Lark laid out his map and aligned it north. Then pulling out his tools he began recording his

current position on the map. Taking care to get accurate measurements he and Sparrow have been

attempting to create a scale map of the area Mr. Timber intends to claim when he demands peerage from

the local Duke. Of all the young men Mr. Timber had brought into his project only Sparrow and he had

taken to mathematics to the degree required to understand the process. Even knowing how each

measurement would be used Lark had trouble understanding why the map needed such detail.

That said even if lark didn’t know why Mr. Timber needed such a detailed map he knew why he

wanted one. The first time Lark returned to Mr. Timber’s manor he caught the man in the middle of a

negotiation with a mercenary band. The leader of the band was just about to end the discussion and leave

when Lark and Sparrow entered the room and began transcribing their findings onto the large map in Mr.

Timber’s office. Then after filling in elevations onto a separate chart, the Mercenary opened one of their

notebooks and began looking through all the notes they had made on the plants and animals they came

across. The man then looked at Sparrow and Lark and asked them to look out for sites with specific

characteristics.

Eventually Sparrow and Lark finished the first stage of the map. The next step was to fill in the

terrain. The young men were now paired with scouts from the mercenary band.

With the terrain fully mapped, Lark and Sparrow met with a diviner. They were to take two of his

apprentices out into the land in order to find locations for mines quarries and the like.

and 3

“Presenting to his lordship; The Noble Lionel Stone Count of Stonefield, one Enterpriser Devario

Timber, accompanied by his wife and four wards.”

Willow and Lark stood behind Sparrow and Bramble who in turn were led by Mr. Timber his

wife, Aunt Ilsha. This wasn’t Mr. Timber’s first choice in the arrangement however. Where Sparrow had

spent his early child hood in the home of a social climber Lark grew up in the streets after his mother died

almost before he could remember her. As such Sparrow had a knack for social etiquettes that Lark simply

couldn’t match. Bramble with her natural Charisma and Drive cultivated in her long life on her street had

flourished into a noble air belonging to a ‘Noble of Romance.’ Beside her Willow was only fit to play the

role of a blushing lady. Rather than present one perfect pair the plan had been to show two disarmingly

endearing couples.

Further while Sparrow was capable with social relations Lark and Bramble had the minds for

detailed scheming. In short the plan had been for a public face in the form of Sparrow and Willow and a

business face comprised of Lark and Bramble. Unfortunately, Willow was too timid and wasn’t suited to

the social game. When beside Sparrow she felt like an unwilling ornament. Thankfully she seemed more

confident beside Lark and she was less pressured by his presentably embarrassing social face.

The Pressure of their first formal showing had Willow clinging to Lark who was barely able to

resist his urge to examine the Counts Audience chamber. The effort showed. The door to the chamber was

opened for the Count to review the group before choosing to hear their request or simply sending them on

their way.

In response to a gesture from the Count, his Chamberlain responded “From where does this

Timber, ‘cut’?” This evoked an amused smile from the count.

The herald stifling a smile answered “He comes with a letter from your Lordship’s Barron of

West Tower”

The count raised his hand in a beckoning gesture and the chamberlain said, “What does the Lord

Barron have to say about this ‘Lumber.’

A few of the Count’s younger courtiers audibly giggled in response to this second slight. One

however, an older girl or perhaps a young woman at the head of the table where the gigglers sat eating

sweets, frowned at their behavior. She bore a resemblance to the portrait of the Local Duke and his family

that Barron West had shown them. Sitting next to the head of the men’s table was a man who could have

been a younger version of the duke’s own father-in-law. The Duke’s children, the first daughter and one

of his younger sons were both embarrassed by the behavior of the Count’s Court.

While Lark observed the court the Herald presented the letter to the count. “It would appear that

the Barron of West Tower has a shrewd Business man he would like to introduce to our Noble Duke.”

The count paused then frowned. Lupin West, Barron of West Tower provided the Count with the majority

of his competent Junior Officers and these officers were fiercely loyal to the so called Wild Wolf of the

West. This meant the count had to be... polite, about how he dismissed the ignorant upstart he saw in Mr.

Timber.

Fortunately the count was not an expert when it came to courtly intrigue. “In accordance with the

Lord Duke’s will in regard to promoting the more competent peasants I shall see what I think of this

business man. Find a table for the orphans and chairs for the esteem-able couple. For the remainder of this

session I shall entertain his view on the matters brought to me.” {and so} the day continued. Four more

parties came to present their affairs to the count for his verdict before the court took recess for the midday

meal.

The Count had ordered his kitchen staff to serve Buffet. As soon as the first platter entered the

hall Lark stood and escorted Willow around the hall and passed by the table where the Duke’s daughter

sat. Lark stopped at the corner of the table and ‘misplaced’ his foot. He then made a show of noticing and

removing it. As Lark had planned Willow tripped over his while foot rounding the corner. Lark caught

one hand and the Duke’s daughter caught Willow’s other hand. “It was unwise to stand so early, by

custom the count should rise and select food for his wife before anyone else stands.”

Lark winced at the lady’s remark. “Willow here is timid; I couldn’t stand to bring her to the

buffet once the meal began. I had planned to view the buffet so that I would know what caught her eye so

that she could avoid the crowd altogether. I tend forget Etiquette when it gets in the way of... um.”

“Gentlemanly manners?”

“I...um, yes.” Lark’s face turned a genuine shade of red, he hadn’t expected the lady to be so

amused. He did however expect her to offer her hand so that he could help her stand and walk Willow to

the buffet.

“Your benefactor seems, how should I say this... lackluster, for a recommendation from Barron

West. I’m surprised.”

“One of Mr. Timber’s faults happens to be that he places results before methodology. I believe

he was trying to encourage the count to make a choice rather than offer advice.”

Willow covered her mouth in surprise before saying, “I was wondering why Mr. Timber was

being so stupid. Ah!”

“Forgive us for being... I mean, I ask that you forgive our uncoot, manner of...”

Willow nudged Lark and interjected, “Uncouth.”

Lark coughed to excuse his mistake. “...Uncouth manner of speaking. While I would have to

argue that Willow is of respectable birth, I would have to argue. If I were to say the same of myself, well

that would be an outright lie.”

The lady thought this over, “The count has made some uncharacteristic verdicts after your

benefactor spoke.”

“Some of the men seem to believe that you intend to eat with us.” Lark motioned to the table

where Bramble and Sparrow sat.

“That would be my brother and the Count’s son. That said the lesser seems content to bed your

other lady companion, after I ignore him that is.”

Lark let out a quite snort. “Bramble is no lady. If he is anything like the count then the only thing

he has to look forward to him bragging about how taken she was with him, and the bruises to prove it.”

Willow chimed in saying, “When I first met Rose I saw the roughest thug of a boy I had ever

seen. That same boyish behavior is the same Rose you see. Enough that she chose to keep her old name to

emphasize that the rose has thorns.”

A moment of silence followed. After it passed the lady spoke. “Let’s return to your table before

the Count’s ego gets overly bruised.”

As the trio arrived at the table the duke's son stood and offered his seat to his sister. After Lark

offered a chair to Willow the duke's son offered his hand for a handshake. “Rhino Westwood 2nd

Son of

the Duke of Westwood”

Lark returned the handshake and answered “Lark Seawatcher, Ward of Enterpriser Timber. My

companion is Willow Noloan, Ward of the same. My Heart Brother is Sparrow Fairmaid, Ward of the

same and his companion is Rose called Bramble, Ward of the same.”

“My sister's name is Tulip and my friend here is Leo son of Count Stonefield. If I may be so

rude; I must know, Why did Enterpriser Timber bring his wards with him?”

Lark shook his head and answered, “Aunt Ilsha, his wife, sadly cannot have children of her own.

We just happen to be the orphans capable of being the children he needs and that he feels that she

deserves.”

Leo spoke up then, “Who cares about the sob story of some money-grub? Tulip may I escort you

to the buffet?”

“You, may. Dear brother would you be so kind as to stay with Miss Willow, it seems she handles

crowds poorly, Lark had intended for her to avoid the buffet line entirely.” Lark, Sparrow and Leo rose

and While Lark left first to secure a spot in the line Sparrow and Leo helped Bramble and Tulip to their

feet.

The buffet was a pretentious affair. Based on the behavior of the courtiers Lark judged the

selection of dishes was unusual fancy to show the wealth and prestige of the count. Even so there was a

practiced theatrical quality to the meal that showed that it wasn't unexpected or out of the ordinary. In fact

some of the younger girls looked at the dishes like treats from the monthly new moon feasts many country

villages held.

This sense of formal decadence carried though the entire meal as the many sycophants of the

Count's court swarmed in arrogant clusters trying to draw the 'peasantry' in so that they could pointedly

exclude them.

By the end of the meal Willow was beginning to look physically ill. Lark had felt lightheaded

though until he noticed the state that Willow was in he suspected it was due to over eating Sparrow and

Bramble had just returned after awkwardly excusing themselves to the drink table. Lark arched an

eyebrow and Sparrow Nodded in return while bramble motioned to Sparrow and herself before pointing

to the floor.

“Rhino, Tulip, I hate to need this of you but Willow seems Ill. Would it be too presumptuous of

me to ask you to take us somewhere so that she can lie down?”

Rhino immediately stood and began to help his sister up. Tulip in turn answered “Not at all, I

would be more than glad.”

After they retired to Tulip's chambers within the count's Castle Lark took a breath and spoke, “I

know this may seem an odd question but has Barron west ever shown you his servant corridors?”

“Yes, we have seen that particular quirk of his,” Tulip answered immediately, “The count

doesn’t have any oddities like that thankfully.”

Rhino narrowed his eyes, “What is this about?”

“There is an herb called Widow's Bane” Lark shook his head in a controlled anger, “so called

because of it's poisonous affect.”

“Poison is a serious allegation, don't speak lightly.” Tulip's eyes narrowed disapprovingly.

“Widow's Bane is in no way harmful to the body. To call it a poison is to call Fear weed an

elixir. They work the same way. When I was younger I used to gather it for my... It is often used in love

potions. Your father will likely show it to you by one name or another on you marriage days. Widow's

Bane heightens the sense of belonging, togetherness if you will.”

“If that is the case why does it have such an ominous name?” Rhino suddenly understood the

general idea and it was clear in the tone of his voice, unnaturally even and impatient.

Tulip merely began stroking Willow's head with a sad look on her face. “If you don't feel you

belong you feel the rejection that much more strongly, don't you?”

Lark merely nodded. The room held a sad silence. Lark recovered first. “As furious as it makes

me I'm glad the count uses such a foul trick to keep his charges down. It makes my task easier. The

Barron assured us that Count Stonefield would never refer us to the Duke.”

Tulip nodded and said, “I wish I could say he was wrong. I wish I could say father could simply

get rid of him, but the neighboring Dukedoms hardly approve of father and would love to see the count in

his place. Thankfully the King above us in his majesty places martial skill above ceremony in these

borderlands.”

Lark took a deep breath and decided to play his full hand.