Edward
Robert Cromwell
Astoria

Nodded as an admission that she was correct, most people do not come back from the dead. 

"The worst thing I think he did was sneak liquor across from Terresol, it was a bit cheaper there. Occasionally he'd come with me to bars and inns, though he was often the voice of reason. He's younger than me, so he was usually with me whenever I did anything. I just made sure nothing happened to him if we got into a fight. Overall, he avoided doing anything _too_ stupid and stuck to making sure my drunken plans were better thought out."
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

The woman gave a soft hum of amusement, wishing she had been able to know the man when he was younger and wild. "Do you ever think you'd spend a night like you did in your youth again? Drinking past starlight and stupid plans bound to go wrong?" It wasn't exactly something she was in a position to do. Of all the rulers in Marin she was undoubtedly seen as the weakest politically, having having fallen into her position instead of learning it from a young age. Her wild acne drunken nights felt like they would never surface again.
Edward
Robert Cromwell
Astoria

"I'm not sure, I sort of grew out of it as I get older and was handed responsibility. Occasionally I'll drink with some of the guards captains or Aldvis who stayed behind with the squires, get to know them better. But anything remarkably stupid? Probably not. I'm too old to go around doing stupid shit now. I'll leave that to the young ones." He said.
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

"Its probably for the best, Hm?" She commented, and before she could elaborate there was a gentle knock on her door. She called for them to enter, and their meal was set between them on the small coffee table, along with a decanter of water and what looked to be juice. 

"What have you learned of Aldvis, I've never actually spoken to the man."
Edward
Robert Cromwell
Astoria

"Average man-at-arms captain, sort of. Spent a lot of time around Lord Stafford, likes him a fair bit more than he liked Lord Storm, or King Storm, whatever we're remembering him as. So far helping train squires is his favorite portion of his job, though, he's looking to head back to Stormalong rather soon. Getting homesick, I imagine."

He said, beginning to eat, "How about yourself, you weren't always the Queen of South Feyshore and Astoria, did you have a exciting childhood of adventures?"
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

Her demeanor changed when he mentioned Aldvis wanted to return to Stormalong, and she shifted stiffly, placing her knee over her other and dropping her gaze down to avoid showing the annoyance that came with that statement. 

"Send him to Stormalong tomorrow then, I don't want men in Astoria who don't want to be here." She said, rather curtly. A moment passed, wondering if she should apologize for being sensitive, but she didn't. 

"I grew up in Kath, spent my youth passed around my father's court, then my teens passed around a brothel until I joined King Cleburn's court about a year or two before the fall. I don't remember a lot of my childhood, it seemed so inconsequential at the time."
Edward
Robert Cromwell
Astoria

Robert eyed Anya for a moment, "I still need Aldvis. There aren't many veterans in Zahrada I can rely on to train young knights. I intend to let him go back to Stafford with the rest of Stafford's men-at-arms who remained here with the squires once spring comes around. They all are better at showing those squires how to train in winter conditions. I also don't have an ability to call for replacements, not many people want to travel through snow to Zahrada, and almost everyone I can think of is in Feyshore." He admitted, leaning back. 

Then nodded along with her short childhood recollection, "You've come a long way then." He said, not sure what the best response would've been.
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

She pressed her lips together. "How many of your knights are Stafford's? Or more specifically, South Feyshorian men? How many will you lose when they leave?"
Edward
Robert Cromwell
Astoria

"Most of the men who are here training the squires were Stafford's men, then he left and Lady Stafford left. Everything moves fast and Zahrada has some favorable grounds for training the squires, and since I'm taking it over then they may as well stay here. The men who stayed behind are officers and veterans, only about ten or so men. Once spring comes around they'll be permitted to go back to Stafford's service once I've pulled more permanent replacements. To Stafford's credit, he told them to be here as long as I need them. I'd just rather have my own selection, and Stafford needs his officers for organizing Feyshore's army, something a bit more pressing. I have some names back home who will be useful in the second phase of the training I'm about to begin."
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

The Queen nodded, and began to make a plate from the spread of toasts, eggs, and meats that were brought to them. She finished, and offered it to Robert. 

"I'd prefer you had your own team as well. Stafford breeds loyalty like no other man I've seen. His men will stay if asked, but I have no doubt they're itching to be back under his command. " 

She started to make her own plate, and caught a corner of her toastthat broke, popping it into her mouth as she glanced to the quiet and dark fireplace. She should have lit it. 

"Brightwater might come to you looking for recruits. I have him my permission to do so, but considering your senior staff seems slim, if you see him before I do tell him he'll have to wait until you build your numbers again, or unless he can draw some loyalty from Stafford's men."