When his Stewart returned he had arranged an audience with the count for four bells in the afternoon. It was by this time already one bell and he thus had two and a half bells to get him and his sister ready. As he was getting dressed he went over with his secretary the information they had on the count, his court and the procedure for the audience.
Darian arrived for his audience in the great hall of the count's castle dressed in his fanciest clothing a few minutes earlier than the time stated on the invitation. He was accompanied by his sister, his secretary, a page and no one else, the original plan made back when his father was still alive would have had Darian accompanying him. They had no problems gaining entry to the castle as they had the invitation and were expected.
The purpose of the audience was threefold, firstly to have him sware felty to the emperor as the new Baron of Yasia in the presence of the Count. Secondly to announce his appointment as the new protector of the Nolian Islanders and thirdly to present his sister Abigail to the count and his court as the first move in the process of finding her a future husband. At seventeen she by rights should already be married but her betrothed had died a year ago just a month before the marriage could take place.
Darian himself had been betrothed to the daughter of a business associate of his fathers when he was twelve and she was four. It was to have taken place next year when she turned sixteen. When his father had been ennobled it was decided she should marry his brother Eudo. This would leave Darian free to marry the daughter, sister or widow of another noble.
Of the nobility on the island of Celeste and the smaller island of Epine, two days sailing away their were six individuals currently unattached and thus eligible to be his bride. These were the widow of the Baron of Atecto, the widowed sister of the Baron of Norbin, the twin daughters of the Baron of Rinph, the youngest daughter of the Baron of Tion and the sister of the Count of Celeste.
On the other hand, there were only three eligible bachelors, The eldest son of the Baron of Rafed, the second son of the Baron of Medipe and the Count of Celeste whose first wife had died in childbirth the year before.
When they arrived in the great hall the Count was in the middle of dispensing justice in the case of a boundary dispute between two freemen. An earthquake a year ago, an infrequent occurrence on the island, had resulted in two of the boundary stones between there lands being dislodged and the two farmers couldn't agree upon there previous positions. The deeds to their lands both owned weren't any use in solving this matter so they decided to let the Count decide.
In the end, he ordered that they would each be allowed to reposition one of the dislodged boundary stones.Once that was out of the way the Count didn' t have any other cases to decide and it was time for Amondo audience with him.
Amondo, followed by his sister and the page approached the count who was sitting alone in the high table of the great hall.
"Count Claude Talun, I Darian Leye, son of Adrian Leye, the Baron of Yasia come before you and your assembled court to petition you to accept my fealty on behalf of his imperial majesty Aubree Guval, first of his name."
"If you Darian Leye can produce the documents required of such a requested then I would be pleased to do so."
At this point, Darian takes the required documents from the hands of his page, Withen Fossen and approached the high table where he hands them over to the Count who after perusing the documents for a few moments hands them back to him. Once he has returned the documents to the page he resumes his previous position.
"The documents appear to be in order, while your father is now dead you are his heir and may take his seat as Baron. You may pay your fees once this audience is over and I will send news of his passing and your ascension to the imperial court aboard the next available boat heading that way.By the authority granted to me by his Imperial Majesty, I speak with his voice and listen with his ears. Speak to me the oath as if you were in his presence and he will hear it."
At this point, Darian removed his sword from its scabbard and handed it to the page before kneeling.
"I Darian Leye, son of Adrian promise to faithfully from this day render homage and fealty to my sovereign Aubree Guval as Baron of Yasia. He will from this day and until the end that comes to us all be my liege lord and to him I will remain true, serve faithfully and do to him no wrong. This I so sware on my life, honour and lands."
"In his name and with his voice I accept your homage and fealty and in turn pledge to you that We will protect and defend you with all justice and honour, you may now rise.", was the Count's reply.At this point, all those assembled in the great hall are heard to clap and cheer until Darian rises from the kneeling position and silence reigns.
"I Claude Talun once more speaking in my own voice and hearing with my own ears do welcome you Darian Leye, Baron of Yasia to my court, have you any more business before us today or may the feasting in your honour begin?"
"Sorry Count but the feasting must wait a while, I have other business to conduct this day but first I wish to present my sister to you and your court, come forward Abigail and be made known to all those present."
Abigail shyly approached the high table and bowed to the Count before greeting him and they conversed over the table together for a minute or two before he offered her a seat on his right side to continue the conversation during the feast once whatever business her brother had before him was completed. She accepted and once she had sat down the Count turned to her brother and indicated it was time for him to continue.
Darian retrieved another document from the page and presented it to the Count who read it out for all those present to hear.
"I Aubree Guval the Emperor of Balterum do grant to Adrian Leye and his heirs the hereditary position of Protector of the Nolian Islanders, the rights and duties of the office. I order him and all those that come thereafter to carry out this task to the best of their abilities from this day the twelfth of Quintilis in the year 1832 until such times as it is rendered mute."