The Arrival of Father Benedict Magini
A thin priest wearing the brown robes of the Order of St. Francis enters the court momentarily in prayer on a wooden beaded rosary followed by a page livered in a tunic showing the gold lion on black of the Rhineland Palatinate. The young page bears a small black box impressed with a golden lion.
Bowing deeply before the Duke Wilhelm, muttering Ave Marias under his breath as his fingers move silently along the beads, he speaks in a loud almost striking voice, developed through years of preaching,
"Noble Duke of Bavaria, I Benedict Magini, humble servant of Christ Our Lord and Son of St. Francis, have been sent to serve you as the voice of your cher cousin Erich von Wittelsbach, Count Palatine of the Rhine."
He gestures sharply to the page who steps forward. Taking a letter from his robe, Father Magini continues, "Furthermore, I have been instructed to convey the love of your cousin in this letter."
Clearing his throat, the priest unfolds the letter and begins to read:
"Cher Cousin,
With the proudest of hearts I write hearing of your victory over the heretics in Bohemia. Truthfully your triumph has resounded throughout Christendom. To know that a von Wittelsbach took such a significant role in the protection of the One True Faith warms my heart. It is a deep tragedy that the matter could not be resolved in a bloodless manner, and I hope that the Bohemian people will someday be wise enough to have their own government. Until then I trust in your clemency and generosity. The time for fire and steel has past. Now we must rekindle the Grace of God in these lost people. I am certain that under your paternal guidance they will soon return glady to the Mother Church.
Matters have been ill in the Rheinpfalz, what with the death of my father, God rest his soul. Though his illness had been growing worse for many months, none of us were entirely prepared for the passing of so kind and wise a man. The ensuing matters and sadness prevented me from standing beside you in the routing of the heretic forces. Christine has recovered well, and Ilse is even back to dabbling in her Conservatory. They are still touched by grief at odd moments, but all in all they have managed well. Mother has recovered from her melancholy, only to have turned to a state of prolonged seclusion. It is well that she has decided to enter the sisterhood; they will help her purge herself of the troubles of this world.
In recognition of your service extraordinary, I have chosen as Grandmaster of the Order to present you with the Order of St. Henry the Lion. May you like St. Henry be guided to a life of piety and clemency in the service of God. The Order is under the care of one Father Magini, a good man of God, whom I have entrusted to serve as my voice. I look forward to your correspondance. Please convey my warmest regards to your Lady and the twins.
Through the grace of God by my own hand in Heidelburg,
Erich von Wittelsbach"
The priest is a little flush with the personal nature of some of the aspects of the letter, wondering if perhaps he had misunderstood his instructions. Putting the thought aside with a calm stoicness of a monk, he opens the black box revealing a golden cross atop a wreath of similar make hung from a blue and black ribbon.
Leading the page forward a bit, they present the Duke with the
Order of St. Henry the Lion
After handing it to a Bavarian page, Father Magini steps back and bows deeply again before moving off to the side, returning to his rosary.
