(1866-03-05) The Crucible
The Crucible
Summary: Stellan answers Elrick's summons and they discuss the potential consequences of the baron's letters and what damage control they can do.
Date: 3/5/66
Related: http://eternalcrusade.wikidot.com/memoir:1866-03-05:delusions-of-grandeur
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Elrick  Stellan  

Elrick's Pavilion
Probably needs more tapestries.
3/5/66

The guard that went to find Stellan was still a bit shocked by what he saw in the d'Tremaine's main pavilion, having heard the outburst and then seeing the mood that the heir was in. Usually the heir is good to his men, calm and composed, but that facade cracked for a brief moment before it was replaced. So when Rickter found Elrick's cousin, the request had a sense of urgency.

Inside Elrick's pavilion, the heir is seated in his seat, back stiff and gaze distant. On his lap sits his unsheathed ornate longsword, one hand resting on the leather bound grip while the other is tapping rhythmically on the polished, gleaming blade. The letter opener is still embedded into the oak table, where it pierced through the parchment that was unsealed.

Stellan wasn't terribly pleased about his drinking being interrupted, but he wasn't terribly surprised considering he saw the messenger approach Elrick before he went in. Still, this quickly? Not a good sign. He doesn't leave much on Michael's tab before he excuses himself from the tavern and makes a beeline for Elrick's pavilion. He lets the guard who came to fetch him have the remainder of his wine.

He stops and studies his cousin for a long moment after he steps in. The atmosphere was definitely different, more tense. His gaze then falls upon the letter opener lodged into the table, holding what he presumed was the correspondence Elrick received from home. He clasps his hands behind his back. "I suspect you've received some bad news…" He begins uncertainly.

Elrick's gaze remains fixed on the fire basin that lights and warms his pavilion, the dancing flames holding his attention. Or at least that is what it seems. Without taking his eyes away from the fire, the d'Tremaine heir answers his cousin, "Stellan," No couz or cousin, but addressed directly by name, "You must swear to me, what you see and hear tonight, it goes no further than you and I. If you cannot, you may take your leave."

His worry, and curiosity, is piqued further when Elrick addresses him by name. Then he's asked to swear to secrecy. The mystery grows! His hands unclasp and now rest politely at his sides. His brows furrow in concern. "It must be -very- bad," he thinks aloud, before nodding solemnly. "You have my word, Elrick. What happened?"

"This is no small matter, Stellan." Elrick says, his gaze finally parting from the flames and locking on his younger cousin now, a gaze that shows how grave this matter is. "If you become involved, there may be no turning back. The path we choose, I can promise you, is for the good of our House. For the survival of our House." It's as if a final out is being offered to Stellan, in case the youth who appears to be wiser than his years, suddenly felt doubt creeping in. "Trust is currency, currency that I have found can easily be counterfeit. I must know what coins I hold, and that they are real."

The squire was wiser than his years, which is exactly why he was starting to worry. He came in expecting news about the rumors he's been hearing about, or perhaps news that someone back home had died, but this seemed to be an even heavier matter than that. His breath hitches slightly and his shoulders drop. "That implies there is a good reason for me to consider turning back, but I've been given precious little information." His blue eyes remain locked with his cousin's, his concern evident. "I don't normally commit when others ask such things from me, but since it's you and it concerns our House, I promise I won't tell a soul outside of this tent unless you bid me to. I'm not sure how much involvement I can offer without knowing what you intend to do, though, cousin."

The lack of information was purposeful and Elrick did not appear to be willing to share, at least not right now, most likely feeling that the less Stellan knew, the better. Once he hears his cousin's answer, the heir appears to be weighing his decision in his mind, the response not immediate. The blade is tapped a few more beats until Elrick finally speaks, "Very well. That letter, read it, commit it to memory."

Stellan stares at his kinsman for another long moment before approaching and relieving the letter opener of it's prize. He's careful not to rip the parchment as he straightens it and holds it up to read. His expression is neutral as his eyes skim over the message once. Then again. And yet again. It was not a long letter, and he was an avid reader, but Elrick -did- order him to commit it to memory. It seems he may be taking that order literally.

When the young lad is confident that he could remember the contents of the letter, he gently places it back on the table and looks up to his cousin again. "I can see why you're so glum, now." He bites his lower lip nervously. "It's even worse than I imagined…"

"Father is running our House right into its grave and this letter is proof." Elrick says, finally moving from his seat. Picking up the scabbard to his blade, he sheathes the longsword after rising to his feet. Leaving the scabbarded blade on the seat, the heir walks over to the table and picks up the letter. Then he approaches the fire basin, tossing the letter in, the flames hungrily devouring the parchment, "I love my father, but it appears that senses have fled him, if he had any at all to begin with."

The younger d'Tremaine frowns as his eyes follow Elrick. "It's not in the grave yet, but he is driving it towards the cliff, it appears. I do not know what set him off. A terse 'no' would have sufficed." He shakes his head, still trying to wrap itself around it. "Perhaps he can still be reasoned with. He needs to apologize, at the very least, but the betrothal may be dead in the water. No count would agree to marry into our House when his daughter is so grievously insulted." The frown deepens. "Elrick, what do you intend to do? We can't be just as rash."

"Even a terse 'no' would have been a poor answer." Elrick says as his eyes watches the parchment burn, the white quickly turning black as it is gobbled up. "I know I do not spend much time praying to the One, nowhere near enough as I am supposed to… but I do pray to the Divine Father right now that our Baron had a quarter of the tact he had shown in his letter to me." His tone shows that he has no confidence of that, and will be approaching this situation with utmost care. As for Stellan's question for him, "I intend to help see this war in the north come to an end as soon as possible. The longer we are here, the worse things will be back home. We are now on borrowed time, cousin. I have no intention of pulling our troops back until this is done, nor do I plan to depart from the front lines."

There's a resigned sigh from the squire now. "A poor answer still, perhaps, but a better one than that." He folds his arms over his chest, staring ahead but at nothing in particular. "But you're correct. If he's willing to insult you, there's no doubt he's less inclined to be polite to strangers. It's odd… from his last letter, it seemed he didn't mind the viscount. Called him a good enough fellow, if I recall correctly." Such a strong reaction in the opposite way still puzzled him. "What do we do when we get back home, cousin? I have no influence, and yours is still relatively little. I don't think we can be the ones who move him."

"That was before he perceived a slight that was not there. Does he truly believe that there is a Princess out there that is available to wed me? The Aequorian princesses are already bound to our House through my sister's marriage with Prince Sylvain." There is a shake of his head, in both resignation and disbelief, "I am no moonstruck child that is foolishly in love with the first pretty lady that I have bedded, but what the Viscount offered us was a boon. And to dismiss it in such a way that angered His Excellency so… I do fear what was written in /that/ letter." And that is what Elrick has been thinking on while he was waiting for Stellan.

With the paper burned to ashes, Elrick appears to be satisfied that no traces of such a damning letter remains. He moves over to the wine pitcher and the remaining cups, pouring two cups of wine. "What I need to do now is to find out where we stand, especially with House d'Cadri. I have a feeling it is not well, especially with what we heard coming from the tavern earlier. And this will affect our men, which I will /not/ have. I… I need to speak with Nadine. She appears not to hate me, at least not yet."

Stellan lifts one brow and turns to his cousin now. "We do not know what the Viscount wrote to him, or how he phrased the offer. That may have ultimately been the key in him deciding it was an insult. And I can say with some confidence that the general opinion around camp seems to be that it -is- charity or pity - they do not believe we can afford any distinguished noble match. We would have to beg for such."

Stellan doesn't seem to be as incensed about the situation as his cousin, for better or worse. "You can approach the viscount and attempt to smooth things over - you should with the commander at least - but I will not be surprised if that potential alliance is broken beyond repair now. It may be unwise to focus too much on improving our standing with a house which may simply want nothing to do with us, at the moment."

"I spoke with the Viscount, he is not like the Lords of the south where games within games are played. He… actually cared about his daughter's happiness, and at least appeared approve of me." At least the Viscount had approved of him, now Elrick can only guess. "I dare not approach the Viscount, at least not yet. Not until I can try to find out what was written by father. And I am not worried about repairing the alliance or betrothal agreement, I am worrying about word of this spreading beyond Mastings. If the rest of Aequor finds out how my father rebuffed such an offer without proper negotiation? My future, our House's future, may be at an end." It seems like Elrick has done quite a bit of thinking while he waited, and at least has some political understanding of what is at stake.

"It will spread, Elrick, if it hasn't already. There are too many mouths here to tell to shut up about it. Others found out before we did." The squire shakes his head. "So we should prepare for the consequences, not worry about trying to stop the inevitable." He pauses thoughtfully. "It might be a good thing, in the end, to see your father reproached by our liege. I can't think of much else which may rethink the wisdom behind what he's said. An apology from him is what is needed - not us. You are not the Baron yet." His brows furrow sternly once again. "What were you thinking of doing before I walked in here, Elrick?"

That only tightens Elrick's features, he knows that it will spread, even if he wished to his fullest that it didn't, "I know it is impossible to take back what has already been said. What I need to do now, is to control what damage may inflict to our reputation, Stellan. The men deeply respect the d'Cadri, so it is no surprise they are incensed and mocking us. However, if it can come from them that it was just a misunderstanding… then we may save /some/ face." If that is even possible, but Elrick will at least try.

As for Stellan mentioning that he is not Baron yet, Elrick can only smirk, "I know, but I will not stand idle. Not when father is leagues away from here. I will not involve our liege either if I can avoid it, this is our problem. Our House, our blood." As to what he was thinking of doing, the heir can only shake his head, "After I stopped seeing red? I was thinking of what Father wrote… of what may be happening back home. I've been away too long, far too long. If father was capable of this, what is he capable of doing back home? But as for plans, nothing, besides speaking with you and deciding how to approach Nadine."

Stellan grunts softly. "Lets us hope the d'Cadri don't correct us if we attempt to pass it off as a simple misunderstanding. We are well-regarded ourselves, even if our House may not be. I haven't been verbally attacked yet, anyway." It may be too soon in the day to consider himself safe, though. "Regardless, I think I might have a better understanding of what the Prince went through with his father, at any rate."

"Let us hope the barbarians are speedy in their defeat, then. So far they have not been, even with the resounding victory we just had. We may want to write home to see if there's something going on that we can't see, and your father isn't willing to share with us." He tilts his head in an awkward gesture of approval. "I suspect you will approach the commander well enough. You just may need to practice your dodging." A light-hearted jest to relieve some of the tension in the air.

An amused smirk appears as Elrick nods his head, "They are rather formidable, aren't they, for a bunch of barbaric heathens. The cold has no doubt made them stronger. But even if we wish for the war to end quicker, we can't rush things. When you rush, mistakes are made." Which is one reason why he had been able to return to such calmness after reading the letter.
On the subject of the commander though, Elrick manages to actually laugh, though it is a light one, "I've practiced quite a bit… in fact, the last time the commander and I sparred, I won." She was a little rusty, having just recovered from her wound against the Ice Bears, but no need to mention that of course, "After, I will draft letters home."

His cousin is pleased to see Elrick regain some of his humor. "Really? Well, you are quite formidible, even if you have yet to be given a byname for it. I'm lucky to kill even one barbarian, let alone several like I've seen you do." It was an exaggeration, but Elrick's kill count usually is impressive. "Try writing to your mother or little sister, perhaps? There's no telling when we'll be able to get back there, but we can be more prepared than we have been. I do hope your father doesn't discover our meddling and decide to drop by, though." Worst. Scenario. Ever.

"Eh… I like people to remember me as Elrick of House d'Tremaine, not by some byname." Elrick says with a dismissive wave of his hand, as if holding such a name is not that big of a deal to him. "And your time will come, Stellan. Continue with your training as a squire, our aunt may be cold, but she is ruthless." As for who and what he wil be writing, the heir will do quite a bit of thinking on that. Quite a bit. "If my father does drop by, and makes a fool of himelf, the hammer will drop on him. I have no doubt."

"I always got the impression that it was simply something people kept calling you and you simply go with it," he replies with a rueful shrug. "I'm not sure if you'd like me as much if I was cold and ruthless, though. I might start leaving you with the entire bar tab. Survival of the strongest, and all," the squire remarks with a wry smirk. "I think the paperwork will have him wrapped up for a few more decades, anyway."

Elrick manages another laugh as he takes a drink of his wine, "You'd leave me the bar tab once, and only once but never again. Because you know I'd knock some sense into you the next time we meet." This is all said in good nature though he knows that Stellan understands what he speaks of, especially with the recent sparrings. As for home, Elrick can only nod, "It sounds like it. But it seems like I should seek out the commander now. I just felt that I needed to let you know… you're one of the few I truly trust, Couz."

The younger d'Tremaine gives Elrick a warmer smile. "Thank you for informing me, Elrick. You're one of the few I'd go to for advice, as well. I honestly didn't expect to get along with you as well as I have." He turns towards the exit, intending to leave Elrick to face Nadine. "It is nice to finally have someone to share things with. Be well, cousin, and good luck. I am sure we'll persevere, one way or another." He begins on his way out. "You know how to find me if you need me."

Hearing that, Elrick only answers with a nod towards Stellan, apparently feeling the same though thoughts are returning to his head. Plans, politics, and what he will be able to do here in the cold north.

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