The Transfer of Power

[King Sedrick Carlisle]

The Court was set to depart for Twinport in two days, relocating for the purpose of the Great Joust and the conclusion of the Summer Festival. Before then, Sedrick intended to drop the news of his intention to begin the transfer of power from himself to his son and heir. Sending pages to summon the Dukes and Councillors in the encampment to attend him in the clearing, the King dressed with great care. Though this was not the official announcement or visible transfer, it was still a formal occasion. With the aid of his valet, he donned a summerweight doublet of blue trimmed in gold and allowed the man to drape the chain of his rank in place before accepting the formal crown.

Making his way to the clearing, he seated himself in the thronelike chair in anticipation of the meeting. In a way, Sedrick was relieved to begin the transition of rulership to Riordan. He needed a chance to relieve some of the burden for the good of his health, and in naming Riordan Regent, those who questioned the heir's readiness and reform would see first hand. Mistakes would be made, of course, but he had mounting faith that his eldest son would handle the consequences adequately. And he would be present should anything truly dire take place. It was a slow and steady transfer, one he himself had not had and wished otherwise.

The Council and Dukes would have plenty to say, though he was privately glad he had already loosed the news on the Duke of Twinport. It would spare the furniture. The thought brought a slight smile to the King's lips as he bolstered himself against the onslaught of reactions. Those summoned would arrive shortly, and then it would begin. It was time.

Lord Spencer Lancaster, Lord Hadrian Jardinier, Lady Mariana Jardinier, Lord Jasen de Winter, Lady Carissa de Vere, Lady Samantha Rose, Lord Edward Carlisle, Lord Nathaniel Easton, Prince Riordan Carlisle, Prince Tristan Carlisle, Lord Rupert de Vere

[Prince Riordan Carlisle]

Instead of his usual style, he decided to be one of the first to arrive at the meeting. After all, it pertained to him and several questions (or accusations) were going to be levied in his direction. Thus, he wanted to give the impression that he was taking this most seriously. The man was cleaned up and dressed well for the encounter. A more sardonic thought flitted through his mind that he felt as though he had been dressed for the kill.

As he made his arrival, he bowed with respect to the King and took his place. Every muscle in his body wanted to be tense, but he forced himself to relax. There was no need to look like a statue, but neither was there a need to look like a cloth doll. So many things were passing through his mind. He had to look right. He had to act right. He had to speak correctly. Indeed, he was beginning to trip himself up.

Then he thought of Selena and her serenely calm smile. It, in turn, made him smile. All he had to be was himself. Indeed, that was all he could be.

[Lord Spencer Lancaster]

Informed of the King's summons, Spencer arrived with nary a clue as to the nature of the forthcoming discussion. He had taken the time to change into a clean doublet and ensure he looked impeccable, his valet hastily brushing the dust from his trousers and boots as the Duke donned his signet ring after washing face and hands. Satisfied that he looked proper, he indicated the page should lead him to where the King desired to meet, keeping pace with the child easily as they wound down a path into the woods.

A brow raised, but he had heard that the King was holding more private meetings in the clearing rather than his pavilion. It cut down on the likelihood of eavesdroppers and spies, and allowed those patrolling the area to apprehend any potential mischiefmakers. Spencer carried a dagger, but left his sword behind, knowing it was improper to carry the blade in the King's presence. As they approached the clearing, he heard the subtle sounds of others already present and stepped into the clearing to see both King and Crown Prince.

He bowed respectfully to the King, reserving a more shallow bow for the Prince. "I am here as you requested, my liege. Your Highness."

[Lady Samantha Rose]

Samantha was admittedly intrigued with the summons. The last meeting had ended in something akin to an explosion. How would this one go? And just what did the King want to talk about? She certainly had no idea. She also had no solutions to offer regarding the issue with the Fyodorovs. It was Samantha's hope that the king had something of an update regarding that, as well. She forced herself to stop speculating. There was little point to it.

The gown was similar to one she wore at the meeting with the ladies. It was a flowing dress of white with traces of pink and red here and there. The best description a cross between a rose and something akin to a willow tree. She had taken to liking the more loose-fitting and flowing clothing. It was certainly not the typical fashion expected of Demerians, but she did not care. She was not one to be like others and she never would be. Even her hair was being being worn down, but it was pulled back in with a stylish, flower shaped clasp.

She seemed to drift into the meeting area and offered a graceful curtsy to the King. "Your Majesty." She stated demurely. She then offered a lighter curtsy to the prince and took her seat. A small smile and a nod of greeting was sent Spencer's way.

[Prince Tristan Carlisle]

Walking into the clearing to join those already there for this meeting, Tristan bowed toward those present, then took his seat. If the last meeting was anything to go by, those present would have plenty to say, though this time he was hoping not to make a misstep like the last. He had…overreacted would perhaps be a good word, but this time there’d be, hopefully, no reason for him to do so, or at least he hoped he’d be better at holding his tongue when needed.

For now, though he’d wait and see what was going to happen, consider his choices and, perhaps it was time to speak with his father concerning his own request as well. He wondered how it would be taken, but for now kept quiet, waiting for everyone to gather and deciding watching and learning was going to be the better part unless asked to speak. It proved helpful once, perhaps it will so again.

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

Carissa arrived in answer to the King's summons, a little breathless from the haste put on to prevent tardiness. She took a moment to smooth her golden skirts and chestnut hair, then glided with flushed cheeks into the clearing. A curtsy greeted the King first and foremost, then one to the Princes before she extended cordial nods to her fellow Dukes. Having satisfied courtesy and etiquette, she went to sit near Samantha and await the remaining arrivals.

Lord St. Claire was noticeably absent, but she knew he'd whisked Marisa off to Twinport to prepare for the descent of the Court on his duchy. A faint smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, wondering just how Marisa was handling the challenges laid before her in the proposed test. She would have dispatch a letter to her cousin after this. Bringing her mind back to the moment, she counted Spencer Lancaster and Samantha Rose in addition to herself, but the Jardiniers were missing, as was Lord de Winter. Trusting they would be along shortly, she prepared to wait and discover what the King intended to announce.

[Lord Jasen de Winter]

Arriving to the clearing indicated in the summons, Jasen had to admit to mild curiosity. There were several possibilities as to why this meeting was called, but he was assuming he’d find out once everyone was in their places, and it seemed this time he was among the last to arrive. Bowing to those present as was appropriate with a slight smile, he took one of the available seats, preparing to listen and note who was yet to come.

Of those there were few, but those he already could see were all more or less familiar, both through encounters and brief meetings such as this one. To the back of his mind, he missed Katalin’s presence – she had been at the last meeting, but was unlikely to arrive to this one, and focused to the present with a barely there shake of his head, glancing to the members of royal family present so far. A few minutes and the remaining arrivals later would tell what the meeting entailed.

[Lady Mariana Jardinier]

Noting with slight amusement that she and Hadrian were among the last arrivals, Mariana nonetheless greeted the gathering with a curtsy as was appropriate to their stations and found a seat next to her husband. She had an idea of what it was about, but for the time being chose to keep her silence. Hadrian, as well, had been filled in on the most recent meeting of the family’s, and she didn’t think it at all wrong to do so.

Now it seemed like the time had come to official announcement for the rest of the Dukes, and those of the Council, and thus the formal gathering in this clearing. A gentle smile and bow of her head in greeting to those she was familiar with was given while she waited for the remainder to join them and she wondered how they would take the news that were no doubt about to be imported by the King. This time though she expected the meeting to go more or less smoothly, though time itself would tell whether it will be so.

[Lord Nathaniel Easton]

The page did not find him immediately as he had been walking amongst the merchants who set up a makeshift marketplace just beyond the northern border of the encampment to lure the nobles and servants out, tempting them with the little luxuries and necessities that made their temporary home more endurable. Nathan wanted to ensure that fair trading was occurring, and that all was in order. Approached by the breathless child, he excused himself from the discussion in which he was engaged to follow to the clearing.

It felt... odd to approach the exalted gathering, stepping into the clearing silently to bow with respect to first the King, and then the Crown Prince. Normally, his father would be the one in attendance, but no more. Lord Easton had gladly entered retirement, deferring to his son as his replacement as Master of Trade. Now it rested on Nathan's shoulders. Determined to succeed, he bowed his head cordially to those already gathered before moving to a place out of the way and waiting to hear why they were gathered.

[Lord Hadrian Jardinier]

Hadrian somewhat knew what to expect thanks to his wife. They had an equal partnership that had flourished and grown through the years of their marriage. They played off of one anothers flaws and merits. Where Hadrian was less adept at social cues and niceties, Mariana excelled in it along with other such things. They fit together like a puzzle and he couldn't have asked for a better wife. Then again, he was rather biased but the fact that she was adored by a majority of those that worked within the duchy spoke for itself. Making sure his wife was settled before taking the seat beside her, Hadrian waited for things to begin.

[Lord Edward Carlisle]

Edward had been a tad complicated for the page to find as he had been all over the place. No real reason for it except to stave off the growing boredom that came with being a youth. As if he didn't have enough to do with all the new responsibilities and duties that now fell to him. Truth was, the man just liked to keep busy. Of course, this meant that he was among the absolute last to arrive. Well, he was here now and he supposed a meeting in a clearing made sense. He doubted it would be very comfortable to be in a pavilion with all these people, body heat, mouth breathers and all that. Casting aside the inane thoughts as he made his greetings and found himself a place to settle, Edward waited to see what was on the agenda this time.

[King Sedrick Carlisle]

Satisfied that all who needed to be present were, the King levered himself from his chair and swept the clearing's circumference with a cool, steady gaze. The faces gathered were some of the finest in the realm, some bound to him by blood, others bound by oath and loyalty. He stood straight and calm before he spoke, his voice ringing to reach each pair of ears.

"My lords and ladies, thank you for joining me. I have gathered you for a single purpose, one that I trust will not surprise any of you. As each of you are aware," the King smiled tiredly, "I have not been well. My illness is such that my physician feels that I must spend more time resting and less time under the strain of rulership before it brings me to an untimely end. Consequently, I have agreed, and as such, I am naming my son, Prince Riordan, as Regent of Demeria." It was a transition, he knew, one that might ease some of them past the shock of his increasing infirmity, and prove to them that Riordan was worthy to reign as King when Sedrick descended into death.

"He has my blessing in this, and you will heed him as you do me. He has my complete confidence," Sedrick glanced to his son then, "As such, he will now be the one to whom you go with petitions, concerns and matters of the day-to-day workings of the Kingdom. Should something arise that requires my unique attention, I will of course be available to deal with it, but I expect that there is little Riordan cannot handle."

He smiled then, almost grimly. "Rest assured, nobles all, I will be watching and listening as the next weeks transpire. I trust all of you to make this transfer of power a smooth one. If there are questions, pose them now. I will answer them. If not, then I thank you all for your time." Sedrick lowered himself back into his chair and bowed his head cordially to them, bracing himself for what was to come, if anything.


Lord Spencer Lancaster, Lord Hadrian Jardinier, Lady Mariana Jardinier, Prince Riordan Carlisle, Lord Nathaniel Easton, @samatha, Lady Carissa de Vere, Lord Jasen de Winter, Lord Edward Carlisle, Prince Tristan Carlisle, Lord Rupert de Vere

[Lord Spencer Lancaster]

Spencer was in no way taken aback by the announcement; if anyone was surprised by the King's decision in light of recent circumstances, he would wonder why. The King's health was on the decline, and in the past month or two, the Crown Prince's redemption had thus far proven sincere. There were the makings of a potential good King in Riordan, and thanks to his Selena, the young man bid fair to be a credit to his bloodline and legacy.

He bowed slightly in acknowledgment of the King's words, and then again to Riordan in respectful support. He could do no less, though Spencer remained aware that if ever there was a time for chaos to strike, they were about to encounter it. Prepared to remain vigilant, he offered no commentary. None had been invited, really, and what was there to be said?

A new chapter was about to open in the history of Demeria.

[Prince Riordan Carlisle]

Once the words had an opportunity to settle, Riordan spoke in turn. "It is my honor and privilege to serve as your Regent, especially during this difficult time. It has not been easy on any of us, but my father and I agree that it is time to start moving forward." He paused a moment, "I have met with some of you in person, but not all of you. I would like to rectify that. Please know that you can come to me with your comments, complaints and grievances.

"It is my desire to work side by side with all of you rather than above you, unless I deem it necessary." They were all adults. They understood under which circumstances a more top-down approach to leadership would be necessary. From what he could see, however, the dukes were managing their duchies just fine... even if some were being more reclusive than others.

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

Standing to one side, Carissa's face remained calm and serene. The announcement came as no surprise to her; if anything, she was surprised it took so long. The King's health was in decline, though admittedly, she had to concede that Sedrick was wise to see if his son could reform and stick to it. Thus far, everything she observed and heard by way of gossip confirmed that there was the makings of a King in the Crown Prince. Time would tell whether that was true, but the transition was thankfully a gradual one.

With a nod to the words of both Carlisle men, Carissa had little to say, though there was sure to be a confabulation later with her fellow Dukes and Duchesses on the matter. Opinions were likely being formed one way or the other.