Grandt, House Leary man-at-arms, Abalene, the Northern Hawk Owl, 4 Leary House Guards, Caenn, the Juvenile Scribe arrive, following Fairen.

Grandt, House Leary man-at-arms, Abalene, the Northern Hawk Owl, 4 Leary House Guards, Caenn, the Juvenile Scribe leave, following Fairen.

Grandt, House Leary man-at-arms, Abalene, the Northern Hawk Owl, 4 Leary House Guards, Caenn, the Juvenile Scribe arrive, following Fairen.

Grandt, House Leary man-at-arms, Abalene, the Northern Hawk Owl, 4 Leary House Guards, Caenn, the Juvenile Scribe leave, following Fairen.

Grandt, House Leary man-at-arms, Abalene, the Northern Hawk Owl, 4 Leary House Guards, Caenn, the Juvenile Scribe arrive, following Fairen.

Perhaps it's not the best idea to go camping during winter, even if the winter season is coming to a close. This is Arx, after all. Still, Fairen is lounging around the large campfire that the servants seem to tend to frequently while the Marquis reads, waiting for everyone to show up.

Well one Cora does show and doesn't even seem to mind the weather. In fact she arrives with no outter wear whatsoever. Hello Thraxian blood! "Cousin, I see I am your first guest." She greets cheerfully, "More rum for me though right?" She is joking actually, "although I probably should abstain tonight."

When Coraline arrives, Fairen peeks up from his book, a soft smile forming on his lips as he bows his head at her in greetings. "I should have planned on having rum available." He starts, pulling the silk ribbon from his pocket and guiding it along the seam of his book. Then he closes the book and hands it off to a servant to stash in his supplies. "But, congratulations." He says simply. "How far along are you?"

Moving over for the typical hug, Cora looks utterly confused. "In my vigil? Uh well I visited Gild. After this I will visit all the other shrines right up to the event." Confused Cora remains confused.

Nodding along with that, Fairen wrinkles his nose up at his cousin. "Well, I'm very proud of you. I most assuredly will be attending your Knighting ceremony, even if it is to take place in knee deep water, during the winter season." He offers, letting out a soft chuckle.

"Will you hug me already?" Cora asks with fond exhaspiration, "And thank you," Now her tone has gone to an almost shy gratitude, "I can't even begin to express what that means to me." She is utterly serious as she says this.

Rising to his feet, Fairen chuckles again and offers his arms out towards his young cousin. "Of course I will." He says. "I know how important it is to you, don't worry. I'm very happy for you."

Giving Fairen a warm hug, apparently her body temperature remains nice and toasty considering she is wearing nothing but silk. Smiling happily Cora nods, her eyes near shining. "This is what I am meant to do, I have felt that for a long time. Even if it does require being knee deep in seawater. Do you know Victus popped this at me after we came in second in a sled race. At first I thought he was joking." she shakes her head laughing.

"I think it suits you. Yes, Caith might not be happy you are furthering your career as a fighter, and I can't particularly say I am excited to see you put in harms way further." Fairen notes, releasing the hug and repositioning himself in his seat. "But, who am I to argue with Skald's wisdom. Just stay safe. That is all I'll ask."

While Coraline and Fairen talk about Coraline's future with the knights and the order and being knighted and no longer being a squire and everything else that the energetic woman is so excited about of late, Barric has been off gathering wood. For the fire. And he comes back with a /lot/. Like, a whole dead tree that has been chopped down and he is dragging it through towards the camp site with a crudely fashioned rope harness like he were some sort of oxen. He can be /heard/ coming, before seen. The tree scraping along the ground, dragging through bushes, like some sort of beast in the wilds.

Settling into her own seat Cora sighs, "You should be happy to know I will likely be mostly firmly planted behind a desk. I am also going to be leading an entire Order of Knights so paperwork, and lots of it." Cora says wryly, "And Victus says he won't take away any of the guards following me around either. Not even if I replace them with a well trained wolfdog thing. In fact he wanted me to just add to." Cora rolls her eyes and sighs again, "But Fairen, this is more than fighting, it is a way of being." Seeing Barric and his tree, Cora laughs softly and stands, "Would you like help with that love?"

All of Coraline's commentary about what her duties as a Knight will entail simply serve to grow the fond smile on Fairen's lips, bobbing his head along with her as she speaks. "That is excellent news! And even further reason to congratulate you." He offers, then turns to watch as Barric drags the lumber through the brushes, and perhaps a sprinkle of snow. Though he isn't going to lie to himself by trying to offer to help in anyway...

"I got it." Barric says with a chuckle, dragging the tree further into the camp. It's clear he trimmed the biggest branches and piled them up on the rest of the tree. "Hopefully this will last us through the night." He says with a sucking breath as he wipes his forehead with the back of his hand. "I mean... you can help me stack all this up by the fire so that it dries out if you want." He tells Coraline with a wry smile. "And I wouldn't worry to much about her Fairen," Barric says as he overhears the last of it, "If we don't die on this next mission of ours, nothing can kill us."

Beginning to move to do the stacking Cora literally facepalms, "Love, I haven't actually told anyone about that except you." She says wryly and looks over to Fairen, "Sorry, not trying to hide it or anything but it wasn't my thing to tell." She rubs her hair and nods, "And the Order isn't done yet, but it is terrifying and wonderful all at once. Thank you for that as well." she grins, "I hope I can live up to it."

If Barric says he's got it, then who is Fairen to argue. Remaining happily poised in his seat, he keeps his attention on the Prince. Then there is that comment about a mission and his brow arches up at that. Then he darts his attention over to Cora, waiting expectantly. "It may not be your thing to tell everyone what you are doing, but some forewarning about you potentially getting into danger would be nice." Like he is one to talk.

"And I haven't told anyone about it either." Barric says to Coraline, "Talking about it, would be giving away details. I've given away nothing. I'm a House Sword, you're a Knight.. or a Squire... of course we have 'things' that need to be done. Dangeorus things. That's why we get paid the big bucks." He looks over at Fairen and smiles wryly, "No offense Marquis, but, what we do for our House's and our Orders?" He winces a bit, letting his voice trail off with a shrug.

Stepping into the garden, a light gausy wrap about his bare shoulders, River looks like quite the Lycene today, his head dipping to the nobility present as he makes his way up the path, bowing to Coraline, and then Fairen. "Your Highness, My lord." He pauses then studies Barric before he dips another bow, "My lord." His wrap slips off his shoulders before he eyes the ground. "I do apologize for being late."

Cora's expression shows someone trying to both give enough to not leave Fairen completely in the dark while at the same time not give away details that she really can't, "There is a mission to take out the thing in the lowers. I won't be on the front lines, rather in a completely separate room guarding the exit as a just in case last line of defense. So not really in as much danger as it could be. There is a plan in place that should, if it goes as it should, mean I never even see the damn thing." Her eyes go to Barric in worry, "And there are more than one I care about who will be at the front."

River's arrival garners a grin and oddly a blush, "Ah, Master River it is a pleasure to see you again. I do hope everything worked out after I left."

Towards Barric, Fairen cast his gaze, appraising the Prince silently for a moment as he takes in the conversation. "You are going with her then?" He inquires, then falls silent for a beat. "You had better make sure she comes back in perfect health. If she does not, I will come for you. Whether you are alive, or not." The threat, spoken in a matter-of-fact tone, a simple nod being given to affirm that. Then he looks over at River, giving him a friendly smile as he arrives. "No worries, Master River. Thank you for coming." At the mention of the creature in the lowers though, his gaze darts towards his younger cousin, much more harsh and sharp then previous. "No."

"Highness." Barric tells River, "If you're going to use titles, Master River, then it would be Highness." He then points at Coraline, "See, now that is giving away details, and you talk about me." He teases her with a grin and goes about helping to stack the wood of the tree he just drug in. "Don't stack it to close, it's dead wood, if we build the fire up enough it could get hot enough to just catch. We just want it to dry out." He tells his betrothed with a soft smile.

River says, "If you mean about my misplaced Trousers? I am still wondering if Isabetta still has them or if Jhond does, but Melanie made the situation quite awkward."

Stacking the wood Cora sighs softly at Fairen's threat, "If I come to harm cousin it means Barric woulda been offed already and a lot of other very powerful warriors. It is not likely I will even get close enough to see the thing." She nods at Barric's instructions then notes wryly, "If you hadn't mentioned there /was/ a missing then I wouldn't have had to give any details out." Shaking her head she keeps working on stacking the wood but not too close to the fire. She laughs at River's words, "You don't know who had them? Melony confuses me greatly but she is very nice. I rather like her. Then again I was the keeper of the trousers for a while so I can't say much."

"If you mean about my misplaced Trousers? I am still wondering if Isabetta still has them or if Jhond does, but Melanie made the situation quite awkward." He gives Coraline a sultry wink before he returns to serious tones and nods to Barric with a professional nod, then turns his gaze upon the fire. "My Lord Marquis. I have made contact with Mistress Mirari and will be setting up a meeting with her as soon as the week is out. If that is acceptable." With that business done he starts to lax a little. "Mmhmm. A pleasant time for this, though I am sure this will be better come spring."

"My silver would be on Isa." Fairen mentions towards River almost idly, hardly seeming surprised by that line of conversation in the least. Then his gaze darts towards Cora, appraising her silently for a moment as she works. "There is no reason for you specifically to be involved in this assignment." He says, clearly not approving of the situation she is getting herself involved in. Then he looks over at River as he mentions business, bobbing his head at him once in understanding.

"Had?" Barric looks at Coraline with an upraised eyebrow and he shakes his head, speaking to Coraline quietly as they stack wood that has been chopped from the dead tree for the camp fire to last the night. He looks at Fairen and raises an eyebrow. "She has said to much already, Marquis. If there was no reason for her to be there, she would not be there. Leave it at that."

River checked charm + diplomacy at difficulty 15, rolling 19 higher.

River checked charm + seduction at difficulty 15, rolling 35 higher.

River checked perception + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 24 higher.

River lifts a hand gently as he looks over the fire, saying to Barric, in tones conversational, "It is nice to see family caring for one another don't you think. Oh...is this how you make a fire like this? I honestly have never camped in this sort of sense, it was on the sea where I spent most of my youth, before attending court, and then conservatories of study in music, Your highness. So this is rather pleasant." Truly it's a diversion, from the mild tension that may have arisen, though he still seems truly curious about this whole leasure camping thing.

Fairen checked composure + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 35 higher.

Fairen cuts his gaze towards Barric, apparantly not pleased by the conversation in the least. In fact, the glance he casts towards the Prince is sharp, though he doesn't seem to say anything for a moment. It's perhaps an awkward moment of silence as he stares down the other man, calculating everything. Then he looks over at River, listening to what he has to say as well. Nothing. Just tense silence.

Barric checked composure + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Barric refuses to be stared down, or back down apparently. "Princess Coraline is your Cousin, I do understand." Barric says with a slight smile, "But," Of course there is a but, "She is of Thrax. Not Leary." He begins with, "She is going to be Knighted very soon. She will be in danger, or not, as is required of her position and her station and her duties to her House, and to her Order." His smile softens a bit, "While I understand being protective of a family member," This said to River, "There is such a thing as being overbearing, and overreaching ones position. Or do you wish to claim that I and everyone else who fights with her are incompetent?"

River checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

River straightens from looking at the flames before he states to Barric, with even tones, "Of course not, your Highness. I know if it were me inthis position to see someone so close to me, I would be scared for them, and wish their well being, but it is as you say, there are duties, and things to be done. But I will wish nothing but safety for people I love, and in some ways I fear I would perhaps be overreaching as well, if they were close and dear. But in the same way, wouldn't many of us? It is my belief that caring causes us to do what we can and what we feel obligated to do." He turns to the Marquis and dips his head, saying, "This is only my personal opinion however, and I do not speak for the Marquis, in any matters that surrounds his household. ONly to know that he has a fondness, for her Highness, just as you do as well, and you both wish to see the best for her. I don't mean to intrude of course."

"You do not get to tell me how I am to behave towards my blood." Fairen replies sharply towards Barric. "My concerns for Cora has no relation to the competency of you or those who will be involved with this task. If you intend to put words in my mouth, you will make nothing but a fool of yourself." When River begins to speak though, he falls silent in furthered consideration, not lightening his gaze off of Barric in anyway.

"You insult me by suggesting I do not have the well being of my betrothed first and foremost in my mind by making comments that she should even be present, Marquis." Barric says in response to Fairen. "You insult her Order, the Knight who was overseeing her training, and her High Lord, but suggesting she should not do what she has been trained to do. By suggesting that she is somehow unfit to do what she is to do, you insult her. You may think me a fool if you wish, Marquis, but I will not idly stand by while /anyone/ insults /her/. She has worked harder than anyone I have ever seen to gain the skills and the abilities she has. She has earned the right and the honor to defend those who cannot defend themselves." He looks towards River and studies him for a few long moments, "I do not doubt that the Marquis cares about Princess Coraline. I do not dispute that. Nor do I have issue with it. I only have issue with the way he is presenting that concern."

sensing the growing tension perhaps, River dips his head to Barric saying, "Of course." He elects to say nothing further, but he definitely withdraws some ways from the two men, watching and studying each, as if trying to solve a puzzle, eyes flicking to Fairen, and then back to Barric though he has a look on his face that could be interpreted as, "I tired."

"Again you are putting words into my mouth." Fairen replies, his tone not lifting for a moment. "Which is an insult in and of itself. I said nothing about your appreciation for my cousin. Nor did I make any remark about how hard she has worked for this position. She is full and well deserving of her Knighting, and the Order is better for having her with them. The Order's competency or concern for my bloos is not what I have drawn into question. But please, do continue to put words into my mouth. I'm enjoying it immensely."

"You are mistaken." Barric says with a shrug, "I am not putting words in your mouth, I am interpreting words you said:" He pauses, "There is no reason for you specifically to be involved in this assignment." He pauses again, "Those are the words you said. Or I suppose I am just putting words in your mouth again." He shakes his head and goes back to work with the fire wood.

River keeps silent for now, clearly not wanting to intrude further on this discussion given the awkward position he is possibly, in. He makes to quietly excuse himself, then he moves over to start scoping out a place for him to settle in for the evening, since Barric is already tending to the fire. His wrap is pulled back up about his shoulder and he looks over to the pond and about the gardens, as if studying the landscape, though he keeps an eye on the two men.

"Am I?" Fairen inquires towards Barric, arching his brow towards the Grayson Prince. "Well then by all means, don't allow me to prevent you from blundering around in the dark." And with that, he rises to his feet, moving towards his pack. A book is pulled out, and he moves to reclaim his seat, opening the book to read loosely. "So, Master River. How was your evening?"

For his part Barric just continues dismembering a tree, literally, damn those limbs! Always in the way. And so good for burning! It takes some time to strip a tree of all it's limbs and then to chop the main body of the tree up into manageable chunks. So there's a lot of chopping, hacking, and otherwise work to be done to ensure the fire doesn't go out for the night. Even with Coraline's help.

3 Thrax Guards have been dismissed.

Freja the long suffering have been dismissed.

"would you like the answer of a whisper, the answer of a professional assistant or would you like the answer of my youthful, nineteen summers, self?" River asks of Fairen with a bit of a twinkle in his eyes. "The responses are quite different for each, but I do see that we are in mixed company of course." It's a bit o f a testing remark, though he gives Fairen a side-eye to see how the man reacts to the statement. Barric gets a look as he splits firewood, and he murmurs in lower tones something to his employer.

"Answer however is most true to you." Fairen states loosely as he flips the page of his book. "I wish to know you better." With that, he closes the book, leaving his finger planted in the middle of it to mark his place. His gaze cuts towards Barric for a moment as he works, and then over towards River, prepared to listen to his response.

Barric continues being a lumberjack, and that's ok!

"I have been hoping to catch the romantic interests of a few, and have you to do so, though there are some men in this city who well, it is better to leave that left unsaid, though they are truly handsome. And if the chance to share the company of them? I would most certainly take it. This is of course the answer of my youthful self. As for the professional side of things. I believe I will have Tomwell up to date on my personal plans soon, and I have a few ideas I'll be running by you soon. As a whisper....slower than I'd like, but then again, I'm here and working with you, My lord, and so it's not a terribly difficult situation." He gives a wink, then settles down on a bedroll himself.

Listening carefully to what River has to say, Fairen bobs his head along with the younger man, his interest genuine, and not seeming to be intended as a diversion from the tension. "When you say you have 'me to do so' for the men you intend to spend your time with, what exactly is your meaning?" He inquires, though then he shifts the conversation to follow what he says about his professional life. "Perfect. With you and Tomwell joining forces, you can most assuredly come up with a brilliant plan."

When the wood gets situated, Barric goes about getting a place situated for himself and Coraline, or if Coraline already did as much while he was off wrangling trees, he just makes sure he knows where everything is and sits down to start tending to his gear. He checks to make sure the blades he carries aren't frozen into their scabbards and locked by ice, just in case, and then goes about opening up a kit with oil cloth, whetstone, and the like along with spare leather wraps if necessary to replace grips. He doesn't involve himself in the conversation.

River blinks, then thinks, before he blushes, before he gestures to himself. "If I had the chance to do so, my apologies." he rubs his face briefly in a bashful gesture. "I didn't mean you in this whole uh...thing er...well, then." he flags a hand then, starting to recover, though not with his usual smoothness. "But erm, yes, I have been meaning to find someone to spend a bit of intimate time with since, well, my current interest is well, that is complicated, but yes."

"It's difficult to ascertain your exact meaning for implicating me in your statements." Fairen notes, though seems unyielding in his interest. "Though if you are to express interest in myself, then I will advise you not to expect a returned interest." With that, he pauses to think further on what River has to say. "Well, I wish you luck on your adventures to find romance."

River checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 2 higher.

"First, My Lord," River says in a tone that is even, though his complexion darkens a bit, "I am employed by you, so this would already in itself discount you from any interest, secondly, You are married which at the least makes things complicated, Third while you are personable you are also rather involved in scholarly pursuits and, fourth, while attractive you may be, I didn't perceive any interest where there should be none. Truly it is a slip of the tongue, my embarrassment is over that, and not hidden motive. If I were interested, I'd've expressed so. So, we are on the same page, My lord." He waves a hand vaguely, seeming unbothered by the discussion as a whole besides his embarrassment in the miscommunication, or otherwise.

Having been silent to allow both her cousin and her betrothed to work things out themselves Cora quietly interjects. "May I speak for myself please?" She looks between them and it is clear she loves both of them dearly, "First, Fairen, thank you for your concern. I do appreciate your desire for my safety and I respect it. I am always exceedingly careful to plan my actions, in particular where anyone, myself included, might come to harm. However, I can not sit idly by and do nothing, not when I know what is out there. We have spoken on this, at length, I can discuss with you the battles I have been in thus far, the things I have fought, though never alone. I understand caution and not throwing yourself into danger. I am not looking to sacrifice my life, or the lives of others." She looks at Barric and smiles sofly, "Love, thank you for your confidence in me. I do not believe Fairen is saying he doesn't believe in my abilities, he simply worries that I will come to harm. It is a fair concern, though harm can be found even without doing what we intend to." She looks at River, "And thank you for your diplomatic words. All of you, I appreciate and love you, and I understand you have the best at heart for me." She shakes her head, "Trust that I am not willing to throw away lives, including my own."

"Ah." Fairen replies with a nod of his head. "Thank you for the clarification." Then he looks over towards Coraline, listening intensely to what she has to say. Without much warning though, he rises to his feet and steps closer towards his cousin, leaning in to whisper something into her ear. Then he moves and retakes his seat.

Barric listens to Coraline, of course he does. He simply nods, but that is all he does. Perhaps he doesn't trust himself to say anything more on the subject. He returns to tending to his swords, he has plenty of them to tend to after all. When she speaks to him quietly, he says something back to her quietly, but that is all.

River nods to Fairen, as soon as the discussion is over, settling back and then murmuring, "I had meant to have a lap harp made, for occasions likethis, though most of my music is made for concert harp. So...I would have to find a few things." it's a musing to himself, as he watches Fairen travel over to his cousin, and smiles as the two converse. Cora gets a dip of his head in recognition of her words, and a smile.

Whatever Coraline whispers back to him, Fairen nods his head with some degree of understanding in his reaction. Still, he remains seated with his book in his hands, a finger marking his place. He doesn't seem pleased, but he does nod his head. Then he looks over at River. "You aren't required to provide entertainment, Master River. Not for this event. Just take some time to relax."

Relaxation!A brillian idea and Cora nods enthusiastically about it. "So, you play harp then Master River? Do you play anything else?" The relief at the nod felt but not overt, unless one knows Cora body language very well."

River checked perception + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

River seems to relax as he watches Coraline. "No, not exactly I am a master Harpest, and a model for well, myself and I suppose now the house as well. It is a project I am very excited about, and would like to do more of. Because..." he gestures to himself, under that wrap of his. "I...well, enjoy fashionand the art tailors about the city create. I would like to study some dance, but It is not quite my forte."

It appears there is quite the whispered conversations going on, Barric speaking quietly to Coraline now and again. There is a frown at something, but it doesn't seem directed at her, possibly something else. He says to Coraline softly, "I am sure she will come around." A small smile following and he reaches to lightly touch anywhere on the woman that he can reach from his sitting position. Then he goes back to tending to his swords, looks like the plain steel one is finished being sharpened and re-wrapped. Now time for the diamondplate. He must be saving the best for last. "Let's have the rest of that conversation somewhere else, because I don't agree, but we'll need to really be able to talk about it love." He smiles wryly at her then asks, "Master River," He looks over at the Whisper, "Have you considered becoming a designer yourself?"

There is a whispered conversation between Barric and Coraline, and Fairen observes it with his brow arched up from them both. Especially as Barric brings a portion of it into a tone above whispers. Though he remains silent, just listening to the conversations that are going on around him.

River pushes to his feet, getting ready to turn in early, as he admits to Barric, "Oh...no no, I am already pressing my luck with the amount of things I have taken on already. it would be perhaps too difficult to do more than I do now, though maybe in future. Plus the visual arts are less my talent than the performing arts." He chuckles then nods to the trio. "I should settle down for now."