Gorudo hammered one meaty fist against the arm of the throne to silence the room. Black, beady eyes regarded the collected noblemen; he sought out Liadon and Zirane, standing together in the corner, as alike as night and day. Where Zirane was tall, and slender, a pale ghost with a shimmering crown of red hair, rescued from the streets by a White Knight, as Gorudo himself had once been, but Liadon was bulky and built like a small fortress, dark and rough, the son of a minor house who actually showed some promise. He and Zirane appeared quite close, and there were some who whispered that they were lovers, but Gorudo needed only look into Zirane's watery blue eyes to see that his friendship with Liadon was but a means to some unknown end. A spider, Zirane was, with hands and weavings everywhere. Gorudo recognized in the orphaned young White Knight something of himself, and that was both intriguing and dangerous.

"I bring most grievous tidings to you today, my people," Gorudo spoke at last into the Hall. "News which has great consequence, both her in Matilda and afar, indeed, throughout Jowston." As he spoke, pitching his voice to fill the room, his mind didn't focus on the words. His entire speech had been carefully memorized so that it could be said autonomously of any actual effort from Gorudo; instead, his mind flowed along the paths and intricacies of his plans. His operatives in the south hadn't been in contact with him, which meant that something had happened to Nerus, or they really had gone over to the cult of the crazed 'Dragon Knight'. He frowned inwardly in distaste. It was either defection, then, or a serious disruption that he hadn't counted on. In either case, Nerus and his band now represented a random element; and therefore, so did Miklotov. But any plans could be changed.

"I have gathered from the most loyal of my subjects that the fealty of two of our number is in question." He feigned great sadness. "It saddens me greatly that I must announce this, but the people of Matilda must be kept safe, regardless of my personal feelings in any matter. Therefore, though it breaks my heart, I must openly accuse Camus, of the Red, and Miklotov, of the Blue, of treason against the Crown." There was an excited buzz through the crowd. Zirane's eyes flashed, and a faint smile danced about his lips. Liadon turned to the other White Knight to whisper to him excitedly; Zirane ignored him. "As I speak, I have reason to believe that the Lord Camus is in Two River, plotting treason and anarchy with forces the nature of which I do not know. Lord Miklotov has vanished from Rockaxe without a trace, along with a woman who has often created difficulty and spawned anarchy in this palace. Both are considered suspect in my eyes." The buzz rose, too much...he waited several minutes and then silenced the room once more.

"Nothing is writ in stone, people of Matilda," he cautioned them. "At this time I have only circumstantial evidence, and a great sadness in my heart should these tidings bear fruit. I will seek out Camus and Miklotov and I will learn the truth. But until that time, until their loyalty is once again free of all question, as I know it someday shall be, I judge them unfit to continue in their positions as commanders of the Red and White Knights. Until such time as the truth can be found out, I will install two interim commanders: Zirane Delamarque and Liadon Pwyll will serve in the capacity of commanders of the Blue and Red, respectively. Knights of Matilda, step forward and receive your honours!" As he spoke, Gorudo rose and stepped down to the tier of the dais directly beneath his throne, raising his sword above his head. Liadon and Zirane slid through the crowds that parted before them to the central aisle, and walked slowly towards their liege. Liadon could barely contain his excitement; his face was flushed, his eyes sparkled. Zirane was, as always, inscrutable.

They knelt before Gorudo and he touched them each twice, upon the shoulders, with the blade.

"Liadon, Zirane. This is a time of great uncertainty, not only for Matilda, but also for the Alliance. Your term of service shall be indefinite, and the burdens placed upon you shall be great. Will you accept these offices, though the path shall be rocky and hard? For the love of Matilda, will you accept?" He tried to sound as if the words meant something to him, and they did; to a point. But there was fidelity, and there was this...so many empty words and meaningless grandstanding. Loyalty was a quality not determined by words; it was something to be demonstrated, as Miklotov had failed to do.

"On my word," the two Knights replied in unison. Gorudo nodded to the page he had ordered, and he stepped forward to arrange the capes of Blue and Red about the shoulders of Zirane and Liadon.

"Rise, and take your places at my side." They arranged themselves beside the throne; Zirane to the right and Liadon to the left. Liadon's breath was coming fast, but Zirane was as still as marble. Gorudo once more lowered himself into the chair.

"This is a time of great uncertainty in the world," he repeated to the assembled nobles and courtiers. "But I urge you, people of Matilda, to stay strong and to stay loyal. This castle, Rockaxe, was cut from the very stones of the mountains, and we must be the same. Storms and water might wear the stone down, but the stone never surrenders, and in its strength is its victory, for as long as it remains true it can never be truly defeated. There is a difficult and winding road before us, but if we are as the stones of the mountains, we will prevail. Have trust in me, people of Matilda, and it shall not be misplaced." That was true. There was nothing next to Matilda in the heat of her king.

"But there are some amongst us who are not like the stone, who are weak and soft. These must be weeded out before Matilda can be strong." He clapped, and the doors to the Great Hall were flung open to admit a circle of White Knights, leading the incompetents who had let that Samurai past them. "As you all know, I was assaulted in this very hall by a barbarian warrior who somehow managed to gain access to my castle." Someone in the group of men began to groan. "These are the men who were entrusted with guarding the entrances to our castle, the seat of Matilda's power...her soul! And...and they failed. Though it grieves me, there is no place for incompetence and weakness here."

Gorudo rose once more, to tower over the assembly. "These men shall be stripped of their titles and their lands, and all their material wealth. They shall be left in the stocks for a period of three days, where their fellow men can bear witness to their failure. At the end of this period, they shall be escorted to the border of Muse, and cast out, never to return." He slowly scanned the audience. They were rapt, attentive. He'd won. He began to descend the dais, Zirane and Liadon a step behind him. "There will be strength in Matilda. We will be strong again." The men parted for him; he walked past as if he did not see. Some of the condemned were sobbing like children; he felt only disgust. The king of Rockaxe paused at the doorway and turned. "Strength will be rewarded, and weakness will be punished. Honour is a virtue, incompetence a sin." His eyes narrowed to tiny black slits. "There is much weakness in the world, but if we are strong we can overcome it. And, if need be, we shall excise it. Remember this, people of Matilda, as the thunderhead gathers."

The heralds blew one last fanfare as he and his two commanders left the Great Hall.

"I trust," Gorudo intoned as Liadon and Zirane followed him down the hallway, "that my confidence in you two will not be misplaced."

"My lord," Liadon cried, "never! On my oath, my service shall be above reproach!" "Liadon's words echo my thoughts," Zirane replied, his voice pitched low. "I am truly honoured."

"Excellent. Liadon, the warrior who assaulted me will be hunted, and found. If he ever returns to Rockaxe, you will put his head on a pike for my amusement. Assemble a group from among the Red to track him, even if he should leave Matilda. There will be no mistakes."

"Yes, my lord."

"Zirane. I have reason to believe that my life is in imminent danger from the machinations of Miklotov and Camus." He knew no such thing, of course...but with Nerus seemingly vanished and no word forthcoming, it would never hurt to be too prepared. "You will see to matters of palace security, and make sure that any plots against me are thwarted. I will not hold against you the mistakes of your predecessors against your record, but if another interloper with murderous intent gains access to my person, the penalty shall be placed entirely on you."

"My lord has no need for fear."

"Excellent." They paused at the doorway to Gorudo's room. "Send a page to me; I hunger. I believe you two will serve admirably. You are dismissed." He waved a thick-fingered hand as Zirane and Liadon bowed themselves out of his presence. He turned, and entered his chambers, loosening the white sash about his throat and unbuckling his sword belt. Last night's decanter of mulled wine still sat on his desk, next to a sheaf of paper, an inkwell, and a bag of gold coins.

If Liadon and Zirane were ostensibly only serving as temporary replacements for Camus and Miklotov, he would need to continue to present the pretense of seeking the truth. Rewards would be in order for their services, in that case. He had the rural estate he'd taken from the noble family some years ago...he recalled that they had had an upstart female child of some sort. From nowhere, the name 'Oulan' presented itself to him, and he chuckled at the memory. That would serve for Liadon. Zirane...Zirane saw things and thought in ways that Liadon did not. Zirane would require more thought.