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[6/6]
Frida chafed at being talked down to like a child, but she was not foolish enough to entirely discount the Lord and Lady Andrei’s words. It carried with it the tone of a genuine warning, perhaps Frida and her escort really had been lucky to avoid attack thus far. Clearly the Andrei’s didn’t particularly want her here, but they were speaking less in terms of the inconvenience of hosting an unexpected guest and more in line with an forceful offer of sanctuary to one whom they at least viewed as genuinely being in need of it notwithstanding the bad blood between their families. Perhaps Frida had indeed miscalculated the risks of travel in this Duchy. Or perhaps the Andrei’s, men and women both, were clever enough to overplay the whole thing.
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> “I am sure Sir Ballestram and his men would relish the chance to fight the foe to be found here, given their absence from the homefront. Please, my lord, consider the soldiers of House Vancewell at your disposal for the duration of our stay.” Well, if you are going to winter here of all places then you may as well use that time to unravel the charming little enigma that is the Andrei family. Perhaps then you’ll finally lose interest in that impudent, pluckish son of theirs. But three more months of this…Is that really necessary? [Winter with the Andrei’s]
> “Your offer of an escort is most kind, my lord. We can make our own arrangements from there.” You hold little hope Lord Norveski will be willing to lift a single finger, but the funds set aside for your travel can aptly accommodate an escort of mercenaries or the like for the rest of the trip to the Duchess’ winter court. You’ll doubtless learn a thing or two about the Andrei household during your stay, perhaps something to be used to your advantage. A week here is bearable. [One Week Delay]
> “Your concern is touching, my lady, but I must insist that we be on our way with the escort we have. I suppose we won’t be able to stay for dinner after all, as it sounds like we have not a moment to lose.” You detest the idea of how that devious shrew Roselyn might play the scene of the Montbrun mountain lass fleeing Andrei lands at the first talk of a few lively cadavers, her little social circle will probably eat it up. But your machinations in the Romani Court at large cannot be delayed by this little side-tour. [Depart Without Delay]
