A Question of Loyalty

Writers: Anika, Paula
Date Posted: 25th February 2015

Characters: Corowal, Rizpaulen
Description: Rizpaulen petitions Corowal for minor Hold status
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 11, day 24 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Sarban, Erilite

Rizpaulen stood straight, putting him a good head over most other men.
He was a mountain of a man, rugged and unrefined like the land that he
worked. Shifting uncomfortably in his best gather clothes, he ran a
hand through his shaggy brown hair, which his wife had done her best
to tame with a trimming just this morning. His beard and mustache had
come under her scrutiny as well and although the austere man had
balked under her ministrations, even he knew the importance of looking
one's best at a time like this.

His heavy lidded gray eyes darted toward the door and he tried to
relax. Turns of hard work spanning a generation had gone into this
day and he wanted it to go well. He looked at the hides in his hands.
Lenton was good with numbers and hidework and he appreciated his
middle son's efforts in helping him prepare.

Then the door opened and the under-steward motioned him. Upon
entering, Rizpaulen offered a curt and awkward bow, "Lord Holder,
thank you for seeing me."

"Cotholder Rizpaulen," Corowal greeted. "Take a seat, please." His
greenish brown eyes were inspecting the man in front of him. He was
trying to asses him. He noted the rought working man's hand and his
discomfort inside fine clothes. When the petition had come to his
desk, he had Sarban run a back ground check on the man. He was few
turns older than Corowal, married, several children, two of them had
Impressed dragons. His cot hold was doing well and he was apparently
hard working. He had a good reputation. He did seem like good
candidate for Holdership. But the biggest question for Corowal was, to
whom he was loyal to? It was something that no background check could
tell you.

Fitting his bulk into the seat, the man's discomfort was evident. "I
appreciate your considering my petition, sir. As I'm sure you know,
my cousin several times removed of course, was once holder at Merry
Brook. Though his son is dead now, my family has worked hard to
reestablish the Hold. I'm confidant that Merry Brook can once again
fulfill the charter responsibilities as a minor Hold." His current bid
for Hold status was particularly important right now as both Forest
Spring and Green Acres had taken use of Merry Brook's lands for their
own profit. Rizpaulen wanted legitimate and uncontested claim to the
land in Merry Brook's boundaries.

"Merry Brook deserves a holder who is dedicated to developing the
area. It's a good hold, having both rich, black soil for farming and
herding and forested region filled with valuable lumber. The tributary
that joins to Nettleweed River gives fast and effortless way to
transport people and goods," Corowal said.

Since the hold didn't have a holder, it was nominally his
responsibility as a Lord Holder. But Corowal had neither time nor
resources to truly run those holds. Especially since there was four of
such holds. He and Sarban had been trying to find men to run them ever
since he took the Lordship over Emerald Falls. "Did you know that
holder Giffin has been trying to push forward one of his younger sons
as a holder for Merry Brook?" Corowal asked. Both he and Sarban had
ignored those attempts. Giffin already had enough wealth and influence
so they didn't want to further his ambitions. With Merry Brook added
to his lands, he could have enough resources to cut himself away from
Emerald Falls hold and apply for major hold-status...or at least try
for it.

"If you take over Merry Brook, it won't be easy. You'll have both
Giffin and Luter to contend with. They both use Merry Brook's lands
like their own. You have to teach them to respect the borders again,"
Corowal warned. He hadn't been intervened to it so far, because from
his point of view unused land was unprofitable and waste of resources.
Luter and Giffin at least had done something with the land and they
had left the cotholds alone.

"You can rest assured, I'm as dedicated as they come, sir, and aye, I
knew Giffin was trying to put one of his sons in as Holder. We've
talked more than a bit about his use of Merry Brook's lands. Of
course I don't have the standing of a Holder, but then the lands were
not within his Holding either. As a means to settling things between
us, my oldest son took one of his granddaughters as a wife not long
ago. I know he'll try to use that to his advantage but then so will
I. As for Luter, we've spoken as well. I have another son as well as
a daughter of an age to marry and hope to build alliances with the
neighboring Holds."

"Smart. Too bad my daughters are still too young to offer for
marriage, well, except Erilite and she's not the type to be married
off," Corowal grinned. "I only have one big question left: loyalty. I
want to man those plague-abandoned holds with my men. If I make you
the holder, will you be my man?"

Rizpaulen nodded staunchly. "I am and will continue to be. My family
has worked hard to regain what the plague stole from us. I and my
sons would be forever grateful to you for returning Merry Brook to our
family."

"Holder Rizpaulen, I think you are just the right man I've been
looking for for Merry Brook," Corowal's face spread to a large smile.

"Thank you, Lord Corowal. You won't regret it."

Last updated on the March 6th 2015

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A Question of Loyalty