Tannder led them down to a circular room in the basement of the tower. It looked really ancient: the walls were of huge, rough blocks of granite and the floor was paved with large, irregular, well-worn slabs of limestone. Lighting was provided by a dozen torches set into black metal brackets all round the room. In the centre of the room was a large wooden tub full of what looked like water. There were no chairs.
Three people were waiting for them. On the First Lord's right was an old man in a black robe who just had to be the Master of Traditions, and on his other side was a man in his forties who was wearing a dark red lakh. This man was looking at them keenly.
"As Your Lordship has commanded," began the First Lord, "We are gathered here in order to accomplish the transfer of the Noble House Ksantiri's Marks to its newest member, the Noble Fourth Son Ambar. Your Lordship has expressed a wish to bear witness to this procedure, and the Noble Lord Ajmer,of the Bakhtars, my cousin and First Councillor, will also bear witness. With Your Lordship's leave, I myself will act as the third witness. And this is the Honourable Master of Traditions Hildemir, of the Hatreas, who will see that the rite is conducted in accordance with tradition."
Julien nodded as Tannder left the room. The Master of Traditions stepped forward and spoke to Ambar.
"Ambar of the Ksantiris," he said, "thou shalt now receive the Marks of thy Family. As the infant is submerged in its mother's womb, so shalt thou be submerged in the Primal Bath. Come hither."
Ambar walked, slightly nervously, towards the old man, who immediately removed the boy's lakh and signalled to him that he should also remove his underwear. Then he turned towards Julien.
"None in the Nine Worlds has precedence before Yulmir, Emperor of the R'hinz and Guarantor of Ultimate Harmony," he said. "It is therefore Your Lordship's privilege to immerse this child."
Julien stepped forward and, following the old man's directions, picked up Ambar in his arms and carried him to the tub. There were three low steps at one side, and these enabled him to lift Ambar over the edge and into the liquid, which on closer view was a sort of pale blue colour, and had the consistency of oil.
The Master spoke again.
"Fear thee not, child," he said. "Sink completely into the Primal Bath and remain submerged for as long as thou canst, then come and stand before me."
Soon a dripping Ambar was standing in front of Hildemir.
"Niil, Third Son of the Ksantiris, come hither and place thy finger on thy Noble Brother's forehead."
Nothing happened for a while, and then it became possible to see, in the flickering torchlight, a faint network of silver starting to spread out from the point that Niil was touching. Then the lines thickened and twisted, spreading across Ambar's skin to form the complex pattern of the Ksantiri Marks. After a few minutes the Master of Traditions took hold of Niil's wrist and lifted his hand away from the other boy's forehead, but the Marks went on growing and spreading until finally, a good half hour after the process had started, Ambar was fully equipped with the pattern of Marks that would remain on his body for the rest of his life.
Once again the old man spoke.
"As has been the case since time immemorial, the three witnesses must now ascertain that the Marks received are identical to the original configuration. Noble Lord Niil, I pray thee, put off thy garment."
Niil undressed and the two brothers stood side by side, wearing nothing but the silver net of their Marks.
Hildemir studied them for a few seconds and then said, "Let it be recorded in the Ksantiri Book of Acts that Ambar, Fourth Son to Ylavan; is entitled to all the rights and privileges of his House and is bound to comply with all the duties and pledges thereof."
The Master picked up the boys' clothing and returned it to them.
"The only garments needful to a Noble Son are his Marks. Wear them with honour, Ambar of the Ksantiris, and follow the example of thy Noble Brother Niil."
He indicated that the ceremony was over and that they could get dressed, but first Niil took a large, soft bath towel that the old man handed him and used it to remove the last traces of the Primal Bath from his brother. Then they got dressed, and they were about to leave the room when Aldegard stopped them.
"I have informed your Noble Father of your decision to adopt Ambar," he said to Niil. "He approved, of course. I should say that my message to him also expressed my agreement with your decision. Anyway, he has now written to me to say that he hopes to see his new son as soon as possible, and also that he was making arrangements for his education. So I think you need to get ready to go back to Dvârinn. It should be possible for a Guide to take you there in two or three days' time."
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