| Lancer Found |
| Summary: | Oberyn finally finds Letholdus in Kentaire and delivers his report of what happened. |
| Date: | 1865 10 01 |
| Related: | None |
| NPCs: | {$npc} |
| Players: |
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| Princep's Palace |
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Incredibly rich are two words that one might use to describe the Pricep's Palace. Legend has it the original palace that was destroyed in King Fareth's Follow was the site where the First Emperor of the Empire, Darius Firebrand pitched his command tent for his Legion when he proclaimed Matera to be the first colony of the Western Provinces. The path is lined with statues of the Maids of Legend from the Empire's storied past, and theentrance through the main gate is lined in a covered awning larg enough for ten cavalrymen to ride abreast and held up by granite pillars, ornately carved. The gates themselves hold the seal of Kentaire done in Amethysts, silver and Gold, and split down the middle when opened. The interior of the palace is just as ornate, with marble polished to near reflective glass and the walls lined with mirrors giving the palace a near magical feel. The ceiling is just as ornate, but oddly functional. Ballrooms match the style and even the large banquet halls are lined in statues of the Empire's military Heroes. All in ornate Lorica and actual Blue Cloaks of the Empire. |
| It is 04:17PM, Wednesday the 01st of Octobre, 1865 IE. |
Letholdus is not difficult to find, this time. Inquiries will direct the Royal Lancer to the Prince of Kentaire's palace where the Prince is hosting his royal peers as his guests. Therefor the Romantes have been granted a suite of rooms with the wounded lord Tristan and a few others in the rooms next door for easy access. As the lady Alina is also among the seriously injured, the al'Synlenthar's are hosted in the suite on the far side.
Oberyn will be directed to the Romante suite where he will find two Alicante knights in the hall to guard the door. Word is passed inside to determine if the Viscount is within or out in the city, and after a few moments, Letholdus himself comes to the door. "Sir Oberyn!" Clearly, the Templar is surprised to see the Lancer. "Where ever have you been?"
With a glance over his shoulder, aware of others behind him in the suite, Dus closes the door behind himself.
It's been a long while coming. The Lancer's been hunting for his charge and each time he gets close Letholdus is off again. Oberyn being still injured is finding it hard to make ground on the Romante. He's wearing his armor as it's been damaged and it's clearly been damaged. There is a hole right in the center of his chest where the armor conclaves inwards from a mighty strike. He's wearing his cloak over his armor to hide it's disrepair as it's shameful to him. Oberyn's skin is pale and the long hair he had prior is gone, replaced with hair cut short. When he sees, Letholdus he grins seeing the man is alive and bows his head. "Your excellency." His voice lacks force and is slightly airy. He lifts his chin and a red smile flashes at Letholdus from below the high collar of Oberyn's leather vest. "I am very glad… to see you well." Relief washes over the mans expression.
There is a long moment spend studying Oberyn as Letholdus listens to him. He has gestured the Lancer to walk with him but as Oberyn clearly isn't up for a great deal, the Viscount only goes a few rooms down the hall to the salon and opens the door to let them in. As one would expect of a Prince's palace, the room is large and airy, opulently furnished with the finest of .. everything, even with giltwork used very liberally. Far too liberally for /this/ Romante's taste but his own House has been known to appreciate such over the top decor, even if the Viscount himself cares not for such things.
Comfortable seating there is and Oberyn is motioned to take a chair. "I am well, though things were a little difficult back in Four Corners, as I assume you know. I must confess, Sir Henric didn't know if you were alive or not after you left his company." Once he is also seated, Dus continues, "Report."
The Lancer follows after Letholdus and glances around the room. He nods to the chair and he carefully takes a seat. "I assume from the beginning. I was woken up by Lord Sir Henric with two other Lancers. His sister had run away and we had to go find her. Sir Kylier joined us later." He stays sitting there but he's catching his breath. He grips his right arm tightly. There is a lot he's hiding under that cloak. "We found her. Once she was safe, we immediately returned to Four Corners to find it under siege." He lifts his eyes. "We attacked from the west I believe, hit a barricade. I was hit off my horse and she ran. The archers… they killed … Sir Tucker and Sir Brandan. I was calling for us all to focus on the archers after the riders went down but everyone focused on the berserker. The archers started picking us off." He frowns. "I went after them alone. After the big creature went down we turned and there was another group and once the cavalry went down, I advised that we have one distract the larger creature while the rest take out the archers. No one listened to me and so I went after the archers alone." He bows his head and shakes it. "No one died…I don't remember much after…" He touches his throat lightly. "I remember seeing everyone down and hearing heavy thumping and thinking I needed to find my horse and get a cart and I told them I would and then just darkness. I woke up in Four Corners a week later and was told that a retreat was sounded. Are they all okay? Lord Sir Henric? Sir Kylier? Lady Kaicee?"
Letholdus listens quietly, his own face grim. He is quiet a moment at Oberyn's questions, "You do realize, that flitting off with Sir Henric after his sister was in derelict to your duty to my House, do you not? Not one of you sent any message back concerning your whereabouts and you have been presumed to have deserted your posts." Grave indeed. THe Viscount pauses ere he continues, "Sir Henric has been stripped of his Royal Lancer position by the Queen for doing so, and because of another matter where he broke his word. Lady Kaicee is no longer squired unto him and seeks a new knight. Sir Kylier … I have no idea, though I have heard rumor that he went back to Firen. There, no doubt, the Queen shall deal with him." Dus lightly taps a finger against his jaw, "So, what do you do with you, Sir?"
Oberyn lifts his eyes and looks shocked. He seems confused for a moment and then it sinks in. He opens his mouth and then closes it. It takes him a moment to gather his thoughts before he speaks quietly. "I assumed it was a mission that was approved as other Lancers were coming and that you were well protected. I thought you had approved of it. It was a stupid assumption of me. There is not excuse for it and you are correct." He bows his head and seems to calm himself. "I did fail at my duty to protect you and should have come to speak with you instead of just assumed." His jaw tightens. "I'm so stupid…" He grumbles to himself. Now though he can't hide behind his hair.
"As it happens, I had sent several people to escort lord Tristan to Firen, cutting what few remained to me in half. When the attack came on Four Corners, I hadn't enough defense to try and get the lady Claire, my sister Clara, or my mother out of the city. There was no choice but to ride them as swiftly as possible to the fortification and hope we were not turned away, Sir." Yes, Letholdus is seriously /not/ pleased. "You should not have assumed. You are a man assigned to an elite military unit to serve House Romante. At what point do you ever desert your post without orders?" There /are/ circumstances when one must act without leave and Letholdus is aware of that, but he lets the question hang a long moment.
He shifts his weight in the seat to lean back, resting his hands on the arms of the carved wood, "I will inform the Queen of what you have told me. Let me assure you that I am rather short on Lancers at this time. You would do well to find Sir Bess and for the time being, you and see will be providing escort when we depart here. If you give me your sworn word as a knight and Royal Lancer that you in no way deserted your post intentionally, and shall most certainly NOT do so again without proper leave to do so, I will take that under consideration."
There is no anger. Perhaps the Viscount /should/ be angry, but no… it is more as though Letholdus is disappointed, and tired.
Oberyn pushes himself up on a shaking arm and stands up lifting his chin. "I had a momentary lapse in judgment, your excellency. It won't happen again. I give you my word as all that an as all I am. I will not desert my post. I gave my life to the Romante." He bows his head winces at the tilt before adjusting his stance. He's durable for a Lancer at least. The man can take a beating. "I will find her, your excellency. I am so sorry I failed you again. I promise I'm not entirely a screw up. I can be a good man and a good Lancer."
Letholdus moves to stand and lightly lays a hand on Oberyn's shoulder, "I know you mean well, Oberyn. Keep to your oaths, that's all that I ask." His mouth is thinned to a bitter line, "Sir Henric is a good man also, but … it grieves me to loose him from service. I hope, some day, things will be mended. We shall see." A pause to remove his hand, "No sparring for you until you are healed. Let the lady Claire have a look at you before aught else? I want to be certain you'll be all right, then turn your armour into the Prince's smithy to get it seen to before we leave. Have the repairs billed to me."
The bone shifts under Letholdus's hand and there is not even a wince from the Lancer who is so used to the pain now. His eyes watch Letholdus's and he sighs quietly. "I am just a common man. I do not assume to understand the workings of greater men than I." He bows his head slightly, speaking of mending things. He keeps his head down. "I do not feel she will be pleased with seeing how I did not stay in Four Corners longer. I left when I stopped bleeding." He feels his fingers over the dents and frowns. "A single man did this. Can you imagine… right off my horse with his angry stick." He shakes his head and rubs the armor as if it's his own chest.
Oberyn gets a nod from Letholdus, "I saw such men among them as I had never seen before. Almost giants, and we had to take their heads off or kill then with Sidhe steel, which I lack. There was naught to be done but fight them. Go and rest. When we depart, we'll go by ship to Firen so you need not ride." The Viscount goes to open the door and if Oberyn will come, he'll escort the man back to see if Claire can have a look at him.