Assemblée des Barons

Political event

Nouvel An, à Londinium. A l'invitation du Collègue Suprême, tous les seigneurs de Bretagne, et les prélats du clergé, sont conviés à Londres pour un tournoi afin de déterminer le prochain haut Roi.

New Year's Day, in London. A convocation of British lords and church officials have called for a tourna­ment to be held in London. The winner will be declared to be High King.   This tournament is one of the first to be held in Britain. Most of the nobles will call it a "French thing." Some will mock it for its non lethal nature, while others will praise it for the same reason. The rules are :   1. Blunt Weapons Only.   2. Every lord for himself. Each lord will have his own followers. Whoever is the last to leave the field will be declared the winner.   Anyway, the tournament is never finished. The melee is interrupted by the crowd shouting, “The Sword! The Sword!" and everyone dashes away, abandoning the fight, to see what is going on.   Upon entering the already crowded court of Saint Paul's cathedral the knights see three men standing by the sword in the stone: an old knight, a young knight, and a squire. The sword is stuck into the stone and anvil, as always. Merlin the Magi­cian stands patiently nearby, with Arch­bishop Dubricus. A crowd of noblemen shove their way about, each trying to get another turn to pull out the sword. All fail. The crowd gets surly, and at last someone cries, "Let the boy try!" It is taken up by everyone: "Let the boy try!"   The squire, Arthur steps up to the sword, and with a flourish pulls the sword out and brandishes it overhead. Celestial trum­pets blare, a beam of light shines down from above, and a dove and eagle fly up­ward in a spiral.   "Who is that boy?" shouts someone. The old knight, Ector, steps forward.   "This is Arthur, squire to my good son Sir Kay," he says.   "What?" bellows King Lot, "Are we to be ruled by a beardless bastard?"   Most of the greater barons and out­land kings express similar astonishment and disbelief   But many lesser noblemen swear loy­alty instantly. Among those who swear immediately are: King Leodegrance, of Cameliard, Sir Ector, Arthur's stepfather, Sir Kay, Arthur's step brother, Sir Hervis de Revil, a famous but lan­dless knight, Prince Lanceor of Estregales, son of the King of Estregales, Sir Brastias, a famous knight, and many others.   King Lot laughs contemptuously, the Duke of Gloucester registers indignant righteousness, and others join them to deny the fact. The crowd grows surly, voicing resentment against the nobles and threatening to riot. Before trouble breaks out Merlin and Dubricus calm the crowd, and announce that they will hold another contest, with anyone who wishes to try to pull the sword having a turn. They order the word be sent out by all means possi­ble to everyone to meet again in a month, at Candlemas.   Merlin and Dubricus then choose ten of the best knights loyal to Arthur and set a continual watch over the sword and the stone.   Of passing interest is the fact that King Leodegrance of Cameliard is pre­sent at this sword drawing, but abruptly departs with his knights when he receives word that his kingdom is being threatened by King Ryons, a warlord out of the Perilous Forest.