| Logs |
2000-04-23
| Starfall |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
Lunch at the White Haven household
The next morning is bright and hot again, the sun high in a clear sky. Carroll is relaxing in his cabin, pondering what he should wear to visit Duchess White Haven, when his thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the door.
Carroll looks up from the chest of clothes he's staring at and calls, "Come in." at the door.
Alex bounces in, cheerfully hauling Horatio behind her. Carroll can catch part of her conversation, "-need to look nice, Horatio, not just wear a book! -and who'll know better than Carroll, right? Hi Carroll! We need some advice on what to wear?" She gently chivvies Horatio in, closes the door behind them, and turns to grin cheerfully at Carroll.
Carroll looks up and smiles at his siblings and murrs, "I was just considering the same thing myself. The most important question, of course, is how formal is this engagement."
Alex nods interestedly, "So... how formal is it?"
Horatio fumbles with a largish book, fumbling with trying to set a placeholder as Alex seems to mentally drag him along in her wake. "I wasn't- erf! -I wasn't planning on wearing it! Besides, Duchess White Haven might actually be interested in the sublimation of rare earths outside of a crucible..." He goes quiet however as he gets pulled into Carroll's cabin.
Alex blinks, then covers a giggle at Horatio's comment! She grins affectionately at Horatio, "You're fun, Horry, you know that?"
Horatio blinks to Alex. "I am?"
Carroll sighs and shakes his head at Horatio and murrs patiently, "I somehow doubt it, Horatio. Leave the references here, mm?" He then tries to answer his own question, "As to how formal this is, I don't think it is terribly so. This is a private luncheon between ourselves and the Duchess, although she may have other people, either staff or guests." He looks back at his limited wardrobe and murrs, "Also the Duchess doesn't strike me as overly formal herself."
Alex beams and nods firmly at Horatio, patting his arm, "Definitely. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise!" She turns to listen to Carroll... then nods thoughtfully. "Hm... well... y'know, Carroll, I um... how to put this delicately..." She grins, "Bluntly, I suppose... I think I'll be happy to not be anything like competition -- which will give me an excellent excuse to wear nice daily clothes!" She grins mischievously at Carroll, "That way you can be the focus of her attention, yes?"
Carroll smiles, and murrs, "Oh, the horror." He nods then and adds, "I hope she'll focus on me, not on Horatio." He grins slyly and adds, "He's got enough mink interested in him." Alex giggles delightedly again!
Horatio looks appropriately sheepish and sets the tome on a table near the doorway. "You have a point, of course." Besides, she probably isn't all that intrigued by alchemy as he is, and he's not going to be nearly the focus of the Duchess's attentions, which all in all is a good thing, at least to his point of view, and besides he's already- *blink*. "Er, pardon? I do? I mean oh yes, I mean wait... er..." At that point the color in his ear tips actually starts to pinken. "Uhm ah er well ah I mean well that is yes she ah will be paying more attention to you, she has in the past that is..." Nothing like stating the obvious...
Carroll chuckles and murrs, "Relax, Horatio, about the mink. Both of them." He looks his brother up and down, and murrs, "You look perfectly acceptable." He pads over to his brother and straightens his jacket and cocks the hat at a bit more of an angle. He reaches out to a small box and produces a small gold pin of the family crest which he pins to his brother's jacket, smiling and murring, "There you go..."
Alex giggles delightedly again! then grins and pats Horatio's arm cheerfully, "It's okay, Horry, I think you and I both look fine! We'll be comfortable. Let Carroll wear the pretty stuff for the duchess, right?"
Horatio starts to nod enthusiastically -- then stops, blinking. "Mink... oh, wait! Mink mink mink..." He frets and chews on his lip in thought for a moment before nodding. "That's it! There was a mink at the same table as that rabbit... who was it, Alex? Featherstone? There was a mink there at his table last night..."
Horatio starts to pace a little, his tail being held carefully motionless as he walks. "And if I remember from the Levee... he was from Westmark's entourage... gosh, I wonder how I could have forgotten that!"
Alex goes suddenly very still, staring at Horatio. In a soft, quiet voice she says, "Go on, Horatio..."
Carroll looks at his brother and murrs, "Considering I hadn't noticed, it's not a surprise. So this mink was gambling last night?"
Horatio continues pacing, visibly racking his memory. "He was in one of the Imperial uniforms that all of Westmark's people were wearing." He stops pacing for a moment, fretting. "How anyone could wear that for so long is beyond me. They had good bows back then though, did you know- but there's time for that later." Shaking his head, he returns to his pacing. "Yes, he was one of Westmark's people gaming with that rabbit Featherstone." He stops and looks to Alex. "You don't suppose he was racking up another 'gambling debt' like that other guard, do you suppose?"
Carroll considers, hming quietly. He resumes looking at clothing but by the stillness of his tail and set of his ears you can tell he is still thinking about what Horatio's said. Alex is very quiet, her ears flicking absently as she thinks... a moment later she looks up at Horatio, realizing he's fallen silent and is looking at her, "Um... Horatio, I don't know for sure. All I know is that Featherstone seems to encourage um... curious company, and that Westmark would make an excellent stooge to bring the Empire over here... or worse, it's all a facade and he's actively helping the Empire!" Alex hesitates, then says slowly, "And... I think we might want to tell someone about that, Carroll?"
Carroll hmms and picks up several bits of clothing. He nods and turns to sit on the bench, changing his clothes. He murrs to his sister, "Yes, although, it may be premature. He might just be gambling at what is considered a pleasant place. Duchess White Haven seemed to think so..." He trails off, thinking about that, too.
Alex smiles a little grimly at Carroll, and doesn't comment on that statement... she doesn't think she needs to. Then she blinks slowly and murmurs, "I wish... I wish I knew where that mink hung out... it would be quite something to see him getting paid off too!"
Carroll looks over at Alex and murrs, "Now, Alex, we can't suspect every person this Featherstone gambles with. Not only was White Haven there, so were we. If you want to look at it that way, we're as likely to be the agents as she is." He puts on the clothes he's picked up and murrs, "If you saw that then there'd be no question, yes."
Alex grins and nods, "My point exactly!"
Carroll stands and adjusts his collar, murring, "If we don't get back out to sea I'm going to have to buy some more clothing." He doesn't sound crushed by this idea; more like it's an expense he'd avoid if he could. He hmms and murrs, "We should tell Baroness Kerensky, shouldn't we?"
Alex nods, "Or Matthew if she's busy, yes." She thinks a bit more... then belatedly realize Carroll's getting dressed! "Whoops! C'mon Horatio, we need to do a bit of quick wash and brush up so we're presentable in time!" She grabs Horatio's book in one small paw, and Horatio's paw in the other, then grins at Carroll, "We'll be right back!" and dashes off, the bemused Horatio in tow.
Carroll shakes his head and smiles at his sister, murring, "I'll be here."
Before you stands Carroll Waynewright St. Genevieve, heir to
the St. Genevieve legacy. He wears a jacket of soft rust brown velvet
which covers a pale yellow blouse and a dark green vest with goldenrod
paisleys running across it. Tan breeches with dark russet vertical stripes
vanish in to soft black suede slippers, the leather-wrapped scabbard
of his sword blending with the dark and then crossing against the light
stripes. A golden brooch fastens the slightly frilly collar of the shirt,
the family's crest shining quietly from its nest of yellow ruffles and the
light fur of Carroll's throat. The light flash of fur at the end of his
tail and the subtle flicker of his watch-chain and cufflinks complete the
look for today. He smiles graciously and nods at your glance.
Moments later Alexandra and Horatio are back, their fur slicked down and neatly brushed, in clean clothes... their boots are quick-shined, their collars straight, their shirts neatly tucked! Alex, of course, is her usual ebullient self when allowed to wear clothes she feels comfortable in. Horatio's got his ever-present satchel, and if Carroll is sharp-eyed he can see a compromise was reached... a bit of the spine of a book can be seen just under its flap. She says cheerfully, "Okay, we're ready!" Horatio fusses a little with his collar. Maybe his brothers are rubbing off on him. At the same time as he's coming to deal with the wiles of battle at sea he's managing to at least look more like a noble's son and less of a workshop scamp.
An attractive young girl with proud carriage, Alex's joie du
vivre is apparent in her usual cheerful enthusiasm. Despite the pretty
lace-trimmed silk shirt she's dressed in a decidedly non-feminine style,
with snug bottle-green breeches, well-worn black riding boots, and
long leather fencing gloves (finely embroidered with the house crest,
of course) tucked casually into her leather belt. Most startling of
all is the plain and practical military epee at her hip, which has a
decidedly well-used look to it. If she's stared at, she tends to get a
challenging glint in her large green eyes, and a defiant flick to her
luxurious white-tipped, scarlet brush.
Well, he stands a bit shy of five and a half feet tall,
and has some noble features about him. That seems to be where nobility
left Horatio and had done with him, though. A pair of bright pale
blue eyes peer out, and sometimes squint, at the world around him,
from behind a pair of spectacles. He also walks a little awkwardly,
though you notice his drooping tail is held motionless behind him, as
if he was concerned he would turn his back and accidentally swipe an
experiment in his workshop. He wears a tabard and cloak in the colors
of the St. Genevieve family, as well as somewhat rough (and slightly
singed) clothing fitting for a nobleman's (younger) son. However, it is
with somewhat more grace that he carries a well-worn satchel, its strap
crossed over his chest like a bandoleer. You get the impression that he
has a lot more little items tucked away in the folds and pockets of his
tabard, cloak, clothing, and boots.
Alex and Horatio find Carroll completely dressed and sitting at his desk, writing on the piece of slate he has there to take notes on. He checks his pocket watch and murrs, "The carriage will be here soon. Is there anything else we should think of?"
Horatio says, "Not mentioning the mystery mink to the noble mink?"
Alex blinks, tilting her head and staring up at the ceiling, "Um... nothing that I know of? Just..." there's a mischievous glint in her eyes, "Nanna always said to let the lady lead, except when dancing?" She covers a giggle, grinning at Carroll.
Carroll smirks at his sister, and murrs, "Somehow, I don't have any expectation that this particular lady has any trouble leading, Alex." Alex giggles again, delightedly! Carroll answers his sister's giggle with the addendum, "Not that I'm complaining."
Horatio blinks to Alex, trying to figure out what Alex means. He let Jessie lead at that dance -- good heavens, was it not all that long ago? It seems like ages... Almost too long... he catches himself thinking, -and that worked perfectly well. Alex grins... then giggles again at Horatio's look, "In courtships and affairs of the heart, Horatio! Surely you remember Nanna's teachings?" She tsks cheerfully at her youngest brother!
Horatio looks blank for a moment, then, "Erp! Oh, ah yes, right, I remember now...!"
Carroll looks at his sister and murrs, "I think you got more of that than we did." He also teases gently, "And if there wasn't a book Horatio never did as well." He grins at his brother.
Alex laughs happily... then grins, "Moi? Ooh... good point about the book!" Her grin at Horatio is still mischievous, although affectionately so. Horatio looks between Alex and Carroll, and for a brief, wild moment wonders if he's going to be mysteriously handed a book one day.
- The open landau carriage that Carroll hired for the day
arrives. The driver swings down and talks to the guard at the ship's
gangway, and the message is passed up to the cabin.
Jessie sticks her head in the door after a quick knock. "Your ride is here, sir. Who's going to be your guard today?"
Alex bounces out of the cabin at the message, "Ooh, good, carriage is here!" She grins at Jessie, then glances around for either MacKenzie or Natasha to see who's available for guard duty. Natasha is nowhere to be seen, but MacKenzie is watching a few of the newbies practice on the main deck. Alex calls, "Mister MacKenzie? Who's free for guard duty for us today, please?"
MacKenzie looks around. "Well... I'd suggest Mikhail, I think, or Jessie. How long are you planning to be gone?"
Carroll answers, "Through this luncheon and perhaps a little past."
Alex glances at Carroll, "Might we be stopping by the palace?"
MacKenzie nods. "Either one of them then. Do you have a preference? Jessie did pretty well in that fight last week."
Carroll decides, "Let's take Jessie with us." He asks MacKenzie, "Should we take both of them?"
The wolverine looks at the carriage. "I don't think you've got room for two of them."
Carroll nods and murrs, "Jessie then." Horatio's ears perk as he hears Carroll's decision.
Alex gives Mikhail a sympathetic smile... then she grins quietly at Horatio's reaction, "Okay then, let's load up and go!" She grins cheerfully at the driver of the landau, "Hello!" as she bounces past to go pet the horse's nose. Carroll clambers in to the carriage and gives directions to the driver.
MacKenzie shouts, "Hunter! You've got the duty again. Get 'em back in one piece, okay?" Jessie nods and follows the siblings to the carriage. Alex laughs at MacKenzie's comment, gently stroking the horse's nose -- and slipping him a bit of carrot on the sly.
Horatio, throughout the ride, instead of perusing the book resting happily in his satchel pays much more attention to the ride and the company. Alex is a bit surprised, but quite pleased that Horatio seems interested in looking around! She also is happily admiring the area -- when she's not trying to wheedle the driver into letting her drive for just a little bit?
- The White Haven estate is near the edge of city, not all
that far from the artisan's quarter. The building is more modern than
Redtail's, but the grounds are a bit smaller. The carriage pulls up to
the door and the foxes step down.
A handsome young wolf greets the family as they arrive and leads them to the dining room. Jessie prepares to wait with the carriage while the rest go inside. Carroll follows the wolf, smiling pleasantly and looking curiously around the estate. Alex grins quietly to herself at sight of the young wolf... and wonders if all her grace's servants are um... 'tasty' young men! Horatio almost reluctantly steps from the carriage, glancing around the estate, a bit of the nervousness coming to the fore again. Alex gently brushes off Horatio's shoulders to straighten the tunic and smiles at him. She murmurs very softly, just to him, "Don't worry, we'll be fine... she's after Carroll, remember?"
Horatio erps quietly and smiles wanly, nodding, at the same time adjusting his collar. "I wasn't worried about that actually, Alex. But I should be nervous for Carroll, then?"
Alex giggles softly to Horatio and whispers, "Nope! He loves this stuff, can't you tell?"
- The townhouse is well appointed but somehow looks more lived
in than Redtail's home did. The furnishings are of good quality but
are more... used... than the elk's. The short trip to the dining room is
interrupted by a gaggle of cubs of various species who come pelting around
a corner and nearly run over the guide before they see him. They stop and
stare at the foxes for a moment before one of them says, "Coo... you think
they're the ones?" The wolf shushes them and chases them off.
Alex grins and waves to the cubs cheerfully. Carroll smiles to the children, and watches them be shooed off. He doesn't ask what they meant nor what they're doing there. They obviously belong there. He revises his opinion of the Duchess a little. Alex grins at the wolf, "Are we?"
The wolf apologizes. "That was the Duchess' oldest granddaughter and some of her playmates. They are a bit... energetic."
Horatio glances at the cubs as they dash off, blinking. Are we what ones? he wonders, but glances back to the wolf as he explains. Alex laughs cheerfully, "Oh, don't be sorry! I'm just curious as to whether we're the 'ones,' and if so... what ones?"
The guide continues. "The story of the assassination attempt is all over the city by now, and her Grace did mention at breakfast that you were going to be here. I suspect they did that on purpose."
Carroll smiles and murrs, "Cubs are a joy when they're happy and loved. I can't see how a mink kitten would be anything other than 'energetic'."
Alex wonders curiously if Duke Redtail has ever had a wife... his house certainly didn't have the look of cubs ever having been present. She laughs delightedly at the wolf's words, "Oh, how funny! Well, good for them!"
The wolf ushers the three siblings into the dining room, where the Duchess and two other minks are sitting; one a female with pale gold fur, and a male with normal markings. The Duchess is wearing amazingly little -- a halter-type top which is barely enough to conceal her and a short skirt. The other two are dressed in more appropriate tunics. Places are set, Carroll beside the Duchess, Horatio and Alex across from the other minks.
Horatio does, to the credit of his family, managed to not stare at all at the Duchess, instead accepting his place and awaiting his sister and the other ladies at the table, if they stand, to sit first, followed by his brother, then himself. Alex grins quietly to herself again at the seating and other arrangements, but will follow Carroll's lead when he bows and when he seats himself. She's glad she didn't go with the court uniform, like she'd been considering doing. Carroll smiles and murrs to the Duchess, "Good afternoon, your grace. Thank you for having us. I know I have been looking forward to a chance to speak with you regarding several different things." He very properly introduces his siblings, both because of form and to make sure the other two minks have their names, "You perhaps recall this is Alexandra St. Genevieve, my sister and first mate aboard our ship. This is my youngest brother Horatio St. Genevieve, a scholar and our navigator." Horatio smiles, and bows politely as he is introduced. Alex does so also... although she does smile with curious interest at the other two minks present as well.
The Duchess nods. "And this is my son and heir, Reginald..." the dark mink nods, "..and his wife Teresa."
Alex smiles and bows to them politely as well. Carroll also smiles and bows politely to each of them, and murrs, "It is a pleasure to meet the both of you."
Reginald nods. "Mutual, I assure you. Mother says you stirred things up a bit at court last week."
Alex grins faintly sheepishly from behind Carroll. Carroll looks at Reginald and murrs, "Which do you mean? The assassination? I wouldn't say that we particularly stirred that up. I am pleased that Alexandra and Dimitri were able to prevent it from running its course." He adds after a small pause, "I think it would be terrible shame if anything were to befall the Queen."
The Duchess nods to the wolf, who leaves by a different door. A few servants enter with lunch -- a whole roast chicken for everyone along with side dishes and fruit. Alex looks a bit surprised at the amount of food they each have... but will cheerfully consume all the fruit and veggies she's offered, along with some meat -- fresh food is a treat to her! Horatio also looks surprised. He's used to subsisting on significantly less, or rather eating less more frequently (late nights at the Academy workshop necessitated odd meal times) -- even more so since they came aboard the Saucy Mare. However, he takes a cue from Alex and Carroll, who don't seem shocked or surprised.
Minerva nods. "Agreed. Things are stable at the moment, and we were just beginning to get over the problems the Regency left behind. And the Queen is popular too. I can't imagine who'd want to do this."
Alex looks up, faintly puzzled-looking, "The Regency? I hadn't realized the late king left any problems?"
Reggie rolls his eyes at Alex. "Nothing but. And Mother and her colleagues compounded things by putting that ninny Jacqueline in charge for the Regent." His mother shakes a finger at him, "Be polite, dear. It seemed like a good idea at the time."
Carroll isn't surprised by the volume of food -- they're dining with minks. He looks back to the Duchess and murrs, "That's a fascinating question, really. Who would benefit from such a thing?"
Alex looks fascinatedly at Reginald, "He did? What did he do?" She blinks, then apologizes, "I'm sorry, Carroll, I didn't mean to interrupt." She blinks at Reginald again, then at his mother... then covers a mischievous grin at Reggie!
The minks are eating enthusiastically, talking around large bites of food. Teresa stops suddenly and looks under the table. "Demeter! What have I told you about eavesdropping?"
Alex pauses, looking at the gold mink... then peeks curiously under the table. She's guessing there's going to be a particular young mink kit there! Horatio listens attentively. It was no secret that the Regency was the source of some troubles, but this is the first he's heard of the former king having been a source of same. He is about to start in when Teresa looks under the table. He blinks in surprise, tilting his head to the side, expecting one of the children they had seen earlier.
A rather shame-faced youngster -- the dark blonde mink leading the pack of hooligans you saw recently -- crawls out from under the table. "You said it wasn't polite. Gramma just said I shouldn't get caught, though..." Alex laughs! -then hastily covers her muzzle and tries to look suitably disapproving, like the gold mink.
Carroll makes a point to eat as well, lest he forget, although he's not going to be able to keep up with the minks. He samples everything though. Between eating he murrs, "I know exactly how it feels to see in hindsight how you've made a terrible error. I hope I'm able to correct the one I've made, which has put my family's name and reputation so badly at risk."
Minerva clears her throat. "And what did I tell you about calling me by that name, dear?" Demeter oopses and makes a break for the door as Carroll continues the conversation.
Alex looks over at Carroll and says firmly, "You made no mistakes, Carroll, that we didn't all make." She looks at the young cub and smiles, watching her scamper off.
Carroll looks down at the small one and smiles. He grins and murrs, "Practice makes perfect," to her and winks conspiratorially at the fleeing child.
Horatio hides a quiet grin at the interchange, filing away "Gramma's" advice to Demeter. He stops short from his second attempt at Carroll's comment and glances over at him, blinking. "Mistake? You've made no mistake I can think of..."
Reggie shakes his head fondly at his fleeing daughter. "Be that as it may. In spite of the Queen's unreasoning dislike for Redtail I can't think of anyone who would benefit from her assassination. Mother noted that you four had been talking with the other Great Houses -- did you pick up any hints?"
Alex looks puzzled again, "Was Redtail involved in whatever troubles the late king left behind?"
Carroll smiles to his brother and murrs, "I've made at least two large ones, Horatio. All I can do though is learn from them." He looks back to Reginald and shakes his head, murring, "Nothing that I know of. As far as I can tell all three of the duchies understand that the Queen is generally a positive thing and that more upset with the Crown would serve no one well." He eats some more of the large meal while his sister's question gets answered.
The Duchess shrugs. "Redtail was pushing for the Contessa as Regent. Vortalon and I went along with it and then she turned out to be even more inept than I thought she'd be. We all got a bit carried away increasing our autonomy but things actually got more profitable when the Queen took over again and started enforcing the Crown's prerogatives. Things had gotten so wild for a bit we were spending more on guards than we would have been paying in taxes."
Horatio just shakes his head quietly, though it seems that Carroll has no desire to go into it here and now. He finally starts on the meal, taking a bit of the selection before him first to enjoy the variety. Alex mentally whews softly as the subject is changed... she thinks the siblings need to give Carroll a firm talking to as to who should be feeling guilty, but not here and now! She tilts her head curiously at the duchess, "Is the Contessa a friend of Redtail's?"
Carroll asks curiously, "Does the Queen understand that you're pleased with how she has been doing? And would you say that applies to everyone equally, those benefits?"
Reggie nods. "Their families have been allies since forever. I don't know that old Erenos actually has any friends, but she'd come as close as anyone."
Alex says slowly, "I wonder if he knew she was inept...? or... was her family part of the problems the king left over or something?"
Minerva shakes her head. "Oh, the King was fine. But when he died things fell into a bit of disarray. There was no one obvious to be Regent and we sorta got carried away."
Alex says, "Oh! I'm sorry, I misunderstood." She looks faintly embarrassed, "Pardon me." She eats quietly for a bit, thinking.
Minerva grins at Alex. "De nada, chica. The way things are around here even some of us get confused sometimes."
Alex grins a little sheepishly at the duchess, her ears tilted back with a bit of embarrassment, "Well... sometimes I speak before I think... and in a situation like this I'd think that could be bad, you know? Especially since I don't really know what's going on here."
Carroll comments apparently randomly, "This is a lovely luncheon. Delicious." Looking between the Duchess and her heir he asks, "Would you agree with me in my apparent understanding that the three duchies agree that the loss of the Queen would cause problems?"
Reginald looks at his mother for a moment, and then they both nod. "I think all of the Great Houses know that... even crazy old Westmark."
Carroll hms and murrs, "I was going to ask about him. I haven't had a chance to speak with him myself. Would it be safe to say that despite his eccentricity in fashion he is politically astute and wouldn't be fool enough to damage what is apparently a good thing?" Carroll deliberately doesn't look at the Duchess' minimal outfit when he says the last. Horatio, of course, misses the reference that could be construed from Carroll's comment!
The Duchess nods. "I'd certainly assume so. He's never given any indication that he doesn't know what he's doing."
Carroll looks at the Duchess when she speaks and nods, thinking. He then says, "Well, if it's safe to assume that none of the four locals would be willing to do this, perhaps it's someone else. Who would benefit outside the local power structure?" Horatio glances at Carroll. He wouldn't be thinking of...? No, the coincidence would be too great.
"Now that is a very good question. Any of our competitors, for starters." Reginald shakes his head. "But we'd band together against anyone if we could find out who was behind it. I can't see it being a good move for anyone."
Alex says, "Who're your competitors? Aside from the Starfall folks, I mean? Er... if it's not rude to ask?"
Minerva grins. "Besides you? Lots of folks. The other League cities, the Empire, the Ha-Sheeran merchant companies, the merchant princes of the Border Realms -- the question is really which of them are we a big enough competitor to, to be worth that much trouble, but not so big that they'd be threatened?"
Alex chews slowly, frowning and thinking about that question. Carroll murrs quietly and coldly, "I can think of a particular mongoose. One I know for certain isn't afraid to try and destroy nobility." Horatio shivers slightly at Carroll's words. Pravinchandra being involved in all this would be bad... but at the same time, if Maidstone was dragged into this...!
Alex says slowly, "I'd think the Border Realms would have enough troubles being between a metaphorical rock and a hard place... and the other League cities would have to be foolish to do something to break up the League... that's what protects us all from something like the Empire or the Ha-Sheeran from moving in on us, right? -which leaves... just the Empire or the Ha-Sheeran, yes?"
Reggie nods. "It doesn't make sense for it to be anything other than another League city or something internal."
Alex blinks at Reggie, "It doesn't? Oh... my mistake then. Um... how so, please?"
Reginald continues. "The Empire is falling apart on its own, and Ha-Sheera doesn't have the manpower to pull anything major. They've got a lot of mages but they don't have a large population. The League was formed a long while back when the Empire was still strong and looking to absorb us. Now? They don't have a navy any more. They can't threaten us and the Border Realms are still too weak to try. Leaves an internal threat as the only possibility."
Alex looks fascinated, "Really? I hadn't heard... how's the Empire falling apart on its own?"
Carroll takes a drink from his goblet, apparently trying to bring himself back onto his even keel. He murrs, "A war between Maidstone and Starfall would hurt both cities a great deal, wouldn't it? It would tax the resources of both and leave one or both much more easily taken over by a powerful force." Alex wonders curiously if this is an elaborate set-up... they'd mentioned Westmark as a possible stooge and the Empire as a potential threat only last night to Redtail... and now the most self-interested-seeming of all the dukes is carefully making sure they know the Empire isn't a threat... fascinating...
Minerva grins. "My son, the historical alchemist. But I'll grant he's right about the Empire's not being expansionist any more. They haven't pushed their borders out in two centuries."
Horatio perks his ears at the use of the term 'alchemist.' Carroll looks rather pained, and murrs, "I hope I'm being paranoid."
Minerva taps a chicken bone on the table. "But...are we being paranoid enough? It might have been a random nut, but getting an assassin in there like that indicates a more serious player."
Horatio blinks and represses a shiver. Just what was Featherstone's involvement in all this after all...? Alex continues nibbling tidily on her lunch and smiles, "Maybe it was just dumb luck?" She decides she's not inclined to be pumped for information... this duchess woman is just a little... 'off' seeming to her so far. She can't imagine Daddy saying it was okay to do something wrong as long as she didn't get caught, after all!
Carroll murrs, "My feeling would be that whoever it is would be all too happy to let all the nobles fight amongst themselves and then go in afterwards and pick up the pieces."
Reggie winces. "Oh, I hope we'd have more sense than that."
Carroll nods quietly. He's not thinking pleasant thoughts again. Alex says curiously, "But who would do that?" She continues eating quietly, waiting to see if one of the ducal family rises to that question... she'd be interested in who they suspect.
The Duchess sighs (an interesting sight for the males at least). "We don't know. To be honest, we haven't come up with anyone who'd benefit."
Alex nods quietly, "That's kinda what's happened with us too... we thought about it, but didn't know enough to have any really useful thoughts on the matter... right, Carroll?"
Carroll doesn't notice the Duchess' impressive exhalation. He's staring intently at nothing. He murrs, "That's right, Alex. It wouldn't help anyone here, would it." He looks queryingly at the Duchess, hoping she can deny it.
Minerva shakes her head. "Nobody sane, anyway."
Carroll asks, "What about a foreign competitor, who could both move business here and have less competition abroad?" Horatio frets slightly. This is where the suggestion comes up of a Starfall competitor... and the link to Pravinchandra gets forged. I wonder how they'll take the suggestion? Alex thinks quietly to herself... they've now been queried for possible connections or inside information on the assassination attempt by... hm... Duke Vortalon, Duke Redtail, and now the Duchess. Interesting... and all three of them have also assured the siblings that the Queen dying would be bad. This is confusing enough that she's thinking more and more it might be best for them to just get out of this snakepit and stick to their goals --- namely, doing their best to ruin Pravinchandra.
Reggie shrugs. "That would get complex. Someone like that would have to be depending on agents in place, and Starfall is a bigger player than we are anyway. Why take us out when Starfall is still there?"
Carroll asks, "Greed? Perhaps the expectation that they already control Starfall?"
This idea gets a few nods. "That... is a possibility as well."
Carroll murrs quietly, "I can think of someone in Starfall for instance who apparently can urge the Navy to do their bidding, seems to gain favors if not outright control of Lady Blackpool's marines, seems to either employ or buy off pirates, and has recently apparently destroyed a noble house with little to no repercussion." He trails off then says, "It can't be." He shakes his head and murrs, "Forgive me, I'm being paranoid. Our problem cannot be so far-reaching, can it?"
Minerva leans forward. "So. Tell us about Pravinchandra."
Carroll shrugs to the Duchess and murrs, "You know all the things I can say with real certainty, your grace. Much of the rest I'd say would be slander and speculation."
Alex studies the mink family as she eats... and wonders why Reggie is doing most of the talking. Then again... it's always possible that one part of the family doesn't know what another part is doing... and she's quite familiar with the concept of doing reprehensible things for Family, although she's glad that so far she's not really had to. Hm... which would mean the duchess might be doing one thing and Reginald might be thinking they were doing another entirely...? She grins suddenly at Carroll, "Hey Carroll! If we take more ships we'll have to sell the stuff somewhere, or at least make sure someone finds the ship for um... 'salvage'! So... maybe we should ask our hosts where their ships travel along the Maidstone-Alburtis route, mm?"
Carroll smiles and nods to Alex, "That's the business we came to discuss, actually."
The Duchess looks at Carroll, then the others, considering. "You've met him. What was your impression?"
Carroll looks at the elder mink and murrs, "I've only met him briefly. He seemed no-nonsense and very direct. In the same breath he told us how sorry he was to hear about our family's loss, and then invited us to hand over the rest of our assets, and it didn't seem unusual for him. Perhaps the word would be 'slick.'" Alex's ears flatten slightly in anger, and her eyes narrow as she thinks about that moment.
Minerva nods. "And greedy..."
Alex mutters softly under her breath, "-and completely self-centered..."
Carroll continues, "From our crew I gather that he is more than willing to hold a grudge and ruin someone's livelihood over what is really a trifle, and that he is somewhat unhappy about being rescued from pirates. Either because he wasn't being rescued or because he'd owe the rescuer a favor I do not know." Horatio frowns slightly, looking down at his plate. Looking back, he had still been confused and bewildered when they met Pravinchandra, but now he can feel... well, more than the mere dread he's felt for even the worst teacher at the Academy. Carroll adds, "He has also been branching out from shipping and trade. He has bought a reasonable amount of land and is being the landlord for it, overcharging ruthlessly. A local noble passed away with no heirs and he purchased all he could."
Alex adds angrily, "And chased off the tenant farmers who'd been there for generations!" Carroll nods at Alex's words. Alex says, "And then he tried to kill us too!" She mutters fiercely, "Jerk!" under her breath, then has a sip of her drink to quiet herself down.
Horatio nods quietly as well at Alex's words and adds a little wryly, "Fortunately he wasn't as successful at doing that as he was at everything else."
Minerva actually looks shocked by the idea that someone would be that inconsiderate to their vassals (a rare thing, this mink looking shocked). "He did miscalculate in your case, though. Rather badly, in fact."
Carroll murrs, "The first of the two mistakes I made was not realizing that these loans I had never heard of might not be real, and that he was blatantly stealing our property."
Alex glances up at the duchess and adds fiercely, "Just be sure you have a copy of every and any piece of paperwork you've signed with him -- it's real strange how they seem to change when there's only one copy!" She glances at Carroll and remembers herself... she murmurs, "Excuse me, your grace... I'm... a little upset still..."
Carroll ahs, and murrs, "But, they're not his vassals, are they? They're profit."
Minerva looks fierce. "If they were living on the land then the lord is obligated to look after them, and I don't care how he became the lord!"
Alex tilts her ears curiously at the duchess... then smiles. Okay, her opinion of this duchess just went right up! She nods firmly at Minerva's words. Carroll agrees with the mink too, murring, "I think he did make a mistake how he dealt with us, and with our crew too." He explains the crew's general past and how Pravinchandra wouldn't hire them. He adds, "I plan on taking advantage of every mistake he makes."
Reggie and his mother grin at each other. "How else?"
Alex says just as firmly to Carroll, "That is an explanation of his outrageous behavior... not an excuse!"
Minerva looks at Carroll more seriously. "He may or may not be behind our problems here, but it sounds like he's going to cause more trouble regardless if he's not stopped. We will definitely give you what help we can." Alex blinks... then smiles in sudden relief.
Carroll counters the duchess' comment with, "But he is not a lord, is he? He holds the nobility in great disdain. He is a commoner, and a thug to boot."
Reggie nods. "He is a thug. Common or noble doesn't have that much to do with it really. And if he bought land owned by the nobility he should have gotten the obligations that go with it."
Horatio's ears perk and he smiles quietly. He hadn't expected such a sudden demonstration of support! Carroll nods and murrs, "We appreciate that a great deal. If he is behind the troubles here then they should calm once he has been taken care of in Starfall." Carroll adds, "We may be able to give you something back for your support as well. Part of our plan involves disrupting as much of his shipping as we can, to cost him money and make him pay attention to his own business. We have done so a little now, and have been freeing the captured crews and pointing them back to civilization, as many as we can. "
Minerva churrs, "That would be helpful, yes. And as I said, even if not it removes a possible distraction." She turns as the servants come back in to remove the remnants of lunch. "Demeter..." The mink-kit peeks out from behind a serving table. "Awww..."
Alex grins at the kit. nice try... at least she's persistent! Horatio blinks. He hadn't noticed the young mink kit enter the room! Carroll continues, "Our discontent is not with his sailors. I am perfectly aware that there are many who would be uncomfortable buying stolen or pirated goods. However, the right of salvage is well understood." Carroll smiles, a smile of sharp fox teeth, and asks, "Would you like to sell Pravinchandra his own ships back?"
Minerva bursts out laughing. "Oh, that would be too much. Selling him his own ships? What an evil thing to do! I like it."
Alex grins at the duchess... good, another person we can hand off loot to! Carroll smiles and murrs, "And perhaps his own cargoes, if they're not something you have a market for." He settles back in his chair and murrs, "It seems that we could set up a string of quiet places to leave a ship marooned that your staff could conveniently discover and claim."
The Duchess nods, still grinning. "I'll have my shipping factors talk to you before you leave, then. We'll set up some rendezvous points."
Carroll murrs, smiling in a more friendly way, "I do like being able to help friends at the same time I hurt my enemies."
Horatio says, "If I may, your Grace, Captain... discretion would be preferable. Letting Pravinchandra know that you are actively helping us, if he is behind your problems, may incite him to begin to... er, take measures against you."
Carroll nods and murrs, "A very valid worry." He looks to the Duchess and then at her son and murrs, "I trust you'll be able to take care of your own?"
The Duchess shrugs. "Tough. I've got guards, and he needs to know that we're on to his little games."
Alex grins again, her estimation of the duchess going up another notch! Horatio blinks, and goes silent. Whoa. Carroll's foxy grin spreads, and he murrs, "Your understanding and assistance means a great deal, your grace. House St. Genevieve will not forget this."
The Duchess grins again. "Besides, I'll make more money if I don't have to work through middlemen."
Carroll looks over at Reginald, briefly, to see what his reaction to all this is. Reggie looks just as determined as his mother. Teresa looks a little worried, but in a general way. Carroll smiles and murrs, "I am much more confident now of our ability to succeed. Not only have I a patron to help us pay for this venture; there are others who find this behavior distasteful and would like to see it stopped." Alex grins with quiet grimness to herself... Carroll is so good at pointed understatements!
Minerva twitches her ears. "Distasteful. Yes, you could put it like that."
Carroll murrs, "I shall leave it at that before I let my personal feelings enter the picture. I have to admit, having had the man try and murder my entire family rather taints my opinion of him."
The Duchess nods. "I think I understand, milord."
Carroll smiles wryly and murrs, "I was certain a lady of your refinement would, your grace."
Minerva grins at Carroll. "Keep that up and I'll invite you to stay for dessert."
Alex covers a small giggle! Horatio almost but not quite fumbles spectacularly with a forkful of vegetables. Carroll chuckles and murrs, "I don't know if I could resist such an invitation."
Horatio ers! and hurriedly sets his place aright. "Sorry about that," he murmurs, smiling apologetically.
- Dessert is passed in general conversation, and White
Haven and St. Genevieve part in good spirits and the beginnings of
friendship. When the siblings reach their carriage they discover that
Demeter has been pumping Jessie for stories... the young kit is in awe
of her marksmanship.