Knights Apocalyptica

Chapter 212: Wine and Dine

Dear Lord Audax,

It was my supreme pleasure to run into your distinguished presence at the Luculentus event; it was an even greater pleasure to have such a brief and enlightening discussion with the one that the Kingdom has dubbed ‘Stag Slayer.’

While the evening was certainly busy with the unexpected announcement, I regret that we didn’t have much time to talk about the future business that could be between our houses.

I see your great potential and will say that House Hastrifus is no slouch regarding Kingdom business and affairs. Though at the time, you seemed less than receptive to my offer to meet my daughter because of your…Guest. I do appreciate your tact and restraint in pursuing better opportunities while in the presence of womenfolk, regardless of their status.

Setting aside the potential for marriage, I see no reason for us not to become friends. So I would like to extend to you an invitation to join me at my manor; I will treat you to fine wine and even finer company.

To our future Friendship,

Toddren Hastrifus

- Count Hastrifus, Invitation To Count Audax (3rd Era, 307)

Days bled into a week, and then a week after that, time slipped by like grains spilling from a bowl as Erec bowed his head and sunk into the regular course schedule that the Academy set; he and the rest of the students spiraled to the end of October.

Since returning to the Academy from all of the expeditions and upheaval, juggling regular classes and trying to keep himself at ease could present a full-time task. It was a bit of a relief that the Schedule he’d had before remained clear of Basic Prayer and Theology and the dreaded Courtly Mannerisms. Though, he missed Talent Development.

Where those time slots remained clear in his schedule, though, he hadn’t been simply allowed to rest on his laurels and relax. Nor could he get an advantage over the other students and finish out whatever work needed to be done. With the way his schedule worked, the gaps of time made room for his extra-curricular—Dame Robin took him aside and gave him her lessons on people. It is far more effective in learning how to process information and collect a feel for how the Kingdom was doing.

She didn’t trust him yet to go and collect information on his own, but she set him on task to make friends, introduce himself in warm approaches, and let him adjust to a variety of situations she threw him into. This time didn’t always correlate to his open schedule slots and far exceeded the time that would’ve been spent in a classroom learning with the rest of the students.

In the end, thanks to that, he often found himself extremely busy on a day-to-day basis, leaving only a couple of hours at night to unwind and relax.

As for his weekends without class…

Well, VAL dominated that time slot, as long as it didn’t have to compete with Robin’s lessons. That time was spent in the Cavern, getting the new branch of Vortex Industries going.

And it was there that they had two conflicting approaches to exploring what they should be exploring in introducing technology. They were stretched thin with limited funding and the need to produce things that could accelerate their growth, yet they couldn’t make anything that would be too big of a gap in technology to enflame the already growing influence and rage being spread by the Church.

Erec insisted they focus on Armor improvements—maybe replicating some of VAL’s original functional purposes and finding a way to integrate it with the magi-tech that made their Armors work.

One of their biggest limiting factors was that the Armor couldn’t keep up in combat; there were better models, and they could steal design tips from those and fuse them with their own research. VAL didn’t outright reject this branch; instead, it insisted they focus solely on chemistry and building up supplies while exploring Mysticism, a branch of knowledge that Erec had no possession of.

It was too much work for just Erec.

So Colin became an unofficial part-time employee of Vortex Industries, with the researcher position, tasked with performing magical experimentation.

As the board director, Erec credited his time spent working on Armor with starting the baseline that might lead to more nanite production…

And then they hired a third employee. A man named Thomas, who Erec—the proxy of VAL—tasked with conducting chemistry experiments. The issue was that the practice of ‘chemistry’ was very limited, and knowledge was very protected in the Caverns. It often dealt with oxygen and gasses—ventilation—with some branches falling more into biochemistry since their experts dealt primarily with biocaverns.

They couldn’t afford to have one of those experts, so they had to make do with a man who had a keen intellect and the willpower to sit there and learn chemical reactions, make stock chemicals, and work further to advance his technique and knowledge base until they could move on to ‘more sophisticated and dangerous reactions.’

The product of these three branches of research could have been faster going if they’d focused on only one direction instead of these three. But given only two weeks had passed, and they had all the gear in place to move forward, at least it had begun. Goddess knew if any of it would amount to an advantage when the Church erupted, and they had to push back against the inevitable issues that were even now uprising.

During his work with Robin, Erec started to see glimpses of that brewing conflict, which led to today—a meeting he was not looking forward to.

“Count Hastrifus,” Erec bowed his head, Dame Robin at his side. “A pleasure to meet you once more.”

It was a lie. The smell of whiskey cologne dominated his nose, taking the living room in a stranglehold. Better than the night he’d first met the man at the announcement of the tournament. That night, the Count chose to wear a cologne best described as a citrus-hell. The perpetrator, Count Hastrifus, gave him a wild smile and stared with those greedy eyes. It made Erec feel unwelcome and nothing more than a prize to be won. His instincts screamed to get out of this Manor as fast as possible. But he couldn’t; the Count had sent him an invitation to have him over, and after telling Robin about it, his teacher told him in no uncertain terms he should accept.

He hadn’t forgotten the man after their introduction at the Luculentus gathering, nor had he forgotten how the Count insisted he marry his daughter. Whom was currently sitting nearby, reading a book, trying desperately not to look their way nor to look awkward or annoyed with the occasion.

“Ahhh, Count Audax, I was beyond thrilled to see you had responded to my invitation; it’s my pleasure to host you at our humble home. Though, it’s not so humble—I’m a fifth-generation count, and the ties of House Hastrifus run deep through these cavern veins, sit. Sit.” He gestured to the nearby chairs—the one closest to his daughter. Erec opted instead to sit closer to Count Audax, leaving that recliner open for Dame Robin, who gave a small yet polite greeting.

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The count responded gracefully but much more curtly than he had to Erec.

“I didn’t know your family had such a long line; I’ve never asked my father how far ours went back,” he responded, watching as a servant entered with a bottle of wine; she set it out and poured it. The servant doubled back in the count’s direction and filled Erec’s cup again to the brim.

“Of course, of course. See, the Hastrifus household operated the first winery in the Kingdom. People began to get bored after figuring out survival, and soon they learned how to grow grapes in the caverns… One thing led to another, and my ancestors opened the first winery… It didn’t take many generations for the Royal family to appreciate our efforts and grant us a rank, and then when wine flows, it flows, no? As for your family, bah, it hardly matters. That line—Audentia? Was that it? It’s not really relevant to the Audax name you founded. A hero of the Kingdom.” The count gave a light smile, swirled his wine, and then took a drink.

Erec stared at his cup. Right now, the right thing to do was to accept it. Even though all of him felt unfamiliar and contested this moment, he knew what should be done. Thanks to Robin.

So he did just that, raising his glass and taking a deep gulp.

It had a chocolaty taste, with notes of fruit that were different from what he was used to. It was smooth, and even he could appreciate the quality.

[He’s trying to impress you. Based on an analysis of the quality, that is one expensive glass of wine. At least back in the old world.]

That much is obvious.

“Tell me more,” Erec said. People liked to make themselves feel important, so he’d give him the space to do it.

Dame Robin gave a subtle nod.

“Well, we went up the ladder. Unlanded to landed, a generation later, Barons, after that Viscount… Then you see us as we are now. There is not much to tell other than that we have perfected what it means to make wine. Sometime I’ll have to show you our bio-caverns and facilities. A tour of them is heavenly—we have some noble families contacting us yearly for a visit, given how much beauty and fine vintage they can taste. Even just three years ago, the King reserved a day to enjoy our facilities.”

“Wow, that’s incredible. You weren’t kidding when you said your ties run deep,” Erec shifted in his chair, taking a more relaxed posture.

“Deeper than you might imagine, wine smooths all things,” he had a glint in his eye—then shifted his focus to his daughter, “She’s set to inherit, you know. Has gotten all our knowledge, with a Talent around wine that impressed even me; I could arrange a tour for you, led by my lovely daughter, as soon as next week?”

The girl stopped reading and gave Erec a once over, then a frown. She sat up straight and took her wine, then took a deeper gulp than any of them, clearing it in one go.

“Of course, father.” She agreed, killing the emotion from her voice.

Erec winced as the tension coated the air. Family drama and watching a father push his daughter on him was not the point of this visit. For him, at least. It made him miss Enide. Briefly, he wondered what she was up to right now—if she would be back in time for Hallows Eve—and then he shook his head and focused.

“We can discuss that later.” Never. Erec lied through his teeth, “I am curious, though; you have pointed out quite an interesting thing. Your family is well-connected. I’ll admit, as a new Count to a household that is new to this position, I’ve had some trouble navigating these social circles.”

This was a show of weakness. In a fight, it was like showing his neck to the enemy—wide open.

The count grinned and bit down, seeing the weakness.

“Ah, I did wonder how you were faring. You must be a busy man, Count Audax. Between your duties as an Initiate and trying to lead your new house and cavern. I’d heard you’d begun to restructure your businesses to your benefit, but it must be difficult to make time for these social gatherings, where the real power of the Kingdom lies.”

“No, I haven’t had the time. I’m not sure who to trust or what to think; if you could advise someone in my shoes, what would you say? I’m looking to make the sort of ties that your family has, yet I don’t know where to start. I’d rather House Audax become a generational power.”

At this, the Count leaned back, his smile showing all his teeth as if he’d been handed a big gift on a silver plate. He snapped his eyes towards his daughter.

“Hun, how about you show Lady Robin the sunroom? I believe we have some business to discuss that is not suitable for women-folk’s ears.”

The girl scowled, and Dame Robin, for her part, didn’t react in the least. But, nonetheless, his daughter complied without complaint, leading the older Knight out and leaving Erec alone with the count, a wolf with his prey.

“The first thing I would do is marry,” he began, gesturing to Erec, “You’re currently at your prime. Your fame is at a height that many want to welcome you to their family. It would be unwise to accept just any invitation, though. No, you want the type of proposition that merges households. No second daughters, no loose ties. You want to connect yourself directly to a well-established family, and then, riding your Knight career and your partner’s previous foundation… Well. You might have the chance to gain enough influence. In, say, ten years, I could see you earning the rank of Earl.”

“I don’t have time for a wife,” Erec answered, trying to deflect away. I need to get this on track.

“Time for a wife, bah. Let women-folk tend to women-folk. Marry her, and send her to watch the household while you complete your Knightly duties. You earn the honor and fame, and you can let your woman manage the estates. It’s what they are good at, isn’t it? So, you need to marry. My daughter, for example, is an ideal candidate. You want a woman trained from birth for this tedious administration work; she would have what it takes to get your affairs in order. Then, when you’re done earning your honor, ready to rest and retire, you can take the reins where you belong.”

Erec leaned away, his skin crawling; not only the idea of betraying Enide such a revolting gut-wrenching proposition but the way he bargained with his own daughter…

“I’m a bit uncertain with the way the Kingdom is going.”

“…That is a fair point.” The count swirled his glass and took another sip. Erec mimicked him… Then the count took another gulp.

He could see it in the man’s face. On the edge of spilling… Something.

How do I get him to talk?

“I’m not a fan of letting the outsiders in,” Erec hedged his bet.

The man stopped, snapping his attention to Erec. “I knew it. I knew that barbarian woman you brought was a way to spy on them! Of course. It makes sense. Yes—I don’t know what the gods-damned King is thinking. Those outside of the wall are dirty and trouble. Not good for our business and community.”

“Awful people, I should know, having seen them on the expedition,” Erec felt terrible saying it, but the wine was flowing now; they were moving right where Erec needed them to be. This river of red could lead to the information he wanted.

“Awful, you say? I’m eager to hear these stories. I’m sure the Church is as well. The sermons lately… They’ve been warning us about the danger, diseases, and famine these people bring. They say they have been trying to petition the King to make him stop this madness, but he’s gone off-the-wall with his power, refusing to concede.”

“How do you make him see sense?”

“How, indeed? How indeed?” The count finished his glass—refilling it with the wine left on the table and adding more, then taking a deep pull from the cup. “Well. You gather together your nobility, and you make him listen.”

“If he’s been denying your and the church’s petitions. How would that work?”

“Anything can be bent with a strong enough wind. All you need is enough force behind it to get it to bend… And if it doesn’t? Well, sometimes a tree snaps. Sometimes, a batch of wine is bad and must be purged.”

Erec leaned in, drinking more of his wine. His eyes lit up.

She was right.

Dame Robin had made him come here and made them take this opening since Count Hastrifus was the perfect contact to witness the brewing hostility in the nobility.

A perfect in for him to gather useful intelligence about just what the Church had been up to and what, if anything, they were planning.

“Tell me more.”