his black robe spinning tightly around his feet. “You hear that? Some of the most powerful nobles in the land have arrived. What should I tell them, Finn?” The healer shrugged and he put his head down.
The Bishop realized he had taken out his irritation and his own apprehension on the pitiful healer. “Just sit there and keep quiet, and try to act like you know what you’re doing. I will try and placate them as best I can and buy us a little more time if possible.” The royal surgeon sadly nodded his agreement.
Through the door came three men. The first was the Lord of all Eastern Bandara, Galen Bradford. Bradford was tall and thin. He wore very light chainmail under a green woolen tunic with three rampant griffins in red. The Bradford Family was one of the older families in Bandara. The men of the family had two choices when they came of age: join the priesthood or become a knight. Galen had chosen the latter.
The second man was one of the biggest landowners in Bandara, Lord Stuart Kaspar. His family was rich, even by the nobility’s standards; they owned vast tracts of land given to them by the crown during the reign of the Phoenix Queen. He had the largest number of serfs in the Kingdom; their farmlands fed the realm. He was short and very heavy. His face was covered by a full beard. Even though it was warm in the palace, he was dressed in ermine from head to toe.
The third was Lord of all Northern Bandara, Tobias Fox. Fox was a short man with blondish red hair and a well-groomed beard. He wore a simple leather gambeson. He came from a long line of fighting men, but the family was not a noble one in the beginning. Near the end of the Phoenix Queen reign, his family had been granted their nobility because of their skill at arms.
The Bishop greeted each Lord in turn. “my lords, let us get down to business.” If this had been a normal meeting of the council, Lyfair would have said a prayer before it started, but considering the circumstances he thought it inappropriate.
The young priest brought chairs in so everyone could sit down. “That will be all, Father Bindel.” The young priest nodded to the Bishop and closed the door to the room. Three of the most powerful men in the country sat before Bishop Lyfair. They were expecting him to tell them that the King was dead and things were moving forward, instead he had to explain why the old man was still alive and Prince Cain was not about to be coronated.
“Gentlemen, I’m glad you could come.”
Lord Bradford cut him off, “Forget the pleasantries, Lyfair; I heard the King was still alive and doing a little better I might add. Perhaps you can make us understand why we are still waiting to hear of his demise?”
They were not even using his title any more or even “Your Eminence,” they were addressing him like he was any other man. Why should he expect them to show any respect for his office? Regicide was not listed as a virtue in the Holy Tome.
“Yes, I agree with Bradford,” Lord Kaspar said. “I was told this business would be over in a very short time, I was told the King had one foot in the grave and the good healer was kicking the other out from under him.” Kaspar wiped the sweat from his fat face and when on. “I have made certain promises to members of our community, and they won’t be put off much longer. I mean really how long does it take for an old man to die?”
Lyfair raised his hands. “my lords, I have been assured by Lord Selmac that the King has just a matter of days to live. Sometimes people show a false improvement right before the end. I’m correct about that aren’t I, Lord Selmac?”
The healer bowed his head in agreement. “After King Aaron’s death and the new King is crowned, Bandara can once again prosper and we will all have what we want. I urge you all to have just a little more patience.”
Lord Bradford scoffed. “We have been very patience and given you more than enough time to conclude your end of the arrangement; I’m beginning to lose faith in you, Lyfair.”
The Bishop could feel his contempt for the Lords rising in his chest, but he held his temper. “I assure