Joseph
Information on long dead shepherding habits wasn't useful. Watching him lean over the pit, and flicker the fire to life with his fingertips. _That_ was interesting. She watched for a moment as the wood cracked, and a hearty fire settled in the middle of the logs to catch and burn furiously. Her smile spread, and she let her eyes flicker up to him. 

"And where did you lean those tricks? Surely not your tomes."
Earl
Drake and Ivor rose up on the horizon, the sun beating down on their backs from the south. Below them, farmers were seeing to their cattle, chickens, and pigs. With winter here, they couldn't do much. They could only hope they raised enough for the season. The father and son duo shot down the snow covered path that lead to Astoria: the seat of South Feyshore. 

Within the hour they had reached the city limits. Here they hitched their horses at the stables, tipping the stablehand, and headed into the city.

"What makes you so sure we'll be able to get this lodge of ours setup here? They probably have better ways to work the land than to spare any for your dream." Ivor said. He took in the sights of the city. Things had changed substantially since he had last been here.

"I'm not, but you must understand everything is left up to chance son. Thats the greatest aspect of life. Besides, I've thought up a couple ways to persuade the Duchess or her advisers, whoever it maybe, to at least let us try." Drake responded. He took a corner and followed a side path. The main streets were to crowded for his likes.

"I see. Maybe tone down on the old man wisdom though, huh?" His lips cracked with a teasing grin.

Drake simply smiled and continued to lead them towards the palace. 

Upon reaching thethe main keep they stood and waited to be allowed clearance.
Joseph
Anglica was the first one to the throne room, and was met by the guards who had ushered the visitors inside.

"Who are they?" She questioned, working to secure the pin in her hair. She'd been napping, trying to stave off what felt like an impending illness before it overtook her. The lithe blonde never fared well in the winter months. 

"They seem to be here about South Feyshore, shall we even let them further, chancellor?" A younger guard asked, and Angelica raised a brow. 

"They '_seem to be'_?" She repeated, and at the man's blush she sighed. "I want guards stationed at every corner of the ballroom, ones more compitent than yourself. I'll fetch the Queen." She told him, and the nod she was given sent her towards the gardens to find Anyanka. The redhead was sitting with Dayveth, something she might have commented on under other circumstances. 

"Your majesty, visitors are requesting an audience." Angelica explained, standing in the doorway that kept the warmth of the castle from slipping out onto the veranda. 

Anya raised a brow. "Visitors is a vague term." She noted, and Angelica gave an exasperated look. 

"The throne room has already been secured. I can send them away if you'd prefer." She offered, considering it was the best she had at the moment. Anya waved a hand and pushed herself up, heading inside to follow the blonde woman to the throne room to greet their 'visitors'.
Earl
Both stood before the throne of the Duchess with their hands clasped before them under their cloaks, as dictated by etiquette and basic mannerisms. They had volunteered to surrender their weapons at the door and subject themselves to a search.

Standing in silence, Ivors only option to entertain himself waa letting his eyes drift to the architecture and decorations adorning the room.
Joseph
When Anyanka arrived, she was informed that the visitors had surrendered their weapons, and already been searched. Still there were guards posted all along the room, and she nodded, stepping through the doors as they were opened for her. 

Anyanka hadn't really _expected_ anything, but the duo wasn't really what she'd thought it would be either. They looked like father and son, and she gave a small smile to them both as she crossed the dark woods of the throne room towards them both. 

"Gentlemen." She greeted, her eyes moving from the younger to the elder. "Welcome to Astoria." The woman let her head tilt a bit, fingers lacing before her as she looked him over. 

"How can I be of service?"
Earl
"Your grace." Drake said curteously, inclining his head.

Ivor did the same in turn.

"The state of the kingdom seems to be improving greatly might I first say. I am Drake. You may know me as a hunter, I wouldnt blame you if you didnt though. It has been a decent while since I've done anything of importance, that and your hands must be full. This here is my son Ivor."

"Greetings."

"Now, as to why I am here... Southern Feyshore is quite obviously in a state of reconstruction. I am looking to establish a hunters lodge, and there is alot of unused land at the moment. I do apologize if I appear the opportunist, but I think I could find a way to make it of use to these lands as well."
Joseph
Her brow raised a bit at the introduction. "I see, Drake with no family name." She said simply, glancing between him and his son. "So you've come to petition for land in South Feyshore." The woman inhaled, and glanced to a guard who straightened under her gaze. "Certainly not the way I would have gone about making the request." She admitted, and looked to Ivor. 

"Why now, why not when the notices were originally sent out about builing a council in South Feyshore? What kept you, and what vision do you see for your future in South Feyshore that would warrant you a postion amongst it's lordship?"
Earl
"I don't wish to elevate myself, your grace. I just wish to share my love of the hunt with others. Said lodge would be a place where hunters of all kinds can come together to offer their skills up. The lodge can work for contracts of individuals, towns, or even the kingdom. Some people in Southern Feyshore are probably starving I'm sure, especially this time of year. A lodge could help these people by going on hunts to provide food for these effected people, and that would be it's function initially if established. In my mind, the lodge can be whatever the individual wants. A place where they can make a living off private contracts, a place to enjoy the sport, or a place to simply help those in need."

Ivor stood silently and obediently.
Joseph
At mention of 'hunt' her mind went to the worst first. She'd heard of King Cleburn's purge, and wondered if bits of that mentality still floated around in the time after his fall. When he continued, her expression loosened, realizing he meant game and not people. Anyanka released her hand, pushing her free one through her hair before shaking it loose of the pins that held it back. She'd pinned it to keep the wind from whipping it in her face, but this appeared to be a discussion that would leave her lovely doctor out on the veranda alone for some time. 

"Angelica, inform the doctor that I'll be occupied for some time, send my apologies." She instructed, and watched as the blonde woman moved off with a nod. With that, Anya turned, jutting her chin a bit to indicate the two men follow her as she headed towards a doorway. 

"Tell me, Drake, where do you and your son hail from? Your accent reminds me of the North." She murmured, pausing to let her fingertips graze the wall. Admittedly, having the man at her back as she walked made her uneasy, and the shift of the guard she passed brought her no comfort as she headed towards the meeting hall that was adjacent to the throne room. Inside, a table sat with six chairs around it. It could be extended to accommodate more, but it was hardly needed. She gestured for them to take a sead on one side, while she took the other, leaving the two heads of the table open so she wouldn't find herself with one of them on either side and instead placed them directly in front of her.
Earl
"Aye, I've never been able to get rid of it." He said with a chuckle. He took a seat.

Ivor did as well.

"The Witherlands. The edge of the world. Me and the boy have been up their for the last five years to try and rest from the lifetime on the road."

"Took some getting use to. I never got too accustomed to one climate." Ivor admitted. His accent had a northern chime to it, but had a mix of Terresol as well.
Joseph
That also wasn't exactly comforting, considering the letter she'd just received from Wingsway. "Tell me, gentlemen, who is the true King of the North in your eyes?" She asked, lacing her fingers together as she propped her elbows onto the table and her chin on her fingers. "Feel free to answer truthfully, I've never had the opportunity to meet men from the Witherlands who _left_ the Witherlands. And up there it seems even the wind has ears." 

"Also trust that your answer has nothing to do with your aspirations, merely curious."
Earl
"That it does." He nodded. "In my mind, the choice is easy. House Carter."

Ivor nodded. "Marshall specifically. You don't turn on family." 

"Agreed, but I'm afraid we don't know all the finer details such as you probably do, your grace. We can't make a factual decision because of that."

"I'd still say Marshall Carter." Ivor stated again.
Joseph
Anyanka nodded. "Marshall is kind, from what I've known of him." They'd met briefly once, and though he had a reputation to maintain, she hadn't felt that cold heart from the man. She didn't want to see the Witherlands out of his hands, but she had no dog in that fight. 

Yet.

"Regardless, your hunting lodge?" She prompted, letting her hands fall to the table. "Why South Feyshore? And _Where_ in South Feyshore?"
Earl
"Because of the state of it. I-we'd like to be apart of the healing process. My home is too embroiled in war to care at the moment. Sure, I could try other northern kingdoms, or the middle kingdoms, but like I said Southern Feyshore needs it most."

"He's trying to go the 'humble beginnings' route, basically." Ivor said. His tone remained courteous, but it was easy to tell what tone he'd like to go for.
Joseph
Ivor finally spoke freely, and the Queen smiled. "There it is." She murmured with a scoff of a laugh. "That's what I'm looking for, someone wanting to get in on the ground floor. Astoria and South Feyshore are clean slates. The nations were destroyed almost completely, and we've got the one in a lifetime opportunity to raise them up in wonderful _modern_ ways." She explained, and looked between them both. 

"South Feyshore needs a lot of things. What makes it need you two?"
Earl
Drake was inclined to scold his son with his eyes, but the Queen seemed to like how Ivor spoke freely. He needed to loosen up himself. It had been so long since he interacted with the nobility. He took a second to clear his old throat. "South Feyshore needs experience. Maybe I don't have the modern outlook you seek, but I have the know how to make it happen. The boy has the fire in him, he has the determination to keep it going after I'm dead."

"Er... Yeah." Ivor responded, obviously uncomfortable having himself talked about in that light.
Joseph
Anyanka felt like he was giving her half answers, but she also felt like passion made up half of the game. "If I were to grant you lordship of a territory, you would be expected to report back to Astoria. You would pledge yourselves to me and mine, and should you violate the council of South Feyshore you'll lose all lands, titles, and holdings granted to you." She paused

"Is that something you're willing to accept, Drake?"