Re: Clear Fountain Plaza-The Main Stage
In the morning, Theoderic wakes to find Aelasuria at his side. Somehow, despite the newness, it seems perfectly right. But then.. she has slipped away.
But later, Aelauria has another surprise.
Theoderic does not have a large family, and they didn't have resources to spend on lavish wedding gifts (and they wouldn't, not with Rita and her fund, and knowing how everyone felt about that.) But they know Aelasuria by now, and they figured out the right gift for her (with a bit direction from Theoderic.)
It is on a chair near the table when they arrive for (late) breakfast. A large box.
The box meows.
Elfin cats are native to the great magical forests of Europa, especially the Fey Forest of Brittany, and the Ardennes. They are highly sensitive, intelligent beings, but tend to have very strange senses of "how things should be" and obey rules only they understand.
They quickly pick up the languages around them- they can't speak at birth, but are very talkative by 3 or 4. They learn what they hear around them, and in addition, elven cats have a language of their own, which they speak fluently amongst themselves. It consists mainly of cat-like purrs, yowls, hisses, and meows, and uses body language (particularly the positioning of the tail and the erecting of the fur) to add emphasis to the spoken word. Occasionally, an elven or similar word will be added if there is no equivalent in the elven cat language.
Elven cats, although magical in nature and possessing extraordinary powers (which vary unpredictably from cat to cat) nonetheless have many traits similar to those of the standard house cat. They are fastidious, licking themselves clean after every meal, and therefore also prone to hairballs. They like to be hugged and petted, but only sometimes. They like to think they are in charge, and look down on all non-felines as inferior beings. On the other hand, they can be close companions, well-loved pets, and even occasionally serve as wizards' familiars (but only to elven wizards, and then usually only if the find familiar spell is cast by an elven wizard of high enough level to suitably impress the elven cat - they wouldn't serve just anybody, after all).
Aelasuria has met a few Elven cats before, in her travels- Noctore and Elsinore. This one is just a kitten, in need of a home.
Theoderic has a few things to attend to- he sends messages to Gellas by courier.
They have hundreds of soldiers at their disposal- but keeping them in the field is costly. Most aren’t here for the money, but still, they need to be fed, equipment gets used and abused and needs upkeep or replacement, and every day they are in the field, they are not working their farms or their herds or doing all the other things that makes people prosperous.
So he has dismisses them- sends them back, to their homes and farms and herds, scattered around his small domain. Most of them, at least. There a few he wants to keep in service. Some have no home to go back to. Some adamantly refuse, until the Huns are destroyed. And he still needs some.
Theoderic organizes a road patrol, and road construction crew, to work the road between Hiricio and Lucimburic. This forest trail will now become a key artery in his kingdom, linking his lands in the Ardennes with Belgica. It needs to be more than a forest trail- it needs to improvements, to handle the traffic he expects.
In the days following the wedding winter at last set in with a vengeance, blanketing Lucimburic- and the entire Ardennes- with thick snow.
He has meetings with various people concerning plans and strategy, and he has good news for Scolo.
"We will keep our promise to rescue the people of your village," he says. "We have the support of the Academy of Aurelianorum in this. They will send Kyriel, and at least one wizard, I expect. I will send Byron... and others. I need you to be as clear as you can, and tell them as honestly as you can, what to expect."
And that is in a different thread, for those going on this quest. A meeting with Scolo.