The Two Barons (RP)

- Norbert -

Theo looks on nervously at first as Phil delightedly scratches and and pats the dog and explains. "Daddy..." He starts to say then blushes and starts again. "Father would not have them in the house." Phil shrugs.

- Roald -

Daryl stops and takes off his metal helmet. His hair is plastered to his head and his face if very red and sweaty.

"Is this working right?" He asks, mopping face and trying to fan some air into his armour.

Phil looks crestfallen as the dog darts off to the right.

"Oh! That's a relief!" Daryl exclaims to Roald. "I was worried that I was just a wimp. It was sooo cold last night, and I hoped that that armour would now keep me cool today but it is like an oven in here!"

Reluctantly putting his helmet back on, Daryl looks around to get his bearings. "We are almost there." He declares, this statement --and his others-- confirmed by nods from the other locals. "Just after that ugly clump of trees --as kids we used to always pretend they were demons, and dare each other to run past them--" he admits sheepishly, "...after that we will be in Childebert" (he pronouces it chill-der-bert) "fields and can see their 'castle'." (You can literally hear the scoffing inverted commas around 'castle').

...

The 'evil trees' of childhood-fancy look like nothing more than that. You round the bend past them, and the forest opens up to fields that look like they have not been tended for some years. Shoulder high stalks of wheat surround you in irregular patterns, and the din of birds erupting before you is enough to make anyone jump (Phil clings to Theo's arm, panting in shock).

The wheat has grown over the road as well, and Daryl bravely draws his sword and starts slashing his way through --though that is not strictly speaking 'necessary' as it is not that thick on the road that you can't push past.

Far away over the waving heads of wheat you see a rough fortification --similar to that of the village-- around a manor house that looks like, at one time, it was rather impressive by local standards.

Travel via the overgrown road will no be much faster than cutting though the field, and takes you on a long loop round to the baron. Neglected as the fields are, you can guess the baron might not care too much if you took a 'short-cut'.

What do you do?

"They are supposed to offer succor to travellers." Theo offers, but he sounds dubious. "Not sure how you would persuade him to listen to you, though."

"Do you think so?" Theo ask in response to Albert's last. "My father has not spoken to his brother in... well, not ever that I have seen. And we are not allowed even mention him in our house. Family feuds run deep."