Ragnar slipped his good arm, and then his bandaged shoulder, into the red sleeves.
He fastened the small silk knots across his chest, turning to look at himself in the mirror standing in the corner of the room.
He blinked in genuine surprise. "Hmm... not bad at all..."
It was incredibly light, hiding the bulky bandage on his shoulder, yet the deep crimson color and the gold dragons made him look dangerously wealthy.
"I look like a completely arrogant bastard..." Ragnar chuckled, adjusting the stiff collar. "I love it."
"Now, sit down and rest your legs while I go make sure Leofric has the artillery boys lined up properly in the square."
As Gyda swept out of the room to manage the parade logistics, Ragnar sat down heavily in the chair.
He reached into the top drawer of his desk and pulled out a small stack of reports that had arrived by raven the previous evening. He hadn't had the time to read them before the coronation festivities began.
