Lady Tesha Telmar was holding office hours in the War Room given she figured that Ansel might need to know if people do have business with him. The woman is seated at the desk where her Uncle used to sit at and glower when people visited. She isn't glowering though. She's got a stack of papers along with quill and ink so she can take notes.

Atramentous, a very large black mastiff is sleeping near the side of the desk. Great watcher that he is.


Korka expected a bit more of a crowd, appearing briefly surprised to be one of the only people entering the war room, "Lady Tesha," she greets with a nod of her dark hair. Then she finds a place to stand against the wall where she can watch everyone else coming in and out.

Awaiting an hour earlier at the door, is a singularly humble figure dressed, perhaps purposefully, in simple silks and woven wools. Once the servant sees the war room door open, welcoming the Prince inside, said Prince stands from the miniscule stool that at this point had left a brazen mark on his suffering rear. Offered tea, with the means of a risen palm and behardened smile Sirius declines.

With two hands set and cupped behind his waist, he walks deeper in at a collected, demure pace; his eyes trailing the hall's walls, once familiar, now foreign. Every banner, every sconce--empty or otherwise--and finally, once he reaches the forefront of her desk, he looms over her work with companionable silence. "My lady," the Valardin belatedly mumbles, twitching a smile together, however tired. However worn. Spying Korak at the corner of his eye, he half-bows his head to her in silent greeting.


Tesha gives a smile to Korka when she enters and there's a nod to her, "Mistress Glynn." she greets her. Then there's a look to the other man that enters and there's a dip of her head to him, "Your highness." she greets Sirius. "Please have a seat if you two would like." she offers with a nod to the couch or the other table. "What can I help you with today?" she asks with a smile.


"I'll stand, thank you," Korka says politely, or as politely as one can when their arms are folded and they're watching the room, "I didn't bring any business with me, I was just curious to see what other people might," there's a pause, "And it's nice to come back here every once and awhile."

Like Korka, Sirius stands. Unlike her, he doesn't verbally acknowledge such fact. His gaze had drifted up and beyond Tesha, to the walls of the room itself. For a minute, the smirking Prince's mostly quiet, until he spots a particularly calling sheet of vellum waxed across the wall. His brows rise, and he steps around Tesha's table to approach the transcription proper. "Forgive me if I digress from the purpose of this meeting, my lady," Sirius implores gently, doing a sweeping motion of his hand to point at the paper next. "The Battle of High Hill. Was this the battle the late Duke Arn fought his last, I was told?"


530"You're always welcome in Telmar, Korka. Can we get you a drink?" Tesha offers with a warmer smile. "Adriel is off on business, but we hope that he returns soon." she tells the woman. Then she looks to Sirius and there's a curiousness to her dark gaze. She listens to him though and when Arn is mentioned she gives a soft nod, "It's alright really. But, yes, my Uncle died in battle at High Hill." she tells him. "He went the way he wanted to go. I never imagined him dying at home or from natural causes." she admits. Morbid, but, true.


"Whiskey, if you have it," Korka replies, though she's looking to the servant that will likely go fetch it instead of Tesha. When Sirius asks his question her green eyes move to him, "I never imagined him dying at all," she drawls a bit, glancing up where Sirius had been looking to see what prompted that, "I always thought the Queen just did not want to have to deal with that."

Sirius inhales a deep, perhaps nostalgic drag of air. His vision loosens from the paper, and he tears his gaze back to, eventually, settle it back on Tesha after a slow turn. "I admired the man, truth is. No--I admire him still, his memory--his legacy. Even if my father tried his hardest to dash such notions out of my head, when young," he explains, treading away from the wall to finally accept that offered chair, sitting down with gentrified propriety. "I always thought I'd meet him, and that he'd never die, too," Sirius admits to Korka, his voice chided and quick with laryngeal emotion. "It's why I'm here, my lady. To speak of his past deeds, not something I'd want to bring up to his primordial scion."


Tesha rises, smoothing out the skirt of her gown before she moves to the liquor cabinet and pours a whiskey for Korka, "Did you want a drink, your highness?" she asks him. Then she's delivering Korka her glass. There's a bit of a grin at the mention of the Queen not wanting to deal with Arn, "I mean, he was very opinionated in his life, I can't imagine the arguments he's having with her." she chuckles. "Uncle Arn was someone that cannot be replaced. And I find myself missing him often." she nods to that. Then she's looking to Sirius, "Alright." she tells him.


Korka takes the glass from Tesha with a nod of her head, "Thank you," but she doesn't sip it right away, leaning back in that languid pose of hers and keeping most of her attention on Sirius.

Much like his hand denies the drink with a sideways wave, too does his head turn, both in denial and to better follow Tesha on her way to the cabinet. "I don't drink," Sirius answers, with his mouth twitching next into a huffed, ephemeral smirk, short-lasting. "I recognize he had responsibilities within the threshold of our ward tied to our military. And many, many reforms," the Prince elucidates, straightening on his chair. Every word's held supinated in his hand, outstretched, and with it, he motions cordiably as he speaks. "I'd like you to tell me them. Be it on paper, or here, personally. I'd like to pick up on anything he may have left unfinished, a matter unattended... anything, truth is. Only, of course, as long as it's related to our warrior caste."


Tesha dips her head to Korka, "It is no problem." she tells her. Then she's heading back towards the desk to retake her seat. She watches Sirius curiously and there's a moment where Atramentous moves and resettles himself closer to the woman. "My uncle was the Lord Marshall of the Oathlands and a Voice of Valardin before his death. I do not know if they plan on replacing him quickly, but given the mounting tensions within the Compact with foreign visitors and other things, I'd find it appropriate if they did." she admits. "As for things he left unfinished, I am still going over them, so as soon as I have them compiled I could send them to you or speak with you on them personally." she offers.


"Are you a military man then, your highness?" Korka asks with an arched brow, finally taking a sip of her whiskey, "Or are you just looking to make yourself useful to your house in its time of need?"

Sirius bobs his head in mostly silent understanding, "Very well," and with that, he adjusts the lower seams of his shirt around the waistline, straightening his torso on the chair. His chin lifts, helping his features straighten to better regard Korka. "My Goodwoman, yes," he says, placidly gregarious in both tone and effort. "I've dedicated my life to strategy and marshalling of women and men in times of war, and Duke Arn shared more with me than these efforts alone, hence my interest."


Tesha gives a look to Sirius when Korka asks that question and then there is a soft nod to that, "I will be meeting with Ansel in the next few days and I will let him know that I'd like to see what Arn was working on prior to his death. If it is anything that is useful to you I can send it over." she tells the Prince. "Hopefully we can figure out what he was working on so that it will help with things." she offers with a smile.


"Inquisitor," Korka corrects lightly, though the gleam in her eyes perhaps betrays she lives for moments of correction like that, "Considering how well you run the place, I will leave the two of you with some privacy to talk," she gives another bow of her head to Tesha, then turns and heads for the door.

"Very well," Sirius answers, clapping each hand at a tap on the end of each knee. "I shall trust to hope this nuncupatory agreement does, indeed, come to me on paper in the future. Again, this comes from no selfish interest, I'm but interested in helping fill, perhaps, the void your uncle has left. Not just in your hearts, but in the heart of the Oathlands," he explains, and before he's able to quip against Korka's correction, she's off. He blinks. "Why, I was intending to leave myself, but now I'd feel awful to desert you, my lady."


"Have a good day, Inquisitor." Tesha tells Korka as she is leaving. Then she looks to Sirius and hears him speak. The pale woman gives a bit of a smile, "If you need to leave, that is fine, your Highness." she tells him. "I am very used to spending time alone and it doesn't bother me." she shrugs. Then she's reaching to brush her hair away from the scar at her temple. It was just annoying.

"Are you hoping to take up a position of leadership within the Valardin military?" she asks him curiously. "We lost Prince Caius at Highhill as well. I'm sure that Princess Alis and his Excellency will be looking for people to step into their roles." she nods to this.


Caring not for awkwardness, Sirius seizes the sides of his chair and starts dragging the heavy end of its legs all across the room, towards her, even while he still sat. It didn't matter how loud it was, to suffer the oaken floorboards, for he felt it more necessary to be closer to Tesha's table at the time. "I need not leave, I just thought to clear your room for hopefully future arrivals. Given that's not the case... well, no, I believe I'd rather stay. And yes, I do wish to take a position of leadership within the military, but it's a decision not esteemed from wanton of glory or clout, but responsibility. We've lost much, and it's time to recuperate."


Atramentous lifts his head, looking at the chair legs being drug across the floor. He gives a look to Tesha and then plants his paw over his face to fall asleep again.

Tesha however doesn't give a reaction so dramatic as her mastiff does, she simply smiles given she'd drug that chair across the floor when she was younger. She then gives a curious look to the man as he speaks, not interrupting him though. "I don't think there's much business to be heard given the lull at the moment. But it's not like we shouldn't prepare for when the lull is up and we are all up to our necks in chaos." she nods to that. "Taking on a position shouldn't be for glory or clout. It's good that it's responsibility that draws you to it and not other reasons. And you are young, learning that at this age is a good sign of the future." she admits to that. "Recuperation is something that we've been focused on here. I've been working to shore up the military given our borders to the North and the various problems the compact is going to be facing." she states.


Sirius pays close attention, nodding; agreeing and mostly remaining a quiet, but attentive interlocutor thorough the whole of Tesha's in-depth. "You're very kind to say so, my lady," he finally answers, devoting a palm to his chest before dipping his head thankfully. "If you'd like my assistance in any matter of war, consider me available. I've never held command before and have only meddling experiences beyond the literary and my own drills at home, so I'm in no desire to take the lead from the start. Instead, it's my hope to assist whosoever's in lead currently, and go from there."


Tesha offers a soft smile, "I had to grow up very fast when my parents died rather close together. I ran our branch of the family and I've tried to make sure that Telmar has been prosperous ever since then after we came to the capitol." she admits. "That is very kind of you and if we have anything that needs assistance from Valardin I will reach out." she tells him. "Duke Ansel is our current minister of war, but I've made decisions on the military before when he's seriously distracted by running the Duchy." she tells him. "You are more than welcome to talk to the men when they are training and things of that nature. The Gauntlet tends to be a popular place in the Spring, Summer and Fall, not so much in the Winter." she shakes her head.


Sirius tilts his head gently, his brows gaining distance empathetically. "I knew them not, but I'm sure they're proud of their daughter now, here, taking matters into her own hand," he assures her, his eyes dimmed to thin, smiling lines that curve too with his own amicable smirk. "I've already been doing so, addressing our soldiers and getting familiar with the chain of command. I've made no admission to officers of my intention to join the commandeering just yet, as to not confuse them. Instead, I'd like to--as you've suggested--make all necessary concessions with our branch before doing so." With a gentle softening of his shoulders, Sirius' slouching posture belies the tired Prince's intention to stand, and once he does, it's with a bit of a crack from his spine. "I suppose that's good enough for agreements now, on things related to business. I must away here soon, but once you have all the information you deem worthy I'd very much love to speak on them personally, my lady."


Tesha gives a half smile, "They might very well be." she nods to that. "Thank you, your highness." she adds. Then there's a soft smile, "I'm sure they'll be used to you in no time and things will go smoothly. You have a very good way of speaking and know what you are doing. That will assure them that they are following someone that isn't going to run about like a chicken with his head chopped off." she smiles to that. When he rises, she does as well. "As soon as I have some more information I will deliver it to you personally, your highness. And please let me know if there is anything that Telmar can help Valardin with in these times." she states as she dips a curtsey to him.


Sirius curls an arm around his stomach, humbling his torso downwards with a curt demonstration of his own. "I certainly hope so," because, in truth, young as he is in looks, there's a certain nervousness to him; an uncertainty, perhaps too tied to age, that seems tied to his every movement deliberate on matters of etiquette. "I cannot think of anything in specific in regards of my household, but you can help me, certainly. Before I leave, and once we meet, I'll need to know what's your favorite kind of tea," he explains, hanging on a most serious expression. "So, what will it be, my lady? Marigold, or green tea?" The Prince quips in wonderment next, his mouth undulating in snake-like, playful suggestion.


Tesha gives a bit of a smile to him and smoothes her hands over her skirt, an idle movement to her. "I'm sure you'll reach out if you can think of something." she dips her head to that. "And I am very boring in my tea selections. I tend to like black tea with a little cream and sugar." she admits to him. "I've never tried the marigold tea, but could see how it is." she offers with a bit of amusement.


Sirius appraises her silently, almost as if unconvinced. He sits on this look for a while, frown-eyed, before adding tactfully; "Not boring at all, I don't think." With his left hand, he reaches up, idling some fingers through his hair to rake deep at his messy combover. "Marigold's my favorite, this is true, but it's not kind to those with a more delicate stomach. I'll have yours ready when the time's nigh," and with that, Sirius steps from the chair and towards the door, leaving only after turning to Tesha a last, smiling time. "Take care, my lady. And suffer not these books and numbers for long, it's beautiful outside today."


Tesha gives a look to him, but there's an uncertainty there, not sure if she'd upset him in some way. When it's apparent that she didn't, she smiles a touch. "I will have to try it sometime then, your Highness." she nods to that. Then she watches him move for the door and she smiles genuinely, "I will try to get outside today to enjoy the snow. You enjoy the day." she tells him as she settles back down in her seat.