Einheimische Keep #1 is ten minutes from the Palace, as the Korv flies. The Landsknecht and the Corsair are winging there as swiftly as possible. They aren't flying so quickly however, that the knight can't spare the breath to give his cousin some advice for the upcoming confrontation, and on his recent one.

Gergesene, flapping rapidly to get to Einheimische Keep #1, nevertheless finds the breath to call (or kaw) to his cousin, "Whatever were you thinking, Kensington?! You cannot speak to a lord so! I am surprised that he did not deal with you worse than he did already. He has been out of temper lately, and I cannot say I am surprised what with the things that Bosch has already done to try and raise chaos in our land. Think of the concerns that Lord Ruthven has weighing upon him!"

Gergesene looks nevertheless rather shaken by events of the past hour.

The slightly smaller Korv tilts his wing level to roll several times, tightening the echelon so he can hear and speak more clearly. "E's 'ad a tough time, Gerry, I'll grant 'im that. But there was no cause t'tear into ye like that. As it is, we 'ave bigger things t'think about. Any ideas on what we 'ave to look forward to at Einheimische?"

"We must bear many burdens, we Landsknechts," the Korv Knight says, though he might look a teensy bit hurt nevertheless that his investigation was considered of no great worth to Ruthven. "It was no great shame to me. And he might have challenged you, cousin! I know you were always rambunctious, but Lord Ruthven was once a Landsknecht himself. Please, while you are in Chronotopia… Think a little before you open your beak!"

Gergesene flies silent a bit, pondering Einheimische Keep #1. And the knight charged most with its safekeeping.

The Landsknechts admonishing is met with raspy cackling. "Hah, hah, hah! Would I be what I am today if'n I thought before I squawked? *Rawk!* I could tickle that old rack-head's liver faster'n he could blink. Hah!" The corsair doesn't look totally convinced with what he says… but he has an image to maintain.

"And then the Luftritteren would be after you to drive you out of Chronotopia," Gergesene says looking worried at his cousin. "If not for yourself, think of me! Soldiering in Bosch, and not able to die in peace because I wouldn't know for sure that my cousin was safe in Chronotopia, taking care of my estate (such as it is) and family. Why, my ghost might walk the hills asking for news of you! Please, play it safe and do not offend the lords." He sighs softly and turns slightly, adjusting course just past a steeple.

Gergesene adds, "I've heard that Sir Hehner is better behind the desk than a sword… Perhaps one keep's mastery was too little for him? Bosch has worked with smaller temptations before."

The cityscape passes beneath the two Korv. Tall buildings with many spires, topped by lightning rods. The traffic sounds from the street are muted at this level, but there is still the underlying tick of all the clocks to be heard, perfectly synchronized.

Kensington sighs, waggling his wings in an airborne 'affirmative' gesture. "All right, all right, Gerry. For yer sake, I'll try not t'get the powderpuff's wigs in a knot," he caws, rolling his eyes. "Don't be losin' any sleep o'er me. But then, what's this about me bein' anchored to the family? Yer s'posed t'take care o' them yerself."

"I may not come back from Bosch," Gergesene reminds Kensington. "That land has claimed many fine soldiers. As a Landsknecht, I volunteer gladly to cast myself into the fray, so that others may be spared the bloodshed and hopefully… " The Korv knight looks into the distance, toward Einheimische Keep #1, where it would be located. "The shadow that the hated land of Bosch casts over Chronotopia shall be lessened." His look turns a little grimmer. "But Kensington, I am well aware that, skilled with martial feats as I am, still it may not be enough. I'd like you to take letters to my family, and the small amount of savings I've managed to accumulate. If I return, it will be to a hero's accolade, and so I will not need them. But if I do not, then it will do no one any good sitting in the Keep's coffers."

Kensington's silence is almost as loud as his squawking. There is just the rustling of feathers and the wind as he glides alongside his cousin, occasionally beating his wings to keep up. Finally, the Korv rasps, "I suppose yer right, cousin. Rosey thinkin's good and all… but yer prepared. I'll keep the letters an' coin safe until I hear word about ye, one way or the other. It's been years since I've seen th' family, Gerry… I… I don't know if'n they'd want t'hear th' news from me."

The Keep is a small dark spot in the distance countryside; it is outside Blitzheim's recognized border, which is the river, and beyond the buildings that have spread past that as well. It slowly grows as the Korv approach.

Gergesene smiles briefly and nods to Kensington. "Thank you." He dips lower, not wanting to be spotted too quickly by those in the Keep, lest Sir Hehner somehow guess their purpose.

The corsair lowers his beak and follows suit. "So then," grunts Kensington, trying to chase away some familial ghosts in his mind. "What's the plan? Kick th' door in an' tell Hehner what a mother-coddled, paper-pushin', son of a sea-rat he is, then give 'im what-for?"

"We'll have to move quickly," Gergesene says, planning this out. "I pray that Jonas arrives quickly as well. One of our ranks is not arrested easily, and if Sir Hehner chooses to convince others that we are the ones somehow in the wrong… " He frowns. "It may come down to fighting yet. I pray that there will be no great deal of blood shed."

"The rank of a Commissar would be recognized swiftly, and Jonas's strength is formidable as well," the Korv knight says.

"Oh, err… aye. I'd hate t'see a fight break out." The corsair smiles a bit, not looking terribly concerned at the prospect.

Gergesene appears not to have noticed any irony in Kensington's statement, going on instead, "Do you remember where the armory was? A crossbow and some suitable bolts – armor-piercing – might be of advantage. If Sir Hehner was in his right mind, I would simply ask him to come with me and that would be that." The Korv knight's sigh trails on the wind. "But as he may have been contaminated by Bosch, he may resist. I will try and find Sir Steinhardt and Sir Rainscroft. Sir Rainscroft should try and protect the boy, perhaps take him to housing elsewhere; Sir Steinhardt's strength will be greatly useful for our side."

Kensington's brow pinches together as he tries to recall his brief stay. "Hmmm… hard t'say. I didn't get t'see much o' the Keep. Weren't it close to the practice field we met th' Commissar an' young Jael?"

"Yes, just so," Gergesene agrees.

Gergesene grins wryly. "A very interesting fact… Sir Hehner must have wished mightily that he could find Jael, to push forward a leadership and a regency, and all this time, the lad was under his very nose."

The walls of the keep loom closer, growing in the Korvs' vision. From inside the practice yard the sounds of the morning exercise can be heard. A supply wagon is approaches the gate along the main road, and nothing seems awry in the fortress for this time of day.

"Heh, every airship and every man 'as its own blind spots," caws Kensington, nodding. "The Korvette's was along the rear hull, an' the tops o' her envelope. Hehner's was his recruits. Not surprisin' that he don't pay attention to the 'lower ranks', eh?"

This elicits a surprised laugh and a look of sympathy to Kensington, as Gergesene catches the sad look. "P'rhaps that's so. You may have the right idea there. If Sir Hehner shared his plans with any, it would be with the older ones. We'll rely on the new ones for help. The light of the Star is truth! We will use it to burn away the fog of conspiracy, my cousin."

Gergesene pauses. "Go find the armory. It's near the practice field, inside the main corridor. The practice weapons are in front, you'll want the real weapons in the back. Tell them I sent you. I'll tell the gatekeeper to shut the gates and not to let anyone out, on my authority as a Landsknecht in a matter of grave peril to all Chronotopia. Not even Sir Hehner himself."

The practice field waits beyond the stones of the Gatehouse, like an open challenge to the two Korv. When their talons touch the ground, events will be set in motion, and as surely as the spring driven clock, they will progress to resolution. A few seconds of solace remain as the two pass through the gaping mouth of the keep, wind flowing under their wings; they glide towards the moment of landing, when things will never be the same again.