Aaldorenfeald,
Rytael was an old manor, many generations older than the empire in which it stood. If the stone of the fortress could speak, it would tell tales of the unification of Lundland, of the bloody wars that brought the kingdoms of this hard land together. Older still, it would relate stories of the years before any man called himself 'Overlord', when the kingdoms of Lundland were themselves being forged. It was in the earliest of those days that the Aaldoren formed their Kingdom, and with it, constructed Rytael. When the bodies of the last of the Aaldoren that would not submit to House Osgar were stacked and burned, it was on their ashes that the first Righteous Lord of Aaldorenfeald, the first King of the Aaldoren, built his home—a fortress that was named, unabashedly, after himself. Rytael would come to be the centre of Aaldorenfeald's government over the lifespans of many Kings and many more Aaldoren countryfolk. It was not the most formidable of the kingdom's fortresses, nor the most lavish, but by virtue of its Lord, it was always the most powerful.
Righteous Lord Grindan Osgar, King of the Aaldoren, more than lived up to his slightly pompous title. Righteousness was a trait lacking in many of those who ruled, but in Grindan, it was positively overflowing. He was very much a representation of his kingdom; Aaldorenfeald was one of the oldest of the realms of Lundland, and very possibly the most steeped in its traditions and values. Grindan, too, was traditional and firm to his values. He knew what was right and what was wrong, and saw no overlap between the two. He ruled his kingdom and his people honourably, as was fitting of his duty as their Lord, and his strictness was twicefold when it came to his children.
Three of Grindan's children inhabited the plain, dimly lit throne-room with him, along with a more than full retinue of guards. All three were daughters, and aged either thirteen or fourteen. They were decided to be the best matches for the young Arnulf of the Vale, heir to House Dryden, who was to attend Rytael's court with his mother, Lady Matilda of the Vale, who'd planned on coming to Aaldorenfeald to find a suitable match for her son. Two of them, thirteen year old twins, were named Edeline and Radha. The girls looked identical, both with light brown hair and faint green eyes, standing tall for their ages and garnered in simple grey dresses, as was proper for young ladies of their age. The girls' sister, Jent, was a year older. She wore a similar dress, but in bright white, and unlike her sisters her hair was a fiery red, and her eyes a radiant emerald green. She seemed the most genuinely excited when the doors to the court swung open, and the Drydens arrived.
Lady Matilda Dryden strode through the door in full mail armor with the badge of her house pinned to her surcoat. Twenty armed guards waited for her in the courtyard she entered from. It was a scandalous appearance, but useful for reminding lords what her power was based upon. Not to mention she’d have the pleasure of seeing her potential daughters-in-law squirm. Casting her gaze across them now, she saw that the one with long red hair had not flinched at her entry. She had potential at least.
“Your Grace,” she began. “It is as honor to be received in your house. May I present my son Arnulf?”
Grindan was unimpressed by the gratuitous number of guards that the Lady Matila had seen fit to bring along with her. Lundland was by no means a safe place, but the woman had brought as many armed men with her as she had fingers and toes. Grindan nodded absent-mindedly at Arnulf, his eyes still on Matilda herself. He was as interested in the leader of the dynasty that one of his daughters was to marry into as he was in the actual man she was to marry. Matilda was by no means physically imposing, at least to the stout Grindan, but she seemed somehow dangerous. If Grindan hadn't another eight daughters to marry off in his lifetime, he'd have refused to give one to the Drydens off of his gut feeling alone.
"He seems a good lad." started Grindan, his attention turning to Arnulf for the first time. "I've brought forward the three of my daughters that I saw most fit as brides for a man of his age. The redhead's Jent. She's the oldest, same age as the young Lord here. The darling twins are Edeline and Radha, each a year younger than your son. I'm sure the boy will make nice with one of 'em."
Arnulf found himself without words for the first time he could remember. Any who looked at him could see he was stunned by Jent’s beauty. They locked eyes and he found himself unable to look away. Awkwardly pulling himself out of his reverie and remembering to shut his jaw, Arnulf attempted to compliment her.
“My lady, erm, ladies. Accounts of your beauty have not done you justice.”
Jent smiled confidently and demurely, giving a curtsy to the visiting young Lord. Her younger sisters followed suit, but eying each other rather than Arnulf. Their twin's rivalry made each of them think the other was the object of Arnulf's affections. Jent knew better. She had a very easy opportunity here to marry a man who was to be a King, on equal social status with her father. She knew what was best for herself and for her family, and she acted accordingly.
"And there is no accounting at all for your handsomeness nor courtesy, my Lord. It is the most honest of pleasures to make your acquaintance."
The sun moved westward in the sky all too quickly for the two affectionate young nobles. Edeline and Radha interjected when they could, but by the hour the feast was to be delivered, it was astoundingly clear who it was among Grindan's daughters that Arnulf had chosen for himself. Matilda and Grindan, seated next to each other at the dining hall, could Arnulf's choice as clearly as Jent could.
“My son seems rather taken with your girl, Jent. He’s barely spared a word for anyone else this evening. Out of curiosity, how was the girls’ seating determined?
Grindan took a swig of his mug, looking over to the other end of the table at Arnulf and Jent seated next to each other, chatting away. His eyes darted over to Matilda as she spoke.
"I put myself at the head of the table and your son next to Jent, then picked everyone else's seats around that. Knew he'd taken off with the girl when I first laid eyes on him gawking at her, the moment he walked into the court. Your Arnulf makes decisions quickly, and I decided to foster his decision. Haven't seen any reason yet to oppose him."
She hesitated. She hadn’t yet decided which daughter would be the best match for her son, but he had made up his mind. It would be troublesome to try and force him to marry another when there was no reason to choose someone other than Jent. Perhaps it was her place as a mother, but she couldn’t help but feel that the choice was far too hasty to end well. However, it was far too late to back out of this arrangement now.
“It would bring me nothing but joy to see Jent wed to Arnulf. Would a Growing Season marriage be most suitable for you?”
"I married my wife in the Growing Season. That netted us nine children. I see no reason why my daughter shouldn't marry your son around that time too." Grindan took another swig, then lifted his mug to Matilda's. "To a happy and productive marriage for our children, eh?"
"To eternal friendship between our houses."
150 Pikemen, 200 Longbowmen and 50 Horsebowmen are raised in Hebban and moved north to Rytael in anticipation of the arrival of Giants from the east. 50 Pikemen and 100 Longbowmen are raised in Hebban to patrol their home fief, for the same reason.
((Partial collaboration with Lord Monbodo.))
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