a question of motive

[Lord Jasen de Winter]

Aware that the conversation that was going to follow was more than likely going to be explosive and involving flying projectiles if it wasn’t held in a place that prevented such, Jasen extended an invitation to Daven St. Claire for an afternoon ride by the lake. The relative peace of the lakeshore would prove a calm mind and sound reasoning… or so was the hope, anyway, for the matter he wished to approach was anything but.

If he read the general mood of St. Claire family right, they were as tightly knit as his own, and a question of betrothal between him and Lady Lynesse would have to be raised carefully – or directly, which would let him know exactly the feeling of the man. Given the most recent meeting with him in surrounding of others and the differing of their opinion, though, the current meeting left Jasen with slight apprehension as to the whole discussion that was to take place. Deciding he’d pick the route which was best once he saw the man, he set a slow pace down the lake shore, for now enjoying the relative peace and quiet. The question was, how long said peace was going to last.


Lord Daven St. Claire

[Lord Daven St. Claire]

Now, just because Jasen had seen Daven fling a chair once didn't mean every conversation was going to follow that path! Daven deserved at least a bit of credit! The invitation for a ride from Jasen de Winter was certainly interesting. He had a feeling just what the man wanted to discuss. Julia's words were echoing in his mind as he mounted his horse to join the man. Lynesse as a duchess was the best that he could truly hope for his daughter. Yet, was Jasen truly worthy of her? Daven wasn't certain yet.

Daven saw the man as he rode closer, bring his horse to a halt right alongside his. "Lord de Winter," he rumbled toward the man with a cocked brow. "Good afternoon to you." Daven, for his daughter's sake, decided to be pleasant about the opening fluffiness... er... pleasantries.

Lord Jasen de Winter

[Lord Jasen de Winter]

The other rider was noticed as he brought his horse to a halt, for Jasen had been as guilty of allowing his thoughts to wander as any other man could be. The voice, however, brought him back to present. “Lord St. Claire, good afternoon,” he greeted, returning the pleasantry with one of his own. “Thank you for joining me. I trust you’re enjoying what remains of the festivities?”

The question asked, Jasen thoughtfully considered the man next to him as he nudged his horse into a slow walk. That this particular horse could use exercise was obvious at the eye it gave him earlier, and it seemed to be busy considering the grass more than it was in the walk. Eyeing his mount’s ears, Jasen wondered which direction this talk would go in, but if the other lord intended to fill it with pleasantries, he thought he might be able to follow direction indicated.


Lord Daven St. Claire

[Lord Daven St. Claire]

"As much as a man can, I suppose," he answered the question with a shrug. There was a great deal that was on his mind and he didn't know how to resolve it. Yet, he decided to focus only on Jasen and Lynesse for the time being. "Ready for things to move along. I think I'd rather be home enjoying several tankards of ale than dealing with the nonsense that has been happening as of late, but ... well, you know our obligations." A faint smirk formed.

The horse matched Jasen's easily for speed.

Lord Jasen de Winter

[Lord Jasen de Winter]

Indeed he was quite aware of their obligations. A small smile met the faint smirk that formed on the other lord’s face at the words, as Jasen slightly inclined his head in agreement. “Yes, I’d rather be home patrolling the borders,” he agreed, not the one to miss a chance to bemoan the necessity of his presence at Court. “It’s too bad that some things can’t be done from comfort of our respective residences.”

It would’ve been much appreciated, but he wouldn’t have met Lady Lynesse in person if he did so. “Such as meeting people and forming alliances, for example.” An eyebrow was raised at the word, as it was exactly what he was hoping to walk away from this meeting with, but it would be seen whether such happened. A gentle nudge was given to the lazy beast to keep the horse moving regular walking speed, and he focused on the talks instead of the horse. This was one he was unlikely to fall from even if he tried, not that he intended to do so.


Lord Daven St. Claire

[Lord Daven St. Claire]

A dry bark answered Jasen comment that he'd rather be patrolling the borders. "Indeed, so would I. I've been itching to give someone a good clobbering." A smirk curved his grizzled features. "The wall would be a far more interesting place to be and far more simple to understand. You see an enemy, you take him down. No questions will be asked and life will move on. But, I doubt most people would appreciate such simplistic and violent approach to life."

The segue was a smooth one, he had to grant to Jasen. A blond brow arched at him. "Indeed," he nodded slowly, "Such as an alliance between ducal houses?" He might as well lead the man to the table, so to speak.

Lord Jasen de Winter

[Lord Jasen de Winter]

An amused grin was returned at the older lord’s words. If there was any truth to the rumors about the Indigane nest of pirates, he was sure the man’d get his wish soon enough, and he himself was rather in need of a break. “You might have the chance soon enough, my lord, if rumors concerning Indigane are to be believed,” he offered, a thoughtful hum to his words. An offer of help, perhaps, could be in the wings if Oakdale's western borders remained quiet as it had the last few months, yet that very quiet made him want to remain there until something happened.

“Indeed,” he murmured at the question, amused at being led right to it. However a smooth turn he may have managed before, evasion with words was something he had yet to practice, nor was considered necessary for the moment. “It would be an honor to me and mine should one such be managed with your House, through marriage.”


Lord Daven St. Claire

[Lord Daven St. Claire]

"And those rumors being?" Daven suspected he might be speaking of the pirate situation, but he wanted to be certain before he making any kind of assumption. The Dragon did so hate to make a fool of himself, after all. The pirates annoyed him. They were enemies that were hard to fight since they were cowards and never came out in the open. They stole what they wanted and sneaked back into the night. Damn them thrice.

"Mm, would it?" He arched a brow at the man and then remembered he should be nicer to the man, or something. This was harder than it looked, "You mean to ask for Lynesse's hand in marriage." His mind shifted to his little daughter. He had not spoken to her alone in quite some time. He would have rectify that.

Lord Jasen de Winter

[Lord Jasen de Winter]

“The nest of pirates in Indigane, which had been giving troubles to several Duchies along the coast,” Jasen admitted, melting them down into one more or less cohesive sentence that could’ve been interpreted as the other lord saw fit. “I understand that was what brought the Lintenese to our Court, as well?” He saw various members of delegation around from time to time, but given his concerns lay in different direction, didn’t have a chance to talk to them yet.

Slightly amused at the arched at him eyebrow, though he was careful not to show it too openly, Jasen inclined his head in agreement. There really was no other way of putting it in words. “Yes, my lord. If you’re agreeable to it, of course.” That Lady Lynesse was he already knew, but the more difficult part of the arrangement was probably going to be convincing her father that the match was a good idea.


Lord Daven St. Claire

[Lord Daven St. Claire]

"Mmph, yes," he grumbled and then shrugged ultimately at the topic of the pirates. "They've moved on to Indigane. I doubt very much that I am going to have my way with them. Should they be caught, they'll be shackled by Lancaster and shipped off to the dungeon. Or they'll be executed on the spot. We'll see." Spencer was too urbane to administer such swift judgment however.

"What does she think of the idea? Have you spoken to her about it?" Lynesse's opinion did matter to him, after all, which was not quite typical, but ... in a lot of ways, Daven was not a typical man.

Lord Jasen de Winter

[Lord Jasen de Winter]

Slightly amused at the grumbling, Jasen merely inclined his head to show he was listening. Indigane was accessible by water, if he recalled right, and was one of the larger ports that was attractive enough for an attack, should anyone bother with it. “I’m sure your opinion would at least be asked if St. Claire took damage from them,” he offered, closing that topic. He could well see that it wasn’t the good one for discussion, thus switched it to the one that was of more interest to him.

As to the other question, he needed to recall the conversation from a few days back in order to answer it. “I have, a couple of days back. She thinks she would’ve liked it should our discussion concerning the marriage prove successful.” The almost run in at the vendors’ was quite amusing by itself, all told, as was the resulting conversation. Who knew courtiers had ears that long or tongues that busy passing rumors?


Lord Daven St. Claire

[Lord Daven St. Claire]

"I give my opinion whether I have been affected or not. It is a matter that affects all of us and it weakens the kingdom. There are few things I shut up about, but this is not one of them." That Daven St. Claire was outspoken was a commonly known thing in the Court. The roar of the dragon had not been quieted with age. In truth, Daven took a substantial amount of pride in that fact, even if he didn't make that pride obvious to others.

"Mm. I see," he commented dryly, "I shall have to discuss the matter with her first before I give you my blessing or my curse." He gave no inclination as to which one he was going to offer. At face value, Daven had no objections to the arrangement, but he had to make certain.

Lord Jasen de Winter

[Lord Jasen de Winter]

Of course he was. Said roaring was heard quite clearly during a particularly memorable meeting that resulted into flying chairs, for one, though Jasen had to admit the man had a point to the words being said, if not perhaps with quite the fervor they had been delivered. Deciding not to add anything else on the topic, lest he get himself in trouble, he instead gave an amused look at the dry tone of next words.

“I expected to hear nothing less, my lord,” he commented with a slight smile. Lady Lynesse, far as he could recall, most certainly would have an opinion of her own as to their meeting, and the decision made would be based on it as well as her father’s.


Lord Daven St. Claire

[Lord Daven St. Claire]

"I'll also have to discuss with the steward on the matter of her dowry, since it has been sometime since I've looked at it." That or he had been avoiding the dowries for sometime since he didn't want to think about his precious little girls being married off and becoming women in their own right. What a sad bother. "Are there any other terms you would like me to be at least aware of before we get into negotiations in earnest?" A brow was arched toward the man.

Lord Jasen de Winter

[Lord Jasen de Winter]

“Not so much a term, as a request.” A wry look was directed at the arched brow, as Jasen was considering the incoming negotiations. He could wager he’d find himself in similar straights when people turned their eyes to Katalin, but that was going to come when it did.

“I’d like for Lady Lynesse to be able to visit Oakdale the next time myself and my siblings will do so. I expect it shall be soon enough, for we need to check on a few things both in the city and at the border. It shouldn’t be a long visit, but I expect it would give her a chance to see the city and its surroundings.” Perhaps the request could be considered reasonable, but he’d have to wait and see whether the other lord thought so.


Lord Daven St. Claire