Prince Mark, seemingly impressed with your abilities and perhaps your familiarity with Salisbury, has selected you four to accompany him to Salisbury for their Spring Feast.

As the group rides along to Salisbury, Prince Mark explains the situation.

"With the fall of Uther, many of the Logres leaders also died, including Earl Roderick of Salisbury.  His wife, Countess Ellen, has been ruling in his stead as Regent until their son Robert comes of age, about two years hence.  All of Logres has been beset by Saxon tribes, who require tribute or raid Logres lands.  King Nanteleod has worked with Logres off-and-on since conquering Gales, like helping drive the Saxons back two years ago.  And as you know, he attempted to take Somerset from us last summer," Prince Mark says.

"So I expect the King's heir, Prince Alain de Carlion to be at court, attempting to woo Countess Ellen, just as I will be doing on behalf of my father.  If neither is able to form an alliance, we both want access to Salisbury's roads to attack the other, preferably with Salisbury troops and knights.  An alliance with Salisbury could forestall Robert taking over as Earl, and Salisbury's geographical position is quite strategic as it opens the way to the rest of Logres as well as Escavalon," he continues.

"So I need you four to try to collect as much information about Salisbury's plans on the alliance front, things we can do to push them toward an alliance with us or at the least thwart one with Escavalon, and about their likely participation this summer for or against us.  Use whatever resources you have access to," he says.

You will be arriving in Sarum the day prior to the feast.  All Salisbury knights and ladies will be present, as well as Prince Alain and his escort, several knights from other parts of Logres, some members of the clergy and various monks, as well as Queen Ygraine and her daughter Morgana.  As members of Prince Mark's retinue, you are staying in the common room of the castle in Sarum, as are Prince Alain's retinue and some of the higher-ranked nobles.  The two princes and the queen and her daughter have private quarters in the castle.  Other knights are scattered in other manors or estates, while the clergy are staying at the cathedral and monks at the local monastery.

Sir Aeddan suggests to his brother knights that, as other knights arrive in the common room to deposit their belongings, they try to engage in friendly conversation with anybody they see.  For his part, Sir Aeddan will linger in the common room for an unusually long time, and will have great difficulty getting his gear unpacked because of things being stuck, or things falling over.  He hopes that, as knights come and go, this will lead to opportunities to get a quick assist (and light conversation) from some stranger.

In effect, Sir Aeddan will be listening for any gossip as to what's going on -- who has arrived, what people's plans and expectations are.  He wants to be as informed as possible.

His ultimate plan is to visit the Lady Morgana in person, to convey his thanks for her share of the wedding gift to his wife, to ask after her health and her life at Amesbury (with his sister), and to ask for the perspectives she surely has on the upcoming feast and its participants.

Sir Daron seems ill at ease, obviously concerned for his sister and appalled to discover that both Ygraine and Morgana would be present.

"Whatever we decide just keep me away from them," he said with feeling to his brother knights.

"So long as you are careful to keep your antipathy to yourself, brother," Sir Aeddan says to Sir Daron, "I have no problem speaking to the Lady Morgana without you.

"But," Sir Aeddan continues with an eye to Sirs Abloc and Rhydwyn as well, "we would probably do well to pay our respects to Queen Ygraine, should the chance come upon us.  She has been our ally ever since she and King Uther realized their mistake in accusing our fathers of betrayal.  You cannot have missed the extremely generous wedding gifts she sent this winter.  That message was not subtle, and it was not intended merely for Sir Abloc and me, but for the entirety of our brotherhood."