Within the audience hall, a wide, long table that took up the intire length of the room set to one wall, has been placed. And upon it, as the week of festivities for Isidore's coranation went by, gifts began to appear. Set atop the table, dangling over it, placed beneath and hung on the wall behind.
Gifts of incrediable oppulance and splendor. From around the world they came, envoys bringing them forth with a florish and the best wishes of their own rulers. As well as...in many cases...the most cordialy placed pleas that their own countries avoid catching the eye and attention, of Barbarus. For it was well known that Barbarus was a great power....And with a new king finaly on the throne, fears ran rampant in castles and noble homes of other nations, that Barbarus would live up to it's bloodthirsty history.
The most fantasticaly extravagant gift however, stood next to the table, it would have broken the great long oak slabs if set atop...and had taken a huge sled on rollers, to even get INTO the audience hall.
The statute stood a full six feet high. And was set on a pure silver base, that reflected the flames shooting from the dragon's mouth. It was incrediable, marvelous in design and artistry. The pains the artist went through, to create such a gift, could almost be felt, as it was gazed upon. And it must have taken not months, but a year or more, before it was finished.
And it was...quite obviously...a bribe. Zackfare, ((YES, I'm finaly giving a name to the western country*L*)) had fought border skirmishes with Barbarus, for over twenty years. For almost the intirety of all the Brother's lifetimes thus far, Zackfare had been a constant thorn in the side of Barbarus. And fourteen years ago, had taken a large chunk of lands at the border, pushing such further east, in Zackfare's own favor. For political and financial reasons, their father the old king, had not been able to resolve the matter. Now though, with "The Dragon" as he was known, seated on the throne at last...This gift was an obvious ruse, a ploy to stroke the ego of Isidore, and garner favor, and continued lack of any attempt to take back the lands that were lost.
Of all the nations that had a right to fear Barbarus, Zackfare was the most obvious. But, it was not a weak nation itself. Oh eventualy it would fall to a direct attack, steadily seen through, from Barbarus. But that would involve outright war. And few nations, even one as bloody as Barbarus was known to be, desired war if it could be avoided.
The taxing of the land and it's people, and countless lives lost, were heavy prices for victory. But the threat of, and insults from, as well as loss of Barbarus land to Zackfare...All would, if war came, lay blame for it, soley on Zackfare's own shoulders.
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That matter aside though, mixed in with the finery of gifts from Barbarus nobility and the royals and nobles of other countries, there were simpler ones as well. Those such as the common people of Barbarus herself, could afford to offer up to King Isidore. Only those free-born, or holding their papers of emancipation could give a gift, and certainly the majority of them were far too poor to afford such, as much as they might wish to. But from the merchant class, and wealthy commoners of other honorable occupations, came simpler gifts, the finest they could offer. Such paled in comparison with that given from royalty and nobility...but...the people of Barbarus were a prideful lot...And each in turn, gave their best to their king.
And somewhere, settled amoungst that more simpler pile...was one of the gifts from the man who though he bore the title of a Count now, still in his heart was a ranger yet. A man of the wild woods and fields of Barbarus, who loved it's lands with fierce devotion. And...who had humbly accepted with gratitude...the friendship of Isidore himself.
The gift was set within a simple wooden box, though well sanded and polished to a sheen. Bound up with a gold ribbon and bow.
A finely made drinking horn, such as would be used on a hunt. It was crafted from the horn of a great ox, and Gregorick himself had spent tireless hours carving the etchings and design,into the surface of the horn, then rubbing rich brown stain into such, until his fingers near bled from the work. This then, was the gift from the ranger...A gift fitting'ly given. And offered with the hopes that Isidore might have many opportunites to use it, to enjoy the freedom and excitement of the hunt.
And the gift from the Count? It hung upon the wall, behind the gift table itself.
It was framed beautifuly, finely polished and then stained, bronzed red cherry wood, formed the frame around the like'ness of Isidore. It was not a work of a master artist, anyone can see that. But somehow, Gregorick had found within the short breath of time between the announcement of the coranation date, and now...Someone with real talent, though unschooled, to paint a portrait of Isidore...And from memory alone, for the King had not sat for anything such as this. But he might recall those robes, and the day he'd worn them while the old king yet lived, out on a public event. Whomever had painted the portrait, clearly remembered that event, and him...And had captured the look of deep concentration that they had seen, upon his features. Even then, though the artist may or may not have recognised what it was exactly that they portrayed even as they painted...even then, the weight of his destiny, could be seen in his eyes and the grimly determined set of his features.
Each gift was given by Gregorick, each in turn reflected a different part of himself, and of how he viewed Isidore, as well. The ranger...who hoped Isidore would have more opportunities in the future, to get away and enjoy time in the company of comrades or in solitude, away from the demands of the Court and the Land...And the Count, who recognised what the artist had portrayed...And who respected such, as all must, the burden and sacrifces that came with the Crown.
Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:47 pm