»
As Zoë looked at her in question, Alyce slipped her arm around the other girl's shoulders and smiled.
«Zoë darling, it appears entirely possible that both of you may be duchesses someday».
Neither of the prospective dukes lingered long in Rhemuth. By mid-January, both had returned to their own lands to hold themselves in readiness for a war all hoped would not be necessary. Their prospective brides pined through the rest of the winter and into spring, though Alyce did her best to divert their energies into the activities of the court and the royal children.