"Bold words for one so young," Arundel says. "And they have some truth in them, save the madness you speak against the Crusade. What matter Barbarossa's motives if he wins the city for God? What sin could stand in the face of such penance as to battle life for life in the name of that holy place? Ho...

"Almost definitely. She's always been in search of a thrill."

"Well, there was this one time when she was just a girl when I had to fish her out of a canal. See, there's a tradition of canal-jumping with poles in Norfolk, and Nichole being Nichole, there was no power on earth that was gonna prevent her from giving it a try just as soon as she could work a pole...

"I think she'd like that, sir." He nods firmly. "I do think she would."

"I have, and while at first there was a little reticence among the ladies, in the end Matilda was able to help Nichole see what it is she truly wanted."

"So you'll have a wild one on your hands. Good luck to you."

"Yep, although the Scots that matter seem to have mostly learned to speak French. Their kings have married good Norman ladies a couple times, now. Enough for the culture to stick."

He smiled. "Speaking of marrying good Norman ladies..."

"Um..." the Earl was surprised. "Your parents, I guess?"

"I agree with that. He'd surely like to. The question is whether he's willing to tell the Scot to suck eggs. I think in the end he will, but if there's no stomach for it in the court, he might let it go."

The Earl nods his agreement. "Yes, I am sure of that. But the Crusade will not be brief, and there is much mischief than can be worked in the meantime."

"That, yes. Also, there are unintended consequences to this sort of thing, especially the sale of a title. People won't forget that whoever buys Northumberland bought it, rather than earned it. And it's not hard to assign the weight of that to the other Earldoms. He bought Northumberland, why can't ...

"My son has made the same argument. It is galling, but I see the weight behind it." He sighs. "If I had it my way, I'd see all the officers restored, but with Ridel dead and de Glanville disgraced, it really seems as though things are up in the air. The Chancellorship is an interesting position, to ...

"The shakeup..." his expression darkens a little. "Not my favorite subject. In fact, I had Giles de Braose in here yesterday night asking after it, and our place in it. Very exciting stuff, I'm sure, but troubling, too, in its way."

d'Aubigny looks down at his son's expression of stupefaction before deflating a bit. "Look...the whole business is a mess. We can discuss it if you see a need to, but I frankly don't understand why the King chose to empty the seats over asking for more funding directly. And selling an Earldom? I adm...

The tent flap is opened for him, and the Earl greets him with a friendly smile.

"Sir Geoffrey! Strong showing yesterday, good on you! Come in, have a seat, tell me of your adventures."

"Is that meant to be clever, de Braose?" The Earl rose up in his seat. "Your brother throws in with de Clare and you choose to be snide?"

The Earl looks over at Giles from his customary seat near to the fire. His son sits across from him, bandaged but looking very well.

"No, Mister de Braose. By all means, come in. Pull up a chair." The Earl waves you closer. "Will, here, got a bit of a knock, but he's doing alright."

"Right. Well, I shall give it some consideration and get back to you soon on that one." He paused, tucking the letter into his belt. "But I do appreciate your assurances. One wants to see his daughters happy." Your future brother-in-law has an eyebrow raised. What a curious display. He must be a Rom...

Arundel raises his eyebrows. "That's some plan. But not an unwelcome one. I've had Puiset sniffing around for funding, too, and heaven knows the Bishop of Durham doesn't need more territory. I hear Essex is after it as well." He pauses, focusing back on the situation. "I wish there were more time to...

"It is not on my mind in particular. It is certainly a cause worth fighting for, some might say the only. However, some men will need to stay back to keep homes safe while others bask in God's glory." "I was simply more curious about whether that meant it might be better to speak and act now, befor...

"It has occurred to me, sir," the Earl of Arundel replies. "I am sure that I am not the only one of rank to have considered it. The King strikes a good example, and it is a worthy cause, after all." He nods twice. "I don't suppose that you're think of it as well?"

"And I, you, Lord Geoffrey," William replies. The Earl gives a friendly nod, his foot tapping along to the music. Geoffrey patted his hip with the music. "You've got quite the group of talented folks you brought with for court. I imagine that I could have come up with such plans for the White tower...

He was glad for it. But he also wondered if either of the girls had mentioned anything about suggested haste. "Good morning, Earl Arundel, Lord William. I am pleased to see you again." He bowed to the men respectfully. "And I, you, Lord Geoffrey," William replies. The Earl gives a friendly nod, his...

Geoffrey moves through the court, around all the dancing, and seeks the attention of the d'Aubigny group. He had heard news of certain things and wondered if he might be able to arrange something ambitious. It was a curious risk for him as he tended on the side of caution. At least in stately matte...

"That would be sporting of you, Crehen. Thank you." The Earl bows his head in thanks. Across the table, William is wearing a half-smile.

"Oh, I'm sure we've bent your ear long enough. There's the matter of the Offices of State, but...well, I don't suppose you've spoken with the Earl or Duchess about that?"

The Earl nods. "I think that's a fine idea, Crehen. You've shown us a good side of yourself here today, and I hope that, when our friendship is tested, we will all demonstrate the sincerity of what we have shared today."

"Ha!" William laughs. "Clever! But I already know all of us, so rather less useful an answer than I might have hoped."

Arundel looks across the table and shakes his head slowly. "My son is a transactional kind of lad. Sometimes, anyway."

His eyes flick to his father, and the back to you. It seems this might not be the time or place, but for what specific reason, it is difficult to be sure. Instead, he says... "So, Crehen, have you met any interesting people here in camp? Father's had me in meetings with Crusaders for ages ." Arundel...

The Earl replies with firm agreement. William takes in a breath as though he means to speak, a question forming on his lips, but then thinks better of it.

"Yes, family first," he concurs instead, conceding the conversational initiative. It seems he has lost stomach for the gambit.

He nods. "A fine woman. A fighter." William nods his agreement. "That's true. It's easy to see why there's so much tension between her and the Queen; they're cut from the same cloth." He looks over to you. "I wonder how the Earl of Chester is finding his marriage to the Duchess? We all thought it a ...