Edward
The snow gave Eric bad memories. The crack of a twig from the weight of the snow made Eric twitch, his abdomen throbbed from phantom pains. _Maybe hunting was a bad idea._ Eric though to himself, gripping the reins of his horse until his knuckles turned white. The cold didn't bother him much, he'd been dressed for the winter when he left Zahrada to check out Knight's Landing. On his way to meet with his retinue at the bridge, he returned with no game, having missed the only deer he'd found in the woods. He never was any good with a bow, it wasn't quite his thing. 

He'd finally found the rode he was looking for an hour ago, now, knowing where he was, he continued along the small path. It was clearly underused, growth was encroaching upon it. Eric felt uneasy, almost like he wasn't in Astoria. He remembered somewhere that looked like this, his grip somehow tightened on the reins. His left hand thumbed the pommel of his sword, giving him a feeling of security. _It's okay._ Eric though, not understanding why he was feeling so uneasy. _You're in Astoria. It's safe here._ Eric didn't know where else he would be, he stopped paying attention to where he was going. He zoned out, lost in thought and fending off memories he didn't want.

The sound startled Eric from his thoughts. Within a flash, he'd ripped his sword from his sheathe, rearing his horse to its hind two legs. He was focused in, looking, his eyes narrowed and bright with fury. _Them!_ He mind shouted, then his voice boomed out of reflex "HERE! 'Round me!" He shouted, for a moment, thinking he was in the Southernmost portion of South Feyshore, with the bandits letting loose arrows on him. But there was no response. 

No arrows fired.

No one yelled for help.

No horns sounded.

But for some reason, the old arrows that had been removed for almost a year burned. The cries for help still rang. The horns of war still roared in his ears. Phantoms danced for a moment, just faceless shades. He ground his teeth and blinked away the red that was appearing as result of the fury he once felt. After a moment, the painful phantoms faded and all there that remained was a seventeen year old alone, on a horse with his sword drawn, looking as if he'd seen a ghost. 

"What's happening to me?" He asked the fading phantoms, his arms going limp for a moment. He sheathed his sword and moved onward. The episode was put behind him, he was thankful no one saw it. If word were to spread of anything like that, he may lose his positions. It was what he had always dreamed of, it was all he was good at. It just had a cost he had to come to terms with, everything had a cost.

Within an hour the bridge was visible; but no one was there. Eric said what he'd do, he beat the retinue to the bridge so he dismounted and found a dry-ish place to relax. Settling for a spot underneath a nearby tree he unfastened his cloak and laid it out to sit on with his back to the tree. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples for a moment before opening them and humming one of the marching songs to himself. The most guilty part of his entire situation, was that he missed it.

Eric missed the sense of urgency, the thrill of battle. He'd never felt so alive when someone was trying to kill him. His blood had never pumped harder than when it was being drained from him by arrows. The way everyone looked to him for guidance, and the fear the under-armored bandits had when he caught them and shattered them with his hammer, it was indescribable. That lust for battle made him feel guilty when he remembered the men who died there. He didn't call them soldiers, because they weren't. They were common people who took up arms to fight criminals. They were better than Men-At-Arms. They were untrained, hardly paid, and they volunteered to make a better kingdom. If he had the ability, he'd give them all castles. 

But none of it made sense, when he put his mind to it. He loved and hated his profession, his abilities were a necessary evil. In the moment, he loved it, and when he was home, when he was in peace, he hated it. The phantoms tormented his dreams and his time alone. He would take hunting trips or rides just to get his anxiety out, to let the phantoms remind him again. Then he would go back to work.

"Sir Stafford?" 

Eric openned his eyes, forgetting they were closed. He got on his feet and looked up at the rider. 

"Finally caught up?" Eric asked with a half smile.

"Yes, sir. I rode a head to make sure the way was clear. They will be here soon. Any luck hunting, sir?"

Eric shook his head "No, I'm not quite good with bows I've found. "

It was another hour before the rest of the retinue caught up with Eric and the guard. When they did, they didn't halt and just carried on. Now only half a day away from Knight's Landing, Eric wanted to go straight there. It would only get colder. He needed to understand the decay before he could make plans. The rest of the trip was uneventful, with small talk and a few marching songs to get them through the day. 

Then Knight's Landing was in sight. It wasn't as bad as Eric expected, butnot as good as he had hoped. By the time Eric got to the decayed gates that had been broken, he knew it was going to be a long day. With the castle being entirely based around trainning knights, it was essentially a small citadel. A wall reached around the keep in a sort of oval, with the back portion being built into the castle. Room was left for a large open air courtyard and a few decrepid building that Eric assumed served as storehouses, smithies, and other things. Old trainning dummies were left in the courtyard, other than that, it was ransacked and abandoned. The keep was in decent condition, some repairs would need to be made and supports checked before inhabitation. Last thing he needed was the keep to collapse once it saw heavy use. 

The front doors to the keep weren't there, as if they'd been unhinged and taken away. More like shattered, Eric assumed. The Hall was cold and drafty, but was dryer than the courtyard. So they laid out their beddings and rested there. Eric couldn't rest, and explored the keep alone. It was multistories, and instead of many lavish bedrooms it mostly had large rooms to operate was what he could only assume as classrooms. Though, one wing seemed to be just a big barracks. Several open barracks rooms with old wooden bunkbed that were falling apart. The opposite wing had classes, and on the highest floor, some nicer single rooms which were likely for teachers and actual knights.

After he spent the last few hours of daylight exploring, it was growing too dark to explore so Eric used the stone walls to guide himself felt his way back to the main hall and pulled the first guard duty, staying up most of the night voluntarily before being convinced to sleep by a guard. He only slept a few hours before daylight crept through the slits and cracks, waking him. That was when full exploration began. Some places lacked any access to daylight, so they lit torches and explored. Going more in detail, the steward Eric brought along was writing down all of the important damages and features on parchment so the cost of repair could be later estimated. 

That took most of the day, after some convincing from the steward, Eric decided not to explore the underground portion. Deciding that a castle that had been abandoned for ten years may not have a safe underground. They reviewed notes, explored more, and night fell again. This time Eric slept before taking the last watch, going out to the walls and watching the sun rise. The way it made the snow sparkle was mesmerizing. But, like everything, the pretty red-orange of the sunrise faded to yellow and the sky turned from a light purple to blue. They spent the morning doing a few more rounds, then packing. It was getting colder, and they had everything they absolutely needed. The retinue started back to Zahrada, with fair weather and no new snow, they were on track to be home in a day and a half.

Eric's retinue arrived at the gates of Zahrada by midday. It was easy to tell that his guards were relieved, even just passed the gates the city was warmer than the cold roads they had been wandering. He instructed them to unload the wagon and then go get a hot meal and some sleep. They parted from Eric, taking the wagon to be unloaded while Eric took the list of damages to the Keep, eager to get the cost analysis started on what would soon be his academy. The keep was a short ride for Eric, once he got close he dismounted and handed off his horse to be stabled. He'd brush him later when he had the time. The four days Eric had been gone, he hadn't shaved. So a scratchy black beard had started to come in, but Eric was easily recognizable. He just looked older with the small beard that had grown. 

Eric walked past the guards and through the main door of the Keep, going straight for the nearest guard he fixed his posture as soon as he recognized Eric. "Where's the queen?" Eric asked with a pleasant half smile, waving a hand to signal for the guard to relax. 

"Uh, a parlor sir over through those doors, and a left."

"Thank you."

"Aye, sir."

So, Eric followed the instructions. His steps were heavy and quick, he always walked with a sense of urgency and curled fingers as if he were marching everywhere with rapid thirty-inch steps. Eric wasn't exactly dressed to speak with the queen. He was wearing a wool green cloak, a earthy-brown coat lined in spots with fur and leather with his normal worn black boots. A sword hung off his belt, but Eric looked knightly in most anything he wore at this point and with some red still on his face from the cold it was pretty clear he just came back. After a light knock on the door, Eric opened the door to the Parlor where Queen Anya, Zane, and Dayveth were all talking. 

"Your gra_ Oh, apologies, I do not mean to interrupt." Eric said apologetically, half in the door prepared to leave if asked.
Joseph
Anyanka felt Zane lean over the back of the couch, and she could practically hear the smirk in his voice at asking what they owed the pleasure to. Her hand reached up behind her, catching the man's chin with her fingers. "Play nice, Harmattan, I actually enjoy the Doctor's company." She told him, and no sooner did her hand drop did the door open. 

In stepped Eric Stafford, pink in the cheeks from his travels and already apologizing. She smiled, and shook her head at his assumption that he was interrupting, tossing her auburn curls. 

"You're not interrupting anything, Eric. I'm glad to see you've returned so soon, I thought you'd be another day at least." Her hand motioned to the seat by the fire, offering it to him. "Please, have a seat and a drink and tell me of your trip."
Edward
Eric bowed his head, "Thank you." He said stepping in, not losing a step as he unfastened the cloak he was wearing and hung it over the back of the seat he claimed. Before sitting, he adjusted his belt so the sheathe would rest more comfortably and he sat down. He had sat some of the parchments on the table facedown, it was more out of instinct than mistrust of anyone in the room. Nothing in there was particularly sensitive, it was just the damages recorded at Knight's Landing. As it was offered, he poured himself a drink, only half a glass, and took a drink feeling some warmth return to him. 

"The trip was fine, your grace." Eric started, "Knight's Landing is as bad as I'd expected, a lot better than Stormalong. We wrote down the major damages and I will begin estimating the cost of repairs." Eric said in that sort of official tone he always seemed to have, as if he were giving a report of a mission than having a conversation. This was the third or fourth time the two had ever really met with each other, Eric didn't particularly know how to talk to her. After he finished talking, he took another drink.
Joseph
The knight moved into the parlor, making himself as comfortable as he allowed himself to be. He always seemed to keep himself just three inches from fully relaxed, and she still hadn't decided if that was just his personality or some discomfort he held with herself. "Better than Stormalong is a good step though, it means the repairs won't be nearly as intensive. We might be able to start them sooner if the winter passes quickly." She mused, and lifted her glass a bit. Zane reached over her shoulder, took it out of habit and finished it off. She wasn't one to complain, especially when he refilled it. 

"It seems I've got decent news flowing in from all fronts today." She mused, and upon saying it remembered the letter from Mikhail that still sat on her desk. Immediately there was an itch to go and find it, but she kept herself seated, leaning back deeper in the cushions to keep herself grounded. He knew how to mark the letters if it was urgent news, and she hadn't seen the mark on the corner of the envelope that held it. 

"It's probably a long shot to ask, but does the name De Barbaric mean anything to you?"
Edward
Eric nodded, listening to every word. "I intend to start collecting resources now, and, as soon as we get a thaw we can start setting up temporary housing for the workers. All of these repairs across Feyshore are going to be expensive." Eric commented inbetween her first a second comments. Then, she asked him about the name and mouthed it out silently once, searching for all of the names he had heard across his time living. 

"No, it does not. Should it?" Eric asked, raising an eyebrow.
Joseph
It wasn't surprising that he didn't know it, he was much younger than herself, but a woman can dream. She pressed her lips lightly and shook her head. "No, I don't think so. It came up today in regards to.." She paused, and glanced at the Doctor. She didn't know him that well, and he wasn't exactly a trusted member of her court just yet. "Well, the situation we had at the docks last spring." It was vague, but Eric would have known what she meant. 

"I was just curious if anyone in house knew that name before I started reaching out to find out more information." Anyanka inhaled, tilting her head to the side. With the movement, the tension released a bit before she rolled it back forward, her chin dipping towards her chest. 

"As for the repairs to Feyshore, that's for me to worry about. You're going to have your work cut out for you in regards to training, I don't expect you to worry yourself over resources just yet. Angelica and I will work out how best to get the funds for it."
Edward
Eric's lipse formed a line in reference to the incident he knee very little about. "I see, well if I can be of any service in that, you only need to say the word." He said, then fi ished his glass and putting more wine in it. This time a little more than half, he was really cutting loose now. 

"Again, should you need anything from me with securing funds for reconstruction I will happily do whatever you need." Eric said to the last part. "Stormalong still has a lot of valuable items I secured from bandits in the South last winter, should any of that be needed I only need to be told." Eric said, remembering that he still had all of that locked away in the Stormalong keep.
Joseph
She smiled, and pushed her hand through her hair, letting her head lull a bit against the cushions as he spoke. The fire and wine and company had settled her unease for the time being, and she laughed. "Eric, you do far more than your position asks of you already. Let Angelica do her job, if we don't keep her occupied, she'll come down heavy and hard on us for other things." Anya glanced to Zane with a smirk. "And personally, I prefer the woman when she has something to keep her mind on and not worrying about every step I take and whether or not it's been tested for trap doors." 

It wasn't intended to be mean, she adored the woman for her concern, but sometimes a letter was just a letter and there was no reason to be concerned it was poisoned. Angelica had a stronger fear of Anyanka dying than, well, anyone else she knew.
Edward
Eric shrugged, taking a sip from his glass, "The offer still stands, I am always happy to do more than my position. I live to work, should she want any help with anything at any time. Most of my work slows down during the winter." Eric was trying to avoid feeling uneasy by the fact that he was speaking candidly to a his queen. The whole thing was strange, a few years ago, he was fixing horseshoes in some unnamed village, now, he was drinking wine with a queen while making small talk. Eric avoided direct eye contact with Anya when not immediately speaking or being spoken to, preferring to look at the fire or down into his wine. He finished that glass when he looked down into and set his glass down, not going for anymore wine. He didn't drink often, and already felt some effect.
Miguel
Zane had stayed quite for the exchange, instead opting to drinking while leaning over the back of the couch. Whether from finishing off Anyanka's glass, or from his own, it didn't really matter to the man. He was tired and hadn't had any wine for a while, so this was him getting his fill.

"Trust me, Angelica typically doesn't need help. She's not only a worker, but also a perfectionist. Her work will be more then okay." Zane chimed in, taking another sip of his own glass. "Although, I'm sure she'd appreciate the offer."
Joseph
"I appreciate the mentality of working hard, Eric, but I also need you to learn to live for yourself for a bit." She reminded him, and glanced over her shoulder to Zane.

"Will you please take a seat and stop standing over my shoulder you're making me anxious." She muttered, tugging on his hand to get him to walk around the couch and actually sit.

Her attention returned to Eric and she rolled her eyes a bit. "As I was saying, this is your home as much as it is ours. Please find some pleasure in it, you've certainly earned it."
Edward
Eric looked down to at the empty glass and poured more wine, a little distressed by the idea of having no focus for work in the winter months. In his entire life, he'd never had a lot of leisure time. He never allowed room for it. When he was younger, he was carrying water from the stream or running errands for his ailing and half crazy mother. As he got older, it turned into filling orders at a village smithy. Then, as Randall's squire, it was training. With or without Lord Randall, Eric trained, took care of horses, or maintained equipment while they were constantly on the move. Last winter, he had his campaign, that had him in a constant state of focus and alert. He didn't know what he liked to do for leisure. 

"I suppose I could use some... Free time." Eric said, the idea, or phrase even, seemed alien to him. He couldn't go back to Stormalong, the roads would be snowy and freezing. That was were most of the people he considered his close friends were. Most of them were with him and Randall since the beginning, the people here were different. Not bad, he just knew their names but didn't know them as people and he wasn't sure how to get to know people without arrows flying at both of you. The entire situation was different. His bright green eyes lowered to the wine as he took another sip. Even with drinking, and the candid conversation, Eric's posture was straight, his tone was more relaxed, but even his relaxed tone was deep and carried with an air of seriousness.
Miguel
Zane rolled his eyes as he heard Eric. He seemed adverse to the concept of free time, a reaction that Zane himself had at first, when he first arrived in the Underground. Moving to the front of the couch, he lifted Anyanka's legs, and slipped under them.

"Well Eric, the first thing you need to know about free time, is that it's meant to relax. Slouch a little, Anyanka won't kill you if you do. Trust me on that." Zane said, gesturing to Eric. "Take some time to live a little, you'll find that time like this is rare."

Zane took a sip from his glass, and sent a small smile towards Eric. "Hell, I may have to take you drinking one night, show you that time like this should be spent well, and more often then not spent drunk." He laughed a bit at that, "Although, it's more likely Angelica and Anyanka may call me a bad influence for that one."