The Homecoming 77.

Castle Duc De Laér...

"And whose fault is it that thirty of my best soldiers are dead?" demands the lady Marsaé Duc de Laér. With a shrug of his shoulders, Riley Hait the mercenary ranger says "Not ours" followed by "We weren't leading them" the ranger Hait then adds "Sir Galmot was leading them. Though technically you gave command of your men to him, so i guess you could say it was your fault".
"I wasn't talking to you ranger!" yells the noblewoman, who is glaring at her ex husband sir Percavelle Lé Dic, as they and others stand outside in the courtyard, infront of the keep on what's a warm and sunny, early spring day.
"Well?" demands the ex wife of the former earl of the Lé Dic fief, she continues with "What do you say for yourself" she pauses before adding "Knight!" in the most disingenuous tone imaginable.
Standing behind the others, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. Though failing, as he's stands a couple of inches over six foot, and is wearing heavy, steel plate armour from head to foot.
Sir Percavelle Lé Dic winces behind the visor of his full helm as he looks at his ex wife Marsaé, who stands upon the steps of the keep, looking at him, and him only.
The heavily armoured knight clears his throat, then sir Percavelle Lé Dic says "The ranger speaks the truth, it was Galmot and Milburn who led the army. And if you are looking to blame anyone for the fief's army being defeated, and your men perishing in battle. It is those two where the blame lies".
"Oh how convenient" says Marsaé Duc de Laér, whose voice drips with sarcasm and scorn, she continues with "Two who are probably dead, get the blame for this mess" the lady of castle Duc de Laér then says "And what were doing oh lord of Lé Dic when battle raged, and our army was wiped out?".
The knight in the order of Saint Mar-che, who didn't want to be put in this situation. Infact he argued against even coming back here to the abode of his ex wife. Says to her "You forget yourself madam, i am no longer earl here. And have no say in how things are governed. It's up to those who advise my niece, to make the decisions for her and the fief. And that includes those who lead her army".
"Any excuse to not take responsibility" says the lady Marsaé Duc de Laér, who continues with "Like always" as she looks at her ex husband in derision.
"She really doesn't like him, does she" quietly says Helbe the elven thief who appears behind Lisell Maera, and Tovis the war engineer who have moved off to one side, with most of the rest of the group. To get out of the way of the arguing ex husband and wife.
Tovis who jumped in fright at the voice that was all of a sudden behind him, looks back at the elf in the white hooded cloak standing behind him and Lis.
The young engineer is unable to voice what he thinks, but Lisell Maera does, as she dryly says to the young elven noble "Do you have to do that?".
"Of course" says the elven magic user with a slight grin upon his face as he adds "It wouldn't be any fun if i didn't do it, now would it?".
The attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury just shakes her head. While the war engineer from the Harkonin fief wonders what else the elf who is a practitioner of magic also finds fun.
He hopes it doesn't involve anything to do with him.
Sir Percavelle Lé Dic glances around, and sees that the young elven noble has showed up.
Then as his ex wife is about to continue on her tirade against him, the former knight of the first class, in a bold tone of voice, which he wasn't using before, says "Ah verily our leader is here". This momentarily shuts up his ex wife.
"Lady Marsaé Duc de Laér" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who then gestures to where the young elven noble stands, and adds "May i introduce" the former paladin briefly pauses as he tries to recall the real name of the royal thief, remembering it, and where the elven magic user is from, then he says "Prince Helbenthril Raendril of Laerel".
The eyes of the lady of Duc de Laér castle, as well as her current husband, and those of her court, who are outside the keep with her. Go wide with surprise as they look at who sir Percavelle Lé Dic has just introduced.
The eyes of Tovis the war engineer go wide too, as he spins around and looks at the elf in the white hooded cloak standing behind him.
Then as Helbe the elven thief steps around the young engineer, and makes his way towards the steps where the lady of the castle is standing.
Tovis looks at Lis and quietly asks her "Is he really a prince?". "Yes" is the reply of the attractive eighteen year old from the coast of the Southlands, Lisell Maera then adds in a dry tone "Not that it makes that much of a difference" Lis then murmurs in the elven language "He's still a thief, who'll steal from anyone when he gets the chance".
As the elven princeling introduces himself to the lady of castle Duc de Laér and her court. Sir Percavelle Lé Dic takes the opportunity to move away and join the rest of the group.
The knight in the order of Saint Mar-che doesn't want anymore to do with his former wife. And in his opinion, the sooner they can leave castle Duc de Laér, the better.
"You should of whacked that fucken bitch across the mouth a few times when you was married" says Dorc da Orc. The former earl of Lé Dic stops next to the large ork, who doesn't normally speak to him. Well not to him, he usually speaks at him. Calling him every name one can think of. Most of which involves a lot of swearing.
"That would of leaned her for talkin' fucken shit to you cunt" continues the ork warleader, who then adds "That's what me would of fucken done if she was Dorc's wifey".
Not that the large ork would ever willingly get married. As he like most ork kind, finds marriage totally repugnant. As very few orks ever actually get married.
For the very simple reason that ork relationships between the male and female of the species. Is extremely dangerous and violent to begin with.
When those rare few that actually do get married. Such as Dorkindle's mother and father did. That violence just magnifies many fold. Often leading to death.
Like when the ork warleader's mother killed his father with a large, heavy skillet over an argument about dinner.
Which eventually ended up with Dorc da Orc killing his own mother a number of years after that. A death which led to the large ork being exiled from his homeland. The Ork Range at the bottom of the world,  in the southern polar region.
"Ah" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic who is more than a little surprised that the ork warleader would even talk to him, let alone offer him advice. Even stupid advice, like he just suggested.
"I shall take that into consideration if I'm to marry again" says the heavily armoured knight "Why the fuck would you do that ya sick cunt?" Dorkindle mutters to himself in his native language as the former paladin continues on his way, and walks over to where Lisell Maera is standing off to one side with the war engineer from the Harkonin fief, Tovis.
"Bit of trouble there Percy with your ex wife?" quietly asks Lisell Maera when the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che joins her and Tovis.
The former earl of Lé Dic sourly smiles as he looks at the young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury.
Sir Percavelle Lé Dic wonders if he should go over and stand with Shur Kee the monk, and Tamric Drubine.
But they're too close to the steps his ex wife Marsaé is standing on for his liking.
"Well not particularly" says the heavily armoured knight, who doesn't know it. But there's those in his own order, who want him kicked out of the knights of Saint Mar-che.
The nobleborn knight then adds "As you can see I've taken care of the situation" as he gestures to where prince Helbenthril Raendril is entering the keep, after lady Marsaé Duc de Laér invites him in with her and her court.
"Come on, we might as well go inside and see what they're talking about" says Lisell Maera, who has just seen Riley Hait the mercenary ranger nod towards the keep, and make his way to the steps infront of it.
"I would rather not" sourly says the former knight of the first class "Come on, it won't be that bad Percy" says Lis, who then adds "Besides, Helbe is probably charming her beyond belief, and she won't even notice you".
"Hmmmm" murmurs sir Percavelle Lé Dic who will admit that young Lis is probably right. Since he knows his ex wife was always interested in the trappings of rank and standing with those of royal blood. Not to mention the inherit wealth they have.
"Yes, you might be right" says the heavily armoured knight, who then adds "Let us proceed into the liar of the creature that is my ex wife" the former earl of Lé Dic then says to Lis and Tovis, in a conspiring tone "Have your wits about you. Don't let the beguiling hag talk you into something you don't want".
The three of them follow after Tamric Drubine and Shur Kee the monk, who are following after Dorc da Orc.
Who is following Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy and Riley Hait the mercenary ranger up the steps, into the keep of castle Duc de Laér.
Inside, Tovis and Lis, along with the former earl of Lé Dic, join the others at a table where servants are putting out drink and food.
As Dorkindle swipes a whole joint of beef, and a barrel of ale that's just been rolled out from the kitchens.
The ranger Hait who has just got himself a goblet of wine, quietly says to the others "We'll leave once Helbe lays on the charm offensive, and tells her to spread the word in the north of the fief at what's happened".
The spy Tanith nods his head, then wanders away to mingle with the members of the Duc de Laér court, and the other locals, to find out any useful information.
Tovis the war engineer sits down upon a side bench with Lisell Maera, they're joined by Tamric Drubine, who is just finishing off a small loaf of bread, and a wedge of cheese.
They look towards the high table, where lady Marsaé Duc de Laér sits with a few members of her court, and the elven princeling from the island of Laerel.
After glancing at sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who is standing behind a nearby pillar trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. Tamric Drubine quietly says "Poor Percy".
Lisell Maera slightly snorts, then says "Don't feel too sorry for him" the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury continues with "You know how insufferable he is, so you know she wasn't the only problem in their marriage" the orphan teenager then dryly adds "Sounds like they deserved one another".
The nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin slightly frowns as he glances sideways at Lis. Who he's noticed over the last eighteen months or so, hasn't been particularly enamoured by the idea of marriage, or even relationships between couples.
Infact she's derided everything about that topic when it's brought up in casual conversation.
And though Tam will never be the best of friends with Lis, she is still the friend he spends the most time with, and he often worries for her.
True, the son of the former knight of castle Drubine thinks the older teenager is physically attractive. After all he is a near sixteen year old teen himself, so it's only natural he'd find her good looking. But he finds there's something off putting about Lis for his liking.
Maybe knowing her, and growing up with her over the last seven years has given him that opinion. If so, he'd freely admit there's nothing to be done about it.
But the nobleborn teen is a bit more optimistic about people's relationships with one another, and he quietly says "I'm not so sure" Tamric Drubine continues with "From what I've heard, Percy married the wrong sister. He should of married the younger one, his niece's governess, lady Hollis Duc de Laér".
With a slight frown upon her face, Lisell Maera asks "Where did you here that?". "From Helbe" replies Tam, who continues with "From when he stopped in at castle Lé Dic before finding us".
The nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin nods to where the heavily armoured knight is hiding behind a pillar, then he nods towards the high table where lady Marsaé Duc de Laér is fawning over everything Helbe the elven thief tells her.
"It was a political marriage more than anything" quietly says Tam, who continues with "Oh sure they liked one another before they married i guess" he follows that with "But the only reason they actually did marry was because Percy's father wanted stronger ties with the nobility in the north of his fief".
Lisell Maera slowly nods at that, and to her right, Tovis the war engineer nods in understanding to. He's been around the court at castle Harkonin most of his life. And he's seen on multiple occasions, the intricacies of relationships and marriage among the nobility there.
Lis looks at the nobleborn teen from the kingdom of Sarcrin, and with an eyebrow arched up in questioning manner, she quietly asks him "Taken an interest in this have you?".
"Hardly" dryly replies Tamric Drubine, who after a brief pause, continues with "But" before he quietly adds "It is interesting, because it's what would of happened to me".
Lisell Maera looks at Tam, and even Tovis leans forward to get a better look at the teenager sitting on the otherside of Lis.
"I knew from an early age that i was going to marry someone my father picked for me for political gain, and i was going to have very little, or more likely no say in the matter on who i would marry" quietly says the nobleborn teenager from the north of the kingdom of Sarcrin, who after a few moments of silence as he looks first at sir Percavelle Lé Dic, then at the former earl's ex wife, lady Marsaé Duc de Laér, he quietly adds "Not that it'll happen now" . . . . . .