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Logging started for Blitzed:#7thseaic on Friday, 9 October 2020 11:42:39 British Summer Time
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** You have joined #7thseaic
(Molly) **The servants tell him Edward said he was going to town to see someone, and it reminds Morgan of the address he was given the first night when Edward stayed off the Estate and Yensid said he was with some old army comrades**
* @Morgan heads for that address
(Molly) **It takes him out of town onto the East Road, and it takes him about twenty minutes on horseback
(Molly) **The house he finds is nice, detached. It seems to be more like the house of a wealthy gentleman or minor noble's uninheriting son than a former soldiers
* @Morgan bangs on the door
(Molly) **He can hear laughter and the clang of swords from the back garden, but cannot see to that part of the property. A groom comes to take his horse, and a butler answers
** You're now known as Butler
(Butler) Good afternoon, Sir, how may I help you?
(@Morgan) I'm looking for Edward Koertig, and was told he may be here
(Butler) I will see if he is available. Do you have a calling card?
(@Morgan) No
* Butler is too well trained to give away his disapproval, except in his micro expression
(Butler) And your name?
(@Morgan) You can tell him Veisgraf Sudlachenburg wishes to see him
* Butler inclines his head, leaving him on the doorstep
* @Morgan waits patiently
(Butler) **He hears after a minute the clanging stop briefly, then the approach of footsteps. Edward opens the door, his jacket over his arm, his shirt open at the colour, recent exertion clear
** You're now known as Edward
* Edward looks serious
(Edward) I expected a messenger.
(@Morgan) evidently
(Edward) What do you want, Morgan?
(@Morgan) You and I need to talk
* Edward 's expression reveals little other than detached seriousness, just as it did when he first arrived back in Sudlachenburg
(Edward) You will give me a minute to bid my host farewell, then we will talk in the field behind the house.
(@Morgan) Of course
* Edward walks back in to the house without fully waiting for the answer
* Edward is back again a minute later, this time putting his sword back into his sword belt, jacket still off
(@Morgan) Not what I expected to be the house of an army friend
* Edward leads the way around the house to the open field at a decent distance from the property
(Edward) Lord Pottersdam. Minor noble's son. Met him at the Academy.
* @Morgan nods
* Edward looks around the field when they get there. There's a few sheep in one corner. He then looks at Morgan with that serious expression in his grey eyes
(Edward) So?
(@Morgan) You were wrong
(Edward) About?
(@Morgan) The EIsenfurst... 
* Edward stretches his arm up and behind his head, the joint crunching
(Edward) Good
* @Morgan nods
* Edward shakes his arm out
(Edward) It is not a position I would wish on anyone
(@Morgan) Normally I'd push you and push you to see it from my side... but i'm not going to.  I'm... saddened you did not trust me or my judgement.
(Edward) I am saddened that we seem doomed to have this same conflict of opinions and actions in perpetuum
* Edward watches him seriously
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) I'm doing a lot of this trusting you business... it doesn't seem you're doing the same
(Edward) I am trying. I want to trust that I will not have to spend years anticipating more trouble with the nobility
(@Morgan) There will be trouble with nobility, but it is not me alone causing it. Things are going to change
* Edward shakes his head
(Edward) You are too idealistic in this.
* @Morgan shrugs
(@Morgan) I'd suggest you move closer to my way of thinking.... its not just me pushing that way any more
(Edward) Not enough.
(@Morgan) We'll see... stop fighting me on this Edward. Please.
(Edward) You are fighting centuries of established practice and order. It is who we _are_.
(@Morgan) No, its who we were... we can be better than that.
(Edward) We were born into one of the oldest families in Eisen, from nobility by nobility. This is our place.
(@Morgan) Our place is to lead Eisen into the future
(Edward) Our place is to lead Eisen back to glory, when we were respected.
(@Morgan) We can do that better if the country is united, closer.
(Edward) The country cannot be united and closer if you upend the very structures it rests upon
(@Morgan) I'm not looking to upend it. I'm looking to bring it all closer together. 
(Edward) And how do you propose to do that when the commands of your Eisenfurst are flexible? When the rules that govern the first families are flexible?
(@Morgan) I don't have all the answers Edward, I never claimed to... 
* Edward watches him
(Edward) I want to trust you to lead the Grafdom, Morgan
(@Morgan) Look at Innesbruck... Koln... what I'm doing there is working and I guarantee the people will work and fight harder for me because of how I treat them.
(Edward) And when your neighbouring Freiarrs have their people in arms because they will not be granted the same freedoms and flexibilities you have granted yours? You do not want bad blood with the other nobles.
(@Morgan) Given that the Eisenfurst agrees with my way of working... my proving it works better than how any  other Freiarrdom does it, that leaves it to them to improve, not for us to go backwards
(Edward) You want to drag the nobility kicking and screaming towards a progressive utopia. I am telling you that some of these nobles have very heavy fists and leadened boots.
(@Morgan) And thats why I'm glad I'm not doing it alone
(Edward) You will do it alone once the consequences become apparent
(@Morgan) I dont think so... we can but wait and see, but I hope to have you by my side
* Edward 's jaw tightens a little
(Edward) I do not want to argue with you,  but that is the direction you are leading us in.
(@Morgan) Then we'll leave it that hopefully we can come to an agreement, be it one way or another, yes? My desire for us to be close, as you wish, is still strong.
* Edward inclines his head
(Edward) As is mine.
(@Morgan) There is something, however, that we need to address, regardless of what direction it takes our conversation
* Edward nods briefly
(Edward) Go on
(@Morgan) Your Veisgrafin gave you a command... and you refused it
(Edward) Yes I did
* Edward remains unemotional
(@Morgan) I understand _why_, but you've given her cause to question whether or not you will protect her, or be a risk to her. She doesn't know you as well as I do currently, and your refusal has damaged that. She is worried.
(Edward) I have given my word that I will protect my Veisgrafin.
(@Morgan) Yes, to me... 
(@Morgan) _she_ needs to see what I have seen. Do you understand?
(Edward) Then I will give it to her also. But there may be times in which protecting her and obeying her are not the same thing.
(@Morgan) And, calmly and sympathetically, she needs to be told that. She wants to trust and like you, she needs opportunity and cause to.
* Edward nods briefly
(Edward) Then this will be my task in Atemlos.
* @Morgan nods
(Edward) For her to see what you have seen, she and I will need to discuss what happened. Do you accept that?
* @Morgan nods
(Edward) I did not want to defy a command from either my Veisgrafin nor my sister-in-law, but I could not let you damage Sudlachenburg.
* Edward does not display anything in his expression
(@Morgan) And thats where the trust comes in... I wasn't about to
(Edward) It is hard to trust your judgment, just as no doubt it is hard for you to trust mine.
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) And yet I have shown more trust than you... so lets try to even that up, yes?
* Edward nods slowly
(Edward) You need to stop Molly becoming too friendly with those superior to her. If you cannot bear to let her be mistress to an Eisenfurst,  make sure he is never tempted to offer it.
(@Morgan) I'll deal with it
(Edward) I want the future of our family to be a good one. I need to see you are not a loose cannon.
(@Morgan) We're getting close to the subject that'll cause us to fight again... I'm not a loose cannon, I'm just not... as traditional as you would like
* Edward looks like he will say something, then thinks better of it
(Edward) Nor I as progressive as you would like.
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) Thats very difficult to leave alone what you would've said... I hope we can meet somewhere in the middle of our ideals
(Edward) It is not something that will help us move forward. I will try to trust your judgment, and hope that you will appreciate that the structures you push against will push back, no matter how right you feel you are
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) I think that'll do for now, don't you? A good place to start from.
* Edward nods
(Edward) Is there anything else? ((Whether he addresses knowing that he and Adalbrecht were keeping secrets worrying about Molly is your call))
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) as much as you were wrong... I want you to know I appreciate what you were trying to do
* Edward nods
(@Morgan) and given how you expected me to react, putting yourself in my way twice... 
(Edward) I knew it would be distressing,  especially as you and she are working on your relationship at present. I have no doubt it would have been painful,  but I would see you not living with the regret of reckless choices.
(@Morgan) Thank you. 
* Edward inclines his head
(Edward) You managed to find her. I was concerned as you have said she is prone to disappearing when troubled.
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) She went to sit under the tree
* Edward frowns slightly
(Edward) _A_ tree? Or _the_ tree?
(@Morgan) _the_ tree
* Edward frowns deeper
(Edward) The Nieblungen let her into their compound?
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) Intriguing, isn't it
(Edward) That is unexpected.
(@Morgan) I've stopped having expectations where they're concerned
(Edward) They are famed for reclusiveness, even with the Eisenfursts
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) and here we are, Molly sat under the tree, me in the mine...
* Edward nods slowly
(Edward) It is very unexpected. Most people never even see them. I knew a man in the War who said his great great uncle had met one on the road once.
(@Morgan) father was telling me of tales of them appearing to travellers and giving them things
* Edward nods
(Edward) A small wooden bowl.
(@Morgan) hmmm?
(Edward) He was given the bowl. Every morning when he woke whilst travelling,  it would be filled with blackberries, and this helped him survive. One day  he decided he was bored of blackberries and scattered them in the bushes. The berries never appeared in the bowl again.
* @Morgan nods
(Edward) It was probably untrue, but a good story
(@Morgan) I wouldn't like to say either way... I wouldn't be surprised if it were true, having spoken to them
* Edward nods a little
(Edward) You will trust me with Molly and Varick in Atemlos? *He looks detached,  almost nonchalant,  but his micro expressions reveal this is important to him*
(@Morgan) it is not my trust in that that has been undermined
(Edward) Molly's?
* @Morgan nods
(Edward) I will speak to her.
(@Morgan) gently, please. She is still very fragile from this weeks trials
* Edward looks very serious
(Edward) It is something that is being kept in mind.
(@Morgan) I'm sure, but it makes me feel better to have made a point of saying it
* Edward inclines his head
(Edward) Of course. I would say the same if it were Mina.
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) I wish to tell you something in confidence... you will keep it between us?
(Edward) Does it put Sudlachenburg at risk?
(@Morgan) Not at all
(Edward) Then yes
(@Morgan) You remember I had initially planned to pair you with Teresa Maubourg?
(Edward) I do
(@Morgan) good job I didn't... Isiah Fischler is to have that pleasure
* Edward smiles
(Edward) His Grace will want that Grafdom under control before the powder keg goes off the moment old Maubourg is dead. The power vacuum will be hideous.
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) We'll see what happens I suppose
(Edward) I am hoping the old bastard clings on until you are settled in Sudlachenburg, the influx of commoners from the area will need gently tending.
(@Morgan) I have to say I don't like him very much and, as we know, I'm a very affable person
* Edward smirks
(Edward) I would say so. I have a good nose for these things.
* @Morgan tilts his head slightly before nodding
(@Morgan) I've taken enough of your time. I'm going back to the estate for when Molly wakes
* Edward pauses a moment, then inclines his head
(Edward) Of course
(@Morgan) unless you have anything else?
(Edward) Actually, I was considering introducing you to my close friends.
(@Morgan) I see... If that is something you wish to do, I will stay
* Edward shakes his head
(Edward) You should be with your wife. If you want to make her understand her value, you need to show it.
(@Morgan) Another time perhaps
(Edward) Tomorrow, before we leave town
* @Morgan nods
(Edward) It is... important to me.
(@Morgan) Then it is important to me
* Edward starts walking them back to the house
(Edward) I will be back for dinner, but we generally have a last sparring competition the last night before someone leaves. It's a tradition.
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) stay safe Edward, I'll see you this evening
* Edward nods. When they get back to the house He goes in, and whilst Morgan is mounting up he hears the cheers in the back garden that greet Edwards reappearance
* @Morgan smiles to himself briefly before setting off at a trot
(Edward) **It takes him fifteen minutes to get back. He notices Adalbrecht and Varick  outside the stable. Varick is slowly riding the pony under Adalbrecht's supervision without a rope in the contained yard
** Morgan has quit (Quit: This computer has gone to sleep)
** You are now disconnected