The peace that formerly reigned in Terra Nova has eroded, now little more than a memory. War ravages the continent. Disputes divide kingdoms; ideals divide families. The quest for power consumes absolutely and indiscriminately. None are immune to its allure.
Who will rise and who will fall? Only time—and ambition—will tell.
UPDATES
05.26.2023
2 month character creation hold for all existing members begins 6/5/2023. Ended 8/5/2023.
10.29.2023
Change in how times flows. Was 4 IC seasons, now only 2 IC seasons per 1 OOC year.
5 whole years of Heir Apparent goodness! When I started the site, I knew I was hunkering down for the long haul, but I never could have predicted the numerous twists and turns this roleplay site has seen. Hundreds of plots, characters, and members have come and gone, all leaving marks on the site. I am so very thankful for those who have invested. Because you keep coming back, keep getting on, and keep writing, Heir Apparent has the legacy it does today. Three cheers to us!
It had been a while since Clovis had last seen his cousin. The two of them used to spend some time together when he was younger, but family just wasn't valued in Arynn Frey the way it was elsewhere. His parents had always been busy and most of his upbringing was done by hired caregivers, although Bowen did step in to teach him some things of his own as well. A letter from the man had made him realise it had been a few years since he'd last sat down with him for a drink, simply to catch up.
The Head of the Cavalry was waiting at a table in a little, cozy inn, where he had asked Bowen to meet him. He wondered what he would tell the man. His life had been very unexciting, and trainings were just more of the same old. Arynn Frey was a calm kingdom and quite frankly, Clovis was quite bored.
Every step taken probably sounded like thunder against the cobblestone streets as Bowen bounded toward the meeting place. He carried a simple bag over his shoulder, on which he rested one hand. The other arm swung loosely at his side and people moved out of his way. On this particular day, no one spoke to him as he walked. He moved forward with the intensity of a man determined to reach his destination at a specific time and wore the expression of a man ready to utterly destroy anyone who got in his face. And his size made him well and capable of it, too.
He pushed through the doors of the little tavern inn, ducking his head under the door frame as he stepped inside and all eyes were upon him. Squinting, he scanned the room for the man he was meeting and when his eyes fell upon him, he stomped forward. In a few short strides he approached the table with a huff, all but leaning over it. Some woman nearby, who had been reading a book, was now glancing over the edge of it as if she expected to see a fight. Instead, he suddenly whipped his head around to look at her and she gasped, dropping her book.
Bowen erupted into laughter, so much so that he leaned back with his hand on his belly. The sound echoed through the small room, and he lifted his palms. "I'm terribly sorry, madam, but the look on your face was priceless. Please, please, everyone, calm yourselves!" He said of those others who could not help but look at the scene. "Just your average man having a laugh, I assure you," he stepped past Clovis's table to pick the book up, handing it back to the woman. "Truly, I do apologize, my good lady."
She grunted, snatched the book away, nodded once, and opened it back up. Her face was red with embarrassment, but Bowen was still grinning as he returned to Clovis's table and pulled out a chair, sitting down and simultaneously offered a handshake. "Clovis, my boy, it's so good to see you! Look at you, you've grown into a strapping young man," he said, before turning to lift his finger and order an ale. "It seems like it was just a few years ago that you were reaching enlightenment. I hope you aren't interrupting your schedule to meet with me?"
The sound of a book hitting the floor made him look up. It pained him to see that the book had fallen while it was still opened, meaning the pages were creased. He was also quite sure that the spine of the book hadn't appreciated the fall. Such a shame. The woman hadn't done this on purpose, but in general people didn't care nearly enough for their books. A very tall individual was the cause of her shock, and Clovis recognised his cousin. For a few seconds, he was taken aback. He had completely forgotten about Bowen's scars. He had seen his cousin maybe once or twice since his accident and tended to remember him with an intact face. The giant gentle picked up the woman's book and returned it to her, which she accepted with a red face. The younger man sighed internally. People were so quick to judge a book by its cover. Bowen looked intimidating, but he was a good man.
Once his cousin sat down, Clovis shook his head, still looking a bit pensive. "Well, you're not looking too bad yourself", Clovis responded, as if he hadn't forgotten Bowen's scars merely seconds before. "You're even taller than you were forty years ago." He lifted the corner of his mouth a bit. One thing that would probably never change about Clovis was his lack of smiling. He just couldn't bring himself to put big, genuine smiles on his face. It didn't come naturally to him.
He waved the concerns away. "Of course not, I'll always have time for you." It was an odd thing to realise that he'd always make time for Bowen, but not for any other family members. He could barely remember the last time he'd seen his parents and siblings. "How have you been?" Such a simple question for such a difficult topic. It was hard to summarise how you had been over the span of a decade or so.
At Clovis's compliment, Bowen reached up and stroked his thick beard, still grinning as widely as when he'd been laughing. "That's no surprise. I've always been easy on the eyes," he said proudly, not a hint of humor or sarcasm in the words because he genuinely thought so. "And as for my height, well I can't say for sure if I've grown, but I can say that these boots have rather thick soles. It's for the sake of my back, of course, not for the sake of towering over others. I need no help in doing that!"
As the ale was brought over, the barkeep reached a hand out and Bowen accepted the handshake, clapping his other hand on top of the mans. "Good to see you, Minister. You don't come by quite often enough."
"Work keeps me busy, my good man, but that's precisely why I'm here. My cousin and I have a little catching up to do." When they released hands, Bowen immediately grabbed the mug and took a hearty drink from it. "Aahh," he said, wiping his mouth neatly on a napkin that had been placed on the table with the drink. "That's the stuff. Thank you, Corbin."
"Of course. If you two need anymore, just flag me down." He said, patting Bowen on the back. The bigger man nodded as he walked away, and then turned his attention back to Clovis.
"Apologies for the interruption, Clovis, he and I are near the same age and we've had our fair share of trouble-making together. Anyhow! I'm glad to hear this break is no burden to you. I myself have been doing well! Work has been routine. We've made good progress on the wall. Arynn Frey continues to prosper. What more could a man ask for?" He took another drink from his mug, this time licking his lips instead of wiping them with the napkin. "And you? Has anything changed as of late for head of Terra Nova's finest cavalry?"
It was hard to get a chuckle out of him, but Bowen managed to do just that by stroking his beard and calling himself easy on the eye. Clovis was glad that his cousin didn't feel self-conscious after he had gotten the scars. Instead, Bowen was still the happy, amusing man that he had always been while the head if the cavalry was growing up.
The barkeep greeted Bowen and Clovis sat back, allowing the two men to have their moment before he'd join the conversation again.
Clovis took a small sip of his ale, far more cautious and less excessive than his cousin. He then nodded at the barkeep who said they could flag him down if they needed a refill.
He waved away the apology and shook his head, making it clear that he did not mind at all. And once more, Bowen showed that he'd always be the more optimistic one out of them. Clovis sighed, not a sad one but one that showed that he didn't see the future as bright as the tall man did. "A man could ask for a lot more. Some excitement, for example." Clovis took another sip, wiping his lip as well. "I guess by that statement you can already guess my answer to your question, my dear cousin. Nothing's changed. Everything is the same old. Just training men that are all about not-fighting and keeping the peace. Then returning to my empty house and once the morning comes, the cycle repeats itself." He sarcastically held up his glass to toast to his boring life.
Bowen grinned knowingly at his cousin. Clovis sometimes felt like a younger brother to him. He had helped him somewhat in his studies to become enlightened, and if he felt any personal pride for any other person in the kingdom of Arynn Frey, it was Clovis. While many of their family sought only what many others did, further intelligence, Bowen valued Clovis's specialty as much as he did any other form of knowledge. Those who disregarded battle techniques were not really all that enlightened, were they? After all, much of the world revolved around war. Why should they not become just as good at it as they were everything else?
But, yes, there were times when the peace of Arynn Frey could become monotonous. A book of fiction was only made interesting by it's conflict, and conflict was often a requirement, and catalyst, to bring about change. So he did not frown, or scold his cousin for complaining about peace. "Dear boy, it sounds like what you're in need of is a relationship! Those come with all sorts of ups and downs, especially if you choose the right partner," he said, lifting his mug to pressed it against Clovis's even though his toast had been a sarcastic one. Bowen took another hearty drink - a man his size has an awfully high tolerance - of his ale.
"Or you could put in a request to the Queen or Prince to travel under the guise of work-related research. Have you heard of the Kane's? They're a noble family in Lorendale who are known for their battle prowess on horseback. Very proud of their horses, as I understand it." He shrugged. "Arynn Frey is not the center of the world. We must venture out to learn more. There is only so much to be learned from books. If one is restless, one must work to satisfy that feeling. It will only grow."
Clovis didn't know what he had expected, but it wasn't the notion of a relationship. He raised an eyebrow when his cousin babbled on about the ups and downs and silently waited until Bowen had drank from his ale before speaking again. "Unless I can suddenly find the one, I don't see the point in meaningless relationships. My intentions are to find the woman I can share the Union Enchantment with, not to waste my time on sleeping around." His tone wasn't sharp, he wasn't mad at his cousin for recommending a relationship, but he was trying to be the voice of reason. Or was he yet again just being way too negative?
The second proposal did piqued his interest. Travelling outside of Arynn Frey? "That does sound interesting", Clovis said, rubbing his beard. "But who would lead the trainings? I suppose I could ask the Prince what he thinks." He thought for a while longer before a very rare actual smile appeared on his face. "See, this is why I've missed you, dear Bowen. You always know just what to say to pick me back up. But now, enough about me. Please tell me about how you're doing, what's going on in your life. You're the minister of internal affairs now, right?"
Last Edit: Mar 11, 2023 14:04:11 GMT -5 by Deleted
"Ah, well, you can never know for sure how someone might feel about such things, and now I know!" He remained smiling, knowing that his cousin wouldn't have meant anything by his reaction. "Though I do admit, with a face like yours, I'm surprised you're struggling to find someone, cousin. The most handsome man of the Calvary! Are you even looking? Shall I introduce you to some fine lovely women I know from work? They're among the smartest in the kingdom, I assure you!" He giggled with delight at the prospect. "Of course, you'd have to figure out how to charm them yourself. In all my years of study, figuring out the mind of a woman is not among those subjects I've learned."
He could tell that his second suggestion was much more interesting to Clovis, and as the first had been more of a joke than anything, he'd expected as much. Nodding, he tapped his fat fingers against the wood of the table. "You should ask, absolutely. The Prince is a fine man, I'm sure he'll give you an honest answer." The smile, though, made him even more giddy. The elation on his face was impossible to ignore, despite the ugly scars. "And I've missed you! This is why we really must keep in touch more, such meetings should not be so few and far between."
Talking about himself had never come quite so easily to Bowen. He was much better at talking about other things. Not because he was very private about his life, or even because of the double-life he lived. No, he just thought himself to be rather boring. "Yes, I've weaseled my way into the palace, isn't that strange?" He laughed still. "It is busy work, despite the overall lack of crime in places such as the capital city. Our peaceful little city is much quieter than Faanor and Illianar. I suspect that citizens believe that the further away they are from the crown, the safer they are. But even so, there's little to police."
Letting go of his mug, he reached up and patted himself on the chest with his fist, covering his mouth with his other hand as he burped. "I've spent some time with the Minister of Foreign Affairs from Nevermere and found her magic to be rather intriguing. I'd like to visit Nevermere sometime and study the women there. They're truly magnificent," he said as he leaned back in his chair. "Alas, there is not much else to tell, cousin. Are we both so boring?"
It was amazing what meeting up with a family member could do for the mind and the heart. Clovis felt years of negativity and boredom slide off his back while talking to Bowen. His goofiness and mindset was exactly what he needed right now. So the chuckles and smiles became less rare, and once again the man found himself laughing at his cousin's words. "Oh please, you're humouring me, I'm sure of it." He enjoyed his laughter as it was fading into a smile again before he took another drink of his ale. "I might have to meet these ladies now, you're painting quite an appealing picture there, cousin." He leaned back in his chair a bit with a little sigh. His parents would be over the moon if he finally met a woman to settle down with. It's all they wanted from him, as they were convinced it would help with his gloominess. "Just you wait, in a decade or so, I'm sure that understanding women will become a part of the young one's enlightenment." A corner of his mouth curled op into a little smile. Making jokes wasn't really in his nature, so he wouldn't be surprised if all of them fell flat.
"The prince is a wonderful man. He will make a great king one day. I wonder when that will be. With all due respect, queen Kimora is getting older and I wonder how much longer she will sit on the throne." He stroked his beard while thinking. The kingdom would surely change once Akagi ruled Arynn Frey. He meant no disrespect towards the current queen, but he was also looking forward to Akagi's reign.
Bowen was right. They should meet up more often. It was crazy to think that they had lost tract of each other even though they lived in the same city. "You're absolutely right, and I've missed you too! We should make a weekly thing out of this." It was a proposal, but like with many other proposals, following through was an entirely different thing. Yet he did want to actually do this more often. Even though family wasn't as important in Arynn Frey as in other kingdoms, Clovis valued his cousin greatly.
Clovis nodded while listening. "Look at us, or well, at me, complaining about how peaceful this kingdom is while we should be glad that crime is so low, even in the cities that are further away." He chuckled and shook his head. "To think I've never been to any of them. Maybe I should start there before going abroad, but what is there to do?" Again he chuckled, feeling a bit awkward and drowning that feeling in another sip of his drink.
That title rung a bell. The soldier looked up with a frown. "I've met her once, I believe, but I don't remember much of it." He cleared his throat. "I was going through it a bit that day." He had been drinking from his flask, looking at the sea when Alinore and he had met. "Their women definitely seem interesting", he agreed with his cousin. "That magic is something I wish I knew more about. But I think I'll ask the prince to visit Lorendale. I've heard that their commander is an impressive fellow."
Another sip from the drink. Then a chuckle. "It seems like it! Truly awful, isn't it? We'll just be sitting in silence during our next meetup, I'm afraid. We've caught up on a couple of decades in a few minutes. A week won't even last a second." Clovis grinned.
"Humoring you? I would never! As minister I am allowed to speak only the truth, and so the truth I speak. The ladies of the palace are lovely in all the best ways, though I haven't gotten to know all of them on a personal level, of course." He shrugged a shoulder alongside the suggestion, a suggestion that was somehow both playfully coy and a gesture of outright denial. One might have a difficult time discerning if he meant that truthfully or not - did he have such affairs with the ladies of the palace, or did find even the suggestion of it to be distasteful?
But he laughed at Clovis's joke, a laugh as hearty and genuine as the others had been. "Yes, yes! They ought to, and yet, I think the women would merely lie in wait. Allow us to learn all the answers, and then they'll change the questions." He flourished his fingers in an arch, wriggling them as he did as if to indicate magic. Women, as much as he liked them, would always be mysterious. Men were a much easier lot to understand and he thought it would always be that way.
"Indeed, he will!" He said, agreeing with Clovis's sentiment about Akagi. "Of course, I'm certain the Queen will know and acknowledge when the time is right. She is wiser than all of us, and Prince Akagi will do her reign justice when he takes the reins." He grinned toward his cousin, always excited when he can make reference to something involved in the life of the person he was conversing with. It was clever, or so he thought anyway, in a silly kind of way.
Thought of making their meetings weekly had his smile growing again, and he took his mug back in hand and swallowed the remainder of it down, then looked to the barkeep from before and lifted it. The man nodded. "That may be difficult if you end up in Lorendale. Until you leave - yes! And when you return, we will have a great party to celebrate you, and you can tell me all about what you have learned while there. Perhaps by then I will have something more exciting to tell you, yes?" Corbin made his way over with a new mug of ale, bring a refresher for Clovis as well, and leaving the table quietly with the old mugs in hand.
Once more, Bowen took a hearty gulp from this fresh mug. Only then would he slow down, having finally quenched his thirst for the stuff. It was so rare that he enjoyed a drink. "Have you not visited them?" He asked, a little surprised, and then less so. "What a silly question. You're a busy man as head of the cavalry. It surely took no small amount of effort to achieve such a goal, and maintaining your position likely keeps you busy as well. What reason would there have been for you to go?" He held a hand up briefly. "I shall tell you a little. Faanor is, of course, mostly made up of farmers, but if it is the people of Lorendale you are curious to meet, perhaps you should go there first. Many Lorendalers trade with Arynnite's there, as it's closest to the border. Likely no one exciting, mind you - Daler farmers and villagers - but Dalers all the same."
He reached up to scratch his thick beard, then, thinking of the other city for a moment. "Illianar is, of course, farthest from us and the place you're most likely to see the Dresmondi refugees. Their caravans line the southern border, and the citizens there are much more friendly with them than we are. I suspect," he knew very well, "that it's a bit more exciting there, if for no other reason than the lack of oversight, but I certainly wouldn't call it a lawless city, either." He grin was a bit more devious on that final note. He kept a close eye on the people of Illianar, of course, but sometimes he liked to play games with them as well.
"Ah! You've met her! But what a shame it was not a satisfying experience for you. I assure you, if you were out if sorts it may be better that you don't remember. Her words have a way of staying with you, and depending upon the impression you've made, that can be very good or very bad." He laughed at the mere thought of Clovis running into his dear friend, and Alinore being very much herself. It gave him no joy to imagine Clovis having his feelings hurt, but the woman's sharp tongue and quick wit never ceased to impress him.
Still he shook his head. "Nay, I wouldn't call it awful. We live good lives and nothing exciting to speak of merely means we lack pain and suffering. I think it is within our rights as humans to both appreciate and begrudge that fact. That said! Should I have the chance to go to Nevermere, and should you have the chance to go to Loren, we may meet up again to speak over all the wonderful new things we have learned. How does that sound?" He lifted his mug toward Clovis, clearly requesting him to meet it with his own mug.
More chuckles and laughs followed as the cousins continued to joke with one another. If the women could hear them talk, they would definitely raise an eyebrow at what they were saying. But it was all fun and jokes. Neither of them meant it -- probably? Clovis knew that he admired the women for what they were capable of, and found it interesting that most of them weren't as predictable as men. It made conversing with them challenging sometimes, but what was life without a good challenge?
He grinned at the joke about reins, although he was touched that his cousin tried to implement his job into a casual conversation to show that he cared for Clovis. "We can only wait and see", he responded before taking a sip of his ale. He hadn't seen the queen in quite a while and wondered what was going on in the castle. Perhaps things were already set in motion, but he wouldn't be able to know for sure until the prince made an annoucement.
Clovis nodded with an expression that read 'you're right, you're right' on his face when Bowen said that their weekly meeting wouldn't be as boring as the smaller man predicted. If they actually managed to travel to Lorendale and Nevermere, they would have plenty of stories to tell each other and the night wouldn't be long enough to finish them all. "I'll go talk to the prince in a couple of days to see what he thinks. I'll try to convince him by saying I need stories to tell my good ol' cousin." He winked, but then got distracted by Corbin coming over with new drinks. Like he had done the first time the barkeep had given them the drinks, the bearded man nodded as a way of showing appreciation for the refreshers.
His cousin seemed to be surprised that Clovis hadn't visited the other cities yet. He didn't know himself why he hadn't gotten around to doing it yet. The comment about him being a busy man almost had him rolling his eyes. "You'd be surprised", he said. "I just got lucky that the previous head died. People think I'm too young for the responsibility." He shook his head a bit, disgruntled, but then shrugged. Luckily his cousin went on to describe the cities. It was interesting to hear what they were like. Faanor definitely sounded like a place he'd have to visit if he was on his way to Lorendale anyway, although he wondered if the city was lively enough to be interesting. A visit was definitely something else than actually living there. He couldn't imagine living in a city with even less happened than in Elyusian. But then he mentioned Illianar. He hadn't met Kester yet at this point in time, but was curious to hear about these Dresmondi's nonetheless.
"I wonder what will happen with these Dresmondi's and Arynn Frey. We can't possibly keep giving them shelter. I mean, we can, and we will, but the situation is not ideal. They should be able to live in peace in their own kingdom." He wasn't being racist or close-minded, but he meant that something should be done about these Eldouir bastards. "Can't imagine having to live in fear all the time. I feel for them. I'm sure you do too." Bowen had a big heart and it wouldn't surprise Clovis if his cousin had had the same thoughts as him, about wishing something would change for them.
That description of Alinore surprised him. As far as he could remember, nothing she had said had offended him. He had talked about the sea, the waves and boats a bit. "Perhaps I'll see her again one day", he said with a shrug. He didn't really care for the woman, no offence. He simply hadn't created a bond with her during that brief interaction. The man didn't know that she was no longer in Arynn Frey by now.
Again Bowen had a point, and Clovis definitely didn't want to live in pain, but that didn't take away the fact that life bored him. His days all seemed the same. Hopefully the idea that his cousin had given him would result in a more interesting way of life. He could only hope. Clovis met Bowen's mug, causing part of his ale to spill over his hand and the table. But for once he didn't mind. He was in good company. Clovis put his mug down and shook his hand. Then he looked up to see where Corbin was. Once he met the man's eyes, he raised his hand a bit to get his attention. "Can you bring me a rag or something, please?" He returned his attention to Bowen while Corbin looked for something to clean up the mess.
"I've been training one of the Blackwood kids", he then said. "Or well, I'm not really sure how she's connected with her. Her last name's Beckett, but Calliope Blackwood asked me to train her. She's quite good, actually." He moved back a bit when Corbin approached, but as the man wanted to start wiping the table, he intervened. "Please, allow me", he said, taking the rag and wiping down the table himself. "I make the mess, I clean the mess."
"Do let me know what the Prince says when you speak to him! I'm sure he'll positively consider the idea. We all share a thirst for knowledge, but he has the fortune of being married to Cassian Rainecourts sister, a witch in her own right! We are all drawn to the unknown, are we not?" He grinned.
Hearing his cousin downplay his achievements had the rare frown tugging his mustache down to meet his beard, his eyes narrowing. If someone didn't know him, the look might have been intimidating. He was a man big enough to crush most people, should he choose it, but the look was not an angry one. Instead, it reflected disappointment. "Now, cousin, you should not speak of yourself in such a way. It was not luck that put you there. The role was earned, as all are, and regardless of what people may think, you were chosen to replace the former head because you are capable of doing so while others were not. It is envy and jealousy that sullies their thoughts, but that does not make them right about you."
He widened one eye seriously, as if to make sure Clovis understood that he would have no more of that putting himself down talk, and then just as quickly as he had become serious, the frown lifted into a wide smile again.
Clovis's thoughts on the Dresmondi weren't too different from his own. Bowen did feel badly for them. Their homeland had been stripped away, their ways destroyed, their people murdered and forced to serve the family that had destroyed them. It was no fault of their own that they found themselves needing the aid of Arynn Frey. "It is my assumption that, eventually, the Eldouir must be dealt with. I doubt they'll stay in Dresmond for good, but the Dresmondi will be allowed to remain here as long as they need - at least, that is what I hope. They're an interesting people, with a wealth of knowledge I believe many of us could learn from if only we gave them the chance. But for now, I believe the best we can do for them is offer them kindness, safety, and equality while they remain on our lands."
He was working on as much, even as they spoke. His men had eyes on the dresmondi with the ram, and his discussion with Kester and Walnut remained fresh in his mind. The Dresmondi in Arynn Frey had gone ignored for far too long, and he wanted to do something to help them. Anything.
"Unfortunately Lady Thornhill has been called back to Nevermere, but I do hope she finds time to visit. I've grown so fond of her over the years, I do hate to see her office empty. Perhaps a new Minister of Foreign Affairs will be assigned to us. I cannot pretend to know what Cassian Rainecourt is thinking, though, of course. With Lady Ophelia at the Prince's side, perhaps we have no need for another Minister to take her place."
Bowen took another drink of his ale as Corbin came over, and watched the little interaction between the two, his eyes watching Clovis over the rim of the wooden mug as he cleaned his mess up. But what he spoke of, that had Bowen more interested than he had been throughout the duration of the conversation. "You're training a Blackwood girl, cousin?" He asked, as if he hadn't heard Clovis quite clearly. "Training her in what way, to fight on horseback? Or to fight in general?" This was the first Bowen was hearing of this, and that Calliope had requested he train the girl instead of doing it herself...well, that was interesting, too. "But she's not quite a Blackwood, yet? How's that, that she is part of the family but not? They're a strange group."
Clovis shrugged. "It's not solely luck that put me here, no, but if it weren't for the previous head dying so suddenly, I would've had to train some more years before they'd consider promoting me. Either way, I'm not complaining. Bowen's look that was meant to tell Clovis that he wouldn't have him put himself down again hadn't worked, but Clovis just couldn't take the praise when it wasn't one hundred percent justified.
He nodded again, agreeing with everything his cousin was saying about the Dresmondi and the Eldouir. Eventually something would have to be done. "Kindness is definitely something that they'll be able to find here in Arynn Frey." They were a serious kind of people, but also welcoming and kind-hearted.
"Oh", he simply said when he received the news that Alinore had moved back to Nevermere. "Someone new would also be exciting", he said with a shrug before taking a sip of his ale. For some reason, ge didn't know why either, all the chuckles and smiles were starting to fade again and his slightly depressed temperament got the overhand again. Perhaps talking about what the Dresmondi's were experiencing had made him realise there really wasn't anything to be happy about.
"Yes, Calanthe Beckett. Calliope Blackwood has asked me to train her. She's a good kid. Asked me to train with a whip." He shook his head and laughed ever so slightly. "A whip. I have never seen anyone use a whip in a fight before, but she's doing it." He took another sip. "So I'm not sure how she's connected to them, she has a different family name."
Bowen clicked his tongue against his teeth, that same disappointed look remaining while Clovis continued to put himself down. Bowen reached across the table and gently jabbed his index finger into Clovis's chest. "We are all put into our positions only when the person holding it previously is gone. I am only Minister because Cyrus Blackwood disappeared and was presumed dead. As badly as I wanted the position, I know that one can never be truly, entirely, prepared for what is to come. The prepared sometimes fail, and the unprepared sometimes prosper, and it is not always mere luck that gets us there, nor bad luck that ruins us. The only thing that matters is performance while in the position. If people complain about your work, there may be some merit to what they say. If they complain about your age, your experience, your training...then you know there is no merit to their opinion."
At least, that was how Bowen felt. If people could pick apart your methods, your routines, your work ethic, then perhaps one might reconsider the value of their work, of their contributions. But people only resorted to more flimsy arguments when they could pick apart nothing else. Still, he would lay off his cousin. The man was more humble than he needed to be, but not everyone liked to wear their achievements like a badge across their chest. "Whether or not you are proud or believe in yourself, Clovis, I am proud of you, and I believe in you." He would have to take a look into the men that were complaining about Clovis's promotion.
Bowen tipped his mug once more when Clovis said that the Dresmondi would find kindness here. Possibly unlike the man before him, Bowen was more than aware of the darker side of Arynn Frey and it's citizens, whom could find a way to work around the value of a life as long as it was not one born on Arynnite soil of Arynnite parents. Many would do anything for the sake of knowledge, and anything was rarely a good thing. But it was Bowen's job to keep ignorance of that information prevalent. The people remained blissfully unaware as long as he was doing his job properly, so he drank to kindness, and hoped to find it's truth some day.
Calanthe Beckett. He had never heard of her, and didn't recall ever seeing her with Calliope, though the two had not spent nearly as much time together in recent years as they had when Bowen was part of her infantry. That there might be a new member of the Blackwood family - ever subtracting and adding - intrigued him. He would have to look into her. "Yes, a whip is an odd weapon of choice, isn't it?" He asked, scratching his beard. "Strange that Calliope would not train the girl herself. Did she mentioned why she could not?"
He laughed, holding up his hands to be apologetic. He should've listened to Bowen, but he had continued to put himself down. He personally didn't consider it putting himself down, but Bowen certainly did. "Okay, okay, you're right, dear cousin", he said.
Another smile when Bowen told him he was proud of him. "Thank you, Bowen. That means a lot, coming from you." The tall man had helped bring him up, and he considered him far more than just a cousin. He was more like a big brother, whatever that meant in Arynn Frey. Jacques, his actual big brother, didn't mean as much to him as Bowen did.
In reality, nobody was really complaining about Clovis' promotion. He just felt like he wasn't exactly what the kingdom needed, but soon that would change. He'd find a purpose.
Clovis shrugged. "She's a busy woman. I think she appreciates my knowledge. I don't ask questions, I just feel honoured." He grinned.