Wherever I Am

Chapter 19 - Part 1

The meeting with Ellie and the surviving Burgraves on the balcony was interesting if you follow the definition of interesting, being the Chinese curse of "May you live in interesting times." We were definitely doing that, and the results were not the best.

Ellie had appointed Lord Emil as interim Regent, and at least that part was good. He took the position reluctantly and would hold it, though he preferred to be back at Bacea to handle the attacks and other issues more quickly.

Lord Tiber seemed helpful, though more confused about the situation than Emil, but swore to stay here as long as he was needed. He would send his Primor back to rule Moise in his stead. He seemed the most likely to take over as Regent, though I hesitated to place him there.

Lord Calin was continuing to act a bit crazed, enough that both Emil and Tiber gave me concerned looks on occasion. Calin was responsible for the Regent's security and the Realm's persons, and he'd failed there. The three attackers had killed the guards outside the front doors of the Great Hall, delaying the hue and cry until they'd begun their attacks inside. Everything was beefed up now to overkill, but the damage was done.

The Regent and his wife were dead, as were Lords Bogdan and Marian. Even worse for Calin, his wife was slowly dying in the infirmary. His son had led his contingency north a few days back to fight for the first time, so he was alone. He didn't seem enough in control of himself to continue as Burgrave, but I didn't have other options. He definitely wouldn't be Regent.

I needed a new Regent, and I needed two new Burgraves. The others agreed but seemed more concerned with getting Ellie and me back up to our full strength of ducklings. I needed a squire and a cavalier. At least I had pages and Calin.

Ellie had Maids Mara, Sorina, and Doina, though Calin had to be reassured that Mara was still suitable as a lady-in-waiting, which got a curious look from Ellie. I hadn't said anything about this morning to her, and while I knew she noticed, she hadn't asked anything about the addition to my vest.

In any case, Zoe was too injured to be counted on right now, as was Lady Lavinia, so they needed to be replaced, at least temporarily, though it seemed to be more for decorum and status than anything real.

"Both should be adult women this time," Lord Calin said.

"We'll see," Ellie responded. "I will be the one choosing them. When Zoe and Lady Lavinia are healed, they'll attend me."

"Lord Tiber," I said, hoping to quash any further discussion on that end, especially since the second part of that probably would not happen. "Did you happen to bring anyone in your entourage who might be suitable for either squire or cavalier?"

Almost everyone in our retinues was from Emil's, so adding people from other Burgraviates would be a good idea.

Tiber smiled sheepishly. "I do possibly have someone, Milord. He is the proper age to start as a squire, though he doesn't look it yet. He's late to bloom. He has done his time as page adequately, though not to great accolades. Then there's the other matter. He's my son Gabriel, and you already have my youngest, Radu, as a page."

I wasn't going to do a long search for ducklings right now. I didn't have it in me. Maybe this Gabriel wasn't suitable for the long term, but he'd work so that I could get everyone focused on more critical problems.

"I understand your concerns. Bring Master Gabriel by midafternoon. I'll talk with him. As to a cavalier, I assume that those from the northern Burgaviate are busy, but what about to the west? Are there any from there, or potential squires, for that matter?"

Calin spoke up. "I believe there are some candidates from Panait, Lord Kevin, though I'll have to check to determine which ones are here at this point."