Heather
Joseph and Alessia Vema
Valeen, Taemar 


Light taps echoed through the office as Alessia impatiently paced in circles while her husband watched from behind his desk. It had been a couple days since they've been updated on their daughter's wellbeing and only recently have they been close to interfering with her adventures. 

"This is the second time she's parted with the amulet Joseph! Something is wrong, I can feel it!" Alessia's anxiety was through the roof as she feared for her daughter's safety. Her stomach continued to turn as she began to pale from the nausea. She had been distressed the past couple of weeks when they were informed of their daughter's activities and the man she had accompany her. 

It was never known that Marsila's parents had placed a location spell on the amulet chain, granting them knowledge of the young shifter's location as long as she possessed it. However, it proved useful for the two after their daughter decided she wanted to leave, abandoning her home without warning or a note. 

When Joseph noticed Marsila's absence, he immediately paid for a mercenary to track her down and report to him if she was in danger, or if she had left by her own choice. When he found it was the latter, he reassured Alessia that their daughter was safe after he arranged for the same Mercenary to keep an eye on Marsila yet remain unseen. He had proven himself useful until now, when he had managed to lose her to Atovar.

Joseph released a deep sigh as he listened to his wife rant before he stood up from his chair and strode around his desk. He gently held onto her arms, just near her shoulders before pulling her into an embrace. She relaxed into his hold as she rested her cheek against his chest though her irregular breathing continued as she feared for Marsila's safety. They were aware the shifter and the amulet were seperated from each other as Colin was now in ibethiel, searching for Marsila while the amulet was shown to be located near Brindell. 

"Alessia, you need to get a hold of yourself. I understand Marsila is missing but panicking wont do us any good." He began to brush his fingers through his wife's hair to comfort her as he thought of ways to find their daughter. 

"I am going to need you to stay here in Taemar where it is safe while I travel to ibethiel." He began until he was cut off. 

"You are not going to leave me here alone and completely useless!" She argued, pulling away from her husband so she was able to glare at him. 

Joseph looked towards her with a stoic expression. He understood her desperation to join him but he wasn't going to risk losing his wife if his plan went south. Alessia meant the world to him and he couldn't imagine how he would handle the loss if they were attacked during their journey to Hexraxes, especially after they were forced to abandon their son when he refused to move to Valeen with them and allow their daughter to run off to find herself.

"You're not useless Alessia but I can't have you arguing with me on this one. I just need to you to trust me." 

Alessia looked towards Joseph with her lips pursed in a thin line, wanting to complain yet knew it was pointless to start an argument about it. Instead, she turned her back on her husband and stormed out of the office. Exhaling deeply, Joseph returned to his desk and began planning his journey to ibethiel, keeping in mind the contacts he had, who could possibly aid him in his search. 

It was a few hours until Alessia returned with a few men following behind her, armed with weapons. Joseph kept his eyes on the papers in front of him, assuming his wife was back to convince him she should be travelling to ibethiel also.

"Since you refuse to let me journey with you, I gathered these men to keep you safe while you travel to Ibethiel. These two," She indicated to the men on her left as she spoke, yet before she was able to continue, Alessia noticed her husband wasn't paying attention. "Joseph!"

Looking up with an annoyed gaze, his eyes connected with with Alessia who glared towards him in an angered manner. "I'm sorry, continue?"

Alessia took a deep breath to calm herself before starting over, waving her head in front of the two on her left so her husband would know who she was talking about. "These two are skilled in hand to hand combat while the two on my right are skilled in long range combat, hence the crossbow and the bow and arrow they carry. I expect you to take them with you. And.."

Turning to face the man who held the bow and arrow, she furrowed her brows as she attempted to recall his name. 

"Colin." 

"Thank you Colin." She was thankful he noticed her struggle before focusing back on Joseph. 

"And Colin here knows his way into ibethiel. It's no hidden knowledge that ibethiel has borders that are difficult and at times, dangerous to cross so you will need the help." She finally finished what she needed to say and stood in front of his desk, waiting for what he had to say. 

"Fine."

"Fine?" 

"I said fine Alessia, if it will settle your mind I will take these men with me." He knew it would only create further arguments if he was to deny her request. He was smarter than that as Alessia tended to become relentless when it came to getting things her way, he was lucky to convince her to stay in Taemar.

Standing, Joseph looked towards the men and eyed over their appearances. "I need you men to sort out a horse for yourselves. Have the stable boy help you out if you run into any issues and have him ready Bronte." 

Once they had left, Joseph walked around his desk and grasped Alessia's hands in his own as she asked him if he was sure about her staying in Taemar. Pressing his lips against her forehead, his wife looked towards their entwined hands with saddened eyes. "I'm sure Alessia. I need to make sure you stay safe." 

With that, the two began their way towards the stables where the four sell-swords waited. Along with the four horses that were being ridden by the men, a palomino stallion stood tall as the stable boy prepped him for the long journey ahead. Turning to his wife, he placed his lips against hers and gave her a passionate kiss, knowing he would be without her until he found Marsila. Breaking apart, Joseph pulled himself up onto Bronte's saddle and turned to face Colin. 

"You will lead us as you're more aware of the roads and trails that lead to ibethiel." 

The sell-sword gave a short nod and nudged his heel into the horse's side, resulting in the horse to move ahead, beginning their trip to Hexraxes. 

"Stay safe." Alessia called to her husband. 

"I shall."
Ellen
There was supper for anyone wanting to snack before bed. It was all laid on the long wooden tables of the dining hall with a massive oaken wood at a corner opposite to the stairs. It was guarded by a few knights in separate corners of the hall, watchful of the perimeter for the safety of all people of good will and mind. It wouldn't be the first time a House had to expel or even kill a guest because of really bad altercations. Still, the servants were up and doing their tasks, finishing the simple, but bountiful display of soup and bread. It was a charitous greeting to any starving traveller, the guests that would come from near and far.

Early bloomers flocked to the castle gates, the core of the city of Raunkastel. From there they travelled to the center, a small walk to a massive tower connected with two more pillars of stone and wood. Its form was Gothic hence robust and plain, hard to a fault in the lack of expression. The arrow slits were a mix of horizontal stretched with ascending counter the clock pointing north. There was light sparkling from every window of the main structure. Those lined up had stronger glows to them, pushing the light against the stone and out. It blinded little parts of the sky around the tower where they spewed from. All light was an ardent flicker repeated over beats of fire that pulsed in the center of each large room. Funneled by metal contraptions, tubes that absorbed the smoke from below, guiding it above to the sky.

Clovis was walking along the stables, crossing their front view to witness the work of the younger serfs. The stables were a large and low structure next to the smaller tower of the castle presented on its west, connected to the barracks through a portcullis where ranks up to three can form in case of an emergency. The first layers were occupied by the standard breeds and vacant for the guests' mounts. Some were already being led to their division, where they would be fed and given water before the bell rung the strike of ten in the evening. The noble followed the small path out of the stables and around the main door to the barracks, crafted wooden with large iron hinges. The barracks were closed, but not inactive. Several soldiers were still awake, some performing guard duty and others establishing themselves in their quarters or in the recreation area. Past the eastern tower was the central pillar where the first guests were guided by an elder servant, up the steps to the massive iron portcullis. Chains rustled in the opening of the barred gate, then the doors themselves, wooden and reinforced iron, were pushed open by two guards. It was an effort from which the lights inside escaped to greet the guests with warmth and clarity. Armor and weapons were taken from them there to be kept in the main structure's, categorized to keep everything arranged and named for when the guests left.

The ground floor of the main tower was a massive hall with two wide flights of stairs at the northern end, opposite to the main southern doorway. The room was empty of the typical equipments and trophies posted against the walls. Instead, there were the Merovingian coat of plates, added the Grunewald standing at attention on different sides. Torches and braziers gave the floor comfort, with stands and smaller doors connecting with the other two towers and smaller divisions that were storage. Clovis hailed the first guests there and personally guided them up to the dining hall. There, they were presented with the rich view of food, water and juice. No wine that night, the celebration was to come only after the day's hunt, for the proper feast that followed.

Letters of invitation were all piled up in a wooden table by the entrance to the main tower. No man could enter without it and the retinues were allowed to the second floor, barred from the following upper levels. They would, however, be allowed to rest at the barracks, among the soldiers of the castle. Only the people whose names were addressed and their direct families were given larger and private rooms in the third floor.

The older servants had much more discipline and manners, which allowed them to conduct their household tasks with the best level of efficiency. There were some young bloods mixed in with the old, the night prior to the feast being a good opportunity to educate them in the principles of etiquette as to serve the nobles in the more formal gathering. Clovis excused himself for the time being and let his guests enjoy the contents of the dining tables. Although they sat and ate, the nobles restrained their followers from eating much. Some wanted to take their time and see who else was arriving, others would rather just go directly to their rooms to rest. Whispers of gossip soon filled the atmosphere, like it usually happened in such occasions. Distant nobles met each other for the first time, in life or after years. Friendships tested the hall as circles inside circles were made, just like it was true for the political scene of Taemar.


Clovis did little in his absence. He was going to let his guests have some time to grow comfortable and wait for news of the more important people that were to arrive. He sat in an armchair by the central fireplace of the following level, a meeting room surrounded by living quarters and more meeting rooms. On a daily basis, it was standard for him and his advisors to discuss the realm in the main assembly room, with other, smaller rooms sufficing for the needs of his castle guard, the guardians of his heir and servants. After the departure of Josephine, the halls and quarters beyond that level felt more empty.

Who else would arrive during the evening?
John
**King Dennon Bigsby, Sir Gringen Kemp
Shortly after passing through Taemar's border.**

Ibethiel's royal carriage was at the top of a hill when Dennon looked out the window and saw fog flowing through the valleys around them. In a different mood, it may have made the king feel unnerved at the eerie setting, but at the moment, it had a calming effect. "This is the Taemar I remember..." He said to Gringen.

After getting off the hill, the stench of manure filled their nostrils. A couple young farm kids were shoveling it in a field off the road into a pail, presumably for fertilizer. Upon seeing the carriage going by with a few guards accompanying it, they abandoned their work and began throwing chunks of the livestock deposits at the traveling party. "*This* Is the Taemar I remember." Gringen said in response.

. . .

"What do you mean I'm not on the list?" Dennon asked one of the guards at the gate of Raunkastel castle.

"I'm just not seeing your name, sir." The guard said, looking over the paper again.

"You do realize he's the king of Ibethiel. It would be a pretty hard name to miss." Gringen added.

"It would indeed." Said the sympathetic but unpersuaded guard.

"Are you new to this job?" Dennon asked.

"I had plenty of training." The guard said defensively. 

"In other words, yes." Dennon said, irritated.

"Wait, does the list have a back side?" Gringen asked.

The guard lifted the paper from the board it sat on and glanced at the back side. "Oh, there you are. That explains a lot." The guard declared as though he had solved a great mystery.

"Does it, now?" Dennon asked sarcastically.

"Looks like we're squared away, then. All I need to see now is your invitation." The guard said contently.

"We went through all of this and only now do you ask for the invitation?!" Gringen asked, starting to lose his temper.

"Relax, Gringen. I have it." Dennon said, holding the envelope in one hand while rubbing his forehead with the other.

"Excellent. Just hang on to that until you get to the main door. Have a nice evening." The guard waved the carriage on.

"It will be hard to top this moment." Gringen said as they rolled away.

"I need a drink..." Dennon muttered weakly.

. . .

"Please go settle in the barracks. I don't want you fighting for a decent bed. Don't worry, I can take care of myself until I meet again." Dennon said as they parted ways at the guest entrance. After brandishing his invitation to a far more competent guard, Dennon entered the main area looking for whoever could serve him some wine the fastest.