The Keepers of the People

CHAPTER II

THE COURT OF VARANDALEEL

883The great hall was a lofty, oblong chamber, its ceiling of cedar, finely and fantastically carved. It was lighted by many hundreds of wax candles, and filled with groups of officers of state, chamberlains, dancers, musicians, and servants, who stood awaiting the entry of the Princes. When they came in, every man’s right hand rose in a salute; there was a bustle as they went to their table, which stood on a dais at the further end, but not the sound of a voice; for save three Englishmen, all the rest of the men and women, not less than fifty, who were awaiting them in the hall, were mutes. The Princess Agnes found herself placed beside the old Princess at the end of a broad table. Prince Raleigh sat in the middle of it, on his right sat Prince Ralph, and on his left sat a beautiful young Jewess, the Mistress of the Mutes, and mute herself. For all that she was plainly a Jewess, she was no less plainly closely akin to the two Princes. On the other side of the table sat three Englishmen; and at a table below the dais sat ten mutes, chief officers, seven of whom looked at the world with the grey, Falcon eyes. The hall was splendid with the many colours of the gorgeous robes; and the swift, noiseless servants, bearing golden dishes and flagons, kept it in a pleasant movement.