Arcaea/Dining Hall/Visitors
Richter rode through the streets of Nocaneb, taking the different reactions he was getting now as opposed to when he was last within the city. Where once he had seen nothing but disgust and disdain on the people faces at the sight of a Marshal of Arcaea, he now saw respect, Admiration, and something less pure in the eyes of some of the more...flamboyant...of the females.
Despite his best efforts, Richter couldn't help a small measure of disgust well up in him at how easily these people found it to mock and degrade him in board daylight only a few weeks before.
'A rather thickle lot these people are,' he thought cynically.
He pushed such thoughts aside, as that was not the reason for him being here in the first place. He looked up from the collected faces of the crowd, to the not so distance spires of Nocaneb's citadel.
"Very impressive," said Udo, his trademark deadpan voice belying his own astonishment, "Wouldn't you say so My Lord."
Richter said nothing, meerly nodding to his Captain as he motioned him forward, through the throng of the crowd towards the castle.
After a short and rather uneventful ride, the two found themselves at the palace gates. A quick word with the guards, and a once over fallowed by a double take, resulted in Richter's abrupt entrance to the palace grounds.
A stable boy took their horses to the palace stables as soon as Richter and Udo entered the courtyard. The two entered the great hall, where a guard told them to wait while he told Lady Edara and Lord Jenred of his arrival.
Udo stood silently in the corner, determined to play the part of a proper captain, though he hardly felt he deserved it.
Richter wandered aimlessly about the hall, trying to find a way to pass the time until someone who could take him to see his brother arrived. A lone table, propped up against the wall, caught his eye. It was unremarkable in every way save for one, the top of it was almost completely cover is dried blood. Richter tentatively reached a hand forward and touched the table, regret filling him like water into a dry sponge, as he knew whose blood that was.
Regret soon to anger, as his hand balled into at fist, he knew had spilled Goffrey's blood so needlessly. Which was exactly why he was here, he needed to check up on his brother, and he needed to work with Jenred in apprehending Siegfried before he tried to kill someone again. He sighed angrily and did the one thing he did not want to do in a situation like this, he waited.
Richter Massey Marshal of the Tribute Collecting Army
Harmony made her way to the Castle in good spirits. Goffrey’s condition had improved considerably over the last week, and while he hadn’t actually promised not to do anything stupid, he at least wasn’t arguing with them about it all the time. Of course, considering how stubborn he was, he may have just decided not to mention whatever stupid thing he was planning on doing. As much progress as he had made, she thought that Idelle might let him go home soon. His recuperative powers really were amazing...the fact that he had lived at all was a testament to his strength.
The guards passed her through easily, with several not-so-covert admiring glances. Harmony still found it incredible that she could be a regular and welcome guest at a Ducal Castle...how her life had changed! She stopped off in the Hall to see if anyone was there before she tackled wandering around the Castle. Unlike Edara, she had no problems finding her way...she didn’t really even understand how people got lost: if you had been somewhere once, you should always know your way. The Castle was big, however, and it was hard telling where anyone was...much easier to stop in the Hall first. She laughed at herself: she could of course have a servant sent. Harmony was so used to doing things herself.
As she entered the Hall, she saw a young man touching the bloody table that was leaning against the wall. Why on earth the filthy thing hadn’t yet been taking out and scrubbed down, Harmony couldn’t say. As the man turned away from the table, she noticed that he was very pretty. Smiling, she advanced towards him.
“Hello there,” she smiled one of her bright smiles, with just a hint of come hither in it, “I am Lady Harmony, Duchess Edara’s cousin,” she held out her hand as she drew close, “I don’t believe that we’ve met...”
Lady Harmony Kindon (Dame of Nocaneb)
Richter was broken from his reprieve by the sound of what he guessed was a women entering the hall. Half expecting it to be Edara, he stayed where he was waiting to be acknowledged first.
He jumped slightly as the greeting issued towards him was not Edara, memories of the last time some one snuck up on him like that coming back to him. He shook those thoughts from his mind and focused on the source of the greeting.
'I thought I recognized the undertones in that greeting,' thought Richter as he inwardly rolled his eyes.
He could see the 'less then pure' intentions of the woman before, having had to deal with women with similar looks in their eyes many many times before. Though he had to admit, this woman, Harmony she said her name was, was definitely a step above most of the women who had tried before. He cleared his mind with a practiced easy and turned to regard her with an even headed face.
"Richter Massey," he said as he shook the hand offered to him, "Marshal of the TCA."
Recognition suddenly hit home, as Richter found that he had, indeed, heard of the woman before him. His brother had apparently met her here in Nocaneb, and had taken quite a liking to her, as his last indicated with an unnecessary amount of detail. He chalked his late recognition up to the fact that he had no choice but to skim the letter after reaching the 5th page.
"No," he said as he released her hand, "We have not met, but I believe you know my brother, Goffrey."
Richter Massey Marshal of the Tribute Collecting Army
“Oh! Goffrey’s brother, how lovely!” Regretfully, Harmony dialled back her smile and closed her body language...pretty he may be, but playing with Goff’s brother was right out.
“I’m certain that he will be pleased to see you. He’s getting a bit tired of being cooped up here with just the same faces every day...though I was just thinking that he should be able to go home soon.”
Harmony shook her head wonderingly, “It really is a miracle that he lived through the attack...and that he has recovered so quickly. A lesser man might have been laid up for months.”
She sat down on a near-by bench and put her feet up on it, “Has anyone seen to you? Gone to fetch Goff or Edara? Idelle, even?”
Lady Harmony Kindon (Dame of Nocaneb)
Richter sighed as he turned to regard the table once again.
"Yes well," he said a bit darkly, "I"d hardly call my brother a 'Lesser Man'."
He turned back to regard Harmony apathetically, noting the abrupt change in body language with a silent sigh of relief. He sat down next to her on the bench and let his eyes wonder about the room fully for the first time.
"One of the guards went to fetch one of them," he said as an answer to her question, "I'd imagine they'll be back at any moment, so theres no need to trouble yourself."
His eyes fell to the corner, where his captain Udo, stood staring at the women to his right, his mouth slightly agape.
"Udo," Richter said authoritatively, "close your mouth before you swallow a bug."
Udo immediately shook his head, snapping his mouth shut, and straightened himself out, finding an empty spot at the wall mind numbingly interesting all of a sudden, resorting to casting envious glances Richter's way every few minutes.
Richter sighed and shook his head as he turned back to Harmony.
"My brother wrote me about you if I recall correctly," he said cryptically, "I'll spare you the details, suffice to say he seemed quite....taken....with you."
Richter Massey Marshal of the Tribute Collecting Army
Harmony looked blandly at Richter. She could feel his air of...not hostility precisely...distaste? She had seen his kind before...thought they knew everything there was to know about women...and didn’t care for any of it. They were just the sort to get themselves caught by the type of woman who would rip their hearts out, too. To amuse herself she gave his man a dazzling smile where he stood against the wall. That ought to annoy the sanctimonious Richter no end.
She considered making some suggestive remarks, but rejected them in view of finding another ally to keep Goffrey alive...unless Richter was a stubbornly foolish as he was. “Your brother and I are friends,” she said simply, “But...Goff is determined to face down your lunatic father on his own. Nothing that I or Jenred or Edara have said has really seemed to get through to him...I hope that you will have more success.”
Harmony paused and looked hard at Richter, “At least, I assume that you will discourage him from such idiotic action. Why he feels he needs to do this personally when we could send hundreds of soldiers after him is beyond me.”
Lady Harmony Kindon (Dame of Nocaneb)
Richter sighed in annoyance, as Udo suddenly found it necessary to leave the room, less he succumb to his baser urges. This woman, Harmony, certainly found interesting ways to make a nuisance of herself, not at all as his brother dipicted her in his 18 page long letter, not that Richter read the whole thing mind you.
"That's kind of a thing with Goffrey," said Richter, "he always has to bare all the burdens himself."
Nostalgia took hold for a moment as memories from Richter's childhood came to him, almost unbidden. He cleared such thoughts from his head, as few of them were good ones.
"I'll talk to him, you can be certain," said Richter, an undercurrent of determination in his voice, "but don't get your hopes up, to this date I count the number of times my brother has listened to the voice of reason on my fingers and thumbs."
Richter Massey Marshal of the Tribute Collecting Army
Looking more bedraggled than he had for some time, Dren entered the stronghold of Nocaneb. His hair was a mess, his priestly robe was mud splattered and his shoes were falling apart. Even his his current travel worn predicament however, the priest had time for a brief conversation with the guards at the gate. He smiled tiredly, saying, "Morning, Rafael, I see you have a new trainee with you." He had traveled through Nocaneb many times over the past month, and knew all the gate guards by name.
Stolidly refusing to comment upon Dren's appearance, Sergeant Rafael replied, "Yes, Auctoritas Kandurell. Alex is still wet behind the ears, but he's learning fast. Good thing there's not a war on though, wouldn't last five minutes!"
Nodding, the priest quietly said, "We are all thankful for that." He moved steadily through the gate, followed by a servant. Dren had found the young lad in Obtal, the son of some rebels who had met their just fate with the hangman's noose. Rather than allow the teenager to fall into poverty and nurture a resentment against Arcaea's nobles, he'd employed him and was endeavoring to teach him the ways of the Aenil.
Rudrik, for that was the lad's name, had remained in a considerate silence for the past hour, carrying his share of the pair's provisions with a thoughtful expression on his face. "So what you're saying," he announced, speaking up at last, "is that we should try to attract the right Aenil by being good? And not fighting and stuff?" With a patience that had grown immensely over the past few weeks, Dren replied, "You must follow the judgment of your heart to decide what are the right actions, with the knowledge that the Aenil are watching you." A few thoughtful seconds passed, before Rudrik said, "But.."
"Not now; we have finally reached the citadel! Time for a change of clothes and a hot meal, I think." Indeed they stood at the entrance to Nocaneb's inner fortress, and Dren climbed up the steps thankful to have arrived at last.
Dren Kandurell (Priest of Magna Aenilia Ecclesia)
Harmony nodded at Richter, inwardly pleased that she had obviously annoyed him, but giving no sign, “As long as you will try...well...that’s all that we can really do...other than lock him into the dungeon, which I do think that Jenred might consider...assuming Goff can’t be made to see sense.”
She looked around, “Are you sure that you don’t want me to try to find someone for you? The guard seems to have lost himself along the way. It wouldn’t be any ‘trouble’ at all, I can assure you.”
Lady Harmony Kindon (Dame of Nocaneb)
Richter inwardly raised his eyebrow at Harmony's comment, finding the idea of Goffrey being thrown in a dungeon a little to similar to some of the more extreme punishments Siegfried put them through.
He pushed his caution to the side, brushing the comment off as, what he hoped, was a bad joke. All the same he made a note to memorize the lay out of Arcaea's dungeon, just incase.
"I'm sure it'll just be a moment longer," said Richter in way of answering Harmony, "he's probably in the midst of something important at the moment."
"Although, if he doesn't show up in the next few minutes," continued Richter, "I might have to take you up on your offer."
Richter Massey Marshal of the Tribute Collecting Army
Dren trudged wearily down to corridor leading to the Great Hall, Rudrik scampering behind. Matted hair torn robe and all, the priest entered the hall. He was bent over slightly, exhausted from the days of travel. Looking up, a smile struggled across his face. He opened his mouth to speak only to be interrupted by the ever curious Rudrik.
"But Priest Dren..." A flicker of irritation, brought on by lack of rest and food, wiped the smile from Dren's features. "Not now, Rudrik. Run off to the kitchen - follow your nose, I'm sure you'll find it. There should be servants around to ask if you get lost. And don't forget to save me some food!" The last was delivered rather loudly at Rudrik's back, as the boy wasted no time in hurrying off to acquire some sustenance. Sighing, Dren turned his attention to the two nobles in the room.
"What a pleasant surprise! I had not expected to find you here, Marshal Richter. Lady Harmony, how is Goffrey? Making a full recovery? I don't know him well, but he doesn't seem like the type of man to take a wound lying down. I've seen what happens to men who agitate a half healed wound; not a pretty sight."
Dren Kandurell (Priest of Magna Aenilia Ecclesia)
An exasperated groan escaped Richter's, thought it was barely above a whisper. All he had wanted to do was see his brother, and have a talk with Jenred. He nodded his greeting to the disheveled looking priest.
He thankfully was saved from any further conversation by the appearance of the guard he had sent to find Goffrey.
"Apologizes My Lord," said the guard, bowing to Richter at the waist, "I couldn't seem to find Lord Jenred, but Lord Goffrey awaits you in the courtyard."
Richter nodded his approval, and rose to fallow the guard to his brother.
"If you'll excuse me," he said towards the priest, not really caring if he did excuse him or not. He paused halfway towards the door, and gave a questioning glance towards Harmony, silently wondering if she was coming with.
Richter Massey Marshal of the Tribute Collecting Army
Harmony looked up in delight...the big, hunk of a priest. She never had discovered if Priests of the Aenil practiced celibacy or not...how to drop that into conversation?
She smiled very warmly and took his hand, “Brother Dren, such a pleasure to see you again. Goffrey is much improved; you’ll be pleased to know. I am certain that the healer you brought must be given much credit for that. How have you been? You look as though you could use some rest.”
The guard returned with news of Goffrey’s location, and Richter made to follow him. Harmony looked over to see him giving her with a questioning look.
“Oh...you go on ahead, Richter. Please tell Goffrey that I’ll see him soon. I’m going to chat with Brother Dren for a bit...and see that he gets some food into him,” she motioned for a servant, “Sit down, Dren, you look as though you could use a bit of a rest...I’ll order you up something hot and tasty, and we can catch up while you eat. I recently joined the church...after I heard your inspiring sermon, in fact..”
Harmony sent the servant out for some food, and didn’t notice when Richter left.
Lady Harmony Kindon (Dame of Nocaneb)
Looking between the two nobles, Dren was astounded by the disparity of his welcome. The Marshal was cold, hostile even, while Lady Harmony was as welcoming as ever. Then again, he barely knew Richter, so it was quite possible that his normal expression was that of an old man sucking a particularly bitter lemon. Deciding that it was best to be open and friendly in spite of all this – perhaps the man was simply having some intestinal difficulties – Dren managed to nod amiably in his direction before his attention was entirely subsumed by Harmony’s overwhelming personality.
“Please give your brother my regards, Marshal Richter,” he hurriedly said, as he was practically forced into a chair. He released Harmony's hand and sat back, smiling in a somewhat dazed fashion as she assaulted him with a flurry of conversation and questions.
“Well,” he said expansively, “I’m glad to hear that Master Ethelred did his job well. He’s been master healer in Lantzas for longer than I’ve been in the Far East!” Dren sighed and nodded thankfully. “Yes, I’d be glad of some rest. All of this travelling and preaching can get to a man. And I make it a policy never to pass up a good meal.” The vestiges of a grin passed across his face. He was too tired to think clearly, and Harmony was even more intense – in her own fashion – than his cousin Euran.
“My inspiring sermon, eh?” Even Dren in his bedraggled state could tell that Harmony was laying on the compliments. He was still a Viking though, and modesty had never been one of his chief virtues. “I do my best. The peasants around here are rather theologically challenging, but if I can convert you then I should have no problem.” He let out a chuckle. “I’ve been busy, but as you can see, I’m fine. How have you been keeping yourself? Been keeping yourself occupied? You know you’ll only get into trouble if you allow yourself to get bored.”
Dren Kandurell (Priest of Magna Aenilia Ecclesia)
Richter shook his head, and ignored the bitter taste gathering his mouth. He knew this was going to be hell on his older brother, not that Harmony seemed to care to much at this point. He would have to enlighten his brother as too the kind of woman he was chasing after.
He walked down the corridors of the castle, guided by the guard, thoughts of what exactly he was going to tell Goffrey rushing through his head. The meeting with Harmony had more or less scattered his thoughts, and he was not looking forward to the conversation that topic would bring up with Goffrey. Not to mention the fight that would surely fallow.
After several more moments of walking, Richter found that they had reached their destination. He looked across the span of the courtyard, spotting Goffrey on the other side, relaxing on a stone bench, and staring at the sky with a content look on his face. Richter sighed a mournful sigh as he strode off to ruin his brother's day, silently cursing Harmony as he approached his brother.
Goffrey observed the clouds with what some would call a childish interest in his eyes. He sighed light headily, feeling that today was going to be a good day for some reason. He tensed up, as a presence suddenly made itself known, he relaxed slightly as a smile formed, he knew his brother.
"Richter," he said with a hint of mock anger in his voice, "I get stabbed in the chest, and it takes you this long to check up on me.
Richter picked up on the humor in Goffrey's voice instantly, "Please Goffrey," he said with a half smile spread across his fave, "If I dropped everything everytime you were 'mortaily wounded' I'd never get anything done."
Goffrey laughed as Richter chuckled lightly, "Oh thats so cold."
Silence grew as the laughter of the two trailed off.
"So..." Richter began, the smile gone from his face as if it was never there, "He's back."
"Yea," said Goffrey grimly, "I take it you've already had close encounter with him."
"A very close encounter."
"Don't worry Richter, I'll stop him, I promise you."
Richter said nothing, unsure of how to what to say to his brother to get him to listen to the voice of reason. He pushed those thoughts to the side, there was something else Goffrey needed to realize.
"I met that Harmony girl you wrote me about in the Hall," said Richter.
Goffrey smiled at the thought of Harmony, tempered only a little thanks to the incident some time ago in Edara's parlor.
"She's something isn't she," he said dreamily.
Richter sighed darkly as he prepared to rip his brother's heart out and stomp it into the ground, cursing Harmony once again as he did so.
"Yes....something alright....something you can find at certain street corners at certain hours of the night."
A dark rage filled Goffrey at that point, as he rose to stare Richter in the face.
"What the hell do you mean by that Richter," he said with a dangerous edge to his voice.
Richter rolled his eyes at his brother's own naivety frustration and anger clouding his mind.
"Oh come now Goffrey wake up, you saw a pretty face and fell in love with it, nothing more," said Richter, knowing from experience just where a love like that lead too, "you have to face facts and get over her, she's nothing but a whor..."
Richter was unable to finish his sentence as Goffrey's fist connected firmly with his jaw, sending him spiraling to the ground. He looked up as his brother stood over him, eyes burning with fury. He sighed an frustrated sigh as he spat out a wad of blood and pulled himself to his feet.
"So its like that then."
Goffrey said nothing, continuing to stare his brother down with a gaze that could burn a hole through a wall.
"Alright then, lets get this over with," said Richter, resignation in his voice.
The two squared off on each other, casting their swords and cloaks aside as they would only get in the way. They both stood where they were unmoving, a sense of overwhelming stillness settling about them. The world around them grayed out as they both focused all their sense on their opponent and nothing else.
The stillness was broken abruptly as Goffrey rushed Richter leaping into him, shoulder first, sending them both to the ground. They wrestled around a bit on the ground before rolling away from each other and regaining they're feet. No sooner was Richter on his feet, however, when Goffrey suddenly appeared, launching a kick towards Richter's head. Richter ducked under the kick, and sweaped out with his legs, catching the lone leg separating Goffrey from the ground.
Goffrey caught himself with his hands and pushed himself back to his feet, just in time to evade an axe kick from Richter. On his feet once more, he sent a rising knee deep into Richter's stomach, causing him to double over and gasp for air. Not one to waste an opening Goffrey positioned himself behind the incapacitated Richter, planting a foot in the wedge of his knees, forcing Richter to a kneeling position.
A headlock soon fallowed, as Goffrey's arms ensnared Richter's and raised them above his head in such a way as to prevent them from any further movements. Richter struggled to slip out of the head lock, but only succeed in moving his arms into such a position that would result in them breaking given the right movement from Goffrey.
"Take it back," said Goffrey between gritted teeth, as he held Richter a hairs breath from breaking his arms.
Richter said nothing except snarl in pain as Goffrey slowly applied pressure to the hold.
"Richter," said Goffrey, the dangerous edge in his voice redoubling, "TAKE IT BACK, DON'T MAKE ME BREAK YOUR ARMS."
Richter knew exactly just how stubborn Goffrey could be, and decided that it would be best to relent at this point, the sound of bones grinding together all but confirming the decision in his mind.
"I take it back Goffrey, AGGHH, now GET OFF OF ME."
Goffrey released his brother from the hold and pulled him up to his feet.
"Now then, we're going to go find Harmony, and YOUR going to apologize for what you said," he said, the danger gone but not forgotten.
Richter gave his brother a begrudging look, but said nothing to the contrary. Gods only knew what Harmony and her 'guest' were up to at this point, and Richter would have done anything to spare Goffrey that sight. But he realized that he had been backed into a lose lose situation.
He sighed as he and Goffrey made they’re way out of the courtyard, and towards nothing that could possibly end well.
Richter Massey Marshal of the Tribute Collecting Army
Harmony settled onto a chair with a smile listening to Dren’s pleasant rolling tones. It was no wonder he had gone in for preaching—he had a lovely voice. She let out a genuine laugh at his last remark.
“Bored? Who has time to be bored? I spend hours patrolling the streets with my men every day, not to mention the usual business of managing my holdings...” her smile darkened, “And, I’ve spent a fair amount of time here at the Castle—visiting my cousin..and of course, Goffrey. What his father did to him...most men would have never gotten up again after wounds like that...”
She paused as the servant returned with a tray of food and laid it out for them.
“Ah, there we go...can always count on something tasty from Idelle’s kitchen. Eat up, Brother, a man of your size should not be missing any meals,” she smiled easily at him, plucking some fruit from the table, “So the peasants have been ‘theologically challenging’, have they? I confess, I understand little of the theology of the Aenilic church. I’ve been following some of the discussions, and there seems to be quite a bit of disparity in the views of the various church leaders. Makes for a certain...confusion...in how one is to proceed in following Church doctrine when there doesn’t seem to be much agreement on what it is...”
Harmony sat back comfortably, enjoying her fruit and watching Dren start to tuck into his meal. She may not know anything about the Aenil, but it was certainly a good world that had such pretty men in it.
Lady Harmony Kindon (Dame of Nocaneb)
“Goffrey is indeed an immensely tough man. A true hero. For him to survive such wounds, he must have the protection of a powerful Aenil, I am sure.” It was unlikely that anyone had ever thought of Dren as ‘pretty’ before, but he was certainly a lot less heavily scarred than his older cousin. At the appearance of food, a genuine smile came to his lips. “Ah, Idelle, a woman with a seemingly unending culinary generosity.”
He was clearly ravenous, and began eating with gusto, although he was also somewhat awkwardly aware of Harmony watching him. He finished off a chicken leg then settled back to discuss his most recent favourite topic; the Aenil.
“Hm, the church is somewhat divided currently. One of the things that you will soon come to find, Lady Harmony, is that the Aenilic Church approaches doctrine in the same way a poor region lord deals with would-be knights. He’s extremely wary at first, and doesn’t want to give up his gold – but once a knight has been accepted, he is there to stay, come sun, storms or unexpected rains of fish. Essentially the only requirement to be a member of the church is to worship the Aenil; oh, the elders will complain if you dissent with their opinions, but belief in the Aenil is the fundamental thing that binds us together. The same applies to being a priest; essentially all I need to do is be accepted at a temple and preach to the masses. It is all surprisingly simple.”
Tearing off a piece of bread, he continued, “That’s good in a way, but it can lead to divergences of opinions, like the current church debate.”
Dren Kandurell (Priest of Magna Aenilia Ecclesia)
Goffrey and Richter walked through the same hallways that Richter had walked through not moments ago. As they back tracked towards the great hall, Richter desperately tried to think of a means to slow their trek down, or prevent them from arriving at their destination altogether.
After his third attempt to ditch his older brother, Goffrey had resorted to grabbing his ear firmly between finger and thumb, and dragging his sorry ass to the great hall, all the while admonishing him in the proper way to treat a lady. Richter only snarled in pain in lue of a response.
Moments passed as they finally made their way to the door, which Goffrey promptly pushed his brother into, motioning for him to open it. Richter paused at the door, desperately trying to ascertain just what exactly was going on behind it, before opening it. Eventually Goffrey grew weary of what he perceived as his brother stalling, so he grabbed his brother by the ear again, and kicked the door open.
He scanned the room, finding Harmony siting next the priest who had visited him when he was less then coherent. He struggled to remember this man's name, but just shrugged and dragged his brother to the too, before promptly throwing his brother before them.
"Harmony," he said, in a slightly apologetic manner, "I hope I'm not interrupting anything, but, my brother has something he'd like to say to you."
For a moment, Richter could only glare at his brother with one eyebrow raised, a swift smack upside his head reminded him of the status quo and he turned his head to the noble lady and the priest.
Richter inhaled deeply, and with what one could call honest sincerity said, "I'm sorry for my rudeness to you before," bowing politely to the girl, silently wondering if she picked up on the silent undertones of, 'hurt my brother and I'll kill you.'
Richter Massey Marshal of the Tribute Collecting Army
Harmony looked up in surprise when the door kicked open and Goffrey dragged his brother before them...the only thing more surprising was Richter’s apology. It was fairly amusing, actually...she wondered what he had said to Goff to make him aware that Richter had even been rude to her in the first place..she could think of one or two things...
Harmony opened her mouth to reply when she realized that both Richter and Goffrey were looking rather tousled and..
“Nine bloody hells! You’ve been fighting! Richter...your brother was nearly killed...and you’re going to come here...and start pummelling him?” Harmony yelled as she jumped to her feet, “Are you trying to kill him? Finish what your mange-infested father started?” She poked at Richter’s chest.
“And you!” she rounded on Goffrey, “What the blazes are you playing at? Was it really necessary to roll around beating on your brother? Was this because he was rude? Or was he trying to tell you not to do something stupid and you had to thump him a few times to prove how stupid you could be?”
She was breathing hard and glaring at both of them.
“What is wrong with you both? I was counting on you for sense, Richter...seems as though you are just as bad as your brother!”
Lady Harmony Kindon (Dame of Nocaneb)
Richter stood slightly nonplussed at the dressing down Harmony was giving. If his father had been anyone else, he might have actually been overtly effective. As it were the only visible effect it had on him was to cause him to sigh and roll his eyes as he took a seat on the table across from Dren.
Goffrey, on the other, took the yelling a bit more adversely. He stood their speechless for several minutes, sputtering out half completed words in a desperate attempt to explain himself. Richter silently enjoyed his brother's discomfort, although feeling for him as he had been there more then once before. Finally Goffrey gave a defeated exasperated sigh as he fell into a seat at the table. Looking up at Harmony a thought struck him, and he decided to go with it.
"Anyone ever tell you your beautiful when your angry Harmony," said Goffrey sincerely with a half smile on his face.
Richter Massey Marshal of the Tribute Collecting Army
Dren decided that keeping his head down was probably for the best. This food was extremely good! Goffrey was in a... delicate state, if such a word could ever be used to describe the hero. He would allow Harmony to sort it all out; she certainly had the commanding tone just right.
Dren Kandurell (Priest of Magna Aenilia Ecclesia)
Harmony stared at Goffrey. She could feel a wave of anger rolling through her coupled with a frustration as intense as any she had ever experienced. There was just no getting through to him! She opened her mouth...and all that came out was a strangled noise. Harmony reached around blindly and laid hands on a loaf of bread which she threw at Goff’s head.
“You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! You think I look good when I’m angry? That’s your response?!” She flung a handful of cutlery at the wall where it made a satisfying clang.
“Are you actually deranged? Do you have a death wish? What is wrong with you? How many times can I ask that question?” Harmony rounded the table and advanced on Goffrey, “I...have...had...just about as much...as I can take.” She reached him, pulled back her arm, and slapped him hard upside the head.
“Snap out of it!”
She stood still in front of him, waiting until he looked at her once more. “I’d like to knock some sense into you! You are not in love with me! If you wish to kill yourself fighting with your brother...I can’t stop you. If you want to go after the viper of a father...I can’t stop you. But I’ll be damned if you are going to ignore my good advice and then tell me that I am beautiful angry. Damnation! You just make me want to scream!”
Harmony knew that she was being ridiculous...but really...she wanted to hit him again...ten or twelve times...with a club. She looked at the table...contemplating cooling Goffrey’s head with a jug of wine...or possibly throwing everything on it...or maybe the chairs...she closed her eyes and breathed. Maybe...if he just didn’t say anything else stupid for a minute...she could get control before she lost it completely.
Lady Harmony Kindon (Dame of Nocaneb)
Jenred pulled up short, barely managing to keep his face level and calm.
"It's alright men, stand down a little, but stick around."
Jenred stifled a sigh, and strode into the room, his fingers flexing in response to the cutlery clattering off the wall. He had caught enough of the diatribe to figure out at least some of what happened...And he needed to get Goffrey out of the room, now, before he said something else stupid...
"Baron Goffrey, I require your assistance regarding some troubling rumours I have discovered regarding your region. Lady Harmony, Priest Dren, my apologies, but I need Goffrey, now."
Jenred gestured, indicating that Goffrey should follow him through the guards waiting at attention. Jenred was praying. For the love of all the Aenil, please let Goffrey follow him out...
Sir Jenred Bedwyr Imperial Magistrate of Arcaea
Richter sighed at the mess his brother had gotten himself into. Richter could have told Goffrey that such a comment would undoubtedly ended badly, but it was a little late this point. Goffrey always did a problem of speaking then thinking about it afterwords, and once again that was coming to bite him in the ass.
Goffrey himself was one part shocked, one part confused, and one part hurt. He didn't understand why it was such a big deal to wrestle around with his brother, when he had done it plenty of times before, much worse off then he was now. Why ever Harmony was upset, all Goffrey knew was that it was his fault, and he had screwed up once again.
The sudden appearance of Jenred was the only thing that saved Goffrey from making a bad situation worse, and he jumped to his feet, shot a reget filled look and Harmony and fallowed Jenred out the door.
Richter watched all this, and sighed darkly. "He really needs to learn to keep his mouth shut."
Richter Massey Marshal of the Tribute Collecting Army
Richter sat in the room, silence permeated the area in Goffrey's absence. Harmony stood absolutely fuming mad at what Richter guessed was Goffrey's complete disregard for his own safety. Richter sighed heavily, his brother had certainly left one hell of a mess in his wake, and Richter knew that he had to clean it up, if Goffrey was to have any chance with this Harmony women, she would need to understand a few things about Goffrey.
It was a task Richter loathed to do, as he felt it was very reveling, and it could possibly end up making things worse. But the conviction to let these a few truths be known outweighed any reservations he had, and for better or worse, their was a tale to tell, that Goffrey himself couldn't tell.
"You know," he said, breaking the spell silence had cast over the room, "shouting at him like really isn't going to solve anything."
"Hitting him will prove even less effective, he's more or less built up an immunity to that at this point," he continued, chuckling grimly at his own dark joke, "If you really care about my brother, and I think you do, then there are somethings you'll need to know about him, otherwise he'll drive you absolutely mad."
"I warn you though, what I tell you can not be untold, and you may never look at Goffrey the same way again."
He regarded Harmony calmly, waiting patiently for the response, silently hoping he wouldn't have to drag up old memories, as they were usually all filled with pain.
Richter Massey Marshal of the Tribute Collecting Army
There was no more food left on his plate. Dren was rather disappointed by this fact. It had been an excellent excuse to put his head down and refrain from becoming involved in the... argument? fight? lover's tiff? No surely not. Harmony would have not taken his words so badly if that had been the case. Goffrey was right; Harmony was beautiful when she was angry. But it was the beauty of a tidal wave, an unstoppable force of nature. It was something to be appreciated from a safe distance; most certainly not to stand full in the face of, waiting for the waves to crash down around you.
Looking up as Richter began to speak, Dren realised that the marshal was entirely unaware of his presence. This was both good, because it meant he was not forced to become entangled in the argument... but it could also lead to some awkwardness later. He coughed, and pushed his plate back, rising to his feet. This was not his place; he did not want to hear what was about to be said between Richter and Harmony. It was a private affair.
"Marshal Richter; Lady Harmony; do forgive me if I take my leave. I am in need of a good sleep."
This said, he nodded to each of them in turn and left the room.
Dren Kandurell (Priest of Magna Aenilia Ecclesia)
Harmony watched Goffrey follow Jenred out of the room in silence. She doubted that Jenred really needed anything, other than to get Goff away from her...she almost didn’t realize Richter was speaking at first; she was still so caught up in her own wrath.
Before she could even respond, Dren rose and with a swift farewell, left the room. She noted his departure with some regret, but honestly...she had made such a scene...she hardly thought he would have a particularly favourable impression of her, anyway. She shrugged mentally...plenty more pretty men in Arcaea.
She focused her attention back onto the pretty man that was still in the room. What had he said? Yes...Harmony looked at him intently for a moment...then...despite herself...she laughed and let go of her anger.
“Honestly...I shouted and smacked him more for my satisfaction then for any hope that it would get through his thick skull. I wish I could say that I felt as good as I had hoped,” she smiled ruefully at Richter.
“And...I do care about your brother...just...not the way that he wishes that I would. I do not wish him to die...He’s a good man, and I am very fond of him...even if he is a complete idiot about your father. What is it that you think I should know that will keep him from driving me mad? I can’t imagine there being any information that would actually accomplish that worthy goal.”
Lady Harmony Kindon (Dame of Nocaneb)
Goffrey and Jenred continue in What you always wanted to know, but were too afraid to ask, about women
Richter sighed darkly, as the task set before him weighed heavily indeed, he noticed that Dren had left a bottle of liquor untouched. Figuring he might as well get started on forgetting the coming conversation ever happened sooner rather then later, Richter grabbed the wine and drank it faster and harder then it probably deserved.
He turned to Harmony and motioned for her to sit, it was going to be a long story after all. Once the Lady Harmony was seated comfortably upon the wooden bench, Richter cast his eyes about the room. He noticed the servants waiting by the wall, encase the nobles should require anything further whilst eating. He waved them out of the room, and they dutifully obeyed. He turned to the entrance to the hall, noting the guards stationed their, and the returned presence of Udo. Richter locked eyes with his captain for but a moment, before Udo caught what exactly what Richter required of him.
Moments later Richter and Harmony were alone in the room, and a sortie of Guards were stationed at all the entrances to said room, ensuring that they would stay alone until such a time as Richter deemed fit. He turned a skeptical eye towards Harmony, wondering if she was worthy of the knowledge he was about to bestow upon her.
"What I'm about to tell you does not leave this room, understand?"
He waited, as Harmony nodded her affirmative, obviously a bit skeptical herself of what exactly Richter was going to say. Silence flooded into the large room, as Richter tried once again to drown himself on the bottle of liquor, before he set the bottle down and searched for a place to begin.
"For the longest time, I hated my brother," Richter said at last, letting the words sink in before continuing, "mostly because of why you nearly beat him to death with a loaf of bread."
"He was always so damn reckless, so uncaring about the risks of life, he nearly drove me as mad as our father after awhile. It was all I could do to keep from breaking his skull in, to make him understand just what he could wind up doing to himself."
Richter paused for effect here, appraising Harmony, to make sure she was even listening to him prattle on like this.
"It wasn't until I was 14 years old that I finally figured out just what it was that made him like that," said Richter a twisted version of Nostalgia entering his voice.
"I was a young fool back then, or maybe just younger, depending on how you look at it....I'm not entirely sure what it was exactly I did, but, I know I did something wrong, something that Siegfried saw was worthy of punishment. I assume you've heard of what our farther did to us on a daily basis, so you can only imagine what his punishments must be like. I knew nothing but dread for the next few days, as what I saw as my unavoidable death approached."
Richter stopped again, mostly for affect, partially to take another swig from the now half empty bottle.
"And then Goffrey reminded me just how stupid he could be, I'm not even sure how he pulled it off to this day, somehow he managed to convince our father that he was the one that had made the trangression, not me, and thus he was the one to bare the punishment."
Richter chuckled darkly, as the tourch light caught a stray tear forming in his eye. He covered it up by swiftly downing another fourth of the bottle.
"Sometimes at night, I can still hear the screams.....a day or so later, our father's guards drug him back to the room we shared, there was blood all over him, and more then one of his limbs was broken."
"I was absolutely, mind numbingly furious at him for taking my place, on impulse I would have finished him out of sheer spite, but instead I resorted to fervently berating him, trying desperately to understand what would make him do something like that."
A moment passed, and Richter's bottle was suddenly down to its last few drops.
"After what seemed like hours of yelling, and tending to his wounds to the best of my ability, I stopped cursing him and his foolishness, and asked him calmly 'why'?"
"Goffrey just stared at me, a tired and weak half grin on his face, chuckling like I was an idiot for even asking.....'thats what I'm here for,' he said like it was the simplest thing in the world, like he was explaining it to a child, '...thats just one less hell for you to go through Richter, your welcome,'...."
Richter chuckled darkly again, as he finished off the bottle, and casually threw it to the side.
"I realized then what the hell drove Goffrey to put himself in situations where his life would almost surely end. It wasn't because he was stupid, it was because if it happened to him he just....didn't....care.....all of his self concern, his fear of death and dying, was stolen from him, the subtlety of it shocked me silent for days, as I realized just how father had gone with Goffrey."
"Without the ability to fear for himself he could become something less then man, but at the same time more, a perfect killer that did not know fear or pain only the mission. That was what Siegfried had wanted from all along, a prefect weapon, and, if not for blind luck, that was what Goffrey would have become......or might yet become......"
Richter Massey Marshal of the Tribute Collecting Army
Harmony listened to him intently—keeping her face carefully neutral. What she had told Arlian had been no joke: acting training was very useful…and she was damn good. Richter did clarify some things. Obviously Goffrey’s father had endeavoured to turn him into as much of a monster as he was. And, while Richter was seeing the negative aspects of this: Goff’s complete lack of concern for his own self-preservation. What he was missing…
“’Twasn’t blind luck,” she told Richter thoughtfully.
He looked at her in some surprise.
“Not luck: it was you. That was the part that bat-crazy man failed to consider. Goffrey may have learned not to fear for himself; but, he did fear for you,” Harm smiled slightly, “Your execrable father couldn’t kill his love for his younger brother. What Goff learned wasn’t to be the perfect killing machine; he learned self-sacrifice. Now…he’s extended that—to ludicrous amounts, of course—to others beyond you—but that’s why...”
Her smile broadened as she warmed to her theory, “Every time he took a blow for you, he beat your father. That scum sucking swine can’t understand love—or nobility—or sacrificing for others, so he never saw it.”
Harmony laughed, “Oh…if he had realized…he would have kept you far, far apart!” She put her feet up on the bench in front of her and hugged her legs, “Goffrey…beat him…with love. Oh hell…and that’s why he always feels like he has to do everything himself…because somewhere in that thick, stubborn skull of his…he’s besting your pig-dog father every time he saves someone…”
She rested her chin on her knees and pondered, “Of course…that’s a bit harder to combat than just stubborn stupidity…so deeply rooted in his mind…” Harmony gazed up at Richter, “And what lurks in your mind, I wonder…what stopped you from becoming the perfect killing machine?”
Lady Harmony Kindon (Dame of Nocaneb)
Richter pondered Harmony's theory, a bit light headed thanks to the potency of the wine he had so carelessly knocked back, as an alcohol fueled half smile formed on his lips.
"An interesting theory," he said in regards to Harmony's idea, "If I were a less cynical man I might of thought of it myself. Who would have thought Siegfried would have managed to squeeze some accidental good out of his misbegotten life."
Richter paused again as he contemplated Harmony's question, when the simple truth of the matter struck him.
"I didn't become a weapon because my father thought of me as a 'blunted blade' so to speak....I was kept alive to help Goffrey train and nothing more," Richter paused as a thought struck him, and a dark laughter escaped him throat, "In a way, I suppose you could say Goffrey had been protecting me best by simply staying alive."
Richter Massey Marshal of the Tribute Collecting Army
Harmony nodded at Richter, “So...you saved each other then...and that disgusting donkey’s ass didn’t even know that you were doing it. I’m glad that for all he did to the two of you...the torture and misery that he put you through...that there were some ways that you two bested him.”
She rose to her feet and gestured expansively, “And, now that he’s back...well...now the two of you don’t have to stand alone against him, for we are all with you. We will catch him and he will be punished...and...he will die. I know that Goff wants it to be by his hand, but, frankly, I don’t care...an arrow through the throat from 200 paces sounds just as satisfactory to me.”
Harmony sighed, “I do understand why your brother wishes to end him personally...though I’m not certain that would actually be good for Goffrey. It’s too much what that chicken-guano would want...I’m not sure that he wouldn’t consider it a fair way to die...at Goff’s hand...he might find it...a right of passage...in a way...a sign that Goffrey had become the man your scabby father wanted him to be.”
She gazed at Richter again, “How about you? Do you feel the need to take out the rat bastard yourself? Or are you content enough to just see that he dies?”
Lady Harmony Kindon (Dame of Nocaneb)
Richter shrugged his response to Harmony, "So long as the bastard dies, and rots in a particularly nasty part of Hell, I really don't care how he ends up there," he said with all honesty, "If Goffrey did it, however, it certainly would be more poetic though."
Richter shook his head to clear it, wanting to change the subject away from his father, he still had a few things he needed to tell Harmony, and his opinion of his father really was not one of them. No there were far more important thing he needed to tell this girl.
"You know," he said after long moments of pondering, "for as far back as I can remember, Goffrey has never openly talked to any women as he has to you." "Not that their haven't been opportunities of course, maidens have been throwing themselves his way ever sense our father left to conduct his business in Beluaterra, but he never had any experience with women when he was growing up, thanks once again to our father."
"Because of that he never understood what these women were making such a fuss about, and he eventually just started to tune them out...." a seriousness edged into his voice as he continued, "for a time I thought his desire for a relationship of any kind had been another casualty of his misbegotten childhood."
"And then one day, I received a letter from my brother, 18 pages long, despite his distaste for writing of any kind," he paused he looked at Harmony judging her reaction, "I won't admit to actually reading the whole thing, but I can guarantee you that almost all of it was about you."
He laughed as turned his head to regard the floor, "I was cautious at first, not knowing how to handle a situation like this, this was the first Goffrey had ever even mentioned anything about women beyond a passing thought, I instantly felt the need to protect my brother, as he protected me, to see just what he had signed up for."
"To be honest, when I first saw you, I was not impressed, in fact I was nearly overwhelmed with disgust, I thought you just a harpie that intended to use my brother until boredom took hold and you cast him aside like a used toy, and I hated you for that," he paused wondering if perhaps he had gone to far, but decided that he could blame the alcohol on it if it came down to that.
"I went to meet my brother, all other thoughts gone from my brain save rescuing from his own fledgling emotions, I told him just what I thought of you, and you know what he did," Richter paused for a moment, as if waiting for an actual reply, "He punched me square in the jaw, and very nearly broke my arms until I took my words back," Richter chuckled again at this, "He didn't stop there of course, he drug me through the halls of Nocaneb, by my ear no less, all the way talking down to me like an angry father berating his child."
"We came back here, and I apologized to you, more to appease my brother then anything else," he stopped again as his thoughts wondered, "I'd like to do that again if you'd be willing to take it, I realize now that I judged you in haste and did not do you justice with my words."
"I think I understand how Goffrey could love you now," he paused once again, searching for the right words, "I don't know if I fully understand it.....I think he sees something in you.....something beyond your face......something he can't quite bring to words......" Richter trailed off as he gathered himself together again.
"Look," he said simply, "I'm not trying to convince you to love my brother in return, nor am I asking you to give him a chance......just.....next time he tells you he loves you, and I believe there will be a next time......don't tell him he's not," he trailed off again, minutes passed before he found his voice again, now filled with a pleading desperation.
".........please........"
Richter Massey Marshal of the Tribute Collecting Army
She grinned wryly at him, “A harpy, you say? I can’t say as I’ve been called a harpy before...many things...but never that,” his words had stung her, but that she would never let him see. Harmony sighed heavily and considered Richter’s words before responding further, “Perhaps I was too hasty in telling your brother that he did not love me...or perhaps I indulged in wishful thinking. I do not want your brother to love me, because I do not love him,” she looked seriously at Richter.
“I do not...and I cannot. Look, Richter...I like men. I enjoy their company; I enjoy flirting with them; I enjoy the attention that they give me; I enjoy...well...let’s just leave it at that. But, I assure you, I have never “played” with someone whose affections were engaged. I have no desire to hurt your brother. He’s a good man.”
Harmony studied his face, wondering at his frankness in addressing her, and his lightening quick changes in mood, “I cannot stop Goffrey from hurting himself, though...if he persists in this course. I just...I don’t feel that way about him...I’ve never felt that way for any man...I’m not even certain that...I can...”
She trailed off, surprised that she had said such a thing to Richter and went to pour herself a goblet of wine. It was true, though...never once had her emotions been engaged beyond the taking of pleasure. Oh, she had felt more or less fondly for different fellows...but...never...anything beyond that. She couldn’t even have said that she believed in love, not really...despite the numbers of times she had pretended it on the stage...or spoken the words of bards. Until she had seen Edara and Jenred...and heard her father speak of his lost wife...
Harmony turned back to Richter with a practiced smile on her face—warm and friendly without being seductive—and spoke carefully, “I am who I am, and I’ve no intentions of changing...not to suit you or your brother. I am sorry that Goff has attached himself in this way...and I will do all that I can not to wound him...but I’m not changing.”
Her voice was calm--not defiant or angry--just calm and firm. She was pleased enough with the woman that she was, and guilt was not going to alter that.
Lady Harmony Kindon (Dame of Nocaneb)
Richter rubbed his temples, sighing at the mess his brother had gotten himself into, before turning his attention back to Harmony.
"Fair enough, you can only be you, and I would be too much like my father to ask you to be any different."
Richter had wanted to say more, but decided he had done enough damage at this point.
"Well that's all I wanted to say, so if you don't mind, I believe I'll take my leave," he said as he rose to leave the Hall.
'I guess there's some burdens you have no choice but to carry yourself,' he thought bitterly as he turned to leave.
He stopped half way to the door and turned back to Harmony. In all his life Richter had never been good at comforting people, yet he felt that he needed to say something to the gilt ridden girl he was about to abandon.
"Don't feel too bad Harmony," he began, in a abnormally soft voice, before his inherent coldness returned, "Siegfried will probably kill Goffrey and myself before too long anyway."
A thought accrued to Richter as he reached the door, 'Ahh, thats why people tend to dislike me,' he thought in an overtly calm inner voice. He was not all that surprised to find that he really didn't care.
Richter Massey Marshal of the Tribute Collecting Army
Harmony stared at Richter and then laughed heartily. “Oh blazes...you are as bad as your brother! Why the devil do the two of you walk around assuming that the vomitous mass will kill you?”
She spoke clearly emphasizing each word, “The resources of this duchy are at your disposal...maybe those of the whole realm. Nine bloody hells, Richter...that slimy bag of filth is only one man...I don’t care how great a warrior he is...he cannot stand alone against one troop, let alone many. He is not invulnerable to arrows, is he? Or crossbow bolts? Or perhaps being stabbed through by multiple throwing knives? Or punctured by many swords?”
Harmony rubbed her face, “I think the two of you have a death wish. Why would anyone wish to face him alone when you could take fifty men...or a hundred? The pair of you make no sense. Your muckball of a father is no better than a rabid dog and should be put down the same way. If you take a care, you’ve no need to be dead...either of you.”
Lady Harmony Kindon (Dame of Nocaneb)
