Houses and Heraldry

[Raven]

Nicolette sighed. "Whatever you say, Madame." They had made a loop back towards the castle, Avant padding along beside them, his neck extended in front of him in a way that made him look very like a snake slithering along the ground, except for the fact that his body was much larger than a snake's middle would be. "Shall I let my mother know you would like to meet with her?"

[Gifted]

"That would be lovely. Thank you very much, my lady." She smiled and inclined her head towards Nicolette again.

[Raven]

Sir Oliver Fenwick easily could have left this castle, claimed his own, become Lord Fenwick in his own right, but after his father's death, Oliver, who had been no more than a squire at the time, surrendered his lands and title to his lord, Lord Nathaniel Ashford. It had been a well thought-out decision. Since Oliver Fenwick had no intention of marrying or bedding a woman, he could have no heirs, and he had no younger brothers to take over in their place. One day soon, the Fenwick line was coming to an end, and by the time Oliver could no longer take care of his land, it would be taken over by someone else. To avoid that, he chose who would receive his land, giving it to the man who had taken him in, who had assured he would never again have to face his father, even if it had been unintentional. If Oliver were being honest, he looked up to Lord Neil far more than he had ever admired his father.

All the same, Neil was only part of the reason for Oliver's habit to remain far more sober than many of his companions, the other being the same reason Sir Fenwick would never bed a woman: he was homosexual, as much as they came. He worried that with the same amount of alcohol in his system as the others, he may say or do something to his companions that he would regret. It was that lack of alcohol that had allowed to make an observation that none of the others had: Lady Dalya, Lord Ashford's wife, had recently come to despise the flavor of wine. At first, Oliver hadn't realized that it held any significance, but after a week of the same, it had finally occurred to him. While Oliver had no brothers, he did have two sisters, and he was the eldest. He remembered his mother going through the same while heavy with them. Oliver bowed to his lord and lady, and murmured a quiet congratulations before making his way to the other knights for the evening meal, a slow grin sliding over his face as he sat down beside his older companion, the only man here who was closer to Lord Neil Ashford than Oliver was himself. "Hey, Archie." Archebald sat to the right of Neil at most meals, with Oliver on his right. For now, Lady Dalya's women occupied the seats to her left, though one day they would be filled with her children. Dalya smiled at the knight's quiet words, grasping her husband's hand a little too tightly.

[Gifted]

Sir Archebald Summers grinned at the knight next to him. "What is it this time, eh?" Archie asked, his red hair and thick beard shining in the light. Sir Archie, as he liked to be called, was an old friend of the lords, having been squired in Neil's fathers household. He wasn't particularly serious or observant, but he was dedicated, diligent and kind. However, tonight he'd drank quite a lot, so tonight he was hardly anything you would call 'quiet' or 'polite'.

[Raven]

Oliver glanced at him. "You mean what I said?" He asked, softly. He was never one to match those he was speaking to.

[Gifted]

"Sure, I dunno. What do ya need?" Archie was grinning at Oliver.

[Raven]

Oliver smirked. "Just wondering how many cups of wine you've had, Archie," he responded. Archebald was a fun man, even if he got carried away occasionally.

[Gifted]

"Aw, not nearly enough Oliver!" Archie laughed loudly. "Neither have you y'know. Come on, pour yourself another drink."

[Raven]

Oliver smiled and shook his head. "I don't hold my wine as well as you do," he said, but reached to pour himself some more all the same. Tonight they could let loose and celebrate, though no one would know what for yet. He flashed a grin and raised his glass, either to Archie or to Neil, it was hard to tell which, then downed the whole thing in one go. It gave him a rush he'd never quite felt before. Then he grinned at the man sitting beside him.

[Gifted]

"See that's the spirit!" Archie laughed and clapped him on the back. "We're gonna have a grand old time, right Neil?" He grinned at the Lord he served under.

[Raven]

Neil smiled. "Of course! But don't get the kid too drunk, Archie. We might not want all of our knights in bed with pounding headaches tomorrow."

[Gifted]

"Aw come on, Oliver's never gonna get drunk with that attitude. Sides I can handle a little hangover."

[Raven]

Neil laughed, while Oliver feigned a look of worry. "Just how drunk do you want me?" he demanded.

[Gifted]

"Drunker than you are right now, so shut up and have a drink!" Archie insisted.

[Raven]

Oliver laughed. "That's not an answer!" he cried.