So, what was Holman Waering's problem?
"Damned if I know" Hathwic shrugged, chewing on a stalk of wheat for one reason or another–what purpose could he have for it? "He's definitely a little shit, but it's not like there's none of those, and they're not even all attached to the Waerings for that matter." The stalk of wheat shifts, from one side of his mouth to the other in a way that Audrey was dutifully trying to ignore. "Why are you asking me about it anyway?"
"Because you're a polite and decent young man with good prospects?" Audrey tilted her head, only getting a good-humored scoff from the pessimistic Thane. "But no, it's that Gilbert asked me to remain silent about it, and going to anyone who didn't witness that struggle would have been…"
"Not a great career choice" He nodded at that, chewing a small piece of the stalk out and absently spitting it out to the side, somehow achieving this without losing the entire piece of wheat. "Okay, so, he's a distant nephew to the Ealdorman, he's decently talented and inherited the Arresting Gaze to its full strength, but you know all that, right?"
Audrey gave a quick nod and a hum of acknowledgement–that actually largely dovetailed with her own studies on the matter. Virtually every man, woman, and child alive had inherited some little talent or trick from the deeds of their ancestors, but not everyone would necessarily inherit that talent, or it might not manifest in exactly the same way for everyone. It was why so many dynasties tended to be picky about who got married to whom–to avoid any mutual conflicts that could end up producing a hybrid that was worse than either lineage would handle alone.
Was it the source of her lightning? Probably not, she had witnessed the Giant-Slaying Blow a few times in her youth, and it did produce the same effect no matter who used it, but having it emerge even when the signature technique of the Eotenslaga was not being used? As had been becoming more common in recent days?
An atavism? Or something else. She had more studies to complete on the matter before she could know for certain.
Red-Black Lightning: 3/6 to completion
The point was, that it meant that Holman Waering was mildly important simply by having access to the Arresting Gaze, and would be groomed for high rank. So why is it that he held such a grudge against someone he didn't know? They weren't in competition, and he was in defiance of both the King and the Ealdorman of his own house by provoking a struggle with the young Squires being trained here.
This likely wasn't going to be a problem that would be solved with anger and violence–and Audrey had come to understand that after a time to let her head cool. Likely why Hathwic had intervened–the fight was just a moment away from naked iron being brandished, and no matter who was the victor from that mess, the final results would have been catastrophic. The defiance of an edict of the King would not go unpunished for anyone involved, right or wrong–and while a few bruises and torn gambesons might be excused as just a particularly vigorous sparring match, bloodshed wouldn't be on the same level, even if both sides walked away on their own power.
So what was the deal?
"I don't think it's that he has something to prove…" Gilbert mentioned during one of Audrey's little training sessions–he had seemingly found his courage, and his resolve combined with her tutelage was doing much to help shore up his basics. He already was fearsome when he had a chance to chant his prayers, and her tips and advice were helping him get to the point where he might be able to do so even absent aid! "He acts like someone who was personally affronted, somehow."
He flushed then, hesitating for just a moment–"It's not even that you're just, well…" He gestures towards Audrey. "A girl in a man's business, he was harassing me, yes, but there wasn't that same hate that he seemed to have for you. It was like he was just waiting for a chance to get a shot at you."
Audrey crossed her arms at that, frowning. "I've never met a Waering in my life though, at least before coming here."
"Are you sure though?" Gilbert points out, trying to be helpful. "Not even once? He suggested familiarity with your family, right?"
Audrey opens her mouth to retort–but the earnest desire to know held her tongue for a moment. She closed her mouth, and took a minute to think on it.
Really have a good think on the matter.
Has she ever met Holman Waering? Or really, any Waering in the past?
No, that wasn't the right question.
Has any Eotenslaga met with a Waering in the past generation?
The answer to that was… She didn't know–she wasn't certain, was this some private grudge that had escalated to a feud upon her entire family?
She really needed to have a talk with her family, a letter at least–come to think of it, she hadn't received any letters or missives from them since she had arrived at Warwick. She had been extremely busy, but not even her stipend notice?
Right, she'd be proactive! She'd send them word herself, and just in case…
"Wait, what?"
Crowley, your bonded Companion, had finished his metamorphosis sometime around the turn of the season, when the cold of winter gave way to the storms of early spring. Where once was a largely ordinary hooded crow of ashen and black feathers had bloomed a significantly larger–and dramatically more handsome–bird, with traces of red lightning to match her own as a set of striking streaks. Though still with the lean physique of a Crow, he had grown very well in both intellect and strength, and could now be called a truly worthy companion of one such as Audrey Eotenslaga!
Oh sure, he was a little lazy sometimes, and enjoyed pampering maybe a little more than was proper, but his command over the elements of the firmament were impressive when he could be roused to work, and anyway, he was a very pretty bird who complimented her extremely well, a loyal companion here to go on his first mission!
"You can't seriously be… Audrey! I've never been where you live! Okay, let's say I'm willing to take a trip across the Kingdom anyway–which I'm not, because that's a good way of becoming lunch for something." He gesticulated aggressively with one of his wings, a puff of static and the scent of ozone filling the space between them. "I'd get lost halfway along the way! You can't seriously expect me to just go 'Oh hey, his mind is based on my mind so he'll obviously know', that's not how this works!"
Audrey smugly puffed herself up. "Actually, I don't need you to go that far!" She says, her Storm Crow companion seeming to freeze. "I just want you to follow it for a little while, there's something I want to check out."
The bird squints at her, looking for a barb in it–some secret hint of extra work. But Audrey's face was utterly without guile. "Just down the river a bit? In and out?"
"And we'll get the good steak when you're back, yes." Audrey nodded, because deeds must be matched with suitable rewards!
"Hrm…" He squints, and scratches at his post with his feet. "Well, if it's only going that far, I suppose I can accommodate you–you're going to be watching?"
Audrey grinned, showing just a trace of teeth. "Of course I am–everything might be perfectly fine, but if they're not… I'll very much want to know what the problem is.
"Right! Right!" Crowley bobbed his head. "So, how are we going to do this then?
0~0~0
The plan–such as it is–was simple. Audrey would hand a letter to the man at the docks who handles the post, who makes sure missives are passed along the line through the King's–rather well designed at this point–logistical network.
Meanwhile, Crowley would conceal himself in a bank of fog, shadowing the mailman, and her letter–which she had sealed with a lock of her own hair just to make sure it was shiny enough to catch the cunning Corvid's eye at all times, just to make sure her mail was actually getting where it should be. All the while, Audrey marveled at the gaze from on high–the sheer ease of gathering information with a dedicated Companion able to witness the lay of the land and the people within it from above.
Absolutely fantastic, utterly perfect! And her hunch was correct to boot, as the mailman–taking a moment to glance about and ensure there were none on the ship to notice–stuffed her missive into a poorly wrought glass bottle, and dropped it over the side of the river.
Did he just dispose of her mail?
No, there were easier, more subtle ways of doing that. Crowley wanted to call the job a good one at that point, now that the mystery was solved–but she cautioned a little patience.
And sure enough, not long afterwards, one of Holman's subordinates slipped in through the woods and fished the bottle out from the riverbank.
…
Well
That answers why she hasn't heard from her family since getting here.
The little gobshite's paid off the mailman to intercept her letters!
Is that why she hasn't gotten her stipend yet? She hasn't received the note of recognition? He shouldn't be able to claim it without her signet, but if she doesn't know to go to claim her coin… Argh!
She needs resources now to build her inner Temple! She needs to resolve this feud soon if she hopes to continue at this pace!
(Discovered that Holman Warwick is intercepting Audrey's mail, use this information as you will)
0~0~0
Audrey's continued efforts at going to mass as often as possible have paid off, granting her +1 Grace a bit earlier than she would have gained it otherwise. Reinald, as part of training her for the tournament, notes that while her own plans on the matter cover most of the areas he would think are useful, physical contests other than combat are possible, and her wrestling abilities are currently rudimentary at best, likely well below those of many of her peers, most notably including no dedicated ability to either gain control of or escape a grapple.
With that in mind, she must now plan for her next six months of training and activities, her last before the tournament:
[ ] Example Plan
-[ ] [Focus Action] Insert Action Choice Here
-[ ] [Secondary Action] Insert Action Choice Here
-[ ] [Secondary Action] Insert Action Choice Here
-[X] [Chancellery] Pick Red-Black Lightning
-[ ] Training and Zeal (30 Training, 52 Zeal)
–[ ] Spend 30 Training on whatever you desire (15 at most may be spent on Feats and Shapes)
–[ ] Spend 0-52 Zeal on ???
AN: Only mildly edited! So you get the full stream of thought from me instead of the cleaned and hand-tidied mess, can you spot the differences?
