#❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ messenger : delivered by carrier pigeon. ( ask. )

[aegeir]

@blaimed said: ferdinand, please forgive my obscene speech but , i have had enough of these clowns.

          ❛ do not apologize, dimitri ! i also wish that they would fucking cease ! ❜

#❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ command : for the sake of her & her empire ; to challenge & to improve upon. ( ic. ) #blaimed #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ messenger : delivered by carrier pigeon. ( ask. ) #[ yes ferdinand can say the fuck word ] #[ DKSAMDKSAMD CLOWNS ] #[ I LOVE HOW THAT'S ' OBSCENE ' ] #[ he may not be able to say y'ain't but he can say fuck ]

[araluen-arrows]

4. Unadvised please?

The Queen’s eyebrows knit closer and closer together as she skimmed farther down the latest report from Caraway. Farmers overburdened with tax. Northwest villages on brink of famine. Children begging in larger towns. 

She read to the bottom and realized that the report wasn’t even from the Baron, probably because he would have never authorized it. No, it had been meticulously drawn up by a village headwoman who had managed to see Caraway’s unjust system for what it was. Cassandra made a note of the woman’s name for future reference. She also made a note of the Baron’s name for more immediate reference. 

“Your Majesty?” the messenger asked, worried by the lack of reponse from the Queen, that he would be punished as the bearer of bad news.

Cassandra looked up distractedly, then noticed the poor man was still kneeling on the floor. “Oh! My apologies, Martin. You’re free to go.” 

“My Queen.” With a final bow, he turned and backed out of the room, never turning his back on her. 

With a sigh, she turned her attention back to his delivered report and slumped lower in her chair. “Formalities, formalities. I have no time for court protocol. I have a nation to run.”

“All due respect, my lady,” said Lord Peter, one of her advisors, “but not only are these formalities tradition, they help cement the authority of your office and the authority of the Crown.” 

“I do not require you to parrot the words of my childhood tutor, lord,” Cassandra said frostily. “I know perfectly well the necessity of protocol.”  Protocol that Lord Peter had technically breached by addressing her as “my lady”, but the man had always been a hypocrite. Currently, she had larger problems than overbearing advisors. 

“Now,” she said, forestalling his reply. “Lord Anthony, does this report from Caraway seem accurate?”

Anthony glanced at the report, then at the treasury records of Castle Caraway and Castle Araluen. He hesitated. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then,” Cassandra said quietly, “would anyone like to explain to me why all tax income from the northwest is coming from the common people? No money from the nobility at all?”

“My lady, have you stopped to consider that the population of the commoners is over twenty times larger than—”

Cassandra managed to refrain from throttling some sense into Lord Peter. That was the problem with nobility at Castle Araluen, she thought. They were too cloistered, too removed from the outer reaches of the country, and they failed to remember the humanity of the ones they taxed. The people were not a source of income or men-at-arms. They were—well, they were people.  

“Have you stopped to consider,” she said, each word weighed down with thinly veiled contempt and anger, “that the nobility is far more than twenty times richer than the common man? That the way they earn their money in the first place is by bleeding their people dry?”

No one dared to meet her eyes. Cassandra took a deep breath, wondering if she’d overstepped. There was a fine line she had to walk when addressing her senior advisors. She couldn’t afford to lose their support and weaken her already tenuous grip on the court. 

Lord Anthony consulted his papers again. He cleared his throat cautiously. “Ah, Your Majesty—there’s the small matter of King Herbert’s treaty with Caraway Fief in 497 CE.”

“Enlighten me.” Cassandra realized her hands were clenched too tightly around the report, so she deliberately set it on the table. She schooled her expression into a blank slate and managed to push back most of her frustration. For now. 

“Fine details aside, the King agreed to waive land taxes on Caraway in exchange for loyalty in the war against Picta, Your Majesty. But because the law requires a tax of ten silver reels from each fief per fifty persons, the money has to come from somewhere.” 

Several lords and ladies widened their eyes at the implication. Lord Peter remained stony-faced: probably because he was exactly the type of man that would turn a blind eye to this sort of thing, Cassandra thought. 

“Then am I correct in concluding that the treaty benefits only the nobility, because most common farmers don’t own the land they work, Lord Anthony?” she asked. 

“Certainly, Your Majesty.” Anthony acknowledged the truth with a grim nod. “Most of the tax in Caraway is therefore levied on the harvest even before a share of it goes to the lords and their knights.”

Cassandra mentally berated herself for not having realized this earlier. She had a responsibility to her citizens, and not noticing or stopping injustice was the same thing as perpetuating it. She should have done better. 

In her head, she also thought some very uncomplementary things about the baron of Caraway and wished she could say them to his face. Maybe she ought to send a forcefully worded carrier pigeon. 

“Then hear my decree,” she said instead, reaching for a pen and some parchment. She read aloud slowly as she wrote: “All harvests are thereafter to be taxed only after they are collected. No tax is to be derived from the farmer’s share of the crop. Deductions for Harvest Day may only be made if aforementioned holiday is directly paid for by the baron and his nobles. The fees levied on market transactions will remain in place.” 

She signed her name at the bottom with a flourish and handed it to the chamberlain.  “Lord Anthony, I will rely on you to figure out the new figures that Caraway nobles must pay. The Scribeschool can help with the wording of the final amendment.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Anthony struck his staff against the flagstones. “Consider it done.” 

“Your Majesty!” Lord Peter burst out, blindsided by the current turn of events. “This is violating the letter of the treaty! It is unadvised—”

Cassandra’s self-control snapped. “What is unadvised, my lord, is to continue talking when your contributions are so obviously unwanted. If the nobility has qualms about paying their fair share, they’re welcome to join the class of the common people.” 

Luckily for Peter’s career, he desisted, turning an admirable shade of puce that clashed horribly with his red robes. “I—You—yes, Your Majesty,” he said finally. 

And Cassandra was forced to admit that that gave her almost—almost—as much satisfaction as the newly amended law.

#rangers apprentice #ranger's apprentice #ra fanfic #ra drabble #ra ask #evanlyn #cassandra #thelastranger

[aegeir]

anon said: That explains why you're buzzing around all these QUEENS... even Dimitri and Claude. They're queens. They're just denying it.

          no comment.

#[ me ; remembering i haven't iconed adult ferdie's tea screenshots ] #[ OOP ] #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ messenger : delivered by carrier pigeon. ( ask. )

[aegeir]

anon said: Ferdie Birdie looking for the honey that can make the honey. Am I right or am I righht?

math_ferdie.png

#[ he just wants to be remembered idk ] #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ messenger : delivered by carrier pigeon. ( ask. )

[aegeir]

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK !

#cutspar #[ it's like the p.enis game but with the fuck word ] #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ messenger : delivered by carrier pigeon. ( ask. )

[aegeir]

@pegasuslance​ said: "Anoble? Do you even know how to properly pronounce a noble, Ferdinand?"

          ❛ of course i do, ingrid. it is pronounced anoble. do you even know what it is ? would you like to know ? ❜

#pegasuslance #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ messenger : delivered by carrier pigeon. ( ask. ) #[ fmkASDMKS he's coming for her ]

[aegeir]

anon said: Us noblemen detest the idea of 'farting'. I dare say we call it... Noble Gas?

          ❛ my friend, that implies that the act is inherently noble ... i dare say that it is not ! ❜

#❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ command : for the sake of her & her empire ; to challenge & to improve upon. ( ic. ) #[ ferdie vc that is not noble ] #[ there is nothing noble about it ] #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ messenger : delivered by carrier pigeon. ( ask. )

[aegeir]

What does Ferdinand von Aegir say when he's on fire? "I am Ferdinand on Fire"

          ferdinand snorts, loudly, ignobly, and proceeds to stifle his laughter behind his hand.

          ❛ indeed ! we are of one mind, it seems ! ❜

#❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ delegate : to act out his will as his proxy. ( ooc. ) #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ messenger : delivered by carrier pigeon. ( ask. ) #[ IDMSAKMDK ] #[ dKASMDKASD I JUST GROSSLY LAUGHED IN A DISCORD CALL AND COULDN’T EXPLAIN WHY BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS THAT I ROLEPLAY ]

[aegeir]

did u kno tht i adore u .

ME, DROPPING EVERYTHING — go loves me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i adore you more what the fuck

#accrsed #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ messenger : delivered by carrier pigeon. ( ask. ) #[ nic !!!!!!! ahhhhhhhhh ] #[ thank you for this unprompted love and affection ] #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ in memoriam : indimenticabile ; unforgettable. ( saved. )

[aegeir]

@blaimed​ said: what a man what a man what a man what a mighty good man

          ❛ i am all the better for knowing you. ❜

#❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ command : for the sake of her & her empire ; to challenge & to improve upon. ( ic. ) #blaimed #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ messenger : delivered by carrier pigeon. ( ask. ) #[ i pull my soft ferdie icons out of my reserves ] #[ haha got em ]

[aegeir]

@blaimed​ said: let's run away from this madness together ...

          i think i would quite like that ! you can borrow any of my other nine horses !

#[ fellas is it gay if ... ] #[ you run away w / your homie ] #[ like ;;; by riding into the sunset ] #[ is it gay ] #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ messenger : delivered by carrier pigeon. ( ask. ) #blaimed

[aegeir]

@blaimed​ said: ' say, ferdinand ! what do you call a fish with two knees ? a two-knee fish ! '

          ❛ oh ? and what is it that i should call a prince with one eye ? dashing, handsome, charming, witty ... the list goes on you see. ❜

#❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ command : for the sake of her & her empire ; to challenge & to improve upon. ( ic. ) #blaimed #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ messenger : delivered by carrier pigeon. ( ask. ) #[ ferdinAND ]

[aegeir]

@fallnaught​​ said: “ please , let me listen to celine dion in the dark in peace. “

          ❛ but, claude, are you certain ? ❜ he would not have tarried in the lounge if not for the sound of my heart will go on resounding through the upper level of the monastery. truly ... how had rhea not yet happened upon him ? or seteth, for that matter ?

          ❛ you sound like my noble self after edelgard and hubert have bullied me so severely that i have no other choice but to blast mr brightside in the year of eleven - eighty and sob into my pillow. ❜

#❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ command : for the sake of her & her empire ; to challenge & to improve upon. ( ic. ) #fallnaught #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ messenger : delivered by carrier pigeon. ( ask. ) #[ dkMASDKMASDKMASS CLAUDE ? ]

[aegeir]

@envestra said: spare kiss for a cryptid, good sir? spare k

          ❛ there is not a drop of affection in me that will wasted when it can be granted to you, my love. ❜ so, of course, he leaned forward and took hubert’s face into his hands, pressing his lips to those of his lover.

          ❛ though, i fear it makes me greedy. would you mind indulging me ? ❜

#❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ command : for the sake of her & her empire ; to challenge & to improve upon. ( ic. ) #envestra #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ part ii : to adore the crimson flower & earn her confidence ; one must be ever strong of heart & mind. ( verse : main. ) #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ messenger : delivered by carrier pigeon. ( ask. ) #[ wooooo ]

[aegeir]

anon said: So. Get this. You know how knights have chivalry. Right? And they have chivalrous horses. Right? So why don't we start calling stable hands... Chilvalet's? Eh? Eeeeh?

          ❛ ABSOLUTELY GENIUS ! my, you should spend your time writing plays --- some of the best are of similar wit ! ❜

#❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ command : for the sake of her & her empire ; to challenge & to improve upon. ( ic. ) #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ messenger : delivered by carrier pigeon. ( ask. ) #[ ferdie out here referencing shakespeare in a world without the bard ]

[aegeir]

@blaimed​ said: ' ferdinand ! how do cats like their steaks ! raayyyrre ! '

          ❛ dimitri, a noble does not --- ❜ but he hardly makes it through the sentence before his falsely stern expression slips from his face in lieu of a more jovial and ... confused one. he doesn’t quite know how to take dimitri’s imitation of a cat’s meow, only that it’s ridiculously charming. why, he even spares the other man a chuckle.

          ❛ quite the purr - fect impression you’ve demonstrated. i must say, i would feel very fur - tunate to hear it again. ❜

#❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ command : for the sake of her & her empire ; to challenge & to improve upon. ( ic. ) #blaimed #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ lover's plight : across enemy lines ; i run & i lie ; until even if for its own sake love dies. ( verse : azure moon. ) #❛ decree. ✦ / ❝ messenger : delivered by carrier pigeon. ( ask. ) #[ STOP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ] #[ ferdie vc haha yeah and how do you like your meat --- ]