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DerynifanK

March 17, 2024, 03:48:44 PM
Happy St Patrick's Day. Enjoy the one day of the year when the whole world is Irish.

Generosity: Epilogue

Started by revanne, June 15, 2017, 03:45:01 PM

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revanne

Link to previous chapter
http://www.rhemuthcastle.com/index.php/topic,2059.msg16665.html#msg16665


As the door closed, Kelson returned to his seat and gestured for Dhugal and Jatham to regain theirs. Serious now, he poured more wine, raised his cup in salute to Jatham and said softly, "Please give my heartfelt condolences to your lady, and tell her that she is always welcome back here at court."

"Thank you, Sire. I will tell her so, and she will appreciate the kindness. She fears to be the subject of gossip, though I keep assuring her that there is no need."

"Indeed not! And I will, of course, expect her to be at Christmas Court to help welcome my latest Earl."

Jatham nodded acknowledgement of the King's words without really registering what had been said. Then, realising by the King's expectant pause that a further response was needed, he tried, without success, to make sense of what he had heard. Tired and emotionally overwrought, his usual careful deference left him, and he lacked the energy to hide his exasperation at what could only be an ill-timed jest.

"God damn it, Kelson, don't play games!" As he heard the words leave his mouth, he felt sick as he realised his breach of protocol. Not daring to look at the king for fear of the steely anger in those grey eyes which he fully expected to see and considered he deserved, he slid forward as though to go to his knees. "I beg your indulgence, Sire, I..." he was beginning but was stopped as Kelson reached across and took a firm hold of his wrist to keep him in his seat. Shocked into jerking his head up, he was confused to see that Kelson looked as apologetic as he felt - kings couldn't be in the wrong, could they? - but there was no doubting the compunction in Kelson's voice.

"No, my friend, I beg your indulgence for giving you such a shock. But I think it is time you put the past behind you and learnt the true value I put on you. As king, there are few people whom I can entirely trust; you and this reprobate here are amongst them. I count you as a friend, and I truly would prefer it, if you would treat me as your friend when we are in private. Please believe me, there is no need for you to apologise."

Jatham recognised that Kelson was speaking from his heart, but it was not so easy to lay aside Prince Nigel's words to him when he had first begun to act as squire to the king. "He is a gentle Prince and will treat you kindly, but whatever he says to you, you must never, ever, forget that he is the King." He looked at Dhugal for reassurance and guidance, but there was no help to be had there; Dhugal was gazing moodily  around the room, although whether he was angry with Jatham or Kelson or both, Jatham found it  impossible to tell.

Kelson had no such doubts.

Dhugal, if you don't stop scowling, how do you think Jatham will accept a word I've just said? Unless, of course, you'd prefer that I  explain that he has been the subject of a wager between us? A wager which you have just lost.

Dhugal was forced to accept that the rebuke was justified, although the satisfaction in Kelson's mental tone in his final remark was infuriating. Slamming his shields down on his irritation at losing a wager on what  he had thought was a certainty, he did at least manage to stop glowering and added his reassurance.

"Aye, yon's just jumped up a wee bit further, that's all."

I can see the ring in my mind's eye.  Purest Cassani gold, I think it was you said? A rather lovely red gold, if I remember rightly?

Hmph


Kelson knew that he would enjoy crowing over Dhugal in the coming weeks, just as Dhugal had done in other wagers that he had won, but what had begun as a light-hearted jest would be poisoned if Jatham remained distressed. The immediate priority must be to reassure him that offence had neither been committed nor taken. Smiling at Jatham as he released his wrist, he deliberately lightened his tone.

"As a peer of the realm, it will be part of your role to question me, and I dare say that I deserve to be sworn at from time to time. Although the use of really bad language is reserved to my Dukes - well,  Alaric and Dhugal, and of course Graham, who was well taught by his father; Nigel generally reserves his epithets for pages and squires, as I daresay you remember all too well."

"All too painfully. God knows what he would have said had he been present a few moments ago."

"Sometimes I think that Nigel's training is a little too thorough. But on this occasion, given that it's more than ten years since you were my squire, you would have had nothing to fear. Nigel thinks very highly of you. I, though, would have been rightly roasted for my inept handling of what should have been a cause for celebration. I confess I sprang the news on you suddenly, but I thought you would take my meaning. Surely you must have realised, after all the glowing reports I have had from Duncan and Dhugal, that sooner or later I would make good my implication on your wedding day of restoring the Earldom of Kilshane."

But, I'm not of noble blood, and you have already been more than generous to Janniver and me,  S..." Jatham just managed to bite off most of the honorific.

"This is not about generosity, it's a reward for hard work and ability. Dhugal tells me that he already treats you as his deputy in your part of his Duchy, and it's only right to make that official. And at least in the short-term, I fear that it will increase your responsibility rather than your income. On a personal level it pleases me to be able to reward a friend, but that is not why I am doing this. I can't show anything which smacks of favouritism without provoking a hornets' nest of resentment at court,  nor would I insult your honour and integrity in such a way."

Jatham nodded his recognition of the truth of what the king was saying but still appeared dazed.

"Laying aside your personal worthiness for the honour, though that is not a negligible consideration, at least see the sense in my reasoning," Kelson continued in measured tones, but then burst out. "Bloody hell, Jatham, you must be the only person at court who I would have to argue into an honour!" 

"If you two have finished swearing at each other, maybe it's left to me to talk some sense!."

Ah, you're back with us, Dhugal, I see.

Aye, but only to reassure Jatham. I still say you cheated and shocked him into it.

Impugn the honour of your king, would you?

When he cheats, aye!

I'll admit to misjudgement - I was trying to surprise him with some good news --but go ahead and think the worst of me, if it makes you feel better.

"I can understand how you feel, Jatham," Dhugal continued as smoothly as if the outwardly silent interchange with Kelson had not happened. "I grew up expecting to be a human border earl, and then, for reasons that have little to do with any personal qualities, I find myself a Duke,  a Deryni, and with a bishop for my father. The truth is that Kelson needs you as much for what you are as who you are."

"I wouldn't put it quite so bluntly," interjected Kelson "but basically that's true. Two of the three non-royal Dukes in Gwynedd are now Deryni, and at least one prominent family in my service will sooner or later be revealed as Deryni - the fact that I'm telling you that is a measure of my trust. I need to show clearly that loyal, effective, human service to my crown will be rewarded. An end to persecution of Deryni does not mean a return to the abuses of the past. I need this to happen, but I want you to be happy about it too."

"I am your loyal servant, Sire, and your will is mine. And it is no less than Janniver deserves." Blinking away tears of emotion, Jatham suddenly smiled and added, "I trust that Janniver's father will get to hear of her new rank?"

Kelson's eyes narrowed, though he too smiled as he said, "You can trust me for that!" Pausing to savour the thought, he added, "There are a number of procedural issues that need to be sorted, but they can wait until the Autumn - and they mainly affect Dhugal and myself, so they are straightforward enough. Your allegiance will be owed directly to me rather than through Dhugal, but I see no reason why that should affect the way you work together. Your new rank will be ratified at Christmas Court..." but Kelson's words were cut off as, very deliberately, Jatham rose from his seat and dropped to his knees before the king. Nothing could have been further from his panicked attempt to kneel just a short time earlier; though his eyes were shining with tears, his head was held proudly high. Kelson wisely held his peace and waited for Jatham to speak, shooting a warning glance at Dhugal.

"To serve my King faithfully is all that I've ever desired, to be counted his friend is more honour than I would have dared to dream. So, Kelson, my Liege, let me beg this favour.  This will be done with ceremony at next Christmas Court and on other occasions in the future, but for this first time let me give you my fealty, here in private and simply, as man to man." So speaking, Jatham put his hands together and held them out towards his King.  Blinking back his own tears, Kelson leaned forward and enclosed Jatham's hands in his, and they exchanged the formal words of fealty, knowing that they sealed so much more than Jatham's new rank. As Jatham bowed his head to kiss the royal hands holding his, he was startled, but unafraid, to hear the King speak into his mind, Thank you, my friend, but the honour is mine. As Kelson's mind touched Jatham's, the simplicity of the other's loyalty was like a draught of spring water purging his own pride.

Dhugal had risen quietly and gone across to stand looking out of the window, ostensibly to avoid intruding on this personal moment, but in truth because he too was moved. Waiting until he had heard Jatham rise and giving his two friends, with whom he had shared the ceremony of knighthood, a few moments more to embrace, he turned and walked the few paces across the room to himself enfold Jatham in a joyful bearhug.

Well, that's humbled the pair of us, my lord King. You get your ring, but I'm thinking it's Jatham that deserves it.

As he regained his seat and gestured Dhugal and Jatham to theirs, Kelson struggled to regain his train of thought. He was grateful when Dhugal broke the mood by saying to Jatham.

"He's welcome to your fealty but he's no' having ma share of yon uisghe beatha".

Kelson Sent to Dhugal, I reckon we could all do with some now if it's as good as you say, then continued smoothly to Jatham,"Please assure Janniver that she need have no fear of tale-bearing tongues at court. She will be welcomed into the Queen's personal quarters, and Araxie and Meraude between them keep a close eye on those they know to have malicious tendencies. Believe me, few choose to cross my lady more than once, for all she is so gentle." Kelson made no attempt to hide his loving pride in his wife, and this glimpse of his obvious happiness gave real pleasure to Jatham, who had perforce been privy to the heartache of the King's earlier years.

I do need to warn you, though, that Rory will take the opportunity to be after your services, with my reluctant permission, since his gain is my loss. He has been asking that I spare you to give him help with overhauling the vice-regal chancery in Meara, now that his authority is firmly established there. A hundred years of insurrection have, in his words, 'Created almost as "bloody a mess in the chancery as it did on the battlefield!'".

"Please tell his Highness that I would be delighted."

"Somehow, I thought you might be. The frightening thing is that you actually mean it. And politically too, the support of a human Earl in the borders will be of benefit to Rory in Meara. Now..." Kelson rose to indicate that any discussion was finished, and Dhugal and Jatham rose with him. "Now, do please let Dhugal take you back through to Cassan, to set you on your way home. I'd feel much happier to know that you were with your wife, for the next few weeks at least. This is not an order, but it is a request from an old friend who cares deeply for you both."

Jatham did not trust himself to speak but nodded acquiescence, then hesitated, unsure of how much formality to use in leaving the royal presence, but was rescued by Dhugal who jumped in good humouredly, "Ye're no strictly speaking an earl yet, so ye'd best gi'e him a proper bow." Jatham noted that for all his jocularity Dhugal's own farewell bow combined respect with informality. Kelson nodded acknowledgement of their reverences and then went to open the door before ushering them through."I'll leave it to you and Dhugal to agree when you go, since I know that you will wish to leave everything in order here. Just don't leave it too long. Go with God, my friend." Thus saying, Kelson beckoned to Colin to come and clear away the wine and turned back into the inner room.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
(Psalm 46 v1)

Jerusha

A lovely conclusion.  Jatham deserves his honour, and Kelson has reinforced a loyal supporter.  And humans also need to rise within the ranks of Gwynedd, so all is well done.

There is more coming, yes?  :)
From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggity beasties and things that go bump in the night...good Lord deliver us!

 -- Old English Litany

DerynifanK

I so enjoyed this chapter. I had a suspicion that Kelson was going to make Jatham an earl as he indicated he would  at their wedding. I loved his explanation  of his reasoning. I see the need to tread carefully as Deryni resume their full place in society. Am looking forward to  more of this story line, And I still  want to know  who the ghost is and who will be the new Scola students. Also enjoyed the glimpse of Araxie' s role in the court. More please 😊
"Thanks be to God there are still, as there always have been and always will be, more good men than evil in this world, and their cause will prevail." Brother Cadfael's Penance

Laurna

Good chapter! I dare say Kelson's jest was a bit untimely, as poor Jatham had been emotionally on the edge for some time. But I love that Dhugal lost his Wager. I am thinking that Cassani gold signate ring will need an intricate engraving with the seal of The Earldom of Kilshane upon it, to be given properly to Jatham as it is he who deserves the reward for that bet. ;D

Question on alliances for baronies and earldoms that fall inside the lands of a duchy. Ultimately every one owes their fealty to the sovereign, but do they not look to the duke first as an inbetween to the king. Kilshane is on the coast between Cassan and Transha, does the earldom tithe goods or moneys to both duchy and kingdom? (not unlike paying local taxes, state taxes and federal taxes.) Or has this earldom just been made independent of Cassan?
May your horses have wings and fly!

DesertRose

Very nice epilogue, and I love the way Dhugal lost the wager!  (I suspected he eventually would, but I love the way it happened.)
"If having a soul means being able to feel love, loyalty, and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans."

James Herriot (James Alfred "Alfie" Wight), when a human client asked him if animals have souls.  (I don't remember in which book the story originally appeared.)

revanne

Quote from: Laurna on June 16, 2017, 12:08:45 PM
Good chapter! I dare say Kelson's jest was a bit untimely, as poor Jatham had been emotionally on the edge for some time.

As I wrote the story (and I changed it quite a lot) I imagined that Kelson had been intending a gentle, mildly teasing way of surprising Jatham with the news of his Earldom, as a positive way of ending what was always going to be an emotionally difficult meeting for Jatham, with all the bad memories which talk of Janniver's father would inevitably bring up. And if he managed to surprise a "Kelson", out of him, so much the better. He had not allowed for the added trauma of the baby's loss - which of course he didn't know about until the start of the previous meeting. More importantly,  I don't think Kelson gets that it has not crossed Jatham's mind that the mention of an Earldom for him was in any way serious - if he remembers it at all, it's just something kind that Kelson said at his wedding but not within the realms of possibility. Born to assured status, it's an understandable blind spot with Kelson that he doesn't really understand those who are less secure, something which I think comes out in his mishandling of Conall, with much more tragic consequences.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
(Psalm 46 v1)

revanne

Quote from: Laurna on June 16, 2017, 12:08:45 PM

Question on alliances for baronies and earldoms that fall inside the lands of a duchy. Ultimately every one owes their fealty to the sovereign, but do they not look to the duke first as an inbetween to the king. Kilshane is on the coast between Cassan and Transha, does the earldom tithe goods or moneys to both duchy and kingdom? (not unlike paying local taxes, state taxes and federal taxes.) Or has this earldom just been made independent of Cassan?

That's a good question - Demercia thought the same as you. I'm not sure to be honest, although for dramatic purposes I chose to make the new earl owe allegiance directly to the crown. I think there are some good arguments as to why it might be set up in that way though. The only earldoms I can think of in canon are Marley and Derry, which appear to owe allegiance directly to the crown, and Kierney which is a title borne by the heir to Cassan. I couldn't think of another earldom owing allegiance to a Duchy. And it emphasizes the point of loyal human service being rewarded by the Crown. Kelson has had trouble in the past with disloyal border Barons (Brice amongst others), and even in Transha loyalty to the Crown was not a foregone conclusion. The historical movement in Gwynedd over the centuries has been bring allegiances more directly to the Crown.

The counter-argument is of course, as you say, that  Kilshane is entirely enclosed, as far as land borders go, by Cassan and that there would be a loss of revenue to the Duchy. I am sure that Kelson has discussed this fully with Duncan and Dhugal.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
(Psalm 46 v1)

DesertRose

Quote from: Laurna on June 16, 2017, 12:08:45 PM
Question on alliances for baronies and earldoms that fall inside the lands of a duchy. Ultimately every one owes their fealty to the sovereign, but do they not look to the duke first as an inbetween to the king. Kilshane is on the coast between Cassan and Transha, does the earldom tithe goods or moneys to both duchy and kingdom? (not unlike paying local taxes, state taxes and federal taxes.) Or has this earldom just been made independent of Cassan?

It seems like in the real world, there are a few families with multiple titles, as: Father is Duke or Marquess of [Estate A], Eldest Son is Earl of [Estate B], and sometimes Eldest Son's Eldest Son is Viscount or Baron [Estate C].  It seems like these families are usually either royal/related to the royal family or very wealthy or both.  I would think in most cases, probably fealty and taxes are generally owed directly to the crown, even in the cases of multiple titles within the same family, such as Kierney and Cassan (and now Transha) all being in the MacArdry McLain line.  Or possibly there are separate duties owed to an intermediate overlord/lady in addition to those owed to the crown?

But I'm just a Yank, no expert.  ;)
"If having a soul means being able to feel love, loyalty, and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans."

James Herriot (James Alfred "Alfie" Wight), when a human client asked him if animals have souls.  (I don't remember in which book the story originally appeared.)

DerynifanK

I remember from KKB that Kelson intended to make Jatham an earl but Nigel suggested that he should be allowed to prove himself as a baron first. He has done much more than that and is more than deserving of the earldom. Kelson not only won his wager, Jatham actually said his name twice.
I also really like the balance of humans supporting the  education of deryni at the schola and deryni supporting the education of humans at Grecotha. I forsee a peaceful and happy future for Gwynedd. Wish we had a Kelson. A wonderfully constructed story. Loved it!
"Thanks be to God there are still, as there always have been and always will be, more good men than evil in this world, and their cause will prevail." Brother Cadfael's Penance

Evie

Quote from: Laurna on June 16, 2017, 12:08:45 PM

Question on alliances for baronies and earldoms that fall inside the lands of a duchy. Ultimately every one owes their fealty to the sovereign, but do they not look to the duke first as an inbetween to the king. Kilshane is on the coast between Cassan and Transha, does the earldom tithe goods or moneys to both duchy and kingdom? (not unlike paying local taxes, state taxes and federal taxes.) Or has this earldom just been made independent of Cassan?

Cited from p. 35 of The Deryni Adventure Game:  "Counties are held as part of a dukedom or received directly from the king.  'Earl' is the typical title in Gwynedd, Meara,  and occasionally in Howicce and Llannedd,  while 'Count' is used in other kingdoms like Bremagne and Torenth.  County holdings range widely in size and influence."  The same page also says "Baronies tend to be smaller holdings, usually in fealty to either a duke or earl/count, but occasionally held directly from the king. Some areas, like Meara, are primarily made up of baronies."  It also discusses nobility who hold estates that have no inherent titles associated with them (Lords and Ladies who have no higher title than that), and says that anyone with the title of Lord or Lady holds at least the equivalent of baronial rank, even though they might not have the extensive lands attached to that title. 

So it appears that Kelson could have chosen to have Jatham's fealty continue to be through Dhugal, but he chose to receive it directly instead once Jatham becomes an Earl. And I'm sure a lot of discussion and careful deliberation took place behind the scenes before any final decision was reached about Jatham's transference of direct fealty.
"In necessariis unitas, in non-necessariis libertas, in utrisque caritas."

--WARNING!!!--
I have a vocabulary in excess of 75,000 words, and I'm not afraid to use it!

drakensis

Transha and Eastmarch are counties owning fealty to the king (tenants-in-chief was the historic term in our world). Earl of Rhendall is a secondary title of the Duke of Claibourne, traditionally held by the Duke's heir. Culdi and Carthane are also counties owing direct fealty to the king, although slightly complicated in that by Kelson's time they're held by junior branches of the Haldanes.

It's very possible that the domains of a lord are made up of a number of estates that may not have continguous borders, as was the case in our world by the late medieval era.

revanne

I had forgotten Transha, which was very foolish of me. But that is a very good model for Kilshane.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
(Psalm 46 v1)

revanne

I am working on the stories of some of the Schola students who will benefit from  the Kilshane Bequest, and who will be involved with the ghost at Valoret   So yes more to come but I am a slow writer.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
(Psalm 46 v1)

Laurna

#13
Quote from: revanne on June 18, 2017, 01:37:52 PM
I am working on the stories of some of the Schola students who will benefit from  the Kilshane Bequest, and who will be involved with the ghost at Valoret   So yes more to come but I am a slow writer.
Oh yes, I am still very curious about Duncan's Ghost of Valoret.  Love, love to hear more. P.S. I am the master of slow writer's guild, you can happily join my guild at any time, to the frustration of the readers. LOL.

I have been giving some thought to the lay of the land, so to say. Who owes fealty to whom. Now you must know that this is only my own conclusions, I do not have much knowledge on real world peerages or how they line up. So please correct me if I am wrong.

In King Kelson's early reign around 1128 (I am presuming he is going to have a very long successful reign),  I have accounted for eight Duchies of Gwynedd: Carthmoor, Cassan, Claibourne, Corwyn, Haldane, Laas(Meara), and Travlum.
The Duchies of Haldane, Carthmoor, Laas, Ratharkin and Travlum are held by members of the royal family.

I can find sixteen Earldoms of Gwynedd: Carcashale, Carthane, Cloome, Culdi, Derry, Eastmarch, Jenas, Kierney, Kilarden, Kheldour, Lendour, Marley, Pelagog, Rhendall, Transha, and Sheele.

Three earldoms are not current peerages in 1128: Kilshane in which the title became extinct in 948 and re-granted by King Kelson after 1128(Which is the subject of this wonderful story); Tarleton which was revived as barony after 948; and Fintan which was escheated to the crown in 983.

On the subject of an Earldom's independence from a Duchy, as Evie has documented,  I am thinking that the earldoms all were originally independent lands, owing their fealty directly to the king. However, over time, as the dynamics of families change, with family lines ending and marriages changing the control of lands through dowries, I can see where the duchies begin to move the earldoms under their wider and wider spreading arms. It then becomes a question of how much land a family has the influence to successfully control.

I am correcting this list of the duchies of Gwynedd and their subsidiary titles in the year 1128 from the continued contributions of following posts. Thank you everyone.

Royal duchies:
Haldane
Carthmoor
Ratharkin
Travlum

Non royal duchies:
Cassan: Kierney, Transha
Clairbourne: Kheldour
Corwyn: Lendour
Laas: Kilarden

So yes, I do believe that when King Kelson upgrades Kilshane from a Barony to an Earldom that it will become independent of Cassan. This is indeed a huge step upward in the ranks of nobility for Jatham. It is no wonder that Jatham was completely taken back by Kelson's jest.  Revanne, I love your explanation of Kelson thinking ahead of time to make it a "mild teasing" and "positive way of ending" their meeting.  And Jatham seeing it as an utter impossibility and surprise.

It means much that Duke Dhugal willingly sponsored the Baron of Kilshane to rise to the status of Earl. Regardless,  I am thinking Cassan will request some form of compensation from the crown for using what in modern terms would be considered a compulsory purchase (UK) or an eminent domain (USA) of the duchies land by the crown.  For the sake of maintaining and rewarding loyalties, I can see it happening.   

When you are ready, More Please!
May your horses have wings and fly!

drakensis

Carthane is held independently of Carthmoor by a different branch of the Haldanes (and in current granting is the older title). The Pirek-Haldanes descend from Cluim Haldane's younger son, who renounced his claim to the throne of Gwynedd in order to wed a ducal heiress in Howicce. When he died, his titles in Gywnedd went to his younger son.

I was surprised to see Kheldour but you're right: the Earldom of Rhendall, which I thought was the heir's title, is actually a separate branch of the MacEwans and has been since 948, with Kheldour as the heir's title. (Eastmarch and Marley are held by MacEwan descendants but in the female line, thus Howell/Varian and Coris.

It's not clear if Cloome is subordinate to Laas - it seems unlikely. It's certainly not held by the Ramseys, as Laas and Kilarden are due to Kelson's grants.

It's an interesting note on Carthmoor while I think about it - it seems that this Duchy, but only this one, isn't inheritable through the female line. Araxie's father was Duke of Carthmoor, but on his death it reverted to the crown and was granted to Nigel, whereas Culdi went to Araxie's elder sister. This doesn't seem to be the case for other duchies - Cassan and Corwyn have both had succession through the female line twice - so it may be a peculiarity of House Haldane for 'royal' duchies (the same happened with Travlum) - which would make some degree of sense in order to keep the most powerful holdings of the royal family from entirely leaving the Haldane control.