#earthrunes

The Satyress bows to her lord and lady then says, "Most illustrious visitors, you stand before Count Reider ap Aeisin, If all present in the room were to raise their hands twice over, you could not count with them the servants of the eternal dark he has slain. If you could pluck the stars from the heavens , a handful of this would not be enough to equal in number the nightmares he has vanquished. The Linnorm slayer, the Riddlebreaker, visitor who saw the Hag of the chicken legged hut and received a blessing, retriever of the bones of Thor's third goat, and friend to the Blue socked bear. He stands ready to lead you against the Jotun threat you know as the Formorian, the dark is here, but together, he hopes that all of our weapons will light with Da'an's fury and Justice."

Coradel has not met the Count before, though she met the other contenders. She wasn't sure what to expect. This boast does not disappoint.

Sparrow puts a fist over her heart, offering the Count a martial bow.

Her voice is really suited to this, and switches tempo and grows softer, "By his side, and awaiting Winter's rest, is our maiden of spring, Countss Ruxandra Harrowstep ap Beaumayn, her deeds include the ending of sorrow's reign in the land of forgotten hopes now named secretly and rightly anew, she who knew the crooked man upon the crooked hill and learned his trick, she who walked the black path and found her way again. "

the sluagh inclines her head.

Coradel offers a deep, formal curtsy, the grace of the gesture only adding to the respect offered. "Excellencies, it is indeed an honor to meet you."

A bow, too, for the sluagh, and a pretty flourish of her wings.

The Count rises though he does not leave the throne area, "Please, come closer all. Of the Steel Sparrow, I have already heard and met. Though I did not know at the time that her voice had such weight with those I am now sworn to." A nod to her, "I am in fact glad I did not know, for I will not have it said I played for favor thusly. Now I see the woman she praised, and I hear the right boasts, and I think it will be an honor to have you as a vassaal. I will be a good Jarl in turn. But when war calls. I will expect that Fiona Ferocity again. The other Barons will follow me, but some will look among their own. Your history in play, no doubt it will you, Baroness Coradel. It should not be required of you, but, I fear it is, this example making. Does this trouble you?"

Approaching as bidden, Coradel looks a bit surprised. "Is it so written on my face, Excellency? I will not lie...it troubles me. I trust in Baroness Derynwydd's opinion, and she has counseled me that you both will serve the County honorably in your joint reign. But you know of the Count who went before you, and about the misuse of an oath. I will not be misused." She is blunt in tone, but not rude.

he raises a brow, "I asked if you were troubled being an example to the other barons. Am I to understand you are more troubled swearing to us at all?"

Well, there it happens. I retired too late. Now this will be on my record. Knew I should have had more of that champagne before it started. Innish you old fool, you tried the Clurichaun's face gives not one thought away

"Truth? I was. But... having come to your hold, standing before you now, having heard your boasts....I am content to oath to you, Excellencies. As to being an example to the other barons, that bothers me not at all." A confident smile.

_I... oh sweet hope lives! _

Reider grins, and he looks to August "Your life, good scribe must be one of greater interest than I realized to have such a firecat of a woman in it." He looks at Coradel then, not really expecting a comment from the Liam but not adverse "You intend to bring such honesty to your service each time eh?"

"I intend to speak my mind when I feel necessary, Your Excellency, if that is your meaning." Her grin may even verge on sassy.

A grin and a shrug from the other Liam.

"if you find the blend of honest and prudence both, you will be an honor indeed to have in our service, a matter of boasting for me, and even my more humble parallel. Of course, it will be an easier task if I am worthy of your respect. the Oath I will take in turn I hope will show that I mean it just so."

She nods respectfully. "Will you hear my oath now, then, Excellency?"

The Countess nods , she does rise to close, for her whispers need be heard, "I have foreseen much for you, Baroness Coradel. You arrived in prophecy and were reared with a soothsaying master's guidance and shelter yet still plans of greater weave move. I will swear in return as well, and with pride."

((switch and pluralize those))

He takes his axe and sets it down before her, " I swear with my hands on my axe. you may do like wise or swear holding what ever is sacred to you." A look to Ruxandra, who has pulled out, of all things, a locket, small and plain.

The Countess nods in turn, "We are ready."

Coradel smiles and glances to August before she takes a step closer to the two. She flickers her right hand, and suddenly there is a sword there, silver and glinting in the sunlight. She rests its tip upon the ground, then goes to her knees before Count and Countess, her dress arranging itself artfully.

In a clear, strong voice, she says,
"Count Reider ap Aesin, Countess Ruxandra ap Beaumayn, I swear fealty unto you each, as the Wheel favors.
Your command is my desire, and your request my desire.
May my service always please, and may my sight grow dark if it does not.
As the tides to the moon, my will to yours, my lieges."

the Fiona feels something tighten, and for a moment, like a wildmare reluctant to take to the saddle, a part of her balks, but then she also feels power, and yes, a different sort of freedom settle in. Others may try to sway her, but they will have a harder time of it now. And that is good. It is.. the way of things, she knows, there is something old in this.

The others see glamour flow about Coradel like a tree's leaves in a strong wind and that glamour seems to float about her lords and in twin circlets about their brows.

August certainly notes that momentary hesitation in the tightening of her shoulders...but then it eases, and she looks up to the Count and Countess with a clear, proud expression.

When she kneels, his expression goes curiously blank...
And then as she Oaths, he smiles, shy and proud.

"Well said,"The Jarl says. "I would not cheat you of ceremony but I am a simple man, and it is not right that you wait one more second for what is yours to be oathed in return. We shall therefore do it now in exchange" He offers his hand to the Countess. Duty, not affection binds them, and they clasp hands.

Coradel watches closely, these two people suddenly so deeply important to her life.

Sparrow watches closely, both from affection and duty.

The two speak as one, "We take you as our vassal as the Wheel wills. You are of our house, even as the very stones.
We pledge to hold you, to guard you, and to keep you.
We pledge to honor your service as it deserves, and to reward loyalty in kind.
As the moon to the seas below, Our will to yours. We pledge the Escheat to you." And their hands part, and they offer a coin , on one side, it is pale silver with Harrowstep's visage. On the other, Bright Gold with Reider's face. The metals are as one, and yet two.

Coradel stares at the coin a long moment before reaching to take it. "I thank you, Your Excellencies."

As she does, it showers and glamour glows... this time, she is graced, and there is as if something waits for the lords, barbs of ice for their hearts if they betray this most sacred trust.

A blink of surprise.

"It is a good thing that it cuts both ways' He says "Now, all of you, be at ease. Stay with us for a time, tell your stories, and feast. We are in flux, but will not have it said that we are not ready."

Coradel returns to her feet, flicks away her silver blade, and offers the Count and Countess a smile. "I think it is a very good thing indeed, and thank you." Another curtsy, and then she turns to her family and retainers.

"Court is at rest" the satyress herald declares, and ...food of such spender is brought out, and music also and....

(Pause or End scene or PBEM who knows 🙂 )