[15:32] (Molly) **Barely any time later, his mind recognises the approach of dawn and he awakens*
[15:35] * Morgan rolls out of bed, stretching as he sets about getting dressed
[15:36] * Molly senses him move, watching him with concern
[15:36] (Molly) Are you alright?
[15:36] * Morgan nods
[15:36] (Morgan) aye
[15:39] * Molly nods, casting a glance to the slight less-dark at the window, nodding slightly. She pushes off the covers but nestles into the pillow, closing her eyes once more
[15:40] * Morgan pulls the cover back up to her shoulder before pulling on a shirt
[15:41] * Molly murmurs slightly, already mostly asleep, pushing it off once more
[15:41] (Molly) Too warm
[15:41] * Morgan smiles, finishing dressing
[15:43] (Molly) **everything is peaceful and orderly as he heads outside. The lightening of the sky promises a warm and settled day. The birds awaken with the sun.
[15:44] * Morgan finds a quiet spot overlooking the lake and watches the sun rise
[15:48] (Molly) **it is beautiful, though is somewhat disturbed by a clanking noise further down the shoreline
[15:48] * Morgan looks in the direction of the sound
[15:48] ** You're now known as Edward
[15:49] * Edward walks down towards the shore, carrying several weapons. He doesn't notice Morgan
[15:50] * Morgan starts shadowing Edward, staying out of sight where possible
[15:52] * Edward crouches down at the water's edge, sifting through a handful of stones
[15:53] * Morgan watches him carefully
[15:54] * Edward stands, skipping a few across the lake. He's very good at it
[15:55] * Morgan approaches him slowly
[15:56] * Edward continues with another few stones. A slight change in the set of his shoulders shows that he realises he isn't alone
[15:59] * Morgan stops several feet away
[16:00] (Edward) Good morning
[16:00] (Morgan) You're up early
[16:01] * Edward nonchalantly tosses one more stone, and Morgan counts nine skips before the Sudlache claims it for her murky depths
[16:02] (Edward) I usually am.
[16:02] * Morgan nods
[16:02] (Morgan) shouldn't surprise me I suppose
[16:02] * Edward turns. He's once more in the black leather, carrying two swords on his belt
[16:03] (Edward) Force of habit from the war
[16:04] * Morgan nods
[16:04] * Edward brushes off his hands
[16:06] (Edward) I like to skim stones on the rare mornings I'm here. Takes me back to an easier time. *he 's expression is unremarkable, showing little of any emotion.*
[16:06] * Morgan nods, looking out over the lake
[16:07] * Edward reaches into his pocket, producing a piece of paper. He holds it out*
[16:07] * Morgan takes it
[16:07] (Morgan) the list?
[16:08] * Edward nods
[16:08] (Edward) Yes
[16:08] (Morgan) If any of it is falsehood, now is the time to say. There'll be no backlash
[16:08] * Edward looks a little offended
[16:09] (Edward) I have already said I was speaking the truth.
[16:10] (Morgan) Think of it as both an example of my reserve and an olive branch... rather than an accusation.
[16:10] * Edward inclines his head
[16:11] (Edward) As you say. Check, by all means. I did not lie at the time, nor will I now.
[16:12] * Morgan nods
[16:12] (Morgan) I want to ask you something...
[16:13] * Edward watches him. There's no shame or guilt, no fear, no arrogance. There is only a quiet confidence.
[16:13] (Edward) Yes?
[16:14] (Morgan) Mina... do you love her? Really, truly love her
[16:15] * Edward looks slightly surprised by this. He nods slightly. Again, there is no emotion other than simple statement of fact
[16:15] (Edward) Yes, I do
[16:15] (Morgan) and she, you?
[16:16] * Edward shrugs, looking to the lake
[16:16] (Edward) She did, when we last spoke
[16:16] (Morgan) I saw her recently... she was asking after you
[16:17] * Edward nods a little, giving nothing away
[16:17] (Edward) Where did you see her?
[16:17] (Morgan) here... she and her father came for the wedding
[16:17] * Edward nods
[16:17] (Edward) Is she well?
[16:17] * Morgan nods
[16:17] (Morgan) she misses you I think...
[16:18] * Edward smiles slightly
[16:18] (Edward) Is she happy?
[16:18] (Morgan) Not as happy as she could be I suspect
[16:20] * Edward only nods this time, again watching the sun throw sparkles on the surface of the water
[16:22] (Edward) I could have spoken to her at court last winter...
[16:23] (Morgan) but you didn't?
[16:25] (Edward) Her father told me he did not want me to ever talk to her again. It would have been a dishonour to do so against his wishes.
[16:25] * Morgan nods
[16:26] (Morgan) do you think fathers intervention would help?
[16:26] (Edward) That is irrelevant.
[16:26] (Morgan) Just answer the question, Edward... humour me
[16:26] * Edward 's expression is completely neutral
[16:28] (Edward) Freiarr Hapsburg is not getting any younger. Mina is, as far as I'm aware, unattached still. A time will come where he'll wish to make her wed so that he can see her safe.
[16:29] (Morgan) enough of the politics... thats entirely what has us ill at ease...
[16:32] (Edward) What you see as politics is simple fact. She will be expected to wed, and unless she has changed in the last three years, she will not do so willingly
[16:32] (Morgan) You think she would marry you, if her father agreed?
[16:33] * Edward looks to Morgan
[16:33] (Edward) If she still feels as she did then, yes
[16:34] * Morgan nods
[16:36] (Morgan) Providing all you say proves to be true... I'll consider speaking with her father on your behalf...
[16:36] * Edward shakes his head
[16:36] (Edward) I have a duty to Sudlachenburg.
[16:37] (Morgan) Shut up Edward... you'll do as you're told.
[16:38] * Edward looks shocked, then laughs
[16:39] (Edward) No-one has said that to me in... In a while
[16:40] * Edward becomes serious
[16:40] (Edward) What about Kiev?
[16:41] (Morgan) Kiev's not exactly a danger to us... I dare say I can find someone more palettable for the Maubourgs to marry
[16:41] (Morgan) or we just stroll in and take over
[16:41] * Edward frowns
[16:42] (Edward) Kiev is a powderkeg on our doorstep. Everyone will look to annexe it.
[16:43] (Morgan) Then we'll do it first... though if we can find someone to help push the place towards us, so much the better
[16:44] (Edward) My marrying her is the most sensible option. Sudlachenburg does not need to annexe. It is a waste of life and a waste of resources.
[16:45] (Morgan) Have you heard this preposterous story about the Eisenfurst and assembled nobles digging in the dirt with the commoners here?
[16:45] * Edward laughs
[16:46] (Edward) It sounds more like a fairytale
[16:46] (Morgan) It does... have you seen the new houses, home to the villagers taken in?
[16:46] (Edward) I haven't seen or heard much
[16:47] (Morgan) New houses were needed for newcomers... a storm threatened the foundations unless more workers pitched in... the only people who weren't working were the noble sorts and the Eisenfurst...
[16:48] (Edward) And?
[16:48] (Morgan) well, as I said, the story is that they all got dirty and did some work...
[16:48] (Edward) And did they?
[16:49] (Morgan) The houses are standing, I'd say that answers fairly self evident
[16:49] * Edward nods
[16:49] (Edward) How did father manage that?
[16:49] (Morgan) he didn't... in fact he was quite angry about it
[16:49] (Edward) Why?
[16:50] (Morgan) having the Eisenfurst working in the mud? deplorable...
[16:52] (Edward) Unless he was physically threatened, Eisenfurst Fischler wouldn't have done it unless he wanted to. His reputation is well known
[16:53] (Morgan) He wasn't threatened... nor were any of the others
[16:53] * Morgan mutters
[16:53] (Morgan) threaten the Eisenfurst, what sort of man do you take me for... I'm not an idiot
[16:53] * Edward nods
[16:53] (Edward) How did you do it?
[16:54] (Morgan) I told them how important it was, how they... _we_ are responsible for the safety of our people and that that means getting our hands dirty
[16:55] (Edward) And that worked?
[16:56] (Morgan) The houses are built, aren't they?
[16:56] * Edward nods
[16:57] (Edward) But you must see that marriage is the easiest and safest way to ensure Sudlachenburg's safety?
[16:57] * Morgan smiles
[16:58] (Morgan) I see it... but a happily married couple are a much stronger force to be reckoned with... besides, perhaps Faulk will intervene with Kiev
[16:59] * Edward nods slowly
[16:59] (Edward) He does have two "spares" once Graf Seeufer is married off
[17:00] (Morgan) I daresay Maubourg might be willing to look into some sort of agreement, since he'll not want Kiev annexed by force... which he knows is an option
[17:02] (Morgan) Speaking of Graf Seeufer... he's married
[17:02] * Edward looks to Morgan before picking up a stone to skim
[17:02] (Edward) Oh? Who?
[17:02] (Morgan) Some woman with loose morals... a widow...
[17:02] * Edward skims his stone
[17:03] (Edward) A widow for a firstborn?! He'd compromised her reputation then?
[17:03] * Morgan laughs
[17:04] (Morgan) no, not really... but he absconded with her and Faulk decided they should both learn a lesson
[17:05] * Edward looks back
[17:05] (Edward) Faulk is it?
[17:05] * Morgan nods
[17:05] (Morgan) turns out being brutally honest and annoying maubourg went down well... and besides, it was me had to break it to him that his illustrious son had disappeared with our errant cousin
[17:06] * Edward laughs
[17:07] (Edward) He's married Alarice?!
[17:08] * Morgan nods
[17:08] (Morgan) I hear that not all is love and laughter in that household right now...
[17:08] * Edward laughs hard
[17:08] (Edward) No, it wouldn't be!
[17:10] (Morgan) I wanted her put in a nunnery, but the Eisenfurst disagreed
[17:10] * Edward sniggers
[17:11] (Edward) Alarice in a _nunnery_!
[17:11] (Morgan) I couldn't really think of anything worse for her
[17:13] * Edward laughs
[17:13] (Edward) It would be extremely dishonourable of me to tell you exactly how awful that would have been
[17:13] * Morgan shrugs
[17:14] (Morgan) I'm fairly aware... Karsten was meticulous in his note keeping
[17:14] * Edward shakes his head
[17:15] (Edward) What did she do to annoy you?
[17:16] (Morgan) said the wrong things... dallied with a montaigne man in the forest, used all of Innesbrucks resources to pay his debts... tried to lure me into marrying her...
[17:20] (Edward) She wanted to marry you?!
[17:20] (Morgan) You needn't be quite _that_ surprised
[17:20] * Edward smiles
[17:21] (Edward) I apologise. I'm surprised she thought of it. Alarice is... Unusual.
[17:22] (Morgan) crazy, more like... even Jarvie warned me to be careful of her...
[17:22] * Edward nods
[17:22] (Edward) Something like that reasoning, yes.
[17:23] * Morgan nods
[17:23] * Edward picks up another stone
[17:24] (Edward) Isiah Fischler is in for a world of pain marrying her
[17:24] * Morgan smiles slightly
[17:24] (Morgan) I find it hard to feel sympathy for him
[17:24] (Edward) Me too. Or the Comte de la Fere
[17:25] * Edward skims the stone
[17:25] (Morgan) You know of him?
[17:25] * Edward nods
[17:25] (Edward) Insomuch as I know Alarice's... Quirks, yes
[17:25] (Morgan) he's currently sat in a cell, incidentally
[17:26] * Edward laughs
[17:26] (Edward) Does her husband know that?
[17:26] * Morgan shrugs
[17:26] (Morgan) not my concern.... I'm only interested in the money he owes Innesbruck
[17:27] * Edward nods
[17:28] (Edward) He's going to pay it back?
[17:28] (Morgan) He doesn't know it yet, mind...
[17:30] * Edward picks another pebble, briefly quiet. He tosses the stone hand to hand, watching his older brother
[17:30] (Edward) Why? Why would you go back on the orders you gave me?
[17:31] (Morgan) Because.... I dont feel right keeping you from love if there is a chance of it...
[17:32] * Edward watches him a moment more
[17:33] (Edward) Even thought that's what I did to you?
[17:33] * Morgan sighs slightly
[17:33] (Morgan) to a degree, probably _because_ thats what you did to me...
[17:35] (Edward) It allows you to take the moral high-ground? *he looks only interested, not accusatory*
[17:35] * Morgan shakes his head
[17:36] (Morgan) it allows me to be at ease with myself... I've always argued that love is more important... how could I look myself in the eye each morning if I changed that to punish you?
[17:36] * Edward nods
[17:38] (Edward) But love is not winning out here. I am undertaking whichever duty I am given. I go to whichever woman because it is the choice of my superior. I _want_ to be with Mina, but I _must_ follow my orders.
[17:39] (Morgan) and currently they are if these details are corroborated, you might be with Mina... even if you have to be told to do it
[17:40] * Edward nods
[17:40] (Edward) They will be corroborated. I set my word on it.
[17:40] * Morgan nods
[17:41] (Morgan) I want you to do something for me, though
[17:41] * Edward waits patiently
[17:41] (Edward) Yes?
[17:41] (Morgan) Stop flirting with Inga... HeinzHarold doesn't like it, and I think these feelings are new to him
[17:42] * Edward nods
[17:42] (Edward) I forget I'm doing it most of the time
[17:42] * Morgan nods
[20:14] (Edward) [17:42] * Morgan nods
[20:15] (@Morgan) Well, try to keep it in mind...
[20:15] * Edward nods
[20:16] (Edward) You aren't giving me the same warning on your own behalf
[20:16] * @Morgan shrugs
[20:16] (@Morgan) Do i need to?
[20:19] * Edward smiles
[20:19] (Edward) I'll bear it in mind
[20:19] (@Morgan) Good
[20:22] * Edward again glances to Morgan before picking up some stones. He tosses one to Morgan
[20:23] * @Morgan catches it
[20:23] (Edward) Are you going to tell me about Molly now?
[20:24] (@Morgan) What do you want to know?
[20:25] (Edward) How did her father end up being father's estates manager?
[20:26] * Edward skims the stone with eight bounces
[20:26] (@Morgan) He came along for the wedding and father offered him the position...
[20:26] * @Morgan flings the stone across the water
[20:28] (Edward) And previously he was...?
[20:29] * Edward watches Morgan's stone
[20:30] (@Morgan) A gentleman in avalon...
[20:32] * Edward nods
[20:32] (Edward) How did you meet?
[20:34] (@Morgan) She was working in a Lady’s estate when I was doing the same
[20:35] (Edward) That's quite unconventional
[20:35] * @Morgan nods
[20:36] (Edward) What is she like?
[20:36] * Edward finds them more stones
[20:37] (@Morgan) Willful, smart, intuitive... Gentle, loving...
[20:38] (Edward) Willful _and_ gentle?
[20:38] * @Morgan nods
[20:39] (@Morgan) Gentle enough that she allowed me to be me...
[20:40] * Edward watches him
[20:40] (Edward) As opposed to...?
[20:41] (@Morgan) Expecting something of me, wanting me to conform to some ideal
[20:43] * Edward nods, handing him some rocks
[20:43] (Edward) She has lovely hair. Is her father's that colour also?
[20:45] (@Morgan) No, she's quite singular
[20:46] * Edward nods
[20:46] (Edward) I can see why she'd appeal to you
[20:48] (@Morgan) I was broken... She allowed me time to heal
[20:50] * Edward nods
[20:50] (Edward) I am glad that she did
[20:52] (@Morgan) She's got a title, mind you... Just from somewhere rather unknown
[20:54] * Edward watches him
[20:54] (Edward) Where?
[20:55] (@Morgan) You'll not have heard of it
[20:56] (Edward) How did she become entitled?
[20:57] (@Morgan) Bestowed by a member of their royal family
[20:57] (Edward) Why?
[20:58] (@Morgan) She helped him when he got injured... Any number of times
[21:01] * Edward looks impressed
[21:01] (Edward) She's a physician as well?
[21:02] (@Morgan) Basic healing skills... Enough to stop us dying
[21:02] (Edward) That would have been useful during the war
[21:03] * Edward 's stone bounces just once, a poor throw
[21:03] * @Morgan nods, before flinging a rock across the surface
[21:04] (Edward) Mother adores her
[21:04] * @Morgan nods
[21:05] (Edward) Does Father know about the possible change of plan?
[21:06] (@Morgan) No... I only thought about it last night
[21:06] * Edward nods
[21:06] (Edward) I doubt he'll approve
[21:07] (@Morgan) Probably not... He's like that
[21:07] * Edward nods
[21:08] (Edward) I am surprised he hasn't banished me in truth
[21:09] (@Morgan) He can't...
[21:09] (Edward) Why not? He _is_ the graf
[21:11] (@Morgan) He'd have to say why you were banished... Scandal aside, no one could do that to mother
[21:13] * Edward nods
[21:13] (Edward) I understand. How long are you staying?
[21:17] (@Morgan) We're off travelling again, testing out a refloated ship...
[21:18] (Edward) That sounds novel
[21:19] * Edward wipes his hands again
[21:19] (Edward) I'd best get some practice in, it's been a few days. Unless there's anything else?
[21:20] * @Morgan shakes his head
[21:21] * Edward inclines his head, wandering off