Chương 293: 2.5

Jewel had already learned a great deal about her Vassal, Baron Timotej before this welcoming feast. For starters she had actually had several conversations in Flight Cant with the man during the war. He had the most ridiculous way of describing sheep which had left her laughing for hours on the wing. Timotej had been significantly younger then. Barely a fledgling Knight she realized. Just a few years riding his charge at most. No grey in his hair and hardly any beard then.

She'd seen his hair fill out and his position grow in esteem as a Gryphon Knight in the background of her court after she assumed her place in Viznove. Offering little in the way of political difficulties and thankfully uninvolved in the internal affairs of the old Bathory guard. And when she needed to replace an heirless baron? Paul had suggested she grant him lands south of Kaeketeh along with the other bathory sworn Gryphon Knight. As such she already knew Timotej.

A simple military man that reminded her a lot of a more cautious Alexander. Yet beyond what scattered encounters she had with the man before this one feast had taught her so much more. He loved Swan for example and had been enthusiastic to procure a dozen of the birds for tonight's feast at the slightest suggestion from Paul. Dariusz had been equally welcomed to take charge of the kitchens of the relatively tiny manor of Dewglen. And it was unfortunately rather small.

Jewel could have covered the entire length of the feasting hall with a third of her tail needing to bend back over again. For decorum she was piled on top of herself at the place of honor across from the Timotej. A baron she might have made Timotej, and a Gryphon Lord at that. But he had been a mere Knight ten years ago. His house was richly decorated but Dewglen was not a demesne that he could afford to tear down and rebuild his feasting hall to Jewel's proportions.

Paul was seated on her right, Gem on her left, with her 'Nurse Knight' taking up the next place to the left past her spawn. But the unfortunately small accommodations of men aside, it was a good feast. Swan of course, but the rest of the meal had been a delicious medley, with a surprising abundance of fish and eel to go along with the sweeter bird flesh. Which was quite novel for Jewel's palette. Kaeketeh Keep's kitchen staff mostly avoided fish as common fare.

And Rochford's streams and lakes were far too small and shallow for much of any fish. So Jewel had mostly not had very much of the light meat. Eel and trout were different from anything else. Delicate in a way that was unlike any other meat Jewel had tried. And all the more common for how it was cooked in butter to a crisp brown, but so delicate a toothless elder could have eaten it. She rather liked it though. It also was not something that had merely been done to try and appease her 'provincial tastes'.

Her vassal truly favored a less noble palette for his table. Even when serving a countess her feast! And instead of giving empty praises to her chef's choice in cooking as some of Jewel's guests in Kaeketeh did, Timotej eagerly and honestly enjoyed what her kitchen master made of the birds. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Genuinely enjoyed it and enquired to have the recipe shared with him! Which was another surprise. The man enjoyed cooking for himself!

Who cooked for themselves? It was so strange. The only complaint Jewel could have for Timotej and his family was that he did not really seem to understand courtly propriety at all. Which struck the most completely as they brought the sumptuous meal to a close. As was proper Jewel offered the words.

"What can your Countess do for you?" The traditional statement passed Jewel's lips. It was what was to be said at the conclusion of a meal with her direct vassals. The expected offering of a liege to those sworn to her. A chance to reaffirm the fealty. For the first time in years of her reign her vassal spoke up with something other than the traditional reply.

"Actually my Countess, the lands of Dewglen and further south on the Vah are plagued by troubles we could use your assistance in." It took Jewel a moment to realize that Lord Timotej, the Gryphon Knight she had elevated for his valor in war had in fact made a response to her ceremonial offering of aid rather than giving the traditional dismissal. Which was not something she exactly minded, but you were supposed to arrange these things beforehand!

Of course her mother had taught her better than to be flustered by this. But she could catch in Gem's eye the smirk flashing across Paul's lips. Well if he was going to make a request officially she would respond in turn.

"Of course, what can Viznove do for her vassals?" Raising her head up a little higher, but not so tall that she risked brushing the relatively low ceiling of his manor hall with her horns. She watched as her baron genuflected from his seat. The slight frame usual of Gryphon Riders was dipped low as he folded over at the waist. Making his seated posture swim in layered finery. If he stood it might hide how lean his musculature was.

But it could not hide the fact he was more than a foot and a half shorter than Alexander. Timotej raised his voice with his head.

"A bandit of some fierceness plagues the woodlands along either bank of the Vah south of Dewglen. Both I and Ladislav of Fishwell have tried to catch him out. But his gang is wise of the manner of Gryphons and keeps under cover when we fly." Jewel blinked slowly before nodding. That was technically within her responsibilities. But at the same time it was also her Vassals who were expected to see to their lands. To directly request her to intervene was an admittance of Timotej failing in his responsibilities.

A more greedy liege might have used this to wrangle a change in the contract. Jewel had no such desire, but it could add even further delay to her tour. But they were due to stay in his demesne for a good portion of the season, and then make their way across the Vah for her time with Ladislav after all. And If thieves and banditry were to the point that two Gryphon Lords and their men could not quell it? That was a task worthy of Jewel's intervention, even if it should be a simple affair.

"Very well, I will see to this matter Lord Timotej. See that Muriel my captain is given all you know of this-"" Robin" Jewel held back a frown at the interruption. She was glad she was making such a tour. Her vassal Timotej appeared to be somewhat lax in his grasp of the proper courtesies." Yes, see that Muriel hears all that you know of this Woods Bandit Robin."

He nodded and finally Jewel took a breath to find her place in the proper courtesies and proprietary that her vassal had inadvertently scattered by actually making a request of her time..

"Then with that settled, I bid you my Vassal, Lord Timotej of Dewglen a good night and peaceful rest." The once Knight now baron grinned at her and once again failed to precisely give the right courtesies. Although the rough honesty of the man was again a balm all its own.

"Good night to you my lady!" It was nice to know that at least some of her direct subjects were completely uninterested in political scheming. And with that the welcoming feast of her third vassal was settled. Then she would have a dozen days to further learn the ways of Timotej and take his measure. Before she had to depart for the next one. There were still so many of them. Bathory had been insane to have Twenty Eight Vassals!