Don Xavier Magnus Templar de Broton, Prince of Castile and Count of Seville, bid the royal party good night. "It would seem that I have drunk enough of your very good Rioja tempranillo for one night." The Lord gave a wry smile to the assembled courtiers of Queen Thayet's inner circle. Then he bowed deeply to Her Highness Queen Thayet and winked mischievously at Lady Shnappie, just for effect. His parting words were mellifluously spoken in his deep baritone: "Your Majesty, as I put myself to sleep this night it will be the peaceful slumber that can only come from the confidence of knowing that Castile has a just, strong and wise Sovereign, the envy of nations far and wide. May your reign be long and prosperous". With that, he turned and left the richly appointed ante chamber and made his way out to the suite of rooms made available for his use during his visit to the capital for the Coronation celebrations.

Followed by his retinue, the Castilian Lord made his way down the dimly lit corridors of the Castillo Real with a strong martial stride, stepping over fresh-strewn rushes and past sputtering torches in their gilt wall brackets and sumptuous tapestries. It was late and there were not many nobles or servants still about. He ducked his head into a room where the knights the Señores Francesco Acciaiuoli and Alejandro Galeo were drinking ale and carousing with some fine serving lasses. He shared a cheery word with them before continuing on his way.

Further down the passage, a servant passed Don Xavier a note, which he discretely pressed into his shirt.

Finally reaching his private chamber, Don Xavier Magnus closed the door behind him. Once he had left his retainers behind that thick wooden portal, the confident smile melted from his visage and his face recomposed into the features of a worried man - a furrowed brow and slight frown. This departure into worry was short-lived, however. Upon thinking it over, the Lord realised his concerns were more ones of form than of essence. The Coronation ceremony and accompanying feasts had been a success, and the Lord had no doubt the Queen could rule succesfully in her own right, without her consort the King. Her confidence just needed to be encouraged after the shock to the Kingdom of the mysterious loss of it's King. So long as Thayet continued to have the support of her knights and the counsel of her Counts things should be fine.

Xavier, always just "Magnus" to the Queen, placed his sword against the wall and sat to remove his boots. He had sworn to the King a year previous to be the Queen's protector and Champion. Xavier would continue to uphold the previous King's wishes. Gazing absently at a tapesty displaying San Jorge attacking the dragon, several thoughts passed through his mind. Symon Arezzo had been a good King, but Castile was more than it's rulers. The resiliency of its people and the quality of its nobles were it's real strength. Strong Counts like Don Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar were the backbone of the nation. And if Thayet had been a capable Queen beside King Symon, Xavier was certain she would rise to the challenge of being a great Ruler without him.

The Count's unlined face resolved once more into a smile. He would sleep in peace. Besides, he knew it was important to get some sleep as his full company was due to ride out for Sevilla early in the morning so he could attend to issues of government there.

Before he snuffed the candle and closed his eyes Xavier remembered the note. Pulling it out, he saw it bore the arms of Don Rodrigo.