The trumpets blared and the huge doors swung slowly open, revealing a small, neatly turned-out boy accompanied by his parents. His father wore a black long coat reaching halfway down his thighs over a deep blue shirt and black breeches while his mother sailed beside him in a sapphire-studded deep emerald gown.
Jayhan, wedged between his parents, trod resolutely down the length of the audience chamber, his eyes lowered to avoid meeting anyone’s gaze. When they reached the dais, Maud gave a low graceful curtsey while the two males bowed deeply as they stood before King Gavin whose eyes, once more, were twinkling benignly. Next to him, the herald thumped his gold staff twice on the floor and announced sonorously, “Jayhan Batian, accompanied by his parents, the Lady Maud Batian and Lord Sheld
