<div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/A0IO5iB.jpg)<br/><br/>(http://i.imgur.com/tOH381f.jpg)<br/><br/>(http://i.imgur.com/wuXWCt8.jpg)<br/><br/>(http://i.imgur.com/knhMx.jpg)<br/><br/><br/><hr/><br/><br/>(http://i.imgur.com/7jrGMTJ.jpg)</div><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">ooc</div><div class="spoiler_body">Most of this was typed using a speech to text program.  Please forgive any typos or misused words and let me know if i need to edit it.  Thank you.</div></div><br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="bbc_u"><strong>12th of December, 15th Hour; House Wynt Estates, Burford area, Wynt controlled lands.</strong> </span></span><em>(roughly two to three days west of Londinium)</em><br/><br/><br/>Tehr sat in the luxurious sitting room, comfortably ensconced in a over-sized and thickly padded chair.  Looking to his right he saw three similar chairs in which sat three beautiful women.   The first, his mother, the matriarch of his house; older yet dignified, graceful, and looking every bit as regal has the Queen. Still clad in black in a tradition that widows of her home land of Italia, she cut a regal and distinguished figure.  Yet even with the black garb that stretched from foot to neck and down to her wrists, his mother Carina Paola d'Montacello d'Wynt cut an elegant and starkly beautiful figure.  Her husband, Tehr's father, had died a year ago this coming January, and she insisted on keeping to traditional 'full mourning' dress for a year and a day.  Her clothing was nothing but black, and her jewelry had no color to it.  Yet, her neckline plunged straight from her collar all the way to the top of her corset.  Her breasts, still rather attractive Tehr had to admit clinically even though she was his mother, pushed up by the outfit to fill out the black cloth of the dress.  Her skin light and pale, a change from the dusky tan that it had been a year ago.  But a year spent inside, away from the sun, mourning the loss of her husband, and then her eldest son, had drained the color from the woman who was only now just pushing into her early fifties.  Though even in her stark clothing and with her raven black hair pulled backwards from her face in a series of braids that opened to a wave of midnight hair falling across her shoulder, most would say she looked at least a decade or two younger.  But Tehr knew his mother's face well and the last year had aged her, he saw it, especially in her eyes, which seemed to shine just a little less brightly than they did before the death of his father and brother.<br/><br/>Next to Tehr's mother, sat his sister Christina Maria d'Montacello d'Wynt.  She was looking slightly unwell, much like their mother, as the shock of what had happened to her friend in recently still hung heavy on her shoulders.  Christina had been inserting herself into the nobility and the social circles of Londinium quite well.  What had started out as a political ploy on Tehr's part, getting Christina to befriend the noblewoman Anne d'Wellington, had in fact turned into a true friendship.  However problems began after the trial of House Dale; a rather brutal and one sided fight from which the evidence against the traitorous house was quite damning.  With the insurmountable evidence that showed that there was no doubt that Johr Faudin ir'Dale had been the one to attempt to poison the queen, Dale's allies turned on the house, and on each other in a mad scramble to save their own skins and keep their necks out of the noose.  Even among the three members of the family, Johr, the Lord Lefferin ir'Dale, and the daughter, Janne d'Dale, they turned and began fighting among each other.  Each of the three snakes blaming everyone but themselves and delivering damning and often contradictory testimony.  But one thing became clear, as a group, House Dale had been planning to overthrow the Queen.  The family was stripped of all it's titles, possessions, status, and land.  Johr had been put to death publicly, to great fanfaire and cheers from the populous.  Johr's father, Lefferin, and his sister, Janne, had been given a choice however.  They could choose the noose and a burial in a beggars grave, exile to the new world with nothing but passage on a ship and the clothing on their back, or a lifetime of imprisonment in the tower of London with no chance for freedom.  Janne, who'd never worked a day in her life at anything, chose the latter-most of those three, claiming that a penniless exile would be death anyways.  Then she was shorn of her hair, stripped down, clad in prisoners garments, and then placed in an iron mask that covered her face, save eye holes and a slit across her mouth before being tossed in a prison cell in the tower to rot.  Her father the elder Lefferin chose a penniless exile, and was seen slinking onto a ship under armed guard as crowds pelted him with rotten fruit and vegetables.  The new world was a tough and savage land, and many young men didn't make it.  It was assumed that he'd likely not even make the crossing alive.  Though the queen promised him that if she ever even so much as heard his name uttered again, she'd have him put to a slow death reminiscent of her predecessor, Bloody Mary of the Scots.<br/><br/>It was after the trial that Christina's friend Anne d'Wellington finally put into motion the plan that Tehr had formed, and the two had nurtured.  With a little help from Tehr's magical charm, she allowed herself to be ravaged by Brother Mical, also known as the preacher John Winter, inside a confessional.  Once Brother Mical's lusts were at a furious peak, she started screaming and running from him, into a public and crowded church.  Claiming he was trying to rape her and he was a beast, she might not have gotten away with it if he hadn't, in his blind lust, chased after her half naked and with a raging erection.  Brother Mical was immediately recalled to Rome, though the Queen stopped the recall and had the priest imprisoned for investigation.  The story came out, which was partially true, that the priest, along with others in the faith of the One God, that these priests often used their influence to take advantage of women, and even of young boys and girls as well.  None ever believed the stories, because they went so contrary to the tenants of chastity and temperance that their faith espoused.  But the testimony of Anne d'Wellington caused others to come forward with other, very similar stories.  Anne even spun her own sullen reputation into a tale that was crafted by the church because she'd resisted the advances of some of their priests.  In a single stroke, the society of nobles in Londinium went from considering Anne d'Wellington a slattern brat who spread her legs to a poor and abused woman who, while still sullied sexually, was a hero among the people for exposing the church's corruption.<br/><br/>Anne's story, as well as others caused a massive wave of hate towards the church, and tensions were high.  But two weeks after her story was told, a crazed man who claimed he was 'touched by the one god' assaulted Anne d'Wellington in the street while she was with some other noblewomen, Christina included.  The man stabbed her repeatedly yelling that she was a whore and that God would punish her.  The resulting riot as several other fanatics began screaming at the crowd gave the man enough time to stab Anne d'Wellington to death repeatedly and quite brutally.  The guards that were with the noblewomen were able to kill the crazed fanatic, but not able to fetch a healer quickly enough to save Anne's life.  She died a martyr in the eyes of everyone who hated the church of the one god.<br/><br/>The backlash against the church was fierce.  Tensions were already high when it became clear during the trial of house Dale exactly how entwined they were with the plot to assassinate and usurp Queen Elizabeth.  So the stories and allegations of molestation of innocent nobles as well as children was the tinder, but the death of a noblewoman was the spark that started a fire.  Across the nation of Britannia, as well as in other countries, there came a massive push back against the church of the One God.  In the country side, where some of the rumors were most fierce, entire churches were burned to the ground, often with the pedophile priests locked inside.  Inside Londinium, the church managed to keep it's head, though a good number of the priests and nuns were recalled to Rome, with new men and women taking their place.  However there were a few weeks where vandalism of the cathedral was a daily occurrence and the clerics and priests of that church were wise enough to keep their heads down and cause no trouble.  So, much reduced in power, and with a number of worshipers that counted in the dozens instead of hundreds, the church managed to limp along, it's power in Britania hampered to a great degree.<br/><br/>The acts of violence against the church continued in small ways for a while before the Queen finally proclaimed that there would be no more violence tolerated in her realm.  That those who had done ill to house Wellington, as well as any other innocents had all been punished, and that those who had been the instrument of such punishment would be absolved of their crimes, but only if the violence stopped.   So the realm settled back into an uneasy peace as many of it's members began looking to the old gods, the pagan gods, and the like.  But it was clear that the world would be keeping a close eye on the church of the one god for any more 'evil' actions.<br/><br/>However the sight of seeing her friend murdered but a few feet from her had given Christina great greif.  While she'd begun to make friends in the noble circles besides d'Wellington, Anne had been a good and true friend, and one who'd shared her sense of randy adventure.  After it Christina was much withdrawn and very sad.  Her occasional visits to Tehr's bedroom at night, through the secret passage, had stopped, and she cried herself to sleep most nights.  It was only when Duke Caelor, who'd come to live with his daughter Rosalyn in Hewthorne Hall, had gotten the command that he was needed commanding Elven forces in France, that things began to turn around.  He begged Christina to look after his daughter, and the fair elf Rosalyn had become like a sister to Christina.  They spent many nights talking quietly, and often sitting in Christina's bed, talking, crying, and even sometimes laughing, till the sun came up.   It was Rosalyn d'Caelor's idea to visit Christina's mother and stay for a while that had finally turned Christina's attitude back around.  Tehr was surprised the night before they were to begin their trip back west to their home estates, that he'd been woken in the night by his sister.  It had been over a month since the death of Anne, and a little longer than that since she'd snuck into his bed for pleasure.  Pleasure he was glad to help give her, though after wards she reminded him that it would be a while before they could do so again, as she wasn't willing to commit such wanton acts under their mother's roof.<br/><br/>So now the young woman was bearing up well considering everything that had happened and truthfully the trip back to the family home had done wonders to restore her color and demeanor.  Her recovery from the shock of the brutal murder of her friend was due in large part to the beautiful woman sitting next to her.  Her new and close friend, Rosalyn, the fourth woman in line was one of the most beautiful women Tehr had ever laid his eyes upon.  With her snow white hair and delicate graceful features she looked almost statuesque as she sat holding a china teacup delicately.  Tehr's mother had been speaking with Roslyn quite a bit since their arrival.  The two had been discussing the particulars of an alliance regarding maintaining the trade routes in the newly reclaimed House land.  it seemed more and more likely that there would be an official alliance between their two houses.  Even more so now than that elven Duke had entrusted his daughters care into the care of house Wynt.  It pained him that Rosalyn had not accepted any of Tehrs advances he had made in the time since the Duke and she had moved into his home.  But she has been very friendly and shown much grace, interested it appeared to him in an alliance.  After a few weeks time, while he thought often of her, he had started to accept the fact that she was not interested in him the same way she was in her.<br/><br/>Tehr finished his tea, and set the empty cup down quietly, staying out of the conversation for the most part.  His mother seemed more interested in the graceful conversation that his sister and that Rosalyn provided as opposed to his more clinical descriptions of recent events.  Especially brutal things, like the trial that had brought down house Dale.  So he sat quietly watching and listening to the three women talk as if already old friends.  His mother had seen quite comfortable with the Elven woman and not one bit put out by her presence offering her hand as an extended stay if she would choose to stay in the country.  Tehr was not yet sure if she would choose to stay here in his family home where it was no doubt safer than the still volatile Londinium.  She hadn't accepted the offer, but had cryptically answered that she would stay with her friend Christina.  A declaration that brought a smile to Christina's lips.  Rosalyn planned to go where she went, for now at least.  It seemed to Tehr that the small vacation over these winter months back home at the family estates would be well for both him and his sister as well as the Elven guest Rosalyn.<br/><br/>Looking behind his chair he saw the half elf Angeline engaged in quiet and intense conversation with her elderly grandfather.  The two half elven servants whispered in tones so quietly that not even a murmur could be heard from across the room.  Yet Tehr had no doubt that if he were but to cough loudly both of them would leave off whatever it was that they were talking about, and leap up to serve the masters of house Wynt.  He smiled secretly, knowing that her attention was only on her ancestor, and noticing the look of pleasure on her face.  Certainly Angelique was a good friend, as well as a faithful servant, and it made him happy to see her so pleased, so happy, spending time with her beloved grandfather.  He wondered if she missed being here at the Wynt estates.  After all, she certainly seemed bright and glowing, basking in the simple pleasure of being around her family again the last two days.  He couldn't help but wonder if she missed the company of her siblings, her cousins, her parents, and all those she had grown up around.  The move to Londoninium must have been more taxing on her that he could have thought.<br/><br/>After all his family was small, there was only his mother and his sister left.  But Angelique had many cousins, many extended family members, that she had left behind when she moved to London to serve under him.  The huge amount of Hlaford half elves that lived both on the Wynt estates, and on the lands around, always made Tehr a little jealous.  The only family he'd ever known other than his immediate family had been his uncle Lan.  Maybe having to separate from her extended family was a difficult trial for Angelique.  A test that was made only slightly more stressful with all of the recent additions to Hewthorne Hall in London and the upcoming departure of the head of his guard Tara.<br/><br/>Tehr sighed and thought about the elven mercenary that had guarded his life so faithfully over the last few months.  He'd saved her life during the great hunt, and she'd stood by him when he'd needed it the most.  Silently protecting him, his home, and his sister, when he needed it.  But the fact of the matter was she was an adventurer, a mercenary, and the call of wanderlust was strong in her beautiful pointed ears.  Bedding her had been a pleasure and a joy, but may have contributed to her desire to move along, as it was obvious she felt a strong need to roam and see new horizons.  Tehr looked back at Rosalyn and wondered.  Could it be the fact that the elven lass Rosalyn, royalty though she didn't lord it over anyone, also made Tera uncomfortable?  He didn't know enough about Tera's home or history to judge, and Tera certainly never acted uncomfortable around the elven duchess, but he couldn't help but wonder if it was a contributing factor.<br/><br/>Tera had announced before the trio, Christina, Rosalyn, and himself<em>(as well as the servants Heidi and Angelique)</em>, had left Londinium for the home estates, that she'd be leaving his employment.  It was sad news, but she said that she'd make sure the home was well guarded before she left.  After much vetting of Luis, the halfling diamondfist monk, she declared that he would make an excellent captain of Tehr's guard.  In addition she'd seen to it to hire four new guards.  Two men and two women that she deemed 'very trustworthy', before suggesting that for privacy's sake they not be quartered inside the house.  She was in the process of setting the two 'bedrooms' in the stablehouse into bunk rooms, one for the male guards one for the female guards.  The halfling groom, in charge of the stables, was moved to the main area of the apartment and the five shared the space during their 'off hours'.  Tehr was afraid at first that the older groom, Mark Oakbarrel by name, would be put out having to set his bed up in the common space, and then share it with four others.  But the somewhat gruff halfling actually seemed to like the idea.  He claimed that the stablehouse was too empty with just him living there.  Tera later confided that the only hesitation that the older hafling had before coming to Londinium was that he'd miss his children.   She thought that he might enjoy the role of playing 'father' to the four guardsmen.  This role came more to the fore when one day, out of the blue, his daughter Veera, showed up at the hall.  She insisted on a position as a guard or groundskeeper as well, and the female bunk in the stablehouse had a third bed added to it.  Tehr was glad, when he found out that there were five guards working under Luis that Tera had the foresight to move them out to the stablehouse and not tromping around Hewthorne Hall.<br/><br/>Hewthorne Hall was also further protected by a single member of the royal guard who would show up  every single shift to stand guard at the gates.  Sometimes he knew the guard and recognized them from the palace, but usually not.  It was never one of the queen's sexily clad leather wearing personal guard, but instead quite often one of the low ranking Knights of the Blue Cross.  The royal guard, whether knight or not, male or female, would show up and releive the standing guard, take a report, and then take position at the guardhouse that sat just inside the main gates.  At first Tehr had resisted the idea of having a royal guard stationed in his home, who didn't report to Luis, but Queen Elizabeth had insisted.  Since the dissolution of House Dale, many guards and mercenaries that had been snatched up in preparation for a possible armed conflict had been released back out into unpaid service, and during the winter.  Because of it, crime had risen in Londinium, and guards were plentiful and cheap especially if room and board were provided along with a wage.<br/><br/>She'd also moved along with her plans to name him Prince Regent.  Something that much of the nobility had already been guessing at, she had announced her plans to make the proclamation official at the new year's ball that would be held at the end of the month.  She insisted that Tehr's home be protected under royal guard once that happened, and that it was better to start ahead of time.  Officially his role was still much the same as before.  He would have more responsibility however.  He would be expected to be at the Queen's side during major functions, like the year end ball for example.  As well, it would be necessary for him to spend at least one night a week in the Queen's bed chambers when he was in Londinium.  For even though he was given her personal permission to come and go as he pleased, and bed who he wished discreetly, she did have her own womanly desires and needs.  But more than that, servants gossiped, and if he didn't spend at the very least a small amount of time in her bedchambers, the title would seem a ruse.  He gladly told her he would spend every night with her if she so wished, but she laughed and said that was not what she desired.  Though they came to agree that at least once a week, and likely more often, he would share her bed at night.<br/><br/>Tehr's attention turned back to the conversation that he'd been mostly left out of, looking at his sister, mother, and the enchanting elven duchess.  They were actually talking about the future of House Wynt and that Christina's 'search for a suitable husband' needed to shift to someone who would marry into house Wynt, that with Tehr's possible rise to prince Consort, she may be the one to take over control of the house and not him.  It was a position that suited Tehr fine, and he turned to gaze out the frost coated windows.  His eyebrows raised as he saw a single rider, clad in a cloak against the cold riding slowly towards the house.  Turning to Angelique and her grandfather he cleared his throat.  Both half elven servants immediately turned their gaze to him, and he quickly gestured to the window,  "It appears we have a visitor."<br/><br/>The two half elves both stood and made their way out of the room.  The three women had paused in their conversation and it suddenly shifted as Rosalyn asked if they often received visitors to this remote part of the queendom.  Tehr stood, excusing himself from the three women and said he would go see to the visitor.  Smoothing his soft dress robes, and feeling the warm leather on his wrists of his magical bracers, knowing that he was ready for a problem if the rider turned out to be an issue.  He strode to the door of the sitting room and made his way to the front of the house.  His fingers flexed, ready to call his magical staff to his side if needed.  Another gift from the queen for his role in helping to save the kingdom, the staff was magically enchanted and not only could shed light on command, but could also come to his hand with but a mental call.<br/><br/>The rider had been greeted by both half elven servants and Angelique was taking his snow covered cloak to dry and warm in the kitchen.  The man had a short stature, and very slight, petite, almost effeminate.  His hair was snow white, despite his youth, and hung in a cut similar to Tehr's own, full and loose about his head, but not quite reaching his shoulders.  The man's robes bore arcane markings that immediately made Tehr think him a mage.  It was an assumption only backed up by the ornate quarterstaff he carried, one that was intricately carved and tipped on each end with a large quartz.  He also wore a large pouch, almost a satchel, on his left hip.  But his outfit was completed by the leather breastplate with the face of a Medusa tooled into the fine leather.  It immediately clued Tehr in on who this might be.  But why this man might be here, was strange.  The man spotted Tehr and stepped a few feet into the main hall of the Wynt Manor before smiling and gripping his staff in both hands, with a twist and a click he separated one section of the staff and drew forth a thin blade, somewhere between a shortsword and a long sword, but with a long handle.<br/><br/>Tehr's battle senses kicked in, but the man quickly dropped to one knee and flipped his blade around, holding the handle out to Tehr.  "Greetings Master Tehr ir'Wynt.  My name is Alex ir'Hesfal.  I come to offer you my services and beg you to accept me as your apprentice."<br/><br/>Tehr was shocked, not having expected this at all.  He could only gape at the kneeling man for a moment and the blade held handle out towards him and ask,  "What?"