It all started with the Count's sister... (3rd person, pt. 1)

A lowly knight with high connections had been carousing in the tastefully-furnished halls of Count Mace for almost a fortnight now, overstaying several days past the end of a tournament and taking advantage of his host's hospitality once the young Count learned he was from Undrek.

Sir Ivo was his name. He was broad-shouldered but with short legs that left him a bit squat in stature, accentuated by the thickness of his hips. He was a man who liked his drink and his feasting, and his beady eyes and heavy, pugnacious jaw had led to many a comment about how he must have a bulldog beastfolk somewhere in his family tree... comments that usually led to someone getting their teeth broken out on account of Ivo's short fuse. Even if some knights were in better shape than he, his arms and shoulders showed swells of ropy muscle through the short-sleeved tunics he preferred wearing, making it clear to wiser people that he wasn't someone to be trifled with. His hair was trimmed close and he was clean shaven. Despite his young age of 20, he already had more than a few scars on his head and neck, and a nose that showed the signs of having been broken and never quite healing.

Ever since the end of the tournament, he'd been occupying himself bragging about the extent of Undrek's wealth and the well-armed militia that it paid for. In spite of his poor manners, Count Mace kept finding the time for engagements with him to hear more. Fitting so closely the type of a boisterous loudmouth, it seemed that the Count and his vassals didn't consider that Ivo was also observing them. When he took an interest in the Amazon warriors 'visiting' from distant isles, Ivo's interest was dismissed as nothing more than him making crude and unsuccessful passes at the exotic women. When he spent an evening seeking out the leaders of a group of Gaelican swordsmen, Ivo had simply and offhandedly explained he was interested if they brought any of their famous whiskey with them.

To that latter question, it turned out that the answer was yes, they did. And so it came about that Ivo was slumped forward over Count Mace's dining table with an empty flask still clenched in his meaty first... or at least, he looked to be asleep.

Count Mace whispered and conferred with the visiting maiden who he was courting to be his wife - Irene from far away to the north, whose father fancied himself a 'forward-looking' fellow who'd permit his daughter to make a distant journey to another nobleman's court, albeit with an escort to ensure her virtue stayed intact.

Pointing at the slumping Undrekker knight, contempt laced his words: "If this is the caliber of vassal defending Undrek and its baronies these days, well... I think we can safely say that the corruption has gone beyond the spiritual and destroyed their physical strength as well." Mace said to her. "Still, it would be best if you could confirm exactly what their defenses are. I will be sending the swordsmen first... just a warning and a show of ****. That should be more than enough to bring Countess Undrek to the negotiating table and make her understand that the church and the dukes of Itheria cannot permit her depraved city to continue spreading its poison in the kingdom's underbelly forever. And if she decides to be stubborn..."

Irene nodded solemnly and finished his sentence: "...then you cannot be blamed if some brutish hill-folk from Gaelica ravage the outskirts of her city for a few days." she says. "That city has been isolated from real danger and the consequences of its actions for far too long... free to grow wealthy off of trade and the most deplorable sorts of vice... depending on the strength and courage of men from Aldergrove, the Frostpeaks and the Crownlands to keep them safe whilst spreading pestilences such as prostitution, alchemy and moneylending..."

"Mm," Mace nodded, "which would make for ill-enough neighbors, but now, word has spread throughout the kingdom that they openly use the vilest kind of magic. Not only do they flout the church by allowing the godless necromancers of the Corpus Order to profit from their filthy arts, but now they allow convicted witches who gained their powers from demons to practice dark sorcery."

He walked around behind Irene and began gently massaging her shoulders as he continued to speak. "Word spreads that drunken derelicts are being sacrificed in pentagrams on the city streets, now. The old king valued stability too highly... once we show them what was going on, I am sure the new king will understand that allowing such evil to fester is too high a price to pay for peace in the realm, treaties or no treaties. A spoiled girl like Countess Zoe will soon fold when she sees her family's lack of moral character has left them with few friends. And besides, to hear that Ivo fellow tell it, she cares about little more but maintaining her comforts. My mother says that when I show her how things are going to be with a firm hand, she'll fall in line. I'm already in discussions with my vassals to find an upstanding man with the patience and fortitude to take on the task of reforming a girl like her..."

"Ah... um... hello brother, hello Miss Irene..." a soft, mumbling feminine tone made Mace and Irene jump.

"Ah! Aurora!" Mace chuckled softly. "How many times have I told you not to sneak up on me like that... shouldn't you be retired to your chambers? It's late, and you know how much your tutor, Lady Hawthorn, gets upset when you doze off during one of her sessions."

"Um.. well..." Aurora seemed to have some sort of speech impediment and frequently stutters and pauses. "I know you want to p-protect me from the burdens of ruling. But you've b-been under such pressure lately. I hear you pacing loudly and tossing and turning in your bed heavily every night now."

Irene's cheeks got a little red and she coughed. Mace swallowed. "Oh, you are so sweet, Aurora. I won't lie, I am laying the groundwork for a mighty labor that will begin soon. But no burden is very heavy knowing that it is all for you." he takes her hand and squeezes it in his, making Aurora blush. "Soon, very soon, you'll be able to start to travel the lands, to the king's court even, and won't need to stay cooped up in a tower all day."

"You mean because of my 18th year? But that was way back in early spring..." Aurora said, looking curious.

"No... Uh, I mean, yes, but there are other considerations..." Mace looked as if something was troubling him. "Worry not, I'll take care of all of it. The Circle of Mages will be grateful to our family for taking care of this problem for a long time."

"The mages?" Aurora looked confused. "B-but... what do they..."

"Oh, pay it no mind... I should retire to bed myself, our lovely visitor Irene needs her rest as well. There will be time for more planning in the morning." Mace said softly. He leaned in and gave his beloved sister a hug. "If you want to help, you can wake up early and help the cooks assemble us a nice breakfast in the morn."

"But what about that man?" Aurora wasn't able to keep a little blush from creeping into her cheeks as she pointed at Ivo. "He's a guest too, and filled with so many interesting stories! You can't let him sleep on the table like that."

Mace sighed. "I may be his host, but I'm not his nanny. Perhaps if he wakes up at the table in the morning he'll realize what a poor guest he's been and apologize. I'm washing my hands of it."

"Oh, um, ah, but..." Aurora stammered, clutching her hands, "it's so drafty in here. We wouldn't want him to catch cold. And if he gets lost he might stumble into someone else's room. I know you must maintain your dignity as a lord, brother. So, let me show him the way back to his chambers. I would like to help, even if only in a small way."

A dark look crossed Mace's face. "Aurora..." he lowered his voice even more than before. "I know you've lived a sheltered life, but you must understand that not every knight or noble is worthy of their station. This man has... a reputation."

Aurora sounded curious. "What k-kind of reputation? Surely he is not a blackguard. He seemed trusting and kind during your conversation earlier."

"Sister, that conversation was not for your ears, you shouldn't burden yourself with such business." Mace says, looking a little uncomfortable. "As for his reputation... Sir Ivo is known throughout the tournament circuit as an insufferable bravo; an irresponsible man given to drinking, boasting and seeking out adventures, and usually finding naught but trouble."

"Oh dear!" Aurora said in a mousy voice.

Mace continued: "...he has been ejected from no less than 2 grand tourneys on account of his over-rough conduct and disregard for the rules, always carrying any fight too far. At Vastwood last fall, when settling a grudge in the tournament ring with swords, he was disarmed by his rival, but rather than honorably concede, Sir Ivo wrestled the other knight to the ground and beat him to **** with his fists. The poor fellow's helmet was smashed in like a teapot on a scrapmonger's anvil by the time it was done with. I would never have accepted such a brute into my household under normal circumstances, but I could not afford to insult his liege lady Baroness Tula."

"G-g-goodness gracious!" Aurora hissed excitably. A high blush rose in her youthful cheeks, which her brother charitably took to be a sign of horror at hearing such a frightening anecdote.

"And worst of all for my household... oh, Aurora, I hesitate to speak of such things to your sweet ears... Sir Ivo is notorious for his dishonorable and unchivalrous manner towards women. That was the cause, you see, of him being brought to the duel. He is said to have a vile tongue and a lascivious imagination when it comes to young ladies."

Aurora clapped a hand to her cheek. "Thank you for warning me, brother. I'll be sure to stay away from such a dangerous man."

A few hours later, the count's guest was awake again and settling into his chambers, his hearty young metabolism easily able to bounce back from ten stiff shots of whiskey in time to cause a little late-night trouble for the servants.

The landless knight by the name of Sir Ivo chuckled as he tossed his rumpled tunic and breeches aside to pull on his nightclothes. They landed at the feet of the heavyset middle-aged woman serving as one of Castle Alder's chambermaids, exposing the thick, powerful muscles of his chest and upper arms. "Much obliged, my good wench! But before you take those to the charwoman, see to getting me some tea, would you?" he said roughly.

"Yes mi'lord, I'll be sure to- OOH!" While the woman was bending over to collect all of his laundry, the short-haired man leaned close and gave her buttocks a resounding clap.

"...and mayhaps you can bring me somethin' sweet to help lull me to sleep, eh? The last two chambermaids were very poor at attending to their guest's needs. Perhaps you can make up for their cheekiness with THESE cheeks!"

"Ahh! Well, I never!" Despite taking offense, the woman was clearly struggling to hide a smile. "If that was what you wanted, you shouldn't have made me stay up so late to deal with your dirty linens! I have to start cleaning in the dining room the moment the cock crows. You ought to make a habit of bedding down earlier in the evening, you naughty boy."

Ivo just laughed at that. "Ah, you drive a hard bargain, wench. We'll see. With such fine imported whiskey on tap, it's no easy thing to call it an early evening." He reclined on his bed as the chambermaid went outside. But then he glanced curiously when he heard whispered conversation behind the door.

A pretty young girl came into the room carrying a tray with a teapot and a couple of loose-leaf books. She was on the short side, about five foot three, but with nicely developing curves... the swell of her bosom was clear even in the very modest and proper dress she was wearing. The most striking feature about the young noble wasn't her figure, though, appealing though it was. One of her eyes was watery blue, but her right eye was a stark yellow. Not only was the color off, but the pupil of that eye was narrow and slitted.

"Eh?" Ivo looked genuinely surprised, though far from displeased. "Lady Aurora? What're you doin' up so late?"

"Umm..." the girl blushed. "My brother already went to his bedchamber... he thinks I'm in bed too, but I couldn't sleep, and I thought since you'll be leaving soon, I should practice showing you some hospitality. It's been weeks since we had a guest here in the castle. So I brought you some t-t-tea that the herbalist says makes for pleasant nights... ah!" she flinched and almost dropped the tray. "I mean... pleasant dreams. And I thought if it's not too much t-trouble, I could read you a little of the poetry I've written...?"

Raising an eyebrow, the loutish knight considered, as he looked Count Mace's sister up and down in more detail...