By the winter fire 511

The new King and his ideals is making huge impact on the new royal court. Impressed nobles, ladies and eager young knights are flocking to the court in an attempt to gain favour.

At winter court, a strange knight asks for hospitality. His old Norman-style armor is all brown, though not with rust, and his sword and spear both gleam. His shield is also Norman style, but instead of a normal coat-of-arms he has an oak branch attached to its face. He has only one squire.

The stranger introduces himself as the Brown Knight of the Wilds (le Chevalier Brun des Terres Sauvages). He says,

“I have heard your ideas of honor among men, and I have come to see if this is a court where such things are only spoken about, or if they are acted upon.”

Arthur greets him warmly and invites him to sup at his board for the winter. The Knight of the Wilds accepts.

Roman ambassadors. Early in the spring, twelve ambassadors arrive from Rome. Senators, praetors, and centurions, they tramp solemnly into court. They demand that King Arthur submit to the emperor and pay tribute, “for Britain is and always has been part of the Roman Empire.”

King Arthur refuses, saying that perhaps the Romans should submit to Britain since all the best emperors came from this island. He then sends them packing back to Rome, saying that the only tribute that the Britons will send are sharp swords and spears. The ambassadors do not try to linger, but leave angrily.