Varcola Tale of Horror & Nightmares: Arnfried's Journal: Cèitean 9th

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Cèitean 9^th

It has come about that some of the Baroness’s intentions have become known to me. It would appear that she intends to wed. How do I know this, you may ask Sieghild. However, this was discovered shortly after a brief discussion and debate with Klove, who informed me that it was the intent of every Baroness since the first lady rulers in her clan that they should marry a continental lord.

Though, quite why she would consider marriage at her age was beyond me yet the suspicion had only grown with each day that passed. It was apparent in how she had seemed smitten with my description of the Count of Verghan, the second to youngest of the Counts of age who was by this time a proven warrior and a man of some renown. Descended from the old Count Ludwig, who it was said had fought nobly for Baldéric son of Aemiliemagne, so that he was among the wealthiest and most prestigious nobles.

Her passion for the Count was evident in the many queries she laid before my feet, in regards to him. So that I spent more and more of my days explaining his familial history, his interest in horses, in chivalry and his great many feats.

“And is he keen on women?” She had asked in time.

“I do not know,” I answered her in earnest, “All that I know is that he is among the most renowned knights in the realm. Especially, since his grandfathers fought equally for old Arculf I the Red.”

“Really now? And who is this other grandfather of his?”

“It would be the Count of Verghan, another of old Arculf’s closest of friends,” I explained to her, adding for good measure, “He stands to inherit two of the richest counties. His younger brother is rather sore about it and yet is unlikely to mount a counter-claim.”
This pleased her inordinately. She paced the breadth and length of the library, ere she murmured one of the strangest phrases imaginable as she tapped one long forefinger against her chin, “Count Reinhardt? I am quite familiar with him, I reckon he must be near to ninety or so years by this time.”

It was statements such as this that always left me bewildered, though I knew she would not answer them I occasionally had to ask for clarification. At this time, I had no urge to do so, for I well knew that she would defer from answering.

Familiar with her manner of addressing such matters by this time, I simply made a note to return to the subject at a later date. I doubt very much, she will have by that time lowered her guard on such a matter, clever as she was beyond my ken.

“There is also the Emperor, a man who is deeply pious that men say, he ought well to be a douvard and who has also excelled in many of the manly arts.” I began to say, thinking she might like to hear of the person who at present, occupied the throne of Arculf I.

“A priestly youth is of no interest to me,” Rejected Vârcola at once, almost spitting upon the ground to my astonishment.

It was bewildering how she could take such keen interest in one youth, only to reject another. Hardly able to comprehend her mutterings and fickle whims, I could only bow to her wishes and scheme to escape once more.

I sit now, writing away in my journal long after she has left me, I scribble these notes at present with the notion and hope that on the morrow she might lower her guard once more. If I could only determine how it is that she crawls from tower to tower, I might be better placed to escape myself!