"As much as this day is about continuance of existing traditions, it also honors the birth of new ones.  The people of Amber must and will go forward, finding new things, new ways, new prosperities.  This will affect us all in the weeks and months come. "
            "It starts with the investiture of a new order of knighthood, led by members of the royal family proven in battle against our foe in Chaos. Come forward Dame Aisling, Sir Brennan, Sir Jovian, Dame Lilly, Sir Marius"

"Brennan, step forth...kneel.   For valor in single combat with a giant blue demon that would have made most men wet themselves, for leadership with strange troops and for providing material aid to end the battle, I dub thee Sir Brennan, Knight Commander of the order of the Ruby.  Arise, Sir Brennan."

"Lilly step forth...kneel.  For your disarming manner with the enemy, for accomplishing your mission with unsteady troops, for breaking the Chaos army and hammering it into pieces, and for your services to the Queen, I dub thee Dame Lilly, Knight Commander of the order of the Ruby.  Arise, Dame Lilly."

As Lilly hears the King's words she can not suppress the smile. Disarming indeed. Had he overheard her conversation with Folly the night before? Or did he and Folly simply think alike... No best not to think about that right now.
            Lilly rises up, allowing the smile to linger on her lips as she bows slightly in the King's direction. As he hands her the ring box she offer a simple, "Thank you your majesty." The words however are for more than the gift or even the Knighting. Random had faith in Lilly. He never seemed to question her motives or her ability. For that she was truly grateful. She could only hope the King realized that.

"Aisling, step forth...kneel. For protecting our aerial protectors, for bravely standing alone between our foe and where he could harm us, for your valiant efforts to save Lord Balance, and for bringing our Army home, which was a neat trick, I dub thee Dame Aisling, Knight Commander of the order of the Ruby."

Aisling's smile momentarily brightens at the 'neat trick' bit.  After she returns to her place in line, she finds, to her surprise, that for some reason it is necessary to dab at her eyes a bit.

"Sir Jovian, step forth...kneel.  For the great service that your flights of dragons did here, protecting us all from the wyverns, I dub thee Knight Commander of the order of the Ruby.  Arise Sir Jovian.

When Jovian's name is called, Robin smiles up at him, eyes bright with pride and happiness.

"Sir Marius, step forth...kneel.  For your leadership with our brave sailors in the face of the brunt of the assault, and for your very personal efforts to kill our chiefest foe, I dub thee Knight Commander of the order of the Ruby.  Arise Sir Marius."

Marius' eyes shine.  Not in that six D cells fashion, but in that honourable glow style that's all the rage amongst sensitive men such as him.

As each of you rise, he hands you a small box, each box contains a ring.  He makes no great show of it, but he does make sure each Knight Commander gets the right box.

"I invest unto you each and severally the rights and responsibilities of Knights Commander of the order of the Ruby,"  _Whatever_those_are..._ "including the right to induct new knights into the order, with royal consent.  I have accepted your recommendations.  Knights Commander, call forth your candidates for knighthood."

Through much of this -- the parts that he isn't kneeling and muttering "ow" under his breath if Random whacks him with a sword, Brennan's eyes watch the crowd and the people he's marked out to name as Knights, himself.  
            A significant part of the time, though-- especially during Aisling's part-- he's watching Merlin for a reaction, making eye contact if he can.  There's a last-minute questioning eyebrow.

Merlin meets Brennan's gaze, and with a subtle shake of the head answers the implicit question in the negative.

Odd as it was, Lilly found herself feeling nervous. Her heart was racing ever so slightly. For perhaps the first time since her arrival in Amber she was beginning to grasp the reality of her new life here in Amber. It was an exciting time. Now if they could only manage to keep the world from ending...
            Clearing her mind of those thoughts before the could take firm root, Lilly turned her attention to her fellow Knight Commanders. Random had been careful to list them in one order and knight them in another thus affirming their equality. That was good thing. To further that Lilly looked to Jovian to begin calling forth his candidates first. Whether the others would follow along, well that remained to be seen.

Jovian's answering look is faintly puzzled, but his grin of warm confidence has hardly faltered through the proceedings save to look appropriately solemn and respectful while getting his knee dusty. He glances briefly about to the others, and [assuming he is] seeing no objection, he steps forward from their line.

Aisling takes this all in with the corners of her eyes, and projects such confident grace that clearly, everything has been planned all along and is going off according to schedule.

His voice is a rich, powerful baritone that carries easily. The musicians of the family might well hope they get a chance to hear that voice sing before the world ends.
            "Kourin, gold Hoshith's rider. L'tarn, bronze Maranth's rider. V'laren, bronze Hyloth's rider. M'hall, bronze Rakshath's rider. M'corli, green Antrith's rider. I bid you stand forth before the presence of His Majesty, Random the King."
            As he meets the eyes of each rider called forth, his joy and pride in serving with them fairly glows from every pore and every inch of his bearing. It rings in his voice as clearly, so that no one, least of all M'corli who cannot meet his eyes, could miss it.
            If there is a ripple in the crowd over a blind man being led to the dais to be knighted, a hint of challenge may find its way into Jovian's bearing - but by tone and expression, it will faze him not at all.

When it comes Brennan's turn, he steps forward, tall, proud of the men and women he's about the call forth, and absolutely at ease with public address.  His voice is a variation on the voice which called for commands on the battle field, easily heard without seeming to strain.
            "Raven, son of Chain and Satin, step forward!  Be recognized!  Crow, son of Chain and Satin, step forward!  Be recognized! Patience, daughter of Docks and Leaf, step forward!  Be recognized! Crescent, son of Sir Rings and Lady Stars, step forward!  Be recognized!  Lord Nickel, son of Quill and Candle, step forward!  Be recognized!"
            After each is elevated, Brennan gives each a personal, private word of congratulations, of thanks for service in battle, and of respect for their accomplishments.
            Brennan's fellow Knights Commander, King Random, and the candidates themselves all know why they were selected.  It is no secret, and soon will be common enough knowledge.
            Sir Raven and Sir Crow are brothers.  Both served under then Prince Random, though because they were of the same family, they were in different formations.   Raven was a footsoldier; his brother a junior cavalry officer.  In the thick of the fighting of that longest day, each was in a position to rescue the other from danger, or follow orders to the benefit of the greater battle.  Each, unaware of the other at those times, made the difficult choice to serve Amber over the bonds of family.  Their willingness to sacrifice cannot go unrewarded.
            Dame Patience served under Princess Llewella.  An Amberite from the farthest communities, Patience learned a devastating skill with the bow apparently as the son her father never had.  Surprisingly strong for her graceful frame, Dame Patience  demonstrated perfect calm, leadership by force of presence alone, and deadly accuracy with her weapon.  When and if she desires, and should it cause no conflict of interest, Brennan will be pleased to put in a word with Brita or Robin on the subject of her formally joining the Rangers.
            Sir Crescent is the son of a previous Knight, though was not a Knight himself until this day.  Though trained and skilled with a blade, it is his actions on the field that earned him this honor-- nearly his first action after promotion and receiving orders was to promptly disobey them due to the evolving situation.  At the end, he notified Brennan of his actions and the reasons for them.  Brennan deemed his actions and his innovative tactics correct, and noted the leadership ability required to lead his new and uncertain men to the correct actions.  
            Lord Nickel (the metal, not the coin) had already been a peer for past accomplishments in battle, as were his father and his grandfather, though none were made hereditary peers.  His service under Princess Deirdre included feats of arms and bravery too numerous to be listed here.  There may soon come a time when Brennan recommends to King Random that he be granted hereditary peership.

"Whither, whose indefatigable watching saved many; come forth.  Ce'e, who singlehandedly held off the great wyvern so the dragons could rest; come forth.  Pebble, who in the heat of battle figured out a key enemy weakness, come forth.  Lot, who inspired many though his rescue of men cut off in the midst of the enemy; come forth.  Keen, whose quick command defeated magic, come forth.   Hub, who ingeniously arranged for every necessity to exist, come forth."
            Whither, apparently, is a man with light brown hair, who has been looking about unabashedly during the ceremony before being called.  Ce'e is tall, somewhat homely, and blond.  Pebble is a small-to-normal young woman with dark brown hair, shy, was part of the logistics group (ie, her father was an Army carter).  Lot is a tall broad warrior of the aristocracy, dark brown hair.  Keen also of the aristocracy, handsome, a touch of red to his chestnut hair.  Hub is an older, solid-looking man.

Lilly is the next to step forward. She is brimming with confidence and good cheer yet her face remains neutral. With her stance and her presence she leaves little doubt as to her parentage. Like her fellow Knight Commanders her voice rises up over the masses with it's clarity and strength.
            "For their strength and their courage, for their wisdom and their perseverance,  for their integrity and their sense of solidarity, and most of all, for their unwavering loyalty to Amber I call forth the following: Captain Drake Blackthorne... Captain Zephyr Smith.... Ember Flagstone... Able Hopewell... Hale Cropbringer... and Clay Goodheart."
            Lilly takes the time to congratulate each before returning her attention to her fellow Knight Commanders.
            There are no women among Lilly's selections. Some might indeed view that as odd. Those who know Lilly though realize this is not because she does not think women and men equal but rather it is just the opposite. She sees everyone in the same light. These six men stood out to her among her troops. She steadfastly refuses to honor a women for merely the sake of doing so. In her mind that undermines her quest for equality. If all are to be treated equal then no one can be given special treatment due to gender. To Lilly it was just that simple.

It is Marius' turn to bring forth his candidates...
            His voice does not ring out, but it is clearly heard.  It is the kind of low voice that draws attention as if it had something to say, almost as if it was the last chance before someone is to be punished...
            "Bravery, resourcefulness, loyalty, and strength of character.  These things are recognized by the King.  I can only follow by seeing these things in those who have claimed such qualities in their own.
            "I call to be recognized before the King...
            "Monsun the Merryhearted, maker of mischief and one who shows the value of rules by breaking the least of them and reinforcing the most important.
            "Tempest, Lady of Illusions, who hid behind the visage of her twin in battle.  May your mask be removed, my dear Lady, so as to let you take credit for the battles you have won.
            "Jennet, Singer of the Way, who has seen more than a hundred men through storms unlike any others, who showed the value of loyalty to ideas over the will of men, and whose ability at Mincarti-rules chess I will champion against any native.
            "License, Master of the Dotted Line, it is not just those who have strength in the sword who have shown bravery.  You and your strategies are a reminder that force of arms are merely tools in the value of planning.
            "Finally let me call Xenial, the Silver-Tongued.  I am but a scholar in his tutelage. His wit and his rapier are both sharp, and his service for both the Princess Deirdre and myself exemplary.
            "Be recognized.  Let admiration for your acts of honourable spirit be encouragement for future deeds, for our King! For Amber! For our future!"

Random looks over the assembled Knights of the Ruby.  He walks from one end of the group to the other, looking over each candidate, the ceremonial sword in his left hand.  As he reaches and inspects the last one he speaks.  His voice carries across the pavilion.
            "Men and Women, of Amber and of elsewhere, you have served with distinction.  You have accepted a unique challenge at the start of what I hope will be my long and uneventful reign.  You are the core of a new order of knights, men and women who will define their order, their traditions, their standards and their duties.  I know you will serve the crown in the future with your bravery, resourcefulness, loyalty, and strength of character as you have in the past."
            "Knights candidate, kneel."
            He then approaches each of them and applies the sword to the right shoulder of each man and woman.  He names each by name and say to each "I Random the King, dub you [Sir or Dame Name], Knight of the Order of the Ruby, vested with all the rights and subject to all the duties of the Order.  Rise [Sir r Dame Name]!"
            When the last of the knights is dubbed, Random returns the sword to Venesch.  Vent moves the new knights into a place with the other, older orders of knights.
            Random accepts a few more oaths, mainly from untitled guild leaders and city leaders.   He stands for a moment waiting to see if there is anything else, then leans over to Martin and nods.  Martin steps forward and leads a rather ragged but enthusiastic cry of "Long Live the King".  Random acknowledges the salute, takes Vialle's hand and departs. Martin follows his father and Vialle as they retreat to the royal pavilion.
            Those closest to the pavilions may observe Random handing his son a lit cigarette, then finding one for himself, as they go in; those a little further away may merely smell the smoke.
            The crowd, almost as one, lets out a breath it didn't know it had been holding and begins chattering amongst themselves.
            High ranking castle functionaries close in on all the notable guests.  You see Vent speaking to the ambassadors and nobles.  Gilt Winter approaches the family.  "Your Highnesses, if you would please retire to the staging pavilion we have set up nearby, we will be allowing the people to leave." Indeed, it seems that people are waiting for your departure to signal that they are permitted to go.  "We have refreshments and rest facilities and transport to the masquerade arranged."

Benedict looks at Corwin.  "Lead on, Mr. Winters," says Corwin.  The elders follow the king's secretary out in more or less short order and are led back to a well-appointed pavilion.