• Memory • [Oakleigh] Remember the Mane

[Murphy Clyde]

14th of Ymiden, 715

Noble visits weren't an uncommon occurrence for House Clyde. Granted, they generally made the trip to Rynmere themselves, but it wasn't uncommon for a Lord or Lady to venture to them in order to see the stock they were to buy first hand. All that differed in this instance was that it was Murphy who would do the receiving and handling of their guest, a foreign process to the young man. He'd observed his mother deal with Noble customers, and had been to a fair few business meetings, thinly veiled as social mixers, but receiving and dealing with a noble himself was... new. Murphy cleared his throat uncomfortably shifting in his newley scrubbed boots as his mother picked over him, straightening his collar and pulling hay from his hair. Plucking his glasses from his face she set about cleaning them, glancing at him with a serious pinch to her brows. "You're to behave. And watch your language, he isn't some stable hand that'll crack a joke every time you say studbook." Murphy squinted at her, before flicking his gaze across the room to gaze out the window, the distance far easier on his eyes. "Ma, I'll be fine, promise! I'll show him the stables, the elite Goldblood stock, maybe some of the Destriers..." Murphy shrugged. Horses were easy for him, he could sing their graces till season end if he needed to. "By the time he leaves he'll be writing home about the perfection we raise on Oakleigh grasses." Murphy smirked, confident in his words. What else would happen? As far as he was concerned, there were no better horses than those raised in Oakleigh.

Adrianna smiled and handed him back his glasses, the lenses now polished and perfectly clear. "Well, I'm not worried about that. Just don't forget yourself, hm? You can become a little passionate when you speak about the horses. Remember who you are and who you're speaking to. I want perfect manners and etiquette, alright?" Murphy nodded, more serious now. His mother was right, he'd better be careful not to go off on any tangents, or get to sucked up in a subject. Noble etiquette could be strange, and it was far from any field that he excelled in, Murphy had no clue what may offend, or what may be taken the wrong way. "I'll be careful." He nodded shortly, a sliver of nerves snaking curling in his stomach. When he'd just been thinking about the horses he'd been fine, but add in social prose and rules and he was taken out of his comfort zone.

"Besides, you're the same age, same family standing." His mother reminded him, smoothing down his collar as she cast her critical gaze over him. "I'm sure he'd be much more at ease with you than he would have been with me." She smiled, nodding at the maid as she finished setting out tea and biscuits by the lounge. "And, from what i understand, he isn't here for any serious business. I think he's really just coming for a look around, probably doing as much exploring as he's allowed." She shrugged, leading the way out of the entry room and down the front steps. The garden was nice, carefully maintained and full of native greenery. The drive that lead to the main house was long and lined with gravel, and Murphy knew that it afforded a beautiful view of the acre's of Clyde land and the various herds of horses and cattle raised there. Adrianna stood straight backed and proud, glancing over her shoulder at Murphy before waving him into place, nodding ahead at the distant carriage lead by their own Oakleigh Destrier's, two powerful, sturdily built grey beauties, the best of their stock. Murphy grinned softly at the sight of them, falling into place beside his mother, more than content to study their gait as the approached, pulling behind them a finely built carriage, their noble visitor inside.

[Caius Gawyne]

Travel to the Eastern Settlements had been enjoyable enough, given the warm season and fair weather. Caius enjoyed the sea, even if travel by boat didn't entirely agree with his sensibilities. Once he'd gotten used to it, however, the rest of the journey was quite the vision—fuel for the young Gawyne's creative spirit. His father, Baron Frederick, had made the decision to send his second son almost alone, sending along with the northern noble one of their best stablehands, Kyla Poretta, all the way from Umbridge to accompany him to visit the horse ranches of House Clyde.

Caius was aware that she came not only because she was knowledgeable, but also to keep an eye on him. It's how things always went with his father—the younger Gawyne could never quite measure up to his older brother, or so he felt. No matter that Hunter and Frederick hardly got along anymore, no matter that they'd all drifted apart once Ivy had returned, but all Caius could see in Kyla, regardless of her strange horse stories and excellent sense of humor, was a baby sitter for a young man who sarding well didn't need one.

While the Gawyne stock of wild horse had been tamed over the arcs, the animals were smaller, hardier, and possessed a thick coat of hair in the cold cycle. They weren't impressive war horses nor were they massive work horses. They didn't look amazing pulling a fancy carriage, either. But they survived dark, frozen winters and had carried northerners loyally for centuries. Occasionally, however, it was nice to breed in other favorable traits from other fine lines, and in this case, the Baron desired an animal with a finer coat and a taller stature. He knew just what he was after, according to Kyla, and yet didn't want to send the woman alone. Caius was more than interested in the travel, having barely seen but a few glimpses of the Eastern Settlements in his twenty-odd arcs.

"You'll have to do all the sarding horse-talk, Kyla." The young Gawyne smirked, glancing out the window of the carriage, fingers parting the curtain to glance at the acres of rolling grassland, hopeful for at least one glimpse of a horse, only to find himself disappointed, "That said, I trust you."

"How about I make an effort to keep you from putting a foot in your mouth while we're at it, my Lord?" The older woman smiled coyly, used to the second son's mouth. She knew he meant well and that his words were more a compliment than the insult they came out sounding like most of the time. Leaning forward, she straightened his vest in a motherly fashion just in time for the carriage to come to a halt, "Behave yourself."

"Sure. That, too." Caius chuckled, resisting the urge to roll his eyes before he moved toward the door to step out first as it was opened, all but unfolding his lanky self from the carriage and onto the ground, turning to assist Kyla out in a gentlemanly fashion. It was warm, being Ymiden, and the young Lord was far too used to the cool northern Gawyne air. He felt the heat almost immediately under the sun, eager to roll up the sleeves of his pale silk shirt worn underneath his House purple brocade vest. Gravel dust already settling on his dark knee-high boots and against the darker leather of his breeches, he chose to just take it all in stride instead of fuss. Certainly, he wasn't going to stay clean around stables and horses all trial, so why worry now?

The stablehand held in a grin, thrilled to be treated like a special guest in the presence of Lords and Ladies, regardless of whether they were merchants or nobles. Fussing with her dress for a moment after sitting for so long, she turned and smiled broadly at the people waiting to greet them, approaching with the northern noble who bowed and prompted her to curtsey.

"Well met, Lady Murphy. I'm Lord Caius Gawyne and my guest to-trial is Umbridge, Gawyne's finest stablehand, Miss Kyla Poretta."

"The pleasure is mine." Kyla offered, her grey eyes taking everyone's faces in curiously. She was a simple woman, far more used to horses than people, and so her smile was shy.

"While our visit isn't burdened by too urgent of business, I've looked forward to it." Caius smiled honestly, sharp blue eyes shifting in color and warming to a brighter green, "Did you have anything in particular planned for our visit? A nice stretch of our legs after the carriage ride is most welcome, though your fine horses already made it a pleasant one."

Kyla chuckled almost imperceptibly. At least the young Lord could put on a decent show at being polite.

❦

[Murphy Clyde]

Murphy joined his mother and uncle in a polite bow as the young noble and his companion alighted from the carriage and made their way over. "It's an honour to welcome you to the Clyde estate, Lord Gawyne, and were more than pleased to see one of our own field accompanying him, Miss Poretta." Adrianna returned in kind, perfectly polite and well spoken, the picture of manners. "Unfortunately I've been called to deal with some urgent matters in town today, and so I will be leaving you both to my son and brother. Truly, it's just as well, there are few more knowledgeable of our horses and our business than these two." Adrianna smiled, and though her words were still polite, they took on a firm tone that brokered no arguments. After casting a quick, critical glance over the group, Adrianna bowed once more. "In any case, it was a pleasure to meet you both. Until next time." She smiled, turning and making her way back to the house, a maid following close behind.

Murphy smiled, swallowing somewhat nervously as he swept his gaze back to their visitors. "Like my mother said, It's a pleasure to meet you both." He started, nodding, his mind scrambling for the words he'd planned earlier. "Er, this is my uncle, Geovanno Clyde, and the Stable Master of our estate. Miss Poretta, I thought perhaps you'd like to accompany him? He can take you through to our record room in the stables, so that you may have a look at our studbook and have a good look at the lineage of the horses we have available." Geovanno nodded, stepping forward and holding out a hand for the woman to shake. "I'm sure you'll be impressed, several of our sires are renowned racehorses her in the Settlements, and we have long lines of accomplished warhorses still producing top notch offspring."

Swallowing, Murphy switched his attention back to Caius, ever so slightly cowed and intimidated by the young noble. "Lord Gawyne, I hope you'll be happy to have me guide you today? I thought perhaps you'd like to walk through the stables with me? I have much that I can show you, in fact you may not know, but this is the only branch that breeds Clyde Goldblood's from the original lineage." He explained carefully, gesturing over to a pebbled path leading towards the stables. "There's no breed quite like them in all of Idalos, and our stock comes in three different rankings, depending on how well they display valuable traits." He explained, walking at a leisurely pace, hoping that the Lord would fall into step beside him.

"The Destriers are the other breed we specialise in. Did you know that Oakleigh Destriers were domesticated from wild Oakleigh horses centuries ago? We've breed in traits from other horses over the years, and we've come to produce one of the best suited warhorses money can buy." Murphy offered, hoping that his words were interesting to the Lord. Murphy fell silent for a moment as they made their way through the large doors to the stables, and he paused. "Actually, wild Oakleigh horses still breed further up the mountains. Depending on how long you plan to stay, we could always make the ride up and try to observe some? They're wonderful." Murphys voice grew soft and fond at the thought of the wild horses, considered a pest by most, but undeniably stunning and graceful. "But we can decide that later. For now, which would you rather see first?" He gestured to the left, down the long hall of stalls. "The Goldbloods, or-" He gestured to the right. "The Destriers?"

[Caius Gawyne]

Caius was quick and precise with his bow as Lady Adrianna dismissed herself from their gathering after the important introductions were out of the way. He was left with her son, perhaps close to him in age and the other man, her brother, and while his sharp blue gaze didn't linger, he had a feeling the other man was going to make sure his visit was anything but boring, thank the Fates.

"Please don't let us keep you. The pleasure was mine."

Kyla curtseyed after shaking Geovanno's hand with a smile, only glancing to her young Lord with cursory politeness for permission, knowing he'd give it, that he had no interest in horse genealogies or stud records or anything having to do with the lineage of beasts of burden. Catching his eye, she nodded and turned back to the two other men, clearly eager for the opportunity to explore the history of their stock as well as get her eyes and hands on some of the animals themselves, "It would be my pleasure to accompany you, Ser Clyde. I have brought a few records of our own which may perhaps assist us in determining how best to meet some of my Lord's requested needs. Do lead the way, my Lord."

Her last look was one of warning for Caius, a quick smirk and narrowing of her grey eyes that told her she wouldn't be made a fool of in the name of her Baron of Umbridge while she was here with him. Did his father tell her to mistrust him so? Or did she truly feel that way herself? Caius couldn't tell. The young Gawyne nodded back before he turned his full attention to Murphy, offering an awkward smile for a trill, resisting the urge to stare at Kyla's back while she left the pair alone.

"A walk would be sa—welcome, yes." The northern noble chuckled, expression becoming a grin. He longed to stretch his legs after feeling so cramped for too long in the carriage. Already rolling up his sleeves in the Ymiden warmth as they walked slowly, he wouldn't have had a preference on his options except for the promise of a ride, "I've read a bit on Goldbloods and while I'm aware my father is interested in them, I must admit—in chagrined confidence—that's why Kyla's here. I feel compelled to ask what traits you consider valuable and how you categorize them, however, simply for academic curiosity."

Caius laughed, genuine none the less, and then rolled his narrow shoulders in a shrug, studying the young man next to him while they walked, "I've heard more of Destriers, and would be interested in seeing them first. While I'll admit I'm not impressive when it comes to horsemanship, given that much of northern Gawyne's terrain isn't suitable for riding for a majority of the arc, I won't deny I'm curious to see wild horses here in lovely Oakleigh. The Eastern Settlements really have pulled the wool over the Kingdom's eyes when it comes to amazing landscape, but perhaps I've just been in rocky, cold Gawyne for too sarding long."

He'd forgotten his manners already and didn't bat an eye, curling fingers into his somewhat perpetually untamed hair to nod in the direction of the Destriers, "I'm not really bound by time limitations, as we have somewhere to stay in town. Do your worst, my Lord, and tell me all the things."

He followed through the open doors and immediately let his sharp blue gaze take in the interior, wandering over the hay and the stalls. While he certainly wasn't used to the smell of stables or their animal residents, the barn was well-kept and nothing particularly assaulted his senses that wasn't overpoweringly unpleasant, acceptable and expected. Instead, it was simply something different, something he'd not experienced much of in his life in Umbridge, and even if he wasn't familiar with horses other than the sturdy, smaller breeds of Gawyne, he had to admit they were lovely, powerful creatures. He'd enjoyed the riding he'd done in his lifetime, but he'd never made it a priority pursuit as he had swordplay or studying, if only because he had his passions and everything else tended to fade from view when focused,

"Other than command-ability and the strength to bear armored weight, what makes a good warhorse, Murphy?"

❦

[Zip]

Overview

XP, Caius. XP makes a good warhorse. Like us STians, Warhorses need to grind solos too.

@volturi

Points

XP: 15

Loot/Injuries/Overstepping

N/A
Loot: N/A
Fame: N/A

Knowledge

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