Some time has passed since the conversation between Steinhardt and Gergesene which was prompted by the palace guards' arrival. Although the country is without a leader, things are still progressing in an orderly fashion. Parliament has reconvened early, just two weeks after the funeral, to start deliberating on how a successor will be chosen. All of this has little effect on Sir Steindhardt; the virtue of being a Landsknecht puts him beyond political allegiances. These events occur in the background while the Cervani goes about his regular duties and training inside the keep.

Today he has received another summons from Sir Hehner Silberglascht, to meet him at his office. The office door is open, but the older Cervani seems to be absent.

Steinhardt ducks to pass his antlers beneath the low doorframe, and peers quickly about the room. Though summoned by the senior Knight, he seems nowhere present. Odd. The Cervani pauses for a moment, trying to decide whether waiting for Sir Hehner will make him appear any quicker…

After a few more minutes pass, the sound of hooves can be heard echoing through the hallway. They get louder as they approach the office, and soon Sir Hehner steps into sight around a corner and ducks through the doorway, "Ah, Sir Steinhardt. You're earlier than I expected."

Steinhardt bows. "I do endeavour to make all appointments with haste. You summoned me, Sir?"

The older knight goes to his desk and takes up a scroll tube, and turns back to the younger Cervani. He taps the tube a few times in his hands, "I'd like to make a request of you. Could you ensure that this gets to your brother?"

Steinhardt nods, "Assuredly, Sir Hehner. Such a task would be easily done."

Sir Hehner leans forward, holding out the case. "Thank you. A timely delivery would be most appreciated, but no need to interrupt him if he's in the middle of something. This was all I asked you here for. I appreciate your efforts." He stands, and moves around to the far side of his desk.

The younger knight nods and accepts the scrollcase. "Such a task needs no mention; a favor I would gladly do for another Landsknecht."

Jonas raps on the frame of the door to Sir Hehner's office, announcing his presence.

Steinhardt glances towards the door, then nods politely to the bear standing there.

"Thank you, I am most grateful." The older knight bows, then looks up at his door. "Ah, Jonas. Come in. Have you met Sir Steinhardt? He is one of the knights of the keep. Jonas here is a member of the Black Watch, a guest. You may not have been previously introduced."

Jonas steps into the office, ducking to fit under the short doorway. He straightens up to his full seven and a half feet, and smiles at the Cervani knight. "Grace upon ye, Sir Steinhardt." He turns to Hehner. "I hope I have not interrupted something important."

Steinhardt flourishes a bow. "Well met, Jonas of the Black Watch."

Silberglascht takes his seat behind the desk, "Oh no, of course not. Just some simple business. The armoury has sent up something for you, and I thought you'd like to receive it now. I hope this will serve you better than the previous replacements."

Jonas nods. "I do apologize for those blades. Yer quartermaster said he might be able to fix the second one, by grinding the notches out of it, but the first was a total loss. I doon't ken this 'kitin', as ye call it, but it hardly seems a match for good steel."

The older knight produces a claymore. Well, almost. It has the dimensions of a claymore, but not the construction. Instead of a good solid metal blade, it seems to be a strange composition. Quite unlike the chitin weapons the bear has seen previously.

Jonas examines the blade. "Strange make." He takes it up and checks the balance briefly. "Seems to sit well, though."

Jonas keeps the blade pointed towards the ground, for the most part, and away from the two knights. There isn't the room here to swing it about properly.

"Well, we weren't anticipating the vigor of your swing, Jonas. This should be a little sturdier." Sir Hehner replies. "Let us know how it works, as I understand it the weaponsmith incorporated some… unusual design ideas."

Jonas nods. He looks over the blade again. "An alloy, or somesuch, then?"

The blade seems to have a centre composed of layered strips of wood. It is somewhat thicker than a metal blade would be, but swiftly tapers to the edges. Along the sides seem to be short wedge shaped pieces of some dark glass, mounted in slots. The whole assembly is then buried in a layer of chitin on both sides, that seems to hold it all together. "It's a lamelate, similar to how some carriage springs are assembled. That should give it better flex than a solid chitin sword, and the obsidian is harder to shatter, so the edge should last longer." Sir Hehner explains as Jonas looks the weapon over.

Jonas says, "Oh, aye, I'm familiar with the black glass. The Imperials use it for jewelry, much like jet. It looks like it'll hold well enough … and if it doon't, then I'll uproot a sapling and carry a shilleleah fer a while. In the meanwhile, offer my thanks to yer smiths."

"You may need to sharpen the chitin in between the obsidian edges, but the stone should stay sharp. It will unfortunately chip a little. I'll pass along your thanks. That was all I needed to see you for, actually," Sir Hehner says.

Jonas nods. "Well then, I'll take me leave of ye, then. I'll be in the yard, testing this 'lamelate' sword. Well met, Sir Steinhardt." He turns to leave.

Steinhard watches Jonas appraisingly for a moment, but makes no comment. "Will that be all, then, Sir Hehner?" he asks the elder knight.

"Oh." Silberglascht looks over towards the other Cervani, "Perhaps you'd like to take Jonas to see the Parliament buildings, Sir Steinhardt. You should have a better understanding of them than Sir Gergesene would. If it's no bother, he is our guest and may be interested in our system of government."

Steinhardt nods, then turns a questioning glance towards Jonas.

"Unless of course, Jonas would rather try breaking this sword." The older Cervani adds.

Jonas pauses. "Well … the lad is under Fadyr's capable watch, and I think that I have alarmed plenty of yer fellow knights with my practice this morning. If Sir Stienhardt doesn't mind, I will see something of the city with him."

The younger Cervani knight nods again and then bows towards Silberglascht, "Then we shall be off, Sir Hehner. I shall see to it that the package is delivered, and mayhap find something of interest to show our guest." He starts for the door, "Good Jonas?"

Jonas nods. "After you, Sir Knight." He motions towards the doorway.

Another brief nod, and Sir Steinhardt moves out the door (ducking, as usual, for lack of head-room) and towards the stables.

Jonas steps from the room, following the knight, slinging the new sword over his shoulder.

The older knight nods as the two leave the room, "Ah, I should get that door seen to." The younger stag and the bear head towards the stables where a small carriage and a driver are made available to them, and they head out of the keep and into Blitzheim.

As the carriage leaves the keep, Jonas asks, "Do the Landsknechts not ride anywhere? Those beasts that pull the carriage aren't horses, but they look large enough to carry a Child of Herne, such as yerself."

The Carriage rattles along the cobblestones. The outlying buildings of the city are mostly single story in height, though it is a generous single story. The architecture, with a few exceptions, seems designed to accomodate a full Cervani rack of antlers. This leads to very towering buildings, high ceilings, and tall wide doors. Combined with the overcast sky, it gives a looming appearance to the buildings.

Steinhardt glances towards the bear, a look of faint amusement apparent, "Indeed we Landsknects use the Drokar for riding as well as the pulling of carraiges such as this; and though they are oft used, moreso even in the outer reaches of this land, there is little reason to not use such a carriage as this when the opportunity is present."

"… and also, while I am capable of riding the Drokar, I am somewhat ill at ease upon them; hence this carriage as our transport," he concludes, eyes twinkling.

The buildings get become taller, and the streets more crowded as Blitzheim is entered. In the core of the city there is little space between the shops and residences. The structures grew together, then upwards. Three or four stories is the average, with a few clock towers and other structures reaching higher. Alleys and sidestreets occur at regular intervals, and traffic is ordered. Even the 'emergency' of a pumper truck is handled with practiced calm; vehicles pull to the side as the truck follows the spotter Korv to the latest disaster, then the normal flow resumes.

Jonas watches the passing buildings. As the carriage moves onto streets filled with stores he then turns to the deer, "Ah Sir Knight, if its all the same to yoo, I'd like to take me leave. It was a ride ta town I was after. I expect I'd find yer government a wee bit stuffy, and woould rather see the shops. Kin ye stop the carriage, and where should I meet ye fur the ride back?"

The Cervani nods and, catching the driver's attention, orders the carriage to a halt. As the large bear dismounts to the ground, Steinhardt quickly passes on instructions on the finding of the Parliament building, commenting "… and the building itself should not be difficult to find; the largest clock in Chronotopia graces it! Be assured I shall await your arrival." And with that, the carriage is soon clattering forward again.

The carriage drives through the city with its sole occupant and the driver. Soon it arrives outside the Parliament buildings. The seat of government for Chronotopia is located here in Blitzheim, a long, wide, and tall building, with many towers and gables. The most significant tower of course, is the one that houses Great Gretchen, the largest clock in Chronotopia. Her four faces watch over the city, protected by two massive lighting rods, and Gretchen's hourly chimes can be heard far out into the countryside surrounding the city. All other clocks are set by her hands, and she counts the seconds, minutes, hours, days and reigns of the empire with unerring accuracy. Her precision is the pinacle example for all that pass through the main gates beneath her – the gates where a small open carriage momentarily pauses to allow a Landsknecht to disembark.

The main entrance to the Parliament building is at the top of a small flight of stairs. The double doors arch high into the air, half again as tall as they would need to be to allow entrance for even the largest rack on the tallest Cervani. The heavy architecture is designed to remind the entrants that they are just a small part of the Great Machine, no matter what temporary power they may possess inside these walls. Standing on either side of the main doors are two Vindsoldatens, the rifle guards of Chronotopia.

After a moment of taking in the sight of the Parliament Building, and Great Gretchen herself – still an impressive and awesome sight, no matter how many times viewed – Steinhardt approaches one of the guards to make a polite request; "Prithee, good sir, but would the Parliament be in session at this time?"

Both the guards bow to the Landsknecht, and the one spoken to answers, "Yes, sir. The Commons are in still in session but the bells have just rung, releasing the Lords for a short recess. That House will be reconvening within 10 minutes. I believe the Lords themselves are in the interior courtyard."

"Indeed? My thanks." A quick bow to the two humans, and the Cervani moves forward towards the inner courtyard in search of a particular Cervani noble…

The hallways inside is as impressive as the exterior face. The walls arch up two stories, the second level opening as a balcony on the first. Portraits of previous Prime Ministers and Premier Lords line the walls, carefully illuminated by hanging chandliers of lanterns. Both Houses are entered at opposite ends of the hall. A short passage opposite the main entrance opens directly on the interior yard. The Landsknecht steps out of the building, and into the company of the Lords of Chronotopia. His brother is easily located off to one side, speaking with a few Khatta and Rath'ani colleagues.

Paying but little attention to the massed nobility, the knight walks towards his brother. Stopping politely just aside from the speaking group, he waits to be noticed, stance rigid and face impassive…

The Cervani Lord speaks a moment longer, illustrating a point with his hands, then notices the Landsknecht. "Ah! Good to see you, Sir Steinhardt. Gentlemen, this is my younger brother. He serves Chrontopia as a noble Landsknecht, and the burden of our family, of course, fell on me to serve as simply a Noble." He gives a slight chuckle at his own joke.

The elder Cervani gestures at the Khattas and Rath'ani, "I'd like you to meet Lord Tyrie, Lord Hazor, and Lord Gedi. Lords, my brother Sir Steinhardt."

Steinhardt nods and sketches a bow. "Good day, milords." He turns towards his brother, and breaks out in a broad grin, "And good day to you as well, dear brother; I thank you for your praise, but feel I must bring attention to your time and service to the lands in the time you have enjoyed in this Parliament."

The elder Steinhardt bows to in reply to his brother. "But of course. Valiant battles are fought daily over the tiniest points of order – the subtleties of which might escape the most precise mind. It is of course, the solemn duty that we… " He pauses, a significant pause, looking at the other Lords, "… so relish."

"Quite so, quite so!" chuckles Lord Hazor, the others joining with him in laughter.

Steinhardt grins and shakes his head in 'sadness', "Indeed. Such excitement, when all that I am able to do is my best to protect Chronotopia; this I must content myself with… Admittedly, though, I envy the lack of road dust which acquaints itself with you… "

"Some of our greatest battles of course, are with that great enemy, sleep," boasts Lord Gedi. The two Khatta lords give him a strange look. "Ah… I wasn't speaking for myself, of course. Rather for Lord Elim over there." He gives a nervous chuckle, and indicates a venerable Korv, asleep on a bench under a far tree.

"Ah yes, of course," says Lord Tyrie. "Indeed," says Lord Hazor. They both make a polite laugh that ends too quickly.

"So Sir Steinhardt," asks the older Cervani, filling the awkward silence. "What brings you here on this fine day? Our recess is nearly at an end."

'Fine day' has a different meaning in Chronotopia than most other lands, here it means a lightly overcast sky with only the threat of rain.

The knight shakes his head slightly, still grinning, before answering his brother, "If it please, milord Steinhardt, the honourable Sir Hehner requested I deliver this message to your person." He draws the scrollcase from a pouch and offers it to his brother.

"Ah, indeed," Lord Steinhardt says after a slight pause, before he reaches out to take the case. "I wonder what it could be."

"I know not," the Sir Steinhardt confesses, "He did not see fit to tell me, and I did not see fit to ask."

The elder Cervani examines the case long enough to see the seal. He holds it in one hand and taps it in the palm of the other. "I'm quite intrigued. I believe I will save it, though, for some moment when the speaking rules are being re-examined again, and that great beast of Lord Gedi finishes with Lord Elim, and turns his attentions to me."

He gives a controlled smile to the other Lords and they laugh momentarily with him.

Lord Gedi doesn't laugh quite as much, and just looks embarrased.

A ringing is heard from inside the Parliament. Lord Steinhardt looks to the courtyard exit, "Ah, the signal that Recess is over. Gentlemen, please precede me. I wish to tarry a moment longer with my brother." The other Lords nod, and join the procession back to the House. As soon as they have moved a distance away, the Lord speaks to the Landsknecht.

"I do wish you had brought this up in a private moment," Lord Steinhardt states. "However, it is not important."

The younger Cervani nods, looking properly chastised, "My apologies then, brother. Had I known, I should have done so."

"No matter, brother, it may not be of significance." The Lord looks at the dwindling number of nobles remaining in the courtyard. "As you know, we are deliberating on a successor for the Kaizer. A few of the more established Barons are attempting to secure consideration and support among the lesser nobles. Factions are developing… Rumours of a heir for the Kaizer came to my attention, and I asked Sir Hehner to look into it. This may be nothing… "

Lord Steinhardt slowly taps the scroll case against his palm a few more times before finishing, "… or it could be rather significant news. It could cause significant upset if those rumors turned out to be true."

Sir Steinhardt, though curious, remains silent; if his brother wishes to tell him more, then he will.

Lord Steinhardt holds the case between both his hands, before slipping it into his belt. He doesn't seem forthcoming with any further information. Instead, he gives the Landsknecht a friendly clasp across the back of his shoulders. "Well, brother, I'll have to tell you how things are once I've read it. For the moment though, I fear my duties are back inside the House. I have to take your leave now." He steps back, and bows.

Sir Steinhardt grins faintly and bows to Lord Steinhardt, "Fare well, then, brother. I wish you luck with both the matter of Lord Gedi's monstrosity and with this one of much greater importance."

The older stag grins at his brother then walks away. He makes a slight detour to wake Lord Elim, and brings him along inside. The younger knight is left standing alone in the courtyard. A nearby construct whirs away, serving no purpose other than being mobile art.

The interior courtyard (now much the better for the silence given it), holds little interest, as Steinhardt has delivered the scroll. Sparing it, and the clockwork art, only a glance, he turns and makes his way back to the gates, his face impassive, but his mind busy…

The courtyard is empty once more, except for the mobile slowly whirring away. A plaque at its base identifies the artwork as 'Tertiary Thought'. It continues its motions with no one to observe it.

As he reaches the gate and begins to wait for Jonas' arrival, curiosity and idle speculation give way to focused thought. The rumors that a mage was involved somehow in the Kaiser's death; the mage Talia held for unknown reason in the Landsknechts' keep, yet under light guard; the secrecy surrounding so many actions taken lately, even by the other knights. Those and more, gears all, but in the same machine? And also, the young lad Devon, related to Sir Fadyr, Talia's son… Might he, too, have a place in the works?

High above the Landsknecht, Great Gretchen continues to count the seconds as she watches over Blitzheim.