Edwin rather quickly got himself dressed in fairly simple clothes, soft cloth breaches in a black over dark brown riding boots. A soft silk poet’s shirt with a leather vest over it. He could easily have been just a common man walking the halls save for three things, the low hanging sword hilt at his side bearing the crest of his family emblazoned on it along with the seal dagger hung alongside it. And the simple cornet that set around his forehead. He walked into the council room and took up his seat at the head of the round table the point for his throne.
Waving a hand the council was let into the chamber and he watched them all steam in. Two men walked up to stand beside him and bowed before sitting at his right and left hand. “Your majesty.” the intoned almost at the same instant. On his left sat his prime minister his right hand where it came to the day to day running of the kingdom. Which amused Edwin to no end having him sit on his left, and be his right hand man. On his left the man pushed the hood of his mantle back showing his balding head and grey hair. That was a man everyone knew to fear, the king’s spy master as he was called, head of the ranger corps and possibly the only man the king should ever fear being disloyal. If Godric the spy master ever turned on the king the king wouldn’t know of it till the knife was in his back.
Around the rest of the table sat the lords and nobles or their representatives for those that could not be there that day. Normally a member of their family, under the rule of his father it had to be the noble or his heir but Edwin had changed it to any one appointed as trusted by the noble so he had several daughters and even one of their wives sitting on his council. He was glad of the change and it seemed to help keep things running better allowing the nobles to see to their duties while still having someone they trusted here to see their interests were seen too.
Today’s council was mostly the same as any normal council nothing much beyond the normal worries of nobles wanting to make sure they were getting their fair share and weren’t being overburdened with requirements from the crown. It wasn’t till the end that things changed. As the prime minister asked “Does anyone have any more business today.” It was well after time for lunch but that didn’t matter that much right now they were nearly done. Godric stood and sighed. “I fear I do.” There were several small gasps from around the table, when the leader of the ranger corps had business you knew it was serious. “Your majesty, it has recently come to my attention of a rather serious plot against your life. I do not yet know who is behind it all but most of our neighboring kingdoms seem to think, that as long as you remain unmarried it is just one stroke to take over our lands. We...your council and I would urge you to consider finding a suitable bride and bearing a child with her as soon as you can.” Several of the nobles daughters around the table seemed far too eager to agree and clearly thought they knew who would be his best choice. “If you do not find a bride within the next moon cycle, your council has voted to find a bride for you.” The looks turned from hopeful to no one meeting his gaze as Edwin glared aroudn the room.
Slowly he stood up and sighed. “I understand your desires to see the kingdom guarded from being taken so easily, so I will excuse this course you have taken.” He sighed again and shook his head. “I will find a bride before long I promise you that.” Edwin pushed his chair back and nodded. “The council is dismissed for the day.” Edwin walked out and sighed softly as he walked along the hallways back toward his chambers, thinking of his need for a bride, and the lovely woman that was waiting for him in his bed at this very moment.