8.6

Jewel Wanted to sigh as the first of her new vassals was recognized.

Really it was almost certain that Marcisław of Kliatbatrn would be no trouble, but having the preeminent lord of the knights and cavalry of Viznove take the knee and say the words promising service and allegiance took a huge weight from her still dampened flame.

It had been three days since that working and Jewel’s flame still felt barely more than half what it was before.

She’d never had her inner fire take so long to recover from anything! Not even her first flight had been so exhausting.

Every meal she was ravenous, even when her middle felt like she was carrying three more eggs the hunger was more forestalled with a sense of bloating then fully satisfied.

But her flame was recovering!

The meals filling her body to bloating each day slimmed down by the next morning and her flame felt enriched and renewed although it was always by diminutive amounts for how much bread, stew and meat she took in.

Tsulogothulan found that curious and had muttered something about their own limits related to the nature of their domain and its waters.

Ah it was time.

Every vassal of Viznove had a token of their fealty and service.

Rochford’s was Father’s bow.

For Kliatbatrn it was a gauntlet of black iron and ivory.

It had been given to Jewel without ceremony after the welcoming feast for Marcisław and his party. All so Jewel could step forward as she was right now.

Ready to speak the words.

“I accept your fealty as your liege and Countess, to wield the lands of Kliatbatrn in my defense and the righteousness of my will. To be armored by my power and grace as this maile shall armor you.”

Jewel slipped the gauntlet gently and smoothly onto the offered open hand of her Father’s still long time friend. His skin hung looser on that hand then it had when Jewel saw him as the general of the Armies of Viznove.

Now he would likely be her General when it was needed.

“Rise as Lord Marcisław of Kliatbatrn. The Fist of Viznove and my Horse Lord Paramount.”

And Kliatbatrn stood, his footmen and those of Rochford and Valasect making up for the loss of the entirety of the Kaeketeh guard.

The dissolution of House Bathory’s forces in the city had been followed by the removal of all flags and signs of the countess herself.

Instead Rochford and Nádasdy now stood in equal standing in the banners and heraldry.

Jewel still had the banners of course, and all the tabards and other colored cloaks.

Some of the cloth would likely be sold to houses which shared enough colors with Bathory to not need to be redyed.

But the artful banners were bundled up while Paul sent birds to his sisters and the more distant relatives that might wish to claim the family’s banners. There were apparently minor branches of the house Bathory that Jewel could earn ties of alliance and support from by relinquishing her place as heir to them.

Jewel found that rather heady and bit much considering how many things she had on her plate dealing with just her own Vassals!

But Paul thought it made good sense so she agreed.

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One loyal vassal was acknowledged.

Jewel let the relief wash over her as she thought of those to follow.

The Countess’ two surviving Gryphon Knights were going to be complicated.

Paul and Father both anticipated that there would be haggling on their status. And there was precedent for such mere knights to be elevated after good service in war to greater lords.

Such rewards had not been given at the closing of the last war despite both riders having survived and flown well in a battle that had claimed many of their peers and elders in the art of flight.

But for today there were cheers and the ceremonial banging of spear butts on the floor.

This evening there would be what Jewel had finally managed to wrangle into a more modestly seasoned feast to honor her first acknowledged Vassal.

Later a very similar ritual of acceptance would be performed with her Father. But Paul recommended waiting until either all the other vassals had taken the knee to Jewel as a final mark of her ascension past her Father, or as a way to put pressure on any more stubborn hold outs. When she bestowed the Rochford bow it would be claiming her place as his liege, no longer under his authority.

However for now the ceremony dictated Jewel’s near every word and how she held herself.

“My Vassal, is there business or concerns you would bring to your liege and the seat of Viznove?”

And as was to be expected the lord Kliatbatrn replied.

“All is Well in Kliatbatrn in her fields and along her hills my Countess”

Any such requests were for discussions made the night before. Along with most of the actual arrangements and haggling that would be expected to settle the matter of responsibilities between liege and vassal.

But there had been little asked of Jewel for Kliatbatrn or its Lord. The trade route and ties between Kaeketeh and the northern barony upriver were so old and well established that by all accounts any succession which smoothly passed Kaeketeh from one ruler to another would also pass the vassal contract with hardly any effort.

Jewel released the poise of an officious countess at last.

“Well now that is settled, who's hungry for a mid day meal? I’m absolutely famished!”

And she was, the hunger was renewed as it had been every day.

The footmen relaxed, and as Jewel had insisted for all who attended in these ceremonies room was made at the tables for every one of them.

It was a small token, but Jewel wanted to distinguish herself from the distance that her predecessor had favored. Nevermind the obvious case that said distance from her men had possibly made it all the easier for them to murder and dismember her.

Food arrived, not the opulent and over sweet or seasoned fare of the overindulgent Bathory, but simple bread, meat and other good eating as Jewel enjoyed in Rochford.

A proper stew would have to wait until after Dariusz and his family made their way to Kaeketeh for the year. A necessity that pained Jewel terribly, but there was simply no way that she could afford to return to Valasect before the end of winter.

Simply the act of settling sufficient affairs would have strained that possibility.

But with the loss of all the Bathory Guard in the city to Jewel’s curse and justice there were not enough men to ensure the peace!

Muriel, Bromthil and the Kliatbatrn Captain that Jewel still had not learned the name of were working with what members of their own troops had veterancy to organize a muster and training of interim guards.

Hopefully some of the more trustworthy vassals could be enticed to offer a similar effort to the rebuilding of the Kaeketeh footmen.

“As you command Countess.”

Coin was of course also on offer and there were plenty of volunteers among able bodied men (and at Jewel’s insistence women who could prove fit enough).

But eager, unbloodied and untrained foot would be worse than utter lawlessness according to her books and the advice of everyone Jewel trusted the council of. So Kaeketeh needed Jewel’s presence to act as a stabilizing force until an administrator and competent guards could be trained and settled.

Trust had to be earned and order healed as the word of the former guard’s betrayal spread.

Everyone took their seats as tables were moved and more chairs found to provide sufficient places for everyone.

Jewel desperately wanted to be rid of the piss and shit stinking city.

To leave was technically within her right. She was the Countess and final law of the land under only the distant decrees of the High King. But Jewel could not abandon Kaeketeh no matter how awful it stank until her departure would not leave the poor people in ruin and chaos.

How long would it be before Jewel could sleep in her own bed and use her carefully carved baths again?

Hopefully not long.