Innverse Stats | Lothen du Marquin

Chapter	Text
9.17 R	“No—not just that. Why can’t we all aspire to be Queen Marquin? Lyonette left for Izril. She’s leveled—many times according to Ser Dalimont! Why not do that? Be—become someone else and level? I could try. If not lead armies. Why don’t you or Mother or the [Princes]? Lothen and…”
9.17 R	Prince Lothen, the 2nd Prince of Calanfer and, technically, 4th oldest just after Menisi, spoke with a curt voice.
9.17 R	“Lothen.”
9.17 R	He was musing about the personal nuance of a class that a [King] could have. Any second, his son and daughters knew, he was going to bring up the King of Destruction. Or the Blighted King. Or the King of Duels. However, Lothen seemed to take this as a critique.
9.17 R	Lothen cut another square of food away. He had excellent posture. But then, the good [Prince] often did.
9.17 R	Three [Princes] for the seven princesses. They were seen far more seldom than their sisters, and two were among the oldest of the siblings. That was for a good reason. You could say that, ah, Ielane’s methods of teaching her children had been a work in progress. She’d had a harder time with Shardele, Agenote, Menisi, and Lothen.
9.17 R	It showed. Lothen was the good son. He had four children and a tie to one of Avel’s own earldoms. He was so straight-backed that Seraphel had wondered if she pushed him too hard if he’d snap like poor Agenote.
9.17 R	Even so, Taimaguros had eaten him. Metaphorically. Lothen replied to Reclis directly and in the most unsatisfying of manners.
9.17 R	Seraphel had introduced none of her siblings to Rabbiteater and her newfound friends, but she might introduce Ellet to them if she had the chance. Certainly not Lothen. Knowing him, he might try just because it would behoove him to meet Ser Solstice. Maybe he’d even make the mistake of asking for a duel, in which case Rabbiteater might oblige.
9.17 R	Here was all you needed to know about Lothen. As part of his class, he had gained—after his marriage to Avel’s [Countess]—the Skill called [Hints of Affection]. Which was probably the only reason why his marriage was still in good order. He could play his part well so long as someone held up cue cards.
9.17 R	Hundredlord Cortese and Altestiel were speaking to Duchess Greina, who had been talking Noelictus’ own royalty out of the maneuver. Yet one of the Princes, Lothen, spoke with a half-smile that didn’t look quite real.
9.17 R	The question was so poorly phrased and delivered as to make Ielane close one eye in a wince, but Lothen went on.
9.17 R	Hundredlord Cortese looked blatantly amused by the [Prince], but he was surprised by Lothen’s shake of the head.
9.17 R	Greina raised her brows, and Lothen bowed.
9.55 (Pt. 1)	“Prince Lothen of Calanfer is in my Court of Ranges. That man is as diverse as an uncured ham. Seraphel is a rainbow compared to him. He’s commented on Kadane before. So have others. Since I can’t throw them off a cliff, I would rather not make her deal with them. She gets enough comments as it is. Leave off. I told you, she prefers us to visit.”
Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 1)	I learned the lessons well. Better than poor Shardele or terrified Aielef, and I am sick unto death. Agenote escaped, but no one else will. I will not wait to watch her grind down Seraphel, Lothen, young Vernoue and Kanmis, baby Lyonette, or whomever comes next. For the good of the Eternal Throne, I have done this deed. Pray consider what led your glorious kingdom of Eternal Calanfer to this moment when the finest act of a [Princess] is to slay her own mother. Is she the monster for being too perfect to your will, or is it you?
Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)	“Lothen.”
Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)	“Lothen? He’s not that—canny.”
Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)	“Lothen’s chafing to impress you. He’s not the sort of man that King Itreimedes likes, though Avel can tolerate him. He’s a better warrior than a statesman. Let him head an expedition. If we can recover Seraphel, the two of them will work better together.”
Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)	“She wanted an adventure, and she has her tiara. At worst, she’s a prisoner. Better to run into a Great Company than monsters from the Dyed Lands. I’ll arrange for Lothen to return tomorrow. Remember: Agenote is attending for a visit, along with Gaiil-Drome’s representatives. You wanted half-Elven guidance for the King of Myths. You’ll have an hour to catch up with him.”
Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)	Agenote was forty years old. Forty something. Reclis always felt he’d let Agenote down—well, him and Lothen and Kanmis—he loved his sons and daughters all, of course, but Agenote…
Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)	Well, part of the problem was when Agenote and Lothen had been born. Of the three, Agenote was certainly the happiest, Reclis thought. He came bounding up the steps with annoying vitality for a forty-year old, and he was thin, if not fit, and energetic enough.
Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)	—And that was it. Agenote just didn’t see eye-to-eye with his father. They were very respectful of each other, but—and Reclis sighed—the 1st [Prince] was less of an asset than even Lothen, because, well…he was happy. Married to a lovely [Lady of the Groves] in what he was assured was a healthy marriage, childless, but that was because Gaiil-Drome really did take the long damn view about having children, and…happy.
Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)	“She always does. We’re sending Lothen to the New Lands, I think. Vernoue’s visiting Menisi right now, and Lyonette’s apparently having a tiff with Ielane, but I don’t know more.”
Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)	“Well, you tell me, Father. It’s hard to broach the subject, but I’ve always wondered…why you let Mother push my sisters so hard. She’s only taken it easier on Ellet—I thought it was because Lyonette ran away. And I didn’t even see the worst of it; I was married to Virmilla, thanks to Grannymother and Grandkingfather, but I saw bits of it. Lothen, Kanmis—I always got the impression we were failures, but I never saw my sisters as being that much better. Is Mother a good [Queen]?”
Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)	“So that’s when Mother began making Calanfer efficient, then. Consolidating the power of the crown and marrying off Kanmis to Taimaguros, Lothen to Avel—how is Kanmis?”
Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)	“Lothen wouldn’t. And I bet Kanmis wouldn’t care.”
Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)	“—Placement, geographically, matters more than ensuring the old walls are standing. I’m foreseeing the potential for continental war again, which really is a damned nuisance. Calanfer should be forging ties abroad. Lyonette, Vernoue, and Lothen are finding roles that level and empower them, which is for the best especially as the former are unwed. I know there’s your comments about eligibility of [Princesses], but higher-levels will be more respected in this coming age. Lyonette having that delightful Gnoll child…fascinating. You know, the odds of a great Gnollish leader arising aren’t low either. Not that we have high odds of making a match, but the sympathy of having a Gnollish child in the royal line…we’ll have to work around that for a marriage, of course—”

9.17 R

“No—not just that. Why can’t we all aspire to be Queen Marquin? Lyonette left for Izril. She’s leveled—many times according to Ser Dalimont! Why not do that? Be—become someone else and level? I could try. If not lead armies. Why don’t you or Mother or the [Princes]? Lothen and…”

9.17 R

Prince Lothen, the 2nd Prince of Calanfer and, technically, 4th oldest just after Menisi, spoke with a curt voice.

9.17 R

“Lothen.”

9.17 R

He was musing about the personal nuance of a class that a [King] could have. Any second, his son and daughters knew, he was going to bring up the King of Destruction. Or the Blighted King. Or the King of Duels. However, Lothen seemed to take this as a critique.

9.17 R

Lothen cut another square of food away. He had excellent posture. But then, the good [Prince] often did.

9.17 R

Three [Princes] for the seven princesses. They were seen far more seldom than their sisters, and two were among the oldest of the siblings. That was for a good reason. You could say that, ah, Ielane’s methods of teaching her children had been a work in progress. She’d had a harder time with Shardele, Agenote, Menisi, and Lothen.

9.17 R

It showed. Lothen was the good son. He had four children and a tie to one of Avel’s own earldoms. He was so straight-backed that Seraphel had wondered if she pushed him too hard if he’d snap like poor Agenote.

9.17 R

Even so, Taimaguros had eaten him. Metaphorically. Lothen replied to Reclis directly and in the most unsatisfying of manners.

9.17 R

Seraphel had introduced none of her siblings to Rabbiteater and her newfound friends, but she might introduce Ellet to them if she had the chance. Certainly not Lothen. Knowing him, he might try just because it would behoove him to meet Ser Solstice. Maybe he’d even make the mistake of asking for a duel, in which case Rabbiteater might oblige.

9.17 R

Here was all you needed to know about Lothen. As part of his class, he had gained—after his marriage to Avel’s [Countess]—the Skill called [Hints of Affection]. Which was probably the only reason why his marriage was still in good order. He could play his part well so long as someone held up cue cards.

9.17 R

Hundredlord Cortese and Altestiel were speaking to Duchess Greina, who had been talking Noelictus’ own royalty out of the maneuver. Yet one of the Princes, Lothen, spoke with a half-smile that didn’t look quite real.

9.17 R

The question was so poorly phrased and delivered as to make Ielane close one eye in a wince, but Lothen went on.

9.17 R

Hundredlord Cortese looked blatantly amused by the [Prince], but he was surprised by Lothen’s shake of the head.

9.17 R

Greina raised her brows, and Lothen bowed.

9.55 (Pt. 1)

“Prince Lothen of Calanfer is in my Court of Ranges. That man is as diverse as an uncured ham. Seraphel is a rainbow compared to him. He’s commented on Kadane before. So have others. Since I can’t throw them off a cliff, I would rather not make her deal with them. She gets enough comments as it is. Leave off. I told you, she prefers us to visit.”

Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 1)

I learned the lessons well. Better than poor Shardele or terrified Aielef, and I am sick unto death. Agenote escaped, but no one else will. I will not wait to watch her grind down Seraphel, Lothen, young Vernoue and Kanmis, baby Lyonette, or whomever comes next. For the good of the Eternal Throne, I have done this deed. Pray consider what led your glorious kingdom of Eternal Calanfer to this moment when the finest act of a [Princess] is to slay her own mother. Is she the monster for being too perfect to your will, or is it you?

Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)

“Lothen.”

Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)

“Lothen? He’s not that—canny.”

Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)

“Lothen’s chafing to impress you. He’s not the sort of man that King Itreimedes likes, though Avel can tolerate him. He’s a better warrior than a statesman. Let him head an expedition. If we can recover Seraphel, the two of them will work better together.”

Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)

“She wanted an adventure, and she has her tiara. At worst, she’s a prisoner. Better to run into a Great Company than monsters from the Dyed Lands. I’ll arrange for Lothen to return tomorrow. Remember: Agenote is attending for a visit, along with Gaiil-Drome’s representatives. You wanted half-Elven guidance for the King of Myths. You’ll have an hour to catch up with him.”

Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)

Agenote was forty years old. Forty something. Reclis always felt he’d let Agenote down—well, him and Lothen and Kanmis—he loved his sons and daughters all, of course, but Agenote…

Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)

Well, part of the problem was when Agenote and Lothen had been born. Of the three, Agenote was certainly the happiest, Reclis thought. He came bounding up the steps with annoying vitality for a forty-year old, and he was thin, if not fit, and energetic enough.

Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)

—And that was it. Agenote just didn’t see eye-to-eye with his father. They were very respectful of each other, but—and Reclis sighed—the 1st [Prince] was less of an asset than even Lothen, because, well…he was happy. Married to a lovely [Lady of the Groves] in what he was assured was a healthy marriage, childless, but that was because Gaiil-Drome really did take the long damn view about having children, and…happy.

Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)

“She always does. We’re sending Lothen to the New Lands, I think. Vernoue’s visiting Menisi right now, and Lyonette’s apparently having a tiff with Ielane, but I don’t know more.”

Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)

“Well, you tell me, Father. It’s hard to broach the subject, but I’ve always wondered…why you let Mother push my sisters so hard. She’s only taken it easier on Ellet—I thought it was because Lyonette ran away. And I didn’t even see the worst of it; I was married to Virmilla, thanks to Grannymother and Grandkingfather, but I saw bits of it. Lothen, Kanmis—I always got the impression we were failures, but I never saw my sisters as being that much better. Is Mother a good [Queen]?”

Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)

“So that’s when Mother began making Calanfer efficient, then. Consolidating the power of the crown and marrying off Kanmis to Taimaguros, Lothen to Avel—how is Kanmis?”

Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)

“Lothen wouldn’t. And I bet Kanmis wouldn’t care.”

Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)

“—Placement, geographically, matters more than ensuring the old walls are standing. I’m foreseeing the potential for continental war again, which really is a damned nuisance. Calanfer should be forging ties abroad. Lyonette, Vernoue, and Lothen are finding roles that level and empower them, which is for the best especially as the former are unwed. I know there’s your comments about eligibility of [Princesses], but higher-levels will be more respected in this coming age. Lyonette having that delightful Gnoll child…fascinating. You know, the odds of a great Gnollish leader arising aren’t low either. Not that we have high odds of making a match, but the sympathy of having a Gnollish child in the royal line…we’ll have to work around that for a marriage, of course—”

Lothen du Marquin

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