crazedpudding

Klara Elizaveta smiled before penning a response, confirming her attendance.

Klara Elizaveta bowed her head for the man who had faithfully guarded her family, and who granted her father his final wish. The old princess had no more tears to shed. Josefina Barclay offered up a prayer for Ser Walton's soul. "Spasiba for protecting us, Ser."

Josefina sighed softly as she carefully shut the door behind her, having set tea and a small tray of toast down beside her husband. It seemed no matter how much she told her dear husband that he remained faultless, Wilheim seemed all too ready to blame himself.

SHELTER Keep Wilheburg in Reinmar. Josefina Barclay considered herself a cautious woman, if not a particularly brave one. She was careful to always keep her young son close, and able enough to keep herself out of danger. Yes, Josefina would consider herself cautious. She had not been cautious this day. It was all she could do to keep herself calm when the bells rang, and when she ultimately followed the Princess Royal down into the crypts of the Winter Palace. Crypts that, Josefina knew, would not be safe for long. Calm slowly gave way to fear, and as she held her son close, Josefina knew there was only so much she could do to comfort those around her. Prayer rang out through the catacombs like birdsong on a sunny day as the scent of blood reached them even as far down as they were. Perfume could only cover so much of the iron that permeated the very stone. She had never truly interacted with Princess Analiesa, but Josefina knew that when she all but begged the Duchess of Vidaus to protect her only son should her life be forfeit, that the woman would do all she could for little Manfred. She knew because her own fear, a mother’s fear, was reflected in the eyes of the woman she stood beside. Manfred would live, even if she had to sacrifice her own life for his escape. Her precious son, her only child, would be safe. Buzzing filled the air as it echoed down the stairs, followed by cracks of sound and what could only be explosions raining dust down on their heads. It was silent, almost too quiet as their sanctuary was only very rarely breached by a blood soaked messenger. There was too little news, not enough to make a decision, but she didn’t have to, did she? Never had she expected to be cradling the too small, newborn heiress of Vidaus to her chest whilst the mother jerked violently in her childbed. There wasn’t enough time in the world to prepare her for this role. She was never supposed to be here in the first place. There were not enough prayers, not enough hopes to ever quell the visceral terror she felt when the woman she was supposed to be following, to be supporting, fell unconscious. There was not enough time in the world to ever answer the question of what now? Josefina had trembled her way through the motions as medics and injured began to flood their sanctuary. As Ser Walton urged them to evacuate, she heard someone’s voice through the ocean that flooded her ears. She had only remembered stumbling up the stairs once she’d reached the top, when she began tearing through the fabric of her dress to cover the yet unnamed infant and a small girl who had asked to hold her hand. Was this really happening? Was she really here, watching people tear up the carpet and pull drapes down from the windows to cover themselves? Reinmar. That was the consensus they had reached. The safest place they could come up with. Her home for the past six years. They had fled the burning palace into a hellscape of familiar city streets, streets she had walked down too many times to remember now filled with fire and blood as it rained from the sky. She had been carrying her son since the bell first rang, and the newborn for perhaps only slightly less time, but she didn’t dare slow as she dragged the small girl who couldn’t have been more than eight behind her. She didn’t dare stop until all who had come with her were safe within Wilheburg’s walls, and then even deeper into the keep’s basement. Even then, she could not stop. There was no time to think, no time to even put the children she carried down. Plans must be made, a place outside the Dual Kingdom where they would not be turned away established, and a route thought of to keep as far from the demonic scourge plaguing them as possible. Reinmar wasn’t far enough. It wasn’t far enough. And just before they’d been about to leave, a course plotted south toward Balian, as far as they could get, Josefina received a bird. It couldn’t be true. Surely it wasn’t true. It had barely been a few Saint’s hours, and she couldn’t dare hope. She couldn’t believe that it was true, because if she did and it was false, they were all dead. But a rider approached, crying out that the news was indeed true. Humanity had triumphed. They were safe. Josefina couldn’t remember what happened next, with relief flooding her so strongly that it seemed to wipe out all but the thought of they’re safe. A fog had draped itself over those memories, the memories of after, that would never lift. Conscious thought had reappeared at Wilheburg, after all had gone, sitting beside the fire in the main hall as she so often did with Manfred in her lap, disheveled and torn but alive and in one piece. The Duchess broke out into laughter at the absurdity of it all. There had been over twenty people in her basement, perhaps even thirty, a basement she’d very rarely touched. The hilarity had swiftly turned to sobs of relief as she handed Manfred off to a trusted nursemaid. She didn’t know how long she sat there for, first in tears before it turned to silence, before Wilheim joined her. There were only a few thoughts running through her mind. None under her care had died. Wilheburg had been enough. She had been enough. The shelter she had offered had been enough.

ON THE COMPETENCY OF THE STEWARDRY KRUSAE ZWY KONGZEM Issued by the Kastellan of Stewardry On the 11th of Msitza ag Dargund, 453 E.S VA BIRODEO E HERZENAV, In the nine years I served as a steward, it often came to my attention of how little those in my position made themselves available to the citizenry through either answering birds or simply discussing when they might next be able to aid in the acquisition of shop or home. In the two years I have spent as the Kastellan of Stewardry, I have realized that the issues I have noticed throughout my tenure as steward are much more severe than I had originally thought. Though mitigated by the hiring of new stewards, I still seek to create a better office than the one I have inherited. Thus, it is my goal to reform the office into one that is uplifted on the efforts of the dedicated. An office that might aid the public whenever needed, and one that might ease the stresses placed on it through hard work and proper communication. With the blessing of His Excellency, the Lord Treasurer, I would like to announce a change of policy within the Stewardry. Any steward who has not made a sale or interacted within proper stewardry channels for longer than a period of six years shall have their stewardship terminated. Any steward who has not forwarded eighty percent of the downpayments on sales made to the Kastellan of Stewardry within a period of four years shall have their stewardship terminated. IV JOVEO MAAN, Her Princely Grace, Josefina Barclay, Princess-Consort of Sutica, Duchess-Consort of Reinmar, Countess-Consort of Freimark and Kretzen, Baroness-Consort of Madvon and Freising, Lady of Wilheburg, Erwinsburg, Freiburg and Rozenfeld, Kastellan of Stewardry

Josefina Kortrevich held her son close as she stared off at a blank patch of wall. Klara Elizaveta took a deep, shuddering breath on the steps of her small home in Jerovitz before returning inside with halting movements.

REINMAREN ANGELTURNIER Reinmaren Fishing Tournament 12th of Tov and Yermey, E.S 451 Va Birodeo Herzenav ag Edlervik, With the beginning of a glorious new generation within the Dual Kongzem, House Barclay sees it fit to celebrate the approaching future in a way that is both productive and enjoyable. A fishing tournament shall be held on the docks of Reinmar, fishing implements provided, from which all edible catches will be provided to the Basilica of Saint Heinrik to be distributed to those in need. A prize pool of 300 mina shall go to first, second and third place in order of most fish caught, with first place receiving 150 mina, second place receiving 100 mina and third place receiving 50 mina. For the purposes of the tournament, only fish shall be eligible for counting. SIGNED, Her Princely Grace, Josefina Theodosya Renée Barclay, Princess-Consort of Sutica, Duchess-Consort of Reinmar, Countess-Consort of Freimark and Kretzen, Baroness-Consort of Madvon and Freising,, Lady of Wilheburg, Erwinsburg, Freiburg and Rozenfeld Her Ladyship, Edith Klaire Barclay

Josefina Barclay got promoted :).

Josefina Barclay beamed, marking the date down on her calendar.

Josefina Barclay pins the missive inside a small box filled with other such papers with a wistful smile. "Loretta, do vy have any more of those pastries vy made? Let's send some to Matviy and Papej." @ImDrippedJr

Klara Elizaveta sighed softly. "Spasiba, Walton."

Josefina Barclay beamed. "Finally!"

Klara Elizaveta set flowers down on her old tutor's grave with a sigh. "Spasiba, Firr Vernhart. Spasiba."

Josefina Barclay beams at the invitation. "Finally. Those two have waited much too long."

Josefina Barclay read over the missive briefly before continuing to speculate on the relationships of her siblings. Specifically Esfir. @marslol

Josefina Kortrevich tucked the missive away carefully before returning to the wedding preparations, although now a smile had found itself on her face.

Josefina Kortrevich held the tiniest Colborn safely in her arms as Anabel rested after the delivery. She wondered if this feeling, deep in her heart, was a fraction of what her dearest friend felt. "Prevja, little Erik." She cooed down at the sleeping babe.

Josefina Kortrevich folded the notice carefully, tucking it away into a well-worn box before moving to pen a letter.

Josefina Kortrevich smiles as the newly improved missive makes it's way to her hands, before tucking it away into a box of letters.

THE EXHUMATION OF KRUSEV [i] A painting of the crypts beneath Krusev. Va Birodeo Herzenav ag Edlervik It is the House of Kortrevich’s greatest honor to reunite the fallen beneath the old keep of Krusev within the lands of Jerovitz, under the supervision of Lady Josefina Kortrevich and Lord Vladrik Kortrevich II. The original crypt and tombs have been kept as intact as possible, for any who may wish to visit the original site of burial. The comital family shall put forth an additional effort to preserve the underground portion, and the top half with efforts to uproot, and relocate the invasive tree within; effective within the next saint’s week. Visitors are always welcome, but those that wish the site harm and ruin shall be treated as if they are attacking the current standing keep. The remains of the ancestors of House Kortrevich shall forever remain protected and remembered within the County of Jerovitz, in the crypts below the Chapel of the Venerable Dame Primrose Kortrevich. The current comital family of Kortrevich and future generations will hold the original crypt as a sacred site of their heritage and blood. THE EXHUMED Arranged by year of death. Lord Markus Kortrevich 156 E.S - 209 E.S Lady Amelya Kortrevich 183 E.S - 221 E.S Lord Tillman Kortrevich 182 E.S - 229 E.S Lord Lukas Kortevich 208 E.S - 243 E.S Lord Henrik Kortrevich 209 E.S - 243 E.S Lord Elijah Kortrevich 215 E.S - 256 E.S Lord Seath Kortrevich 218 E.S - 256 E.S Lord Alexander Kortrevich 230 E.S - 256 E.S Lord Dexios Kortrevich 230 E.S - 257 E.S Lady Kaitlyn Kortrevich 238 E.S - 272 E.S Lady Sarah Kortrevich 239 E.S - 282 E.S Lady Lotte Kortrevich 232 E.S - 282 E.S Lord Odo Kortrevich 183 E.S - 283 E.S Lord Martin Kortrevich 232 E.S - 289 E.S Lord Nikolaus Kortrevich 233 E.S - 303 E.S Lady Winnifred Kortevich 270 E.S - 309 E.S Lady Primrose Kortrevich 256 E.S - 311 E.S Lady Adaine Kortrevich 232 E.S - 312 E.S Lord Duncan Kortrevich 232 E.S - 330 E.S Lord Otto Kortrevich 230 E.S - 331 E.S Lord Elgon Kortrevich 232 E.S - 331 E.S Lady Emaline Kortrevich 259 E.S - 333 E.S Lord Georg Kortrevich 318 E.S - 341 E.S Lord Leopold Kortrevich 297 E.S - 343 E.S Lady Marya Kortrevich 293 E.S - 344 E.S Lord Markus Kortrevich 272 E.S - 347 E.S Lady Sarah Kortrevich 286 E.S - 351 E.S Lord Ivan Kortrevich 291 E.S - 351 E.S SIGNED, Her Ladyship, Josefina Theodosya Renèe Kortrevich His Lordship, Vladrik Iov Robaire Kortrevich II

Josefina Kortrevich promptly gasped before squealing to the high heavens. She promptly began to pen a letter that began like this: Mea darling friend Anabel, VY SNEAKY SNEAKY COLBORN, VY! YAM SO EXCITED, EA COULD JUST... She went on to ramble in excitement for several more paragraphs.

Klara Elizaveta knelt in the small cottage she shared with her family, the Lorraine cross given to her by her parents in her hands, and her forehead pressed to the floor. "We'll be fine..." She rasped into the silence, locks of greying hair falling to cover her tears. "Ea will be fine..." The last word left her in a choked sob as the gold of the Lorraine cut into her hands. She'd promised. She had promised her mother that they'd be fine. But it wasn't fine. It would not be fine for a very long time. Eleanora Amador chuckled softly as she drew Emma into a gentle hug. "Ea have missed vy, mea dear friend."

Klara Elizaveta clenched her fists and took a deep breath before starting toward the prikaz.

Klara Elizaveta crushed the page into a ball, throwing it into a far corner. "Vy are exonerated, Aedypapej, vy are free."

Josefina Kortrevich blinks at the Moda, and then at her cream dress with a crimson overdress lined in sable fur, before shrugging.