Kenna has joined the Garden Peacocks Bath.

Iron Guard Spa day is just like every other spa day... only presumably with Iron Guards. A small number of them are distributed throughout the pools in varying degrees of undress. Silas, for his part, is in the marble pool - and looks like he never wants to leave.

Kenna looks tired as she relaxes in her pool, eyes closed. Actually, it's totally possible she's fallen asleep in her pool, her head resting against a the stone side of her bool with a towel tucked for a slight cushion. zzzzzzz.

Harper slips in, rubbing her hands on her sides and looking around curiously. She looks completely like a fish out of water and just gives Kenna and Silas an awkward wave. Making her way over to where Kenna is stopping at the edge to stand and look down at her. Glancing over she gives Silas a grin and a wave, then looks back to Kenna and starts to open her mouth to say something, then realizes that Kenna has fallen asleep. She nudges Kenna's toweled head with her foot and says, "Don't drown, Partner."

Silas rolls his neck lazily and returns Harper's wave. Kenna's state is noticed when Harper begins to nudge her. "Too bad I'm too lazy to pull a prank," Silas murmurs. Dash scampers forward and begins to furiously lick Kenna's hand. Mmm, doggy drool.

Kenna jerks at the touch to her head, blinking as she realizes she fell asleep. "Oops." Kenna pushes herself upright and sweeps back her half wet hair only to be suddenly attacked by a SUPER FIERCE Dash. "Ahh, Dash, no, stop!" Kenna puts her hands in front of her face to fend off the dog droool even as she blinks herself back awake. She'll be fully awake soon.

13 King's Own Guardsmen, Zelda, the royal messenger arrive, following Alaric.

Harper chuckles at Dash, then turns to make her way over to the benches and tugg off her boots and clothes. Making her way over to one of the pools, she's very definitely moving stiffly. There's still a huge bruise along her jawline on the left side and a rather wicked looking boot-shaped bruise on her ribs, but she just slips down into the water and sinks down into it without explanation. She sighs and closes her eyes, saying to Kenna, "I came like I promised, Partner. Still not sure about this spa thing, but this sure feels real nice."

Zavi arrives, following Magpie.

Harper has joined the Garden Peacocks Bath.

"We can't let you relax -too much-, cousin," Silas says with a snicker. Dash seems to be satisfied with his work, and lops back off to the pool Silas resides in - who cruelly won't let him in! He frowns when he sees Harper's curiously-shaped bruises and how stiffly she is moving. "Tough patrols lately, Harper?"

Alaric and the King's Own make what is a rather rare Grotto appearance, and just as rarely the King himself seems turned down a few notches from his normal highly energetic manner. Getting himself all bath-ready, he somewhat laboriously makes his way to the big pool with Silas. "Lord Commander," he says regally upon approach with a tired grin as he eases himself first down to the floor and from there takes a little break with his feet in the water before the next stage of descent. "Never fails, doesn't it? Schedule an event, have an incident break out in the city right before it that ties up a bunch of guardsmen," he observes wryly. Dash gets a pat on the head if he wanders near. "I might make a poor substitute, but here I am. As it turns out, I could use a hot soak besides."

Magpie Grayhope walks in with a slightly frazzled expression on his face. Then he sees all the king's guards and just skiiirts around them. "Either I got really high earlier and am so far gone I don't remember it, or there's something really fucked up going on out there. That snow is *green*." He's saying aloud, to anyone that will answer him. "And the king is here.. at the public baths... I must be high."

"I mean, you //could//..." Kenna says with a yawn. RAther than let herself relax again she pulls herself out of the pool and just hands her legs over into the warm water. Better to not fall asleep. To Harper, "I feel like someone's been hitting me with big swords and arrows... oh //wait//..." Kenna's going to turn and eye Silas.

Harper looks over at Silas and snorts, then shakes her head. Grinning a bit sheepishly, she says, "I err... picked a fight I couldn't win I reckon. But I'll be alright." She eyes Kenna with a look that clearly shows she is anticipating that explanation won't come close to assuaging her curiosity. Fortunately, the King is entering right at that moment and she stands up to give him an awkward, and unusually stiff, bow before sinking back down into the water again. Spotting Magpie, her face lights up happily, then she waves over to him, calling, "Heya, Magpie! It's not cause you're high. Well, at least I saw the same thing and I'm not high!" Looking back to Kenna, she raises her eyes, then looks over at Silas again, asking, "You spar with Bosshawk yesterday? Sorry I couldn't make it."

No one is more caught off guard when Alaric mosies in than the Iron Guard. The Lord Commander didn't say he invited the King! They all immediately stand from their pools in all their gangly glory and bow. Silas blinks owlishly up at Alaric, then cringes slightly when Alaric gets a front row seat to undressed Iron Guardsmen. Some aren't -hideous-, mind you, buuut. "Your Majesty," he dips his head respectfully back to Alaric and his friendly smile returns. "Well," he glances back to Kenna. "As she says, I -did- hit them a bunch with a sword. They deserve a break." He blinks again when he overhears Magpie. "Green snow? What's happening out there?" He's genuinely curious, but not enough to leave his pool and go look himself. The smile fades when he hears Harper's answer to his earlier inquiry. "I assume you don't want to tell me who..." Silas sighs. "But I hear you threw your name into the ring for the Commoner's Council?"

Magpie spots Kenna and throws her a wide grin. "Hey wife! Wait, is there a men's pool and a women's pool going on here?" He looks between the pools, shaking melted (and green maybe?) drops from his hair. He looks to Silas, "It's snowing ... green snow.. I don't know how else to explain it. The snow is green. And it stings when it hits you. It's fucked up snow out there." Then he answers for his wife, "She got beat up by some dick in the Murder who clearly had no idea who he was picking a fight with. We're taking care of it." He says with a casual smile, then smirks when the man brings up the Commoner's Council.

Alaric dispense a general at-ease sort of wave to the assembled Iron Guard. "Abyssals making a nuisance, as ever," he declares dryly. "The Faith is handling it, with some support. We were singing Canticles to Vellichor, it was quite nice." He grunts and eases himself off the ledge into the pool. "Until it very briefly wasn't. Something of a parting shot of frustration, it seemed like." He balances himself in the water and lets his arms drift out to the side. "But yes, there's definitely something wrong with that snow. I wouldn't go about making a fort of it, that's for certain." He lets out a deep breath, and the water seems to be very therapeutic.

"Yup." Kenna says in return to Harper's inquiry re: sparring. Rising from her pool all the way Kenna goes to wrap herself in a towel over her bathing smock. Then she goes to start smoothing some nice warm lotion all over. Because this is a spa day. She's just listening for a moment, having seen the green snow before coming in. It's one more reason to sleep.

1 Grayson House Guards, Peaches, a lovely white war filly with a peach saddle, Deliverance, an albino falcon, Stormy, a silvery gray hunting hound, Rascal, a hyper terrier, Rosalie, a lady in waiting arrive, following Reese.

Reese shows up at the Iron Guard spa day a little late. She glances over the room and has a smile for all gathered here, a bit of a somber smile for whatever reason. The princess then starts toward the changing screen.

Alaric has joined the Grotto in the Stone.

An extremely tall and fully armored woman stops inside the Grotto. She has a crimson cloak wrapped around her helmet, neck and shoulders that she begins to unwind with aggravated gestures. Green snow melts on her cloak and down her armor as she finally tugs out of her helm. Carmen Harol turns to speak with an attendant near the entrance. "Gotta ask. How's the water here?"

Harper winces slightly at the mention of the barfight again, shaking her head, and reaches up to rub her face forgetting her hands are wet. Sputtering, she mutters, "I got stupid and came into the Murder in full guard gear and he took exception. Only he was twice my size, so he took exception to me taking exception and showed me with his fists. I'll be alright though." Glancing at Kenna, she adds, "How's your training coming along?" She gives Kenna a curious glance as she whispers something to her but nods. Looking back to Silas, she answers his question, scrunching up her nose toward Magpie for a second then grinning, "Well, yeah, sorta. I got volunteered, but the idea's settling on me now. I reckon if I get elected, then I'll try and give it my best. I'm no politician for sure though, but I like helping the folks in the Boroughs, especially." She tosses a wave to Reese and Carmen when they enter and snags a towel to wrap around her before making her way over to where Kenna is.

Magpie goes to change, definitely not afraid to go commando in front of everyone. He has that sailor's physique that's marred by years of smoking drugs and picking some fights with thugs, other sailors, and the occasional Bringer of Silence. He goes over to the pool Harper is in, but will sweep a very unpolished bow to the king, "Your majesty. Still a big fan of yours." He says with a flash of smile, then drops into the water next to his wife. "You really are one of the best people for the job, sweetheart. We volunteered you because we all know this." He says cheerily, then frowns as she climbs *out* of the pool. "What?!" He eyes Kenna.

Reese smiles warmly to both Carmen and Harper. She then is behind the changing screen. Reese emerges in rather modest order garments that consist of a white camisole and white bloomers. "What job i that?" She asks, sounding all curious and clearly overhearing Magpie's words.

Kenna mouths 'sorry' at Magpie when Harper climbs out, she really didn't mean to steal Harper for very long. But she does scoot back away and lower her voice so that only Harper can hear her words.

Silas narrows his gaze at Magpie's answer. "So... does that explain why there were more reports of guardsmen running into poles lately?" He frowns at Alaric. "No more snow ball fight or ice sculpture contests for awhile, then. Thankfully winter shouldn't be lasting much longer." Silas chews on the inside of his cheek and returns his attention to Harper. "Hmm. We'll need to get you to the point where you step into the bar and everyone knows fighting you is a very unwise idea - even while drunk." He nods to Harper. "If it's anything like the first iteration, you'll have your work cut out for you. The Commoner's Council was more of an open forum than a meeting. But you have our support."

As she chats with the attendant, Carmen looks over the Grotto and, blinking, lifts a hand in a wave over to the Iron Guard contingent. Her brow knits - that looks like the King, but it's probably not the King, that's fine - before she calls over, "You had a good idea." Even at a distance, Carmen absolutely, positively reeks of vomit as the heat of the room starts to evaporate the various fluids on her.

Harper grins at Magpie, and leans over to kiss his cheek, saying, "I'll be right back, love. Promise." Then she scoots off to talk to Kenna for a minute. She snorts over at Silas, at his comments though, and calls over, "Being intimidating's not something I'm real good at. Maybe I oughta get Jyri to teach me how to growl more." She turns her attention back to Kenna, still chuckling, then her grin fades, replaced by a frown as she reaches up to rub the back of her neck.

"The water's fantastic, by the way," Alaric declares without looking to see who asked. "And poles? I couldn't say much about that. If there was an effect it was trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, the sorts of things you'd associate with Vellichor's reflection." He exhales in relaxation, eyes still closed as he loosely hangs semi-afloat in the water, with only enough weight on his feet to keep him from sinking. "We're hoping to make the Council more of an institution this time around. But we'll see. Historically, it's largely been what the Councillors make of it."

Magpie just looks at Silas instead, "I .. have no idea. I thought maybe I was high but I really don't think I am." He dips beneath the water to soak his curls, then surfaces and reaches to snag a bar of soap. Might as well clean up while here. "I definitely *felt* like I smoked some bad Haze earlier... so maybe that's what it was."

Reese a missive. She then gets dressed and heads off. Is she rushing to check out bling?

1 Grayson House Guards, Peaches, a lovely white war filly with a peach saddle, Deliverance, an albino falcon, Stormy, a silvery gray hunting hound, Rascal, a hyper terrier, Rosalie, a lady in waiting leave, following Reese.

"Hey Reese," Silas greets the princess casually, then she skitters off. "Bye Reese." He looks up and nods to Harper. "I'm terrible at it, too. Any intimidation emanating from me comes from the title more than anything." Silas nods to Alaric. "Is there going to be set terms this time? Someone appointed to actually coordinate the meetings and set an agenda?"

"I hear the last round the council members didn't get paid. I hope that's gonna be fixed this time. I mean, I got paid as a Deputy Minister. Seems like if commoners on commoner wages that give up their time to be on the council should get some compensation, right?..." Magpie is talking to Silas, seemingly, but he's lathered so much soap all over his face and into his hair that he could be talking to anyone for all that his eyes can be seen at this point.

Kenna steps forward and hugs Harper briefly, before turning back to Magpie and gently pushing Harper towards her husband. "I think I should probably go before I pass out again and drown before any of you notice this time." A half-smile, as Kenna trots herself away.

Kenna has left the Garden Peacocks Bath.

Harper gives Kenna a quick hug, then says, "Thanks, Parnter. I'm going back to the pool. It's cold up here." With that she'll make her way back over to Magpie and drop the towel on the edge before sinking down into the water. Looking over at Silas, she grins, and says, "Well, I don't lose my temper real often, fortunately. So normally I don't try punching folks that're twice my size. I just was a bit distracted that night." She glances at Magpie and gives him a half-grin, with a look that says no hard feelings, then scrunches up her nose and avoids some of the soap being flung about. Her attention turns back to Alaric as he talks about the council.

Carmen looks over the pool, features set and mouth a thin line. Her smile returns, competent and professional, as she and the attendant murmur about boring, unimportant things like infrastructure and supplies that are hard to hear over the waterfall. Head tipping in thanks, Carmen takes in a long breath before stuffing her helmet back on and wrapping her cloak around her neck and lower face.

Dog the rat arrives, delivering a message to Carmen before departing.

"The First Observer will be ensuring the Council is actually accomplishing things. He's got plenty of experience doing so from overseeing the Knights-Herald, after all," Alaric observes languidly amidst his quasi-float. "And there will be a budget. Presumably one of the Councillors' first deliberative acts will be to determine how much they're paying themselves out of it."

Silas nods to Magpie. "That will certainly create an incentive to join." He lifts a brow when Alaric reveals that the councilors themselves will be setting their pay. "That promises to make things interesting." He tilts his head thoughtfully. "Hopefully I'll be allowed to sit in and observe silently."

Magpie dunks under the water again, rinsing away the soap. The suds spread out away from him like a cleaner, friendlier version of the Darkwater. When he resurfaces he sees Harper's back in the water and grins, wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug. "Who and what is the First Observer?" He asks before pressing a kiss to Harper's head -- mwah!

Harper chuckles and shakes her head, saying, "Well, I reckon I wouldn't be doing it for the money. I hardly ever spend what I get from the Guard, as it is." She tilts her head curiously and looks over at Alaric, "I've talked to Josie about it a little, but I've never met the First Observer. I'd be curious to hear what his ideas are, whether I'm on it or not. I got high hopes for it, I gotta admit." She grins a bit, then asks, "So, if you don't mind me being direct and asking, Your Majesty. Do you really plan to listen to the council? Will everything they do go through you? Or will they have some authority on their own? And if that's not something I oughta be asking you, then I'm real sorry, just ignore the woman in the towel." Her cheeks turn a bit pink at her own brazenness, but then she's being distracted by Magpie and laughing at his antics, and hugging him back.

"I plan to give the Council every opportunity to prove their worth as partners in bringing about a better quality of life in Arx," Alaric declares serenely. "We will give them budgetary resources to do with as they will, of course. If their plans require more than that, they are welcome to bring the Crown their proposals. But I don't see it as fixed right now as to how things -are- going to be. I feel that there is a lot of untapped potential with the Council, and that's why I keep returning to it. It is just an issue of finding the right path to unlock it." He dips below the water, staying submerged for a few moments before standing up with his hair slicked back. "Oh, and the First Observer leads the Observers, naturally. It's also synonymous with the Ministry of Loyalty position for the Crown, if that helps."

Magpie quickly tries to clap his hand over Harper's mouth. "Forgive her, Your Majesty! She knows not what she says! She definitely wants to be paid and is just far too modest to say so!" He says rapidly before letting his hand fall away. He lifts an eyebrow when she puts Alaric on the spot, smirking. "You know he's here to relax, love, right?" He teases softly. Then he gives the king a thumbs-up when he explains about the First Observer. "Noble stuff. Got it."

"In my limited experience, listening is the easy part - rejecting a proposal is the hard part. No one enjoys being told 'no'," Silas contributes. "But it helps that his Majesty is skilled at explaining himself with clarity. We'll see how gracious the Council will ultimately be." Silas absently reaches over to give Dash some scritches, who was lounging alongside the pool with a long face. He can't help but snicker when Magpie insists that Harper wants to get paid. "Perhaps organizing some sort of campaign event for the would-be councilors would help people make their choices better."

Harper chuckles and nips at Magpie's finger when he tries to cover her mouth, then looks over at Alaric with a sheepish grin, "Sorry, Your Highness, but thanks for answering anyway!" She leans back, relaxing against Magpie, but looks over at Alaric and grins, asking in an obvious attempt to change the subject, "So, tried any good rum lately, Your Highness? Reckon last time I met you, you threatened to teach me how to sneak better, then introduced me to rum. That was an interesting way to meet you, I gotta admit!" But Silas' suggestion has her attention returning right back to the subject of the council, and she says, "You mean stand up in front of a bunch of people and talk?" She scrunches up her nose again, admitting, "I'm not the best at talking. Though Saed did teach me to speak proper at Talen's insistence. I just don't always do it, mostly because I have fun annoying Talen by not doing it." She grins impishly at that.

"I wouldn't necessarily say it's hard to reject a proposal. 'No' is generally one of the more effective tools in the royal arsenal," Alaric quips, wading through the water to take a seat on the edge. "Rum? I've been fond of the Platinum Blonde lately, if you've seen that about. Also, if I had a vote for the Council I'd vote you just based on confessing to a fondness for annoying Talen."

"Didn't have any trouble telling *me* no..." Magpie mutters with a smirk towards Silas. Then he laughs at the joke about Talen. "He has a point!" The sailor agrees.

Silas chortles at Alaric when the man disagrees. "It may be easier when you're at the top. If any large group disagrees with me, they'll go to you to complain about me. Thankfully that hasn't happened in few good years but..." He retracts his hand from the canine and sinks further into the pool. "Which tavern sells it?" He inquires about the rum. "And annoying Talen is a hallmark of good character, if anything. How has he been?"

Harper grins and admits, "I haven't tried that one, but I'll keep an eye out for it." She barks out a loud chuckle, then nods to Alaric, "We're in complete and total agreement there, Your Majesty. Talen's my patron, but I've known him for a real long time. Annoying him is one of my favorite things to do. Threatening to stop being my patron is one of his, I think, cause he does it a lot. Yet, we've been watching each other's backs for a long time." Looking over at Silas, her grin fades a bit then she shrugs and says, "He's been real busy. Hadn't seen him in a while and he wasn't answering my messages, so I wrote the Archduchess and she said he's off somewhere, but she didn't explain much more than that. I was gonna meet with her, but then she had to cancel."

Alaric gives Silas a bit of a quizzical why-would-I-know-which-tavern-sells-it? glance before waving down a bath attendant for some fruit wine. "The Lyceum is a rather busy place," he observes dryly. "But I'm sure he's doing fine. The qualities that got him this far will continue to help him."

Magpie is falling quieter now, relaxing as the bath soothes the normally energetic man to a calmer state. He releases Harper and moves to sit on the steps of the pool, relaxing. "The Lyceum ports are always so much fun to visit. Bracing, really."

"Indeed it is," Silas comments wistfully. "It seems the opportunity to finally spar him gets smaller and smaller. We've clashed many times during melees, but... well, other people always get in the way." He looks aside, at the wine being served. "It looks like I'll be asking around."

Harper smiles at Magpie as he moves off, but stays put and looks back over to Alaric, nodding, "I haven't ever visited the Lyceum. But Magpie's been taking me sailing on his boat and showing me new places, so maybe we'll make it down there someday." She sinks down into the water until the warmth of it is lapping at her chin, then says, "I love Arx. I was born and raised here, but I gotta admit sailing and seeing new places is real interesting. I'm happy I get to do both, now." She grins over at Silas and Alaric and adds, "Magpie and I even got married on High Lord Victus' ship!"

"Hm. I would like to see one of the Lycene ports again myself, someday. Father was lost at sea, what, almost seventeen years ago now? That's a long time for the King of the Compact not to take to sea," Alaric muses before taking a drink. "One of the Palace stewards probably would know how to get it. I'm sure they'd be quite pleased to assist the Lord Commander." He's about to take another drink before he pauses and looks back at Harper. "Is that so! The old one, or the new one?" he asks curiously. "I haven't borrowed his new one yet for the old emergency naval readiness drills. Should do that when the weather warms up this year."

"Well, with this snow... I might take a trip there very soon. Winter I can handle. Hostile winter? That's so not my style." Magpie says from his underwater sprawl across the steps. He grins. "Yeah, a nice favor I hooked up when I designed the masthead..." He looks over at Alaric, "Oh, the new one. I set the old one on fire against the Gyre, and it's at the bottom of the sea. You should ask the High Lord the story sometime. I'd offer to take you sailing, Your Majesty, but there's not enough room on my ship for all of your guards."

Silas wrinkles his nose again. "Ironically, I've only been sailed to the far North and the far South, and they were both terrible vacation spots. I think I prefer the safe, temperate Crownlands... instead foresty and full of abyssal wolves." There's a pause. "But a wedding and a party on a High Lord's beloved ship sounds like the right way to do it, honestly. Wanted marry off one of my cousins on our river barge, buuut it tends to fall through once love birds finally get to know each other." He quirks one brow at Alaric. "True. I'll bother him next time I'm near the palace."

Harper nods to Magpie's statements, adding, "You oughta see the mast, Your Majesty. It's so pretty." She grins even wider, adding, "High Lord Victus married us himself too. Was the first wedding he'd ever done he said." She grins at Silas and adds, "You've got a real nice barge. I had fun at the party you had there not long ago!" Turning her attention back to the King, she studies him a minute, then adds, "You really oughta go sailing. As long as you're not one prone to getting sick, then it's real fun and freeing. My favorite place on the ship is right at the top of the mast in the crow's nest." Turning her blue eyes back toward Magpie, she says curiously, "I've never heard that story either. You'll have to tell me sometime! But for tonight, I s'pose it's almost time to tuck in Pie, so I'm gonna head on home." She moves to stand up and snags the towel to wrap around her as she gets up out of the pool. The hot water seems to have her moving slightly easier now than whe she arrived, despite the bruises.

Alaric snickers cheerfully at Silas. "You must be overjoyed, as we all are, that circumstances have brought to you the experience of negotiating, arranging, and nearly finalizing marriage contracts before the whole endeavor utterly collapses due to some trivial issue," he quips. "As far as sailing, you don't need to sell me on its virtues, I rather enjoy it. It's just that one's father is lost at sea under suspiciously mysterious circumstances, the Regent tends to have a very dim view of letting one go off on a sea voyage. And since taking the throne myself, well. I've always seemed to be rather busy here in Arx, and let's be honest, I can generally just make -them- come -here-, whatever it is that would justify a trip." He exhales thoughtfully. "But still, one of these days I'll go to Stormwall to see the new city, or the like." He sips his wine and smiles. "Well then, Guardsman Harper, good night and good luck in the polling."

"Oooohhh.. right. We have that kid we adopted." Magpie says with a lazy smile, then sits up and says more attentively, "I'll head back with you. It'll probably take both of us to convince him to not play in the green snow." He climbs out of the water and grabs a towel to start soaking up the water. He gives Alaric a sympathetic look, "If you ever want to be smuggled out for a day at sea, just let me know. The Regent would be none the wiser." He offers, sounding sincere as he goes to get dressed.

Harper waves and says cheerfully, "Thanks, Your Majesty! If I do get elected, I promise I'll do my very best." She grins over at Silas, and quips, "Besides, Bosshawk would give me all the worst patrols if I don't!" She winks at him impishly, then gives another, toweled but awkward, bow to the King, saying to he and Silas, "Was real nice chatting with you both." With that, she makes her way over to gather up her things and slips off to get changed before heading out with Magpie.

Silas nods to Alaric, with some resignation. "Thankfully, I insist on a six month courtship and don't announce said courtship. I've only had to trash one contract so far." He scratches his chin. "I think our first successful courtship will involve a particularly talented commoner, but I won't jinx it." He dips his head to Harper when she announces her intent to leave. "Be well, Harper. Thanks for joining us - we'll chat later, yes?"

"Technically speaking the Regent hasn't been the one giving orders for nine years now, but I appreciate the offer nonetheless," Alaric declares wryly. "A good night to you as well, ex-Deputy Minister Magpie." He laughs lightly at Silas's jinxing comment. "You're catching on quickly."

"Hey, I wasn't going to judge where you get your orders from!" Magpie says in return with a grin, re-emerging clothed and pulling a cloak over his shoulders in case the toxic snow is still happening. He sweeps a half-bow to those nobles and royals still here, "Have a good one!" Then he's wrapping an arm around Harper's shoulder and dragging her out into the death weather.

Harper has left the Garden Peacocks Bath.

Dot, the war-wiener, Judy, an investigative assistant leave, following Harper.

Magpie is overheard praising Alaric: So hip! So fresh! Seeing your monarch at the Grotto is like winning a lotto!

Zavi leaves, following Magpie.

Silas grins back at Alaric. "Part of me wonders if I should do more political maneuvering, but it's better to give people room to make their own mistakes." He then stands from the pool and grabs the nearest hopefully unused towel. He evidently intends to leave himself, but he seems to be in no particular hurry. "I didn't know you personally oversaw Grayson's marriage contracts, Your Majesty."

Alaric laughs lightly. "I have the final say, but to be quite honest I leave all the real work to the Voices. Tikva seems to enjoy it, strangely enough, so more power to her, I say," he deadpans. "But I'd think starting out a new barony, the most important things to do are to focus inward. You need to establish Hawkhold as a solidly self-reliant entity before you can make too many real alliances of note, and build it up to stand as equals with other, longer-established Baronies."

Silas ruffles his wet hair thoroughly with the towel, first. Priorities. "You're right. And I'm sincerely thankful for the assistance I've been getting in that area." He smiles warmly, now, and wraps the towel around his waist. "We're also quite close to our neighbors, and have been assisting them as much as we can manage. Perhaps later we'll extend that charity to other Houses, but..."

"As long as you don't overextend. It can be tempting to try and race to make progress, but steady progress is more valuable than setbacks. A new barony is still rather vulnerable, all things considered. We can anticipate many dangers, but it's the ones we don't or can't anticipate that most often cause holds to fall, and by their very nature baronies tend to be sited near the most unknowns," Alaric notes. "Which is why it's a very dangerous thing to go and build a road straight through those unknowns, for instance."

"Very true. And our particular holding has been in the possession of several exterminated bloodlines - not sure if that's just a consequence of war, or something else," Silas admits. "My cousin Tabitha wants to attempt to establish diplomatic ties with the nearby Abandoned soon. If successful, it should make the chances of a sudden raid lower, at least."