(1875-03-?) A Kingly Gift
A Kingly Gift
Summary: Alia and Ludovic take a moment to chat while the Legion prepares. A gift is offered and an argument happens. Things end better than worse.
Date: 2019-03-?
Related: TBA
NPCs: None
Players:
Alia  Ludovic  

Outside of Imperial Paras
The lands surrounding Paras.
1875-03-? (Exact date dependent on future events.)

The Legion was set to march and every inch of open ground around paras seem to crawl with them, until it was difficult to pick out the ground beneath their feet. Men on horse, men on the move, and all of the equipment that seemed to be being prepared to go with them. The only place on the fields that seemed to be nearly abandoned was a small round where the auxillia seemed to be hard at work. A trio of catapults were set out for their use, it would seem, and there was a constant stream of men and women, all clad in their armor making adjustments and taking weights, ensuring that the catapults would deliver their loads when and where they were required. perhaps the reason for the fair distance the group was being given was more obvious if one managed to get close enough to note the markings on the crates that were set out in the field. All bore the monogram of d'Meloni, overlaid with the mark of the XIIIth, and the woman herself was not easy to miss, as she directed the work. Though her auxillia did not seem bothered by their proximity to the alchemical supplies that had been prepared for the battle to come, not many wanted to risk the possibility of being injured if they tread where they ought not to tread.

-

Ludovic walks into the area in that assured what that certain men (especially Ludovic) often have about them. It is as if he simply expects the world to clear a path for him and the world generally complies. He is immediately obvious amongst the busywork of organisation - after all he is probably the only man decked out in the full glory of a post-aequorian knight present in this entire city right now. A careful eye might notice that his movements are not quite so arrogant as they seem at first glance. He does in fact avoid the occasional knot of men and women occupied in important tasks and his feet never once stray near any of those potentially volatile supplies and Faith pads along with him, occasionally nudging into Ludovic's side when the dog senses something the man doesn't see.

"Alia!" He says loudly and cheerfully as he gets close to her and swings his czekan up to rest against the armored breadth of his shoulder. "Tribune." is added a moment later. "Are you busy?"

-

Alia was indeed busy, as she rooted around in one of the crates, seeming packing and repacking the rounded phials in which one or the other of the solutions she had either crafted or had overseen the crafting of had been packed. "Bring more wool, when you can, Phineus," she called to one of the men seemingly in her area. The sound of her name being called put a stop to the movement of her hands, and seeing Ludovic approaching, Alia rose to her feet. She was already dressed for the battle to come, though it would be a few days march, no doubt, before they would get there. Still, it was leather pants, heavy boots, and her lorrica for clothing, as well as a cloak to ward off the chill that did, sometimes, still manage to reach her. "I am always busy, Ludovic, but finding time for you isn't difficult." When the wool was brought, Alia turned back to the man who brought it. "More along the corners. Thank you." The man, Phineus nodded and settled in to the work, as Alia walked over. "What can I do for you?" Without a thought, she lowered a hand to call Faith over to her for his usual scritches.

-

"Stupid question." Ludovic answers with an apologetic grin. "Course you're busy." He turns to survey the scene around them before turning his attention back to Alia. Faith uses this opportunity to push into Alia's hand in enjoyment of his daily scritches. "Want to put me to work? My men are still outside the city."

-

"I don't trust the sorting of the supplies to anyone else. So I've been working at little else since we moved them into place." Alia hunkered down, so that she was closer to the level of Faith's head. Which, given her own height, meant that the elementi was now taller than she was, but she did not seem to mind. "I've been trying to decide just how much I should bring. We have no idea what is facing us there, but I don't want to bring more nd risk slowing the march. But you don't need t help. We're just making the final adjustments now." As for the men, "You'll be bringing them up to join the rest, I hope?"

-

"Just didn't see the point of bringing them into the city." Ludovic says. "Just to take them out again." He settles into a crouch besides her. "Besides. There's still a lot of adjusting to do. Why risk fighting?" He inhales slowly before letting it go with just as much care. "I tried to get up there during the winter raid but I came up against opposition. It wasn't so much this force will have trouble." he gestures vaguely to the surrounding army. "But does mean I cant answer your question. Surprised that's our target honestly." he shrugs almost as if to apologize. "But I trust Darius."

-

At Ludovic's refusal to answer the question, Alia shook her head, "There's no point in leaving them out there, when all of the Legion is gathering here." A hand freed itself from Faith's ear to indicate where the Legion was preparing for the march, "And I'm not sure whom you think you would be fighting. This isn't some gathering of untried squires hoping to impress their knights. This is the XIIIth Legion, and your force is a now a part of it. The cohorts do not fight amongst themselves." As for the target, Alia lifted her shoulders, "Darius and I discussed the possibilities allied around us, and d'Meloni was the one that presented the greatest benefit, in terms of allowing us access to the Lake and to the rest of the Empire." Alia glanced over to Ludovic, "You do know that the Legion is not simply here to attack and invade the West, I hope? or do you still believe that is the only goal Darius could possibly have?"

-

Ludovic's brow furrows as Alia responds and about half way through he turns his head to look vaguely eastwards. Finally he looks back at her. "Just said I trusted him didn't I?"

-

"Trust is not the same thing as having faith in his choices, and being able to understand his motivations." Alia, tiring, perhaps, of being hunkered down, finally moved towards one of the stools that had been brought with the team of alchemists, indicating for Ludovic to find one for himself. They were useful things, easily folded, but tall enough that one could work at them at need. "There were three options, Rogers, Rykers, and d'Meloni. This was the one with the most potential reward."

-

Ludovic chooses to shift into a kneel rather than settle onto a stool with his czekan across his knees. "That's how I meant it though Alia." he tells her. "Meant I trust that he knows more about the situation than I do and that he's got the defeat of the Qatunax on his mind." He's silent a moment and then he adds. "Blind faith's not a good thing Alia. There's nobody that's always right."

-

Alia tilted her head, studying Ludovic, "Whenever did I say that faith in him should be blind?" Alia studied the man now kneeling, before she spoke again, "I think you sometimes forget that I am neither your squire nor a woman at court who cares for little more than embroidery and the orderly keeping of her House. I have faith in Darius because I have spent enough time in his company and have seen him move and plan and lead the legion for long enough to believe in him, and his choices. But that does not mean that I do not question him when I feel I must, or that he does not welcome such input, if it benefits his work and the work of the Legion."

-

"Alia" Ludovic asks her in a purposefully gentle tone. "What did I actually do to deserve this scolding?"

-

Alia did not seem put off by the question, but answered it honestly, "Why did you feel it was necessary to remind me that blind faith is a fool's road, when you know me well enough by now to know that I am not given to acts of blind faith?"

-

"Because you told me off for not having faith in him." Ludovic responds. "When I'd already said I trusted him. Seemed to me I was being scolded for daring to be surprised about a decision and, far as I've ever known it, unquestioning trust and blind faith are basically the same thing." He shakes his head. "I had no intention of insulting you. But was I really supposed to just nod and accept anything you said with nary a word?"

-

"Not at all. But trust is a belief based on evidence, it does not allow for hope as faith does. And Darius inspires hope in his men, as he should in you. But you were unclear about his motivations, you could have asked me if I knew why he made the choice that he did, and we might have discussed that. As someone new to the empire, you might not know his motivations and given that you are devoting your men to his cause, which is now your cause." Alia shook her head, raising a hand to rub at her temple, "I should not have been sharp with you and I apologize."

-

Ludovic tells her honestly. "I've no reason to expect that he shares his reasoning with me. That's one of the things I gave up when I chose to kneel instead of clinging to treaties and alliances. I didn't ask because, if he'd wanted me to be part of that, I'd have been invited." he gestures towards her. "Like you were. And because I do believe his goals, and mine, are compatible."

He offers Alia a brief smile. "You were being pretty harsh but its alright. I'd forgotten about it even before you asked me to accept your apology. Which I do accept. And you have my apology too for it."

-

"I don't believe you have any reason to be so diffident, Dovi. You know these lands and the forces occupying them as well as anyone. The only difference between you and me, is that you are only new come to the Empire and I am not. But Darius values input and information, and I think he would welcome what you might have to offer in terms of information and perspective on the Qatunax as well as the lands we will be moving through, as they were your lands before they were his…or theirs. I know a small part, but my own knowledge of what d'Meloni was are mostly only a girl's memories, or the memories of a woman who saw it briefly and only at need." Alia accepted the summation of her words with good grace, "I am not always a kind woman, Dovi. I try to be diplomatic when I can, but much of the genteel nature to which I was raised was long ago burned out of me. I will try to temper my words."

-

"I've already given the Princeps everything I know." Ludovic tells Alia. "We've effectively been blind since the imperials came and, to be honest, weren't exactly well informed before then. Rykers and Rogers are barely recognizable. So I've no reason to think that d'Meloni hasn't been changed beyond recognition too." He shrugs as if this is just how it is. "I might know some side roads that they don't but there's nothing that an army this size can use. So. You see. This isn't me being diffident. I've just got nothing to add." He gives her a wry smile. "Besides, I'm supposed to just be the same as any other soldier now, and i'm fairly sure you outrank me now." He doesn't seem to be offended by that idea not really but he does use the statement to springboard back to one of her earlier statements. "Some of my men find that hard. That's why I'd rather give them space before putting them into close quarters with men and women who were their inferiors a month ago but are superior now. That's why I favor having my men make their own camp alongside for now. I don't see no reason to push things harder than we've already been pushing it. Things will be easier once they've fought together."

-

"Perhaps now, yes. But that may not always be the case. We will need every advantage in the war to come, and you are a sizable advantage. Not only because of your skill in battle and your ability to lead men, but because you will be a familiar face to any of those we might find who once called themselves Aequorian. That is not something to be underestimated. Or to not be used to best advantage. Whatever else you might be in the Empire, Dovi, you are still, and will ever be, Ludovic d'Korbina, Lord of Hellsmouth. Whether or no you choose to continue to use that title, or the rest of the West believes you have lost it. As for outranking me, that is something you might need to discuss with Darius. At the least, given the full force you bring to the Empire, your men number a cohort, at least. And every cohort here is lead by a Centurion. As for myself, what troops I lead I have left behind to guard Candeo. And such that I command here," a hand rose to indicate the alchemists and their assistants at their work, "Are only a specialized force, not a fighting one. When I take the field, quite likely, I will be no more than another sorcerer, when I am not directing the use of the supplies such as I have been brought."

-

Ludovic gives her a smile in response to her flattery, true as it might be in the most part. "I know that." he tells her. "I do. I don't feel hard done by. Not at all. Although sometimes I think Pompey thinks I'm an idiot." Faith moves to lie down between them both and his hand moves to rest lightly on the hounds head. "But I've not proven myself yet either. When the Darius and Pompey insulted me in the Senate it wasn't like I could truthfully deny it. They just twisted my failures. They didn't make them up." He nods at the cohort comment. "We're both Tribunes, far as I know."

He gives Alia a curious look. "Do you remember baron d'Mollari at all?"

-

"I think Pompey likes to give the impression that he thinks everyone is an idiot other than himself, and he looks for ways to put himself above others always. Whether that is how he truly feels, or because he is seeking to find some form of validation for himself, I do not know. But I have long since stopped allowing his words to bother me. Not that they ever did. What he might believe or might say about me, I know who I am, and what value I offer to Darius and to the Empire. Negative words and points barbs will not change that. I have come to believe that as much as he serves his cousin, he is also jealous of him, seeking always for a way to supplant him, and so he will do whatever he believes he can to attempt to put himself up as a better choice than Darius. And that is a fool's mission." And at the talk of rank, she nods, "Then I do not outrank you." As for the baron, "Not very well. Our lands were far from his, for a child to travel, and we were not often brought out to meet guests. I think my father did not wish for us to know how poorly he and his father and father before him had mismanaged d'Meloni."

-

"He was a man that thought himself superior because of his imperial blood." Ludovic says. "And because his house once held the title of Dux here." he waves a hand to represent the area. "He believed so much in the superiority of noble blood and those imperial ties that I sometimes wonder how he would have taken to actually meeting Darius. Not well I am sure." He looks back At Alia. "He was very clever but he thought he was too. I'm not sure there are many left here who remember him as fondly as I do." He looks thoughtful for a moment. "Your family were considerably easier to get along with, much of the time."

-

"I think he would have been brought to heel, once he realized that what he believed about how the Empire would see him, and how he actually would be seen could not be further from the truth. The Empire has too long been a thing nearly of fairy tales in the West. And the stories have grown long in the telling." The comment about her own family brought a laugh to Alia's lips, "That was quite likely because we had been reduced to nothing but sheep farmers and wool weavers. And we did not even do that well, given the state of the house before it fell."

-

Ludovic gives Alia an easy smile. "He'd have met his match in Darius, that's for sure. I swear, every time, I heard about him from anyone other than my wife it was some sort of complaint. The peasants didn't like him you know?" He lifts an eyebrow at Alia. "And the fact I saw a kernel of truth in what Darius would always accuse me of used to drive me mad." He chuckles at that. "You know? Once when I was little someone told me that you always knew if you'd made the right decision by how you felt afterwards. Here." he thumps his breastplate. "And I feel at peace. Sure. There's elements of being Imperial I absolutely hate. But you don't need to worry about me changing my mind."

-

"If that was his attitude, I have no doubt that most would not have liked him. Strong or weak, we all have Imperial blood of some sort, in Hellsmouth. That is not something to take credit for, for it was not you who earned that, but only a trick of marriage and chance. But a man or woman who relies on such things as blood, who walk on the backs of their ancestors rather than forging their own path are not men or women who are of any value in the end." Ludovic's affirmation brought a smile to Alia's face, "I am glad that you have found the right path for you, Dovi. I know it was not an easy one. And the road ahead will be more difficult still. I only hope that we will see the end of it, you and I."

-

"Everyone we lost, They've finally got a chance to know justice." Ludovic tells her. "I've been angry for so long. Angry that I wasn't getting what I needed to save them. But now they're gone. There's nothing I can do about that." although he does look kind of pained by the admission. "And when I realized that I had so many people fight against it. Like giving up that ghost of a hope in favor of protecting those that still lived was some horrible concession." he grimaces. "It kinda was. But since when were decisions about an entire county meant to be easy things?" he sighs and starts absently rubbing his thumb along the bladed side of his czekan. "I'm not a man meant for inaction Alia. Just the fact we're moving on the attack - it makes me happier. I don't imagine the hardest part of the roads in front for me. Truthfully, the future I see, its a good one."

-

"The past should be acknowledged, and it should be remembered. As we should take lessons from what has come before. But it does no one any good to dwell on failure, whether by choice or inaction. The dead will not be brought back to life as a result of it. All we can do is look ahead to what can be, not what was. You have had to make hard choices, since the enemy came, and will make more again, I have no doubt. But you are right. The only way we can look with any success is ahead. Not behind." Alia's smile twisted, something wry in it, "And I always look for the hardest parts in the road, so that I can find some way to avoid them, or use them to my own advantage."

-

"There's nothing I can do but try to repent." Ludovic agrees. "I'll always be the man who failed to save them, just like I'll always be a traitor. I'm not even complaining." He glances to her, seeming to believe what he's saying. "I want to pursue that Justice. The thought of spending the next twenty years of my service in battle against the Quatunax is one that makes me content. And in the end I know the One will see how hard I tried." he gives her a smile. "I'm just praying nobody wants me to command armies. Of all the gifts I've been blessed with - that isn't one."

-

"You did not bring the Qatunax down upon Hellsmouth through your own actions, Ludovic. I do not believe that repent is anything that you need to do, as it implies that you chose a wrong action. You did not. You chose the only action which was available to you. And that was to protect the people who were still yours to save. There is no shame in acknowledging he limitations that a terrible situation has placed on you. Not in accepting that there was never going to be a right action in terms of seeking to save those who still survived in enemy lands. Nor are you a traitor in my eyes, as it was not you who broke fealty with your King, but he who broke fealty with you." Alia shook her head though,a t something he said, "I hope it will not be twenty more years of this war. But I understand and appreciate the sentiment. We are both all in, in the end. To whatever end this war brings us."

-

Ludovic shifts his position a little bit, going from kneeling to the one kneed variant of the same and using his czekan as a support. "I don't think it will take twenty years to kick them out of Hellsmouth Alia. Not now there's fifteen thousand on my side and not four." Ludovic tells her. "But I don't believe my twenty years will be up before the wide lands of the Empire are completely free. If they were a foe that could be beaten in a handful of years then how would they have defeated the empire in the first place?" He gives her an easy grin. "And I'm a soldier Alia. Its what I've always been. All I ever wanted to be. Its why, in some ways, you'll end up greater than me. Because all I want to do is fight a worthy opponent until I can't fight no more and then to retire to my mountain, surrounded by my grandkids, listen to the legends of my triumphant deeds" Another grin at that point. "and grow fat." He gives her another warm smile. "Means a lot that you'd say such things just to ease my soul Alia. Truly does."

-

"At my best guess? I believe the Empire was no more ready to face such an Army than Hellsmouth was. That, I believe may have been responsible for how quickly and how well the Qatunax was able to take the Imperial lands. They attacked without warning, and took the Empire by surprise. Both in their strength of arms and in their use of sorcery such as, I imagine, even the Empire had not seen. A small force attacking from the shadows can often do more damage than a much larger force who has given the defenses time to prepare. You have only to look at what is happening along the western shores of Aequor to see that. But we are not the same empire now as we were then, at least so I believe of the XIIIth. We have learned the way of our enemies and they will not catch us unawares again. So, " Alia offered with a smile, "I do not think you will have to wait so long to grow fat, though Georges is still a few years off from contemplating children of his own. As for me? Greater, that I do not know. All that I ever wanted to be was an alchemist. But the brand on my back and the fall of my House put paid to that."

-

"I've only the vaguest ideas of what actually happened." Ludovic admits. "But I do know the Empire was supposed to be vast. Theres no way they could have surprised the entirety of a nation that size. Surely. And I do know, with absolute certainty, that they fractured enough that an enemy that began on the eastern fringe slammed into us beyond the west. Thats a lot of land to retake Alia, even if it does turn out to be easy win after easy win."

He chuckles over the grandkids. "Yeah, I probably shouldn't hold out to many hopes of having grandkids in twenty years. Then again, I've all but adopted Augustin's children - so surely they count?" His smile falters as he thinks on something that genuinely causes him grief for just a moment before he brushes it aside and the smiles back, albeit a little faded. "You said yourself you were a thinker. That you'd always look to the hardest parts and avoid or use them. Anyone that thinks that way, who's favored by the princeps, is going to be great."

-

"I do not know where they came from, over the mountains or across the seas. But we know nearly nothing of the lands beyond the Empire. The Empire itself, we knew little about, save what rumours we heard or tales we were told by those who traded with us until the Empire itself, or at least its Princeps came to our door. How well they defended their lands. If much of it was as d'Meloni, for example? A small force could have taken something so poorly defended. As for the west, well, the lands which they have claimed here were not the Empires at the time they were taken. But, I suppose, in the end, it does not matter. They are here now, and we will defeat them." The pain in Ludovic's expression brought sympathy to Alia's eyes, though she was not close enough to offer him a hand on his arm. "Favoured? Sometimes, I allow myself to think so." There was something, momentarily sad, in Alia's expression, before it faded, "I think, in the end, I am a useful tool. And I knew I would be so before I pledged myself to Darius and to his cause."

-

Ludovic gives her a similar look in return when she speaks of being a tool. "That's the way it is with Kings. Everything, and everyone's, a tool in the end. But that doesn't change anything about the greatness I mentioned. That's the other thing that comes from Kings. Even if you only have their favor for a year or a month, anyone who thinks will be able to benefit from it. The only thing we have to be wary of is Darius losing the fight he came here to fight. I'm not sure what exists for us, in the Empire, if this particular princeps loses."

-

"Perhaps you're right, Ludovic. But knowing a thing and wishing it might be different…sometimes you cannot separate the two." Alia leaned forward, gently coaxing Faith to stand back up, if only so that she could lean forward, far enough to rest her cheek on his shoulder, and, perhaps, steal some of his warmth. Thankfully, the elementi did not seem to mind being used as a living cheek warmer, and tucked himself in closer to where Alia was still sitting, affording the small woman some of his body heat. "I do not know if there will be a place for us. Perhaps there will be no place for us should he lose the fight. But I would rather do everything that I can to prevent that eventuality."

-

"Theres a reason I swore to Darius and not the Empire." Ludovic tells her. "Although it probably makes no odds in the end." There's a smile as she cuddles into the hound. "Alia." he says. "Would you like it if I granted you Aurora? She deserves a good mistress."

-

Alia's voice was not sharp, when she spoke next, but it was hard with an unfailing certainty. "One day, Darius will be the Empire." She would not, or perhaps could not allow that to be anything but the truth. The question posed to her caught her offguard, "Ludovic, Aurora is yours. As much as Faith is." Though that was not strictly true. Faith had been Ludovic's since he was a boy. "She is a sweet thing, and beautiful. But that is a…would be a kingly gift."

-

"She's nothing more than a house pet as it is." Ludovic tells her. "And elementi aren't so valuable that its all that big a deal. Its not like i'm trying to give you Sidhe." He gives her a quick grin. "There might be a condition or three to it - But if you're going to use her as an elementi is meant to be used then I don't see why I shouldn't."

-

Alia tightened her fingers into Faith's fur, leaning into the hound, though Faith, for his part, seemed not even to notice the weight, though he might have glanced to Ludovic as he stood still, stoic as if he had been a statue, the slightest chuff of sound sent in his master's direction, "And what would those conditions be? At the mention of idhe…Alia frowned, "I tried to find Lady Ruin, you know…but I have been unable to find it to return it to your House."

-

"Nothing serious." Ludovic says to the conditions. "That she isn't to be a breeding hound anymore if I give her to you. You can breed her occasionally." he shrugs at that. "But if you do I want half.. no lets say a third of the puppies." When she speaks of the sword he smiles and then tells her. "My expectations are that Darius will return Lady Ruin to me once its been retrieved. Least that's what I hope - I don't expect its retrieval to be easy - and I can see that whoever takes it might try to keep it. So what happens with that blade will tell me a lot about how I truly rest in his eyes." another smile. "I'm grateful you've looked but I'm sure its in the hands of one of their champions and will not be seen until one of the defining moments of this war." He shakes his head "The Sidhe's I mentioned was my new stallion. He's my hope that our horses can become renowned enough that they will support d'Korbina for their entire future, since the governorship is no longer something we can count on holding, and cattle can only help us so far." He lifts a hand to ruffle Faiths fur when the dog chuffs at him. "There's only friends here Faith." Talking to the dog much as he would a page. "Do whatever you want."

-

"I would not wish to put her to such hard use." Even when treated, breeding bitches were not the sort that had comfortable lives, "And I would of course share her puppies with you, though I do not know if there are any other elementi in the legion with whom she could breed. "Darius has mentioned that he is quite fond of your horses. I told him that would please you more than most of the things that could be said about you. I have no doubt that you will find good fortune where they are concerned. But I have no designs on your horse, if that gives you any comfort. I only ride because I have to. I have no great skill in it, and such an animal, even if he was not your favourite, would be wasted on me." As for Lady Ruin, "Darius is a hard man, when he has to be." She paused, "Sometimes, when he might not need to be. But he knows and understands and respects honour."

-

Ludovic nods at her response. "That's why I'm giving her to you. Because I think sorcerers, of all people, have the most need of a good elementi by their side. And because I've never met a hound that didnt struggle when not used for what they were bred to do." He reaches to scritch at Faith's ruff again. "And elementi are bred to defend and love their owners." He nods at the comment about nothing to breed with. "Faith's entire." he tells her. "But. You do know that the greatest elementi lines still come from the empire right? Or did at least before the qatunax? I've no doubt once the passes are opened up to us again that there'll be choices."

He grins at the comment on his horses. "And Darius' not seen the likes of Sidhe. You ever heard the stories of the dark stallion?"

-

Alia laughs, at the question of the story, "Of course I have, Dovi. I was born and mostly raised in Hellsmouth. And, you told me something of him back when you were getting your stud back together." As for Faith, she lifted her head from his shoulder, looking around at the hound, which caused him to look at her. "Could you imagine, Faith? Half a handful of puppies under your feet?" Faith…did not look impressed, "Perhaps should we be able to reach the Empire, yes. But not for a long while. She has only had a few now, and she will need to rest and to be trained to be something other than simply a do meant for breeding."

-

"Well." Ludovic gives her a triumphant grin. "I've been trying to part the tribesmen from one of his grandsons for months, and months." he chuckles. "Maybe even years if you take me asking for them over supper back when I was just a horned knight. And they finally agreed to let me have one. That's why Sidhe's so special."

He chuckles at the idea of Faith with pups. "I think we wouldn't want to see what happens if we let elementi get attached to their sons. They'd probably take over the west."

-

"Did you not know, Ludovic? Faith is already taking over the Empire." Or at least the small part of it that was Alia d'Meloni. She did dote on the hound, regardless of the fact that he was not, nor would be ever be her hound. Faith, quite likely, was only in it for the food and nimble fingers in his fur. "Then I wish you joy of him, and many foals to strengthen your line."

-

"He's really green." Ludovic tells her. "I took him to the steeplechase in four corners and he actually refused a fence." he grimaces. "Been a long time since I had a horse do that on me."

-

"Would you have been happy with a horse who already knew its own mind and did not need you to make them what you wished them to be? I am no experienced horsewoman, but even I know it is easier to break someone to doing what you wish them to do when they are untried than trying to break old habits." Alia paused, "I had not realized you went to the steeplechase. How did you fare?"

-

"Well." Ludovic looks thoughtful at that question. "Its not that i'm unhappy with him. It was my fault, not his, you see I asked to much of him to soon. A new rider, the stress of the crowd, a mistake on the fence before and then challenge of what was a very daunting fence? Its little wonder he had to be coaxed into jumping it. He did though, when i brought him around, and that speaks to his heart." He sighs a little, thinking about the young horse before looking to her. "Second, amazingly. He's real fast that horse. It was Lady Aseno, that lady you met the other day, that won."

-

"I didn't think you were. Only that it is probably better that you can teach him what you need him to do than to have to retrain him to do what you need him to do. Though I am glad that you did so well. And that she did also. I know better than most how difficult it is to stand out when you come from a family of little renown." Which, she said without derision. A lordship was still only a lordship, in the grand scheme of the ladder of nobility in the west, "Did you ever manage to make any trade agreements with her?"

-

"Wool-felt enough for two thousand cotes." Ludovic nods. "For later in the year. There's no point getting them made before the weather turns again." He shakes his head. "But we've not decided if they're going to actually make them or not yet. We'll have to see. It's not a cheap proposition but my men are starting to need them replacing so its got to be done." This used to be one of the few things they still leaned on d'Meloni for in the days pre-quatunax. "She's also real keen to let me use Sidhe as a stud for her mare - the one that won. Can't say that would be a bad pairing. But it seems a bit counter-productive to me to allow it just yet."

-

"Weaving is not something that cannot be learned. And it is something that commonfolks can do, though they usually make simply things fr themselves. You might be better off in considering the cost to built the weavers yourself and to bring someone in to train your citizens to do the work for you. Not only would it potentially save you money, but it would provide them with a useful trade and a chance to give back to the province. As for the stud, I would advise against that. Of course she would want to have such a potential stud, but so would anyone wishing to better their own herds."

-

"I'm thinking about it." Ludovic tells her. "But as long as I have to buy wool in it seems a bit pointless. Then there's the plan we'd had to take Rogers - if we do that then there's gonna be a huge need for farmers. And its been quite a while since I had any refugees come into my lands. So most of the ones i already have have settled into trades already." he nods to the streets. "Almost everyone I freed during the winter came here." back to Alia. "I expected them too. Even with Paras being imperial it just wasn't right to force them to go to Hellsmouth." He nods at the stud comment. "I told her i'd let her have a covering if she could bring me a quality partharian stallion. Seemed not to unreasonable given they've just been at war with the partharians." he chuckles. "Might be one of the most expensive stud fees outside of al'callenta though."

-

"Well, you know better what will provide for Hellsmouth. I suppose I simply worry that the time will come when we will need to be self-sustaining and not be able to count on the assistance of the other houses for our needs. Especially if we move further into the currently occupied lands." Alia took a moment, before she continued, leaning back from Faith so that the hound could curl back up on the ground. "I wish her well of that. Even I know that such breeds are rare." Alia looked back towards her men, before she glanced to Ludovic, "We should see to a meal, I think. Night is nearly on us, and if we do not eat now, we might not have another chance until the morning. You can tell me more about this Aseno and her grand schemes."

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