Chapter 5. Noble Intentions
The next day was the day for the boar hunt at Bann Odwin's estate. Michael had no real illusions about the event. The hunt was just a pretext he assumed, this was the landed nobility's chance to present their claims and grievances to them, just as the guilds had the day before.
It took half a day to reach Bann Odwin's estate. Michael decided to leave his war horse in the stable and join Anora in her carriage instead. After yesterday's row he wanted to try and talk things through with her, before they met the nobility of Gwaren.
"I suppose this is when we get to hear what the nobility wants from us," he said to her, as their carriage made its way along the road leading to Bann Odwin's estate.
"Yes," Anora said tonelessly.
"Is there anything I should know about it," he asked her, trying to keep his voice light.
Anora frowned and regarded him carefully. He sensed that she had yesterdays row in mind too. They were treading on difficult ground and neither of them wanted it to go bad again.
"It won't be as in court," she after pausing a while. "It will be all pleasantries and light conversation, and then they will no doubt try to ambush you with whatever demands they have, but you should already understand that."
Michael nodded. It was as much as he feared it would be. He had already been at a few similar events in Denerim. He supposed that Ferelden politics was tame compared to the fabled Great Game in Orlais, but some things where the same everywhere.
"I take it we will be separated a lot of the time," Michael said. "They will have me put crossbow bolts in the head of those animals, while you are elsewhere?"
This time it was Anora's time to nod. There was no tradition that forbade the Queen to take part in hunts, but Anora didn't care for them so she would stay at the manor.
Michael didn't really enjoy many of these hunting games either. Too often it was just lining up the guests to slaughter animals that were simply herded before them by servants. But the Hero of Ferelden was expected to display his prowess at every opportunity.
"Indeed. You are the new Teyrn," Anora said and looked away, "so they will no doubt want to get a feel for you and maybe force some promise from you, while you are… unprepared."
Michael realized how tense Anora had become. Whatever he thought of her words, she really didn't want this to end in another row. He nodded slowly.
"I will not make any premature promises," Michael said and stopped himself before he added an impatient "of course".
"The seneschal gave me pretty good recount of the political climate here," he said instead. "But if you think there is something specific I should know, please tell me."
Anora thought a bit and then began to tell him various facts about all the nobles and their estates and relationships. He tried desperately to keep track of all the names she mentioned, but he was sure he would forget half of them.
Anora seemed to finish, but then she opened her mouth again.
"There is one more thing you might want to… know about," she said carefully. "Bann Odwin has a daughter with a bit of a… reputation."
Anora's voice trailed off. Erlina, who until then had sat silently and pretended not to listened, snorted.
"Her Majesty means, that lady Ywaine is a vulture who tries to sink her claws in any important man she can see," Erlina said derisively.
Michael winced inwardly. He did not want that kind of trouble. He looked at Anora for a sign of what she wanted to hear, but she looked out at the countryside and didn't meet his gaze.
"I see," Michael said slowly. "I hope it isn't as bad as you say, but I suppose it's bad politics to be outright rude to someone like a Bann's daughter, but I'm sure I can steer away any unwanted attention."
Anora continued to ignore him and look out the scenery.
It was going to be long day, Michael thought.
When they arrived at the estate, Bann Odwin, his wife and a group other Banns and lesser nobility awaited them outside the manor house. Michael stepped out of the carriage and then helped Anora out. He put her hand on his and went to receive the bows and curtseys of welcoming.
He couldn't help but notice the young woman with a long, rather striking, black hair that smiled at him on Bann Odwin's left side. He assumed this was the Bann's daughter, lady Ywaine. He decided to have as little to do with her as possible.
Michael and Anora were introduced to everyone present. As usual, Anora seemed to know most of them and exchanged little pleasantries with them, while Michael recognized a few from the banquet, the first day they had arrived and tried match their names and faces with the facts Anora had given him.
Bann Darin a short jovial man, who had the third largest trace of land in Gwaren according to Anora and his wife, who Anora claimed was the daughter of a noblemen from Redcliff.
Bann Alenna who was a tall woman with a rather severe chin, who according to Anora's gossip before was alone and so far had been singularly good at scaring off possible suitors.
And so the parade of names and faces continued. Bann Odwin himself was one of the first to introduce himself and he soon confirmed that the dark haired beauty was his daughter, lady Ywaine. She didn't immediately strike Michael as the flirty type, even if she maybe sought his eyes a bit too eagerly.
As soon as the introductions where made they were invited to the usual big meal in the great hall at the manor. Bann Odwin seated Ywaine opposite Michael, to his dismay. She seemed pleasant enough to converse with though. At least it seemed he wouldn't have to deal with veiled attempts at forcing him to give some talk with political implications.
He turned to Anora for help in dealing with the embarrassing situation, but she ignored him completely, being involved in some lengthy debate with Bann Darin about iron prices. Michael waited a while, but then gave up, gave Ywaine a forced smile and continued to listen half heartedly to her talk about her father's horses.
Anora meanwhile was silently cursing her husband. Why wouldn't he just tell the little wench off? She was obviously trying to charm him and he just let her keep doing it. She determinedly ignored his pathetic attempts to talk to her, to let him know she was not amused by the way he let Ywaine go on.
Michael tried to ignore Ywaine and engage Bann Odwin in some small talk instead, but he seemed more than content to let his daughter take over the conversation. Michael was just relieved when they finally rose from the table.
They gathered outside in the courtyard afterwards. Bann Odwin and a group of nobles where dressed in hunting garb and armed with crossbows for the hunt. A group of men at arms with spears and horns joined the group. Dismayed Michael realized that lady Ywaine had changed her gown to a shapely green tunic and leggings and was apparently going to join the hunt.
Michael went over to Anora and to bid her farewell before he left. Anora gave him a quick peck on the cheek, but there was hardly any warmth in it. Michael tried to find something to say or do, but the hunting party was moving away so he just kissed her cheek back quickly and hurried after the others.
The noblemen and women all mounted and set off at leisurely pace, followed by a troop of men at arms and dog handlers with a pack of mabari. Michael found himself riding next to Bann Odwin.
"It's a lovely day for a hunt, wouldn't you say, your Highness?" Bann Odwin said cheerfully.
"Indeed, my lord" Michael answered politely.
"My daughter is so thrilled to get a chance to meet the famous hero of Ferelden, your Majesty. We all are," the Bann continued.
Michael winced a bit. Mention of the great hero of Ferelden always made him cringe a bit inwardly. He was proud of his accomplishments, but he didn't really like to be greeted as mostly a sword swinging brute.
"Hopefully it'll be a long time before I have to defend Ferelden sword in hand again. I have other duties," he said stiffly.
"Of course, your Highness," Bann Odwin hurriedly agreed. "You are a Teyrn and Monarch. Your noble duties are many indeed."
Michael hid his distaste at the almost fawning flattery. The Bann didn't have to be the sycophant he seemed, he told himself. It wasn't uncommon for even level headed people to get a little overawed by the presence of royalty. He decided to wait and see if there would be an angle to his talk or if it was simply flattery.
"It is good to see that a son of the Cousland line is on the throne to guarantee stability in the land after all the ravages of war," the Bann continued.
Michael nodded inwardly. So that was his game. Just as the seneschal had warned him, some of the land owners resented Queen Anora, both her heritage and her open support for the merchants. Now the Bann was openly flattering him with his noble lineage to see if he took the bait.
"May I remind you that it is our Queen who sits on the throne. I am, like everyone else, her servant." Michael said neutrally.
"Of course, your Highness, a poor choice of words," Bann Odwin hurriedly agreed, and regarded Michael . He couldn't be certain, but it seemed to him that a look of disappointment flashed in the Bann's face.
"Nevertheless it is reassuring that a man of the oldest line in Ferelden sits by her side and guide her," Bann Odwin continued.
Michael shook his head inwardly. The Bann didn't let it go that easy. He couldn't help smiling at the thought of how Anora would have reacted to hearing the description that he "sat by her side and guided her."
Bann Odwin seemed to take his smile as approval and relaxed a bit. He began to describe the places and hamlets they were passing. Michael tried to listen politely, while trying to make his mind up about what he had heard.
It was obvious that the Bann's flattery had been intended to see if he had own designs on Anora's throne. But that didn't have to mean that they were involved in any conspiracy. It could just have been an attempt to discover more about the politics in Denerim see if there was an opportunity to exploit.
"Ywaine my dear," Bann Odwin said suddenly. "I fear I am boring his Highness, why don't you try to entertain him instead?"
Michael forced a smile as the girl took her father's side by his place. This was the second time the Bann had tried to push his daughter and him together. He almost wondered if the Bann hoped to match them up? But it seemed too outrageous to him, that the stiff Bann who always talked about noble traditions actually would try to make his daughter a royal mistress.
Michael had been prepared to dismiss Ywaine as just a pretty face, but as they talked, Michael discovered that she was actually a quite clever young woman. Under other circumstances he would probably enjoyed her company. Now he felt the situation to be rather uncomfortable though, especially with the her father benignly smiling behind them.
They reached the wood where the hunt was to take place. The woods was crisscrossed with animal path's and many places show the signs of wild boars grubbing for food. The noblemen spread out in small groups accompanied by men at arms, while some of the men at arms and the mabari handlers left to go around the woods to help the local peasants stir up the boars.
Michael tried to find a path off to the side of the main knot of hunters. He didn't particularly like shooting innocent wild animals just for cheap thrills. A charging wild boar, especially the large breed that lived in Gwaren, could conceivably maim or even kill a person, but usually the hunt was just a slaughter.
He was dismayed, but not surprised when Bann Odwin and Ywaine joined him, with a small group of other nobles.
Michael cocked the crossbow and put a bolt in the notch, feeling the eyes of the other nobles on him. He knew he was supposed to be the finest warrior in the land, but slaughtering animals wasn't something he enjoyed
After a long time waiting a rustle was heard in the underbrush ahead of them. Michael raised his crossbow as a large boar charged wildly at them. At least four crossbow bolts was fired simultaneously. Three of them struck their mark and the boar fell to the ground trashing. Two servants ran forward and slit the throat of the dying creature.
It was determined that it was Bann Darin's bolt that had killed the beast, even if two more had hit it. Bann Odwin assured the others that the Prince's bolt had hit too, but had been deflected from it's hide. Michael really couldn't care less, but congratulated the Darin on the shot.
