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<span class="mu-i"> ''It is good to see you again, my lord. I remember passing by during my squiredom.'' </span> You said Castle Hoenburg was always a medium-sized but well-built castle. You visited while squiring for Ehrenfried, as part of your travels around the realm, though the village outside was lacking the building it has now, and the halls didn't have their new tapestries.
What began as a cough turned to laughter, as the old count reminisced about the days when you were just a young squire, eager to learn and explore. <span class="mu-i"> "You were a mischievous brat of a prince back then; you once stole my best horse just to prove you could ride better than me," </span> he chuckled, his eyes twinkling with fond memories.
<span class="mu-i"> ''Ah, but that was long ago, though your master made haste to get across the border of the fief. I hope he spanked you for it!'' </span> He said with a stomp of his cane.
<span class="mu-i"> ''He didn't.'' </span> You replied.
<span class="mu-i"> ''Bah! I suppose that behaviour is normal for Issenwalds; every single one of them is like that, you know. All of them are either suicidal or don't have the word 'fear' in their dictionary. Half-mad, all of them, from that Ehrenfried of yours to his father, and his father before him. And it's not only the men, let me tell you.'' </span> Typical old man ramblings, though you did have one point where you wished to content him.
<span class="mu-i"> ''But I always heard Ehrenfried went erranting because his family was so boring.'' </span> You said, knowingly provoking the ramblings of the old man.
<span class="mu-i"> ''Oh, boring, you say? Ha! If only you knew the half of it. The Issenwalds have a long history of eccentricity and recklessness that goes far beyond mere boredom; don't let that civil facade they put up fool you. He might find his family boring because they aren't as fried in the brain as he is, but they're all alike; it wouldn't surprise me if it has diluted its way into the peasantry there as well.'' </span> He continued on like this for a while before finally taking a breath and looking at you expectantly, as if waiting for a response.
<span class="mu-i"> ''You seem to know these Issenwalds quite well.'' </span> You nodded in agreement.
<span class="mu-i"> ''Of course I know them well; I married one, by Sifridus' left helmet wing! The wildest woman I ever met, as mad as the rest of them, but oh, if she wasn't the most wondrous creature I have ever laid eyes on. May she rest in peace, though I am glad our children and grandchildren take after my side of the family, so I suppose there must be something in the well at Issenwald.'' </span>
