675-05-25 - A Request for the Duke

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A Request for the Duke
Summary: Baldwin pays Alajos a visit at the Royal Guest House, to bring forth a special request.
Who: Baldwin Ivounel and Alajos Fennim
References: {{{Refs}}}
When: May 25th, 675
Related Logs: 675-05-19 - Of Knights and Maidens and all recent logs concerning Rayne's arrest.
Date of RP: 25/05/2014
Where: Royal Guest House - Castle of the Dove, Isle of the Crown
Room Desc: Bright is the first floor room of the guest house, from the white-washed walls, to the light that comes in through the many windows during the day, lit by candles at night. White walls provide background to the gold framed paintings that are hung, each one landscapes showcasing the most remarkable places found within the Kingdom of the Isles. Floors are hardwood, and in some areas, covered by woven rugs.
Sitting atop the rugs are several groupings of furniture, from sofas to armchairs, even a few chaise lounges. An elegancy is shown in the coverings of each, white decorated with gold embroidery with the play of lilies across the surface. Tables stand nearby, curious treasures to be displayed upon them, along with vases of flowers, or bowls of fresh fruit for the guests to enjoy.
There are further plants to be found within the room, larger ones in pots tucked into the corners, even standing before the fireplace unused except during the rainy season that comes to the Isle. Upon a sideboard, drinks can be found, guests served by a slave that stands by, dressed in simple white outfits.
There is a door that exits this main floor room that leads to the kitchens and servant quarters, while stairs lead up to the upper floors where noble quests are housed in rooms or suites, depending on the size of their party.


A late morning it is, grey clouds looming with the promise of rain, when a visitor approaches the Royal Guest House. Not one, but actually two, as Sir Baldwin Ivounel does not come alone, a guard trailing behind him. After entering the guest house he will soon be directed to the chambers where the Fennims reside. Announcing his arrival and intention of visiting with a determined knock to the door, the knight will wait for a moment, his gaze flickering a bit nervously to his guard. A hand goes up, signalling the man to stay put, should the door open and Baldwin indeed be allowed to enter.

Duke Alajos has grown increasingly irritated and got into arguments about being allowed to leave soon. In fact he seems ready to just depart and risk an international crisis. But this morning he's still at their quarters, having only just got dressed to go down to the harbour once more. He looks surprised when a visitor is announced, but shrugs. "Let him enter."

The knight seems relieved when he is let in. "Your Grace," he greets with a bow, and Alajos might notice a slight limp in Baldwin's gait. "I hope I do not detain you from any important tasks at the moment...?" Noticing the slight irritation in the Fennim's bearing. "...But I have a concern I wish to speak to you about."

"It's not like I'm ragingly busy.", Alajos comments with a certain amount of sarcasm and points to a pair of chairs by the window. "Please have a seat. Would you care for some refreshments?" At least the enforced stay has improved the young duke's hospitality it seems. Or he is genuinely bored out of his socks and glad for a visitor.

Baldwin inclines his head to the duke's reply, and even if that sarcasm is noted, as can be seen from the light smirk curling his lips. "A bit of wine perhaps," her replies as he takes the offered seat. "But only if it isn't too much trouble." He pauses, and clears his throat. "I... have a concern... There is one of our delegation, the healer Miss Rayne Devantry... She is in the dungeons, obviously accused of committing a murder... I wonder, is there anything the delegation can do to help?"

"What happened?", Alajos asks, looking rather worried, "Did she do what she is accused of doing? Who was the victim?" Apparently the Duke is fairly clueless.

"She is innocent, of course!" Baldwin is quick to insist. "It seems she became the victim of the circumstances... It happened at the Deave Inn, where the commoners and lower nobility is residing,..." including Baldwin and his sister. "Miss Rayne overheard an argument in the adjoining room. A woman left. Miss Rayne wanted to check and saw a blood trail on the door to the room. She entered and found a dying man, with a dagger in his throat."

"I see." Alajos' look is hard to define, half-way between mildly bored, annoyed and just a tiny bit of worry. "It's rather tragic for her, is it not? It only proves my point that we have been here for far too long. Is there an investigation? One that is not stacked against visitors from abroad?", he asks quickly to avoid some vague assurance of local guards looking into things.

"There is an investigation of sorts, I hope," Baldwin replies shooting Alajos a worried glance. "It is one of the reasons why I came here, as I feel that some inquiry from a higher ranking noble might help... After all they should tell us of their progress, as she is of the Two Rivers, from the Duchy of Woriscant even, I believe, judging from her accent." One of Alajos' subjects. "Master Ottis and I are trying to find out more about the matter, as is Master Marcus,... I think. I haven't seen him in a while."

"I see. So it seems they leave me no choice but to threaten all-out war unless these people here get a grip on things.", Alajos sighs, "I will tell my cousin Ralph and have him submit a request to release the woman immediately or otherwise deal with the consequences."

Baldwin smiles at the remark about threatening with war, while he accepts the cup of wine that is finally offered to him by a servant. "Oh I hope that won't be necessary," he mutters. "Just... a reminder that the way Miss Rayne is treated will be closely watched and reported..." Or something. He sighs. "I'd be very grateful, if you could bring the matter before the High Oni." It may certainly have more success, given his own recent conversation with the Royal Mother. "Um,... by the way, I had to answer some questions regarding that incident at Piradin. At the Queen's Council..."

"I would assume that this has been solved?", Alajos sighs and shakes his head, "Why is this even under discussion still?"

"Yes. It has been, I would think.", Baldwin replies, a bit hesitantly. "The Royal Mother asked me about our reasons to be at Piradin after all. It seems the village has a special status,... they won't prosecute any crimes there, for whatever reasons."

"A country that accepts lawlessness as a matter of fact is a country not ruled well. It fits my impression of this place.", Alajos replies stiffly, then all of a sudden he laughs. "And here I thought I could never be a good ruler, being so young and unprepared. But this here convinces me that at least I know how NOT to do it. Carl!", he calls out suddenly and a servant sticks his head into the room. "Yes, Your Highness?" "Please find my cousin Ralph and tell him, I need to see him urgently.", he orders and once the servant has gone, he looks at Baldwin again. "Thank you for informing me about the healer. I will see to her liberation. And our own."

Baldwin takes another sip from his cup, looking a bit thoughtful at Alajos' assessment of the ruling abilities of the Islanders. "There may be some reason for this," he muses, "but the High Oni didn't want to tell me..." His gaze shifts to the servant, and reading the duke's request correctly, he sets his cup down onto the table. There is still a bit of wine left, but the tone leaves little room not to take his remark as a dismissal. "I thank you for hearing me out, Your Grace.", Baldwin remarks, as he rises. A bow is offered. A faint smirk at the remark about liberation, as his amusement is probably drowned by his concern for the healer. Before he moves to the door.

"Their onerous Oni and a Queen who doesn't give us the time of day.", Alajos comments dryly and gets to his feet to accompany Baldwin to the door. Then he'll sit down at his writing desk to write a note, Tywin Lannister-style: Whenever he puts pen to parchment, shit happens.