The lights are up in the Court. Noise of music from above drifts down The Stairs. But tiny Martha is too busy in the Avalon Court to ponder the latest dance beat.
Dressed in her black riding attire with top hat and cane, she is carefully tacking up a new Proclamation:
Be it known to all and singular,
That, by the Grace of Asa Clarke, Alder Viscount of the Invictus, Master of the Domain of Sacramento, on this day that Miss Daniella Sage, of Clan Mekhet, is hereby appointed to be Bailiff, Deputy Keeper, of the Elysia of the Domain of Sacramento.
With this Office, the Bailiff acts as a Deputy to the Master and Keeper of Elysia of the Domain of Sacramento.
The Terms of Office
The duly appointed holder of the Office of Bailiff shall be in Office until Destroyed or Relieved of the Office at the Gift of the Alder Prince, The Herald, the Seneschal or duly appointed Deputy thereof the aforementioned Officers.
The Bailiff shall be appointed only by the Alder Prince, the Herald or the Keeper of Elysia of the Domain of Sacramento
The Bailiff is required to attend each Court
The Bailiff is required to Patrol the Elysia and discharge their Duties of Office with diligence and care
The Bailiff is, at the request of an Acknowledged member of the Domain, to make necessary arrangements to make a room, or rooms, available for the use as per the request.
The Bailiff shall contribute to the making of arrangements for any Court Affair as required
The Bailiff will respond with swift diligence to any reasonable request for assistance raised by the Reeve, a Deputy of the Reeve, or other Duly Appointed senior Officer of Court to defend the Elysia, the Alder Prince, Courtiers and bring any malefactor to Justice or Control.
The Bailiff shall be expected to co-ordinate and co-operate with the Reeve, the Herald and Deputies to ensure the preservation of the security of the Elysia
The Bailiff shall make reports to the Herald and Reeve upon Kindred as they arrive within the Domain
The Bailiff shall be expected to raise the alarm, with as little delay as practically possible, regarding any clear and present danger to the Elysia or Domain to which they become cognizant.
Powers and Perquisites of Office
The Bailiff is entitled to wear and carry weapons within the curtelage of each Elysia.
The Bailiff is entitled to make full use of the Powers of the Blood in the execution and completion of their Duties
The Bailiff shall be permitted to exercise physical force proportionate to that required to bring control to a situation; to Defend the Alder Prince or His Officers of Court and to Defend the Sanctity of Elysia.
The Bailiff can be expected to receive Aid from the Reeve or a Deputy Reeve in the event of an emergency.
Terms of Address
The Bailiff shall be addressed as Bailiff, or Deputy Keeper or Warden.
By Order
Asa Clarke,
Alder Prince of the Domain of Sacramento
Martha took a few limping steps back to study the position of the notice. Was it straight? Yes. Did it look neat? She thought so. Was it useful? Time would tell.
She smiled as she looked about the Court, straightened the long train of black silk that was tied to the torso of her hat and fussed near some of the more modest decorations of Court.
Her thoughts ran to Jacqui. Jacqui had promised to supply some interesting floral displays for Court, but she had never made that meeting with Martha. Had Jacqui fallen prey to some terror? Was she in Torpor? Martha did not know. Leaning on her cane, she gave some thought to how she might try to find out as she checked the time on her cell phone and waited.
Hoping to catch the newly appointed Bailiff for their meeting.
Quietly hoping that Daniella would not fall prey to some nameless terror en route too.