King Haimeric seemed to have reached the same conclusion that I had, that their arrival was connected with his quest, but to him it seemed perfectly natural. “I’m glad you two are here,” he said. “After you’ve had your supper, I’m going to make an announcement.”

But Duchess Diana and Prince Ascelin did not seem immediately interested in the king’s announcement. They ate heartily, asked what had happened recently in the kingdom of Yurt, and told us stories of their stay in Ascelin’s principality.

It was impossible not to like the duchess. She was some ten years older than her cousin the queen, which made her five years older than me. She had probably the quickest mind in the kingdom, and she enjoyed a good laugh at pretension and folly even better than I did.

“The twins are fine,” she said in response to a question. “The weather was so bad today we left them in my castle when we decided to ride up to see you. They’re growing so fast they may even catch up with you, Paul!” to the royal heir.

The king took no part in the conversation-nor did I. I watched him surreptitiously as I finished dessert without tasting it. He looked both excited and oddly contented. The queen, on the other hand, sparkled with wit, keeping the conversation going constantly, pressing the duchess for details on every thing from the harvest carnival in Ascelin’s principality to what Father Noel had brought the twins for Christmas. But I thought I saw a deep pain at the back of her emerald eyes and wondered if the king saw it too.

At last the servants began clearing the tables, and the king gathered the knights and ladies around him before the great hearth. The members of the court, who had no idea what the king would announce, looked puzzled as he had them bring up chairs. I considered creating some magical illusions to help set the mood, perhaps palm trees by an azure sea, but decided to let King Haimeric make the announcement in his own way.