I entered the hall where all the hubbub and chatter was coming from figuring that was as good a guess as to my destination as any. When I entered the room full of finely dressed people the chatter immediately stilled. Was I in the wrong room? I kind of hoped that I was and I was about to turn away, when I saw Thaddeus in the glittering throng. He came to my side with a sly smile. What was he up to? He turned to face the crowd of castle lords and their attendants.
"My fellow lords it is with great joy that I present my grandson and only heir, Roric Ta'lont to you all."
Instead of applause at the proclamation I was surprised to see looks of seriousness come over the faces of the finely dressed northern castle lords. They set down their cups and approached one by one to stand quietly before me and Thaddeus. They then knelt down on one knee before me surprising me even further.
One lord spoke up as a spokesman for the others. "It is with great relief that in these troubled times that the Creator of us all has given his servants a warrior of the house of Ta'lont once again to lead us into the battle fray. We and all that we possess are at your disposal for the great conflict ahead of us all."
With that he bowed his head in a show of fealty, which was echoed by the others. I stepped forward and knelt as they had done before me. They looked at me curiously for my strange action.
"I am but a common man. I have been a slave and now I am a free man. I am not worthy of the honor you bestow on me as your leader, but I accept it. I ask rather than a belief in a man of the house of Ta'lont that we all rise giving our fealty and faith to the Creator of us all, who is able to deliver us from our enemies far above the actions of just one man."
The castle lord's spokesman shook his head wonderingly and said, "Long has it been said that the aspect of humility present in those of the house of Ta'lont has been forever their greatest of strengths."
I rose and the castle lords rose with me. I raised my hand in a clenched fist, "Not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit of the Living God will we attain the victory over our enemies."
The castle lords in unison repeated my words shaking their fists in the air, while those in the hall around us erupted with applause at the choice of my words. I turned to my grandfather, who leaned heavily on his cane emotion heavy upon his face.