Restlessness & Looking for Markgraaf DeForia

[Xavier Douglas]

~ After much resting...and sending off a few notes to m'loved ones, I found out that His Grace, Daniel De Foria was still in port. After much rousting of my maid and my escorts sending word to "The Lady Temptation" looking for His Grace. After sending her off, make myself ready to be up and about ready to leave when its possable to do so.~

[Daniel de Foria]

…Within the Carpentry Shoppe of the Castle, Daniel de Foria is driving a shipwrights plane over a cured bit of English White Oak. The crowd of lesser apprentices’ choruses the laughter of Windstorms Master Carpenters as they watch this man, poorly dressed for the efforts, peal long ribbons from the plank

The mood quiets as plank after plank is formed from the rough bundles to make thick tapered slats. As the Good King Agustin charged, Daniel de Foria assembles the special shutter, as an example of the Kings will for the upper floors of the castle. The louvers, thick at the base and tapering to the top edge are set in a heavy English White Oak frame at an upward angle of near 50 degrees. With a forefinger, he demonstrates the blindness the shutter offers from the ground level surrounding the castle. Continuing he offers the freedom of light and air to flow down from the top of each slat.

The description and charge of the Kings Will is broken by the arrival of a hurried maiden who wears the crest of Highness Xavier Alexander. Drawn to here with a wiggled finger, Lord de Foria begs the men’s pardon and moves close. He hears of the need for Highness Xavier to make her way back to Eenheid and questions the schedule of the “Lady Temptation”

Words are offered of Lady Layla and her worsening health and that the “Lady Temptation” is due to set for Eenheid on the morning tide. It is added that her highness Xavier and her staff are welcome aboard.

After more comments on the schedule and appointments of the ship the maiden departs and Lord de Foria returns to demonstrating the attributes of the new shutter to the men.

[Lady Edfeil]

*She was worried. The journey nae seemed to have become her friend well, and soon the Lady Temptation would have to sail again to Eenheid to make sure Lady Layla could rest enough.

She knew Lord DeForia too to be worried. About Laya and the bairn first and formost. But also of the happenings around Windstorm. Things seemed to have quieted down for now. And she could but be grateful for that. Lord Hawkmoons worst fears seemed abated a bit. Or mayhap he now was better able to school his features and keep his worries from her.

Nae... she knew better. Oh, the worry was still there. And the tension. But there was a controll now. Ruthless mayhap, and that made her shudder, but a controll he needed for now. She needed to be strong. For him. And for others.

That last she realised more then ever when she walked the gangplank of the Lady temptation. She would sail back to Eenheid soon. And there were things she needed to speak of. Her guards were with her, refusing to leave, even here when she nae had even a thought for her safety.

She needed to speak to Lord DeForia before her left, and if possible see to Layla's comforts. Her mind was set on those two goals when the guards hailed the crew for her. They were vigilant after a wee incident with the Franks she had heard of. But she hoped the Stormblade Crest and her own name would allow her to board without questions.*

[Daniel de Foria]

…The Lady temptation bobbed lazily at the docks, the movements causing the lines to groan, tightened with the weight and stress of the ship and then relax to dip once more near the waters surface.

The dockhands of Windstorm are busy and hurried, voices calling and resounding with commands for the supplies being loaded aboard. Above all is the thick Spanish accent of the Captain of the “Lady Temptation”, Captain Fernando Martin Alonzo Simon DePinzon as he commands the men of the docks as he does the sails and tiller of the ship.

Word had reached me that Highness Xavier and her entourage were already aboard and that Layla was most eager to see Eenheid once more and hopefully rest fully to be free of the illness that has plagued here this entire venture. Each night I had set with her, wiping her brow and holding her hand, offering what comfort I could until she slept. Only then did I drape the night black cloak about my shoulders and take up my sword to stalk the night about Windstorm seeking the form that had eluded me some nights before. To now, the one chased after the “Incident” has eluded me entirely.

Word had also come that Princess Edfeil had wished to meet with me before we set sail. This meeting I would try and delay the departure to have, but the tide and winds will tell the end tale. There is more circling about the Princess than I feel even she knows or understands. When could I tell her of my belief that my Life and Family perch upon her very soul? What if I am wrong in my understanding of my visions, if I have staked all I am and have on another trick of the darkness I am barely containing? If I am right, the future will have my loved ones and me free of the curse, if I am wrong, I will leave a sorrowful course of misery in my wake.

I have still not been the aid to Lord Hawkmoon I had hoped, and thus I resolve to return to his search with all haste. To date, the only break in the matter is the dispelling of the childish nightmare tale of “Lalu-Garu”. We were indeed in search of a man, not a beast of myths and dark fairy tails. I will admit, the acts described with all their heinous aspects, make whom we seek not worthy to be called a man. We shall hunt him as the beast his deeds reflect, and as any other vile beast he will be cut down with out quarter offered. My only concern is for the odd posture Lord Hawkmoon has assumed since I delivered to him the scraps of cloth and how it deepened to near madness with his pacing and muttering about the ramparts.

As Captain DePinzon shouts something not a sole within a hundred miles of here understand because of the heavy Spanish Inflections, I pace the docks trying to remain clear of the activity. Three men of the “Lady Temptation” stand at spaced placements on the dock. One bow, one a mid ship and one to stern as well as the keel boat on the seaside with three men aboard. All are well armed with the finest Portuguese windless crossbows my monies could buy. In the end, what good is my wealth if I do not use it responsibly to protect what is mine?

The earlier matter with the Franks has lead to this precautionary placement of men and weapons and resulted the uneasy stalemate. They, the Franks who are also laying in the Harbor, have not pressed to board the “Lady Temptation” again, and on my orders, Captain DePinzon has not had any Frank hanged from the Yard Arm in display of my unwillingness to be tested.

A bell rings aboard the “Lady Temptation” and I turn and scan the docks for the Princess and increase my pacing. I wish not to delay the departure but I must remain to hear out the Princess as well………..

[Xavier Douglas]

~ After seeing to my personal items to have ready for packing laied out on the bed. Seeing the door open as my maid rosie cheeked breazing in. She curties and lets me know the Markgraaf's words that my party will be welcomed abord for the trip home.

Seeing to having things taken cared of before leaving. My escorts seeing to the rented mounts and coach back to where we rented them. My maid seeing to having the rest of our things packed away, anything that needs to be procured before we board to head home. I move back into out the Hall looking about, asking a maid for a place to sit and write a missive to Lady Laurestina.

As I sit down waiting, I note the changes in somethings like the windows being shuttered. Hearing others talking about how the King has comanded Daniel to have new shutters done. Knowing how this came about shuddering as I cross myself, another reason to be happy to head home. I need to speak to my priest for Confession as Ive missed one too many Masses.

Watching the maid come back with a writing table and supplies asked as I ready to make my note~

Lady Laurestina,

I wish to say thank you for all that you have done for me while I visited Windstorm. I pray that You not think me ....odd...but you probly do. ~smiles as I write it~ Perhaps after I deliver m'husband his child we can take up a bottle of good wine and talk more as friends. I shall hope to see you soon again.

Xavier Alexander

~Having the missive left for her seeing my party is ready to depart, we set off to the "Lady Temptation" knowing we are welcomed abord.

Upon arival and annoucing our presence we are allowed abord. I am showing to my cabin for my trip home. My maid will be with me as will each escort taking turns as guard when I wish to wander if permitted. The others will help where needed should need arise. Making myself conforable as I wait to reach the dock of my home.~

[The Ghost of what she was]

She had lain awake night after night as Daniel had tended her, she had felt so bad nae being able to spend time with her friends in Windstorm, but the tossing of the ship at this time gave her a bit of comfort, this babe had taken every bit of energy she had, and except for the moments with Daniel in the evenings, she had nae been fit company, she stared at the walls now, not knowing what was happening as Daniel would nae devulge the horrible things taking place, he protected her from many things, she tossed and turned as the babe kicked and rolled within, an ever reminding of the presence that was already so much a part of her, she smiled as the lass entered saying softly that we were to depart for home, oh how she longed to be home.

Soon the child would be delivered and she could hopefully regain her strength .
She sighed at nae having time with those she loved, but knew they would understand.