Falconer's Crusade by Ian Morson — Read

Prince Edward presented a robust figure as he strode on to the dais followed by the chancellor. His long legs, clad in shining decorative greaves, carried him easily to the table. His upper body was draped with a blue tabard emblazoned with three yellow lions. He stopped beside the ornate chair at the centre of the high table, and scanned the gathered throng of Masters. His drooping left eyelid somehow conveyed an air of friendly complicity. Turning to put a powerful arm on the chancellor's shoulder, it was clear he was a head taller than de Cantilupe. A circlet topped his long raven locks - he was every inch a leader of men.

The tense silence in the hall was broken by a quiet laugh from Edward's lips. That and the words he spoke to the chancellor, causing him to smile, gave every indication that he and the university were in accord. He dropped gracefully into his seat and a ripple ran down the hall as regent masters breathed out in relief and sat down. Falconer quickly raised the device to his eyes and scanned the crowd again. Everyone was still in place and he relaxed a little. He could not help but be impressed by Edward, and could understand how his plausible nature would win men over. How different he seemed from his apparently weak and easily led father, the King. Even his physical size was greater than Henry's, though they shared the same oddity of a drooping eyelid. With the lenses held to his eyes, he surveyed the prince as he leaned across and spoke to de Cantilupe. They were clearly two men of power who had found something to share.