"I don't know that the crusade will spend a lot of time visiting sufficiently large temples of Abadar, since I assume you have none established within the current circumference of the wardstones."

"None as of yet, though perhaps if your crusade is successful enough that will change. As things stand, I expect the bank here in Kenabres to remain the closest barring unforeseen circumstances or the city being abandoned."

"Okay. I'll keep an eye out for places we could use smallish loans to establish creditability. I appreciate your openmindedness about that."

He nods seriously.

"I expect we will see somewhat more in the near future as news of the fifth crusade spreads, but I'll deliver what I have so far to your quartermaster before you set out."

One of the nobles attending - one Baron Gradsky, from the paper Nurah taps underneath the table - wants to sound her out on her policies for officer commissions, since Dendiwhar had been dancing around the question earlier. He has a few cousins, all of them talented and trustworthy of course, who he thinks would be a great asset to the crusade if they had a chance to prove their leadership skills. And of course if he was more confident in the crusade's success, he'd be happy to increase his financial support and perhaps speak on its behalf in Nerosyan.

"I'd be happy to hear more about your cousins! How did they come to earn your confidence?"

Oh good, someone who understands how things are done.

"Well, naturally they're better than most simply by birth, but they're both exceptional candidates besides. Alex is a talented cavalier. My uncle has been having him riding the circuit for a few years now, so he knows what he's doing in a fight and how to lead men against all sorts of nasty creatures, and of course he'd also be bringing some of his mounted men at arms with him to stiffen up a charge. Ever since he's taken up the position I've heard scarcely a complaint from any of the peasantry in the region escalate to my ears, and only once have I needed to reinforce him with my household troops. Victor is a swordsman and a skilled duelist, though of course he's also got personal experience fighting demons in a stint at the wardstone forts. I fostered him myself, and he can keep up with the head of my guards without issue; even nearly a match for me, these days."

"They sound lovely! And what's the standard of commission to which they'll be accustomed, I'm afraid I'm drastically foreign."

"I think they are both ready for the role of lieutenant, though I wouldn't be surprised if Alex earned a captaincy soon."

"Which would imply how many subordinates?"

"Ah, my apologies; I shouldn't have assumed your home used the same ranks. A lieutenant is the second in command of a company, which has between a hundred and a hundred fifty men."

"A sizable chunk. I'll have to see if Sir Tirabade has already made plans that contradict it."

Well, that's somewhat more disappointing than an agreement but hopefully Tirabade will see reason.

"I understand; it's always good to be on the same page as one's subordinates."

With Gradsky also put off, none of the others are willing to make a play for lieutenant or cornet commissions just yet, but judging by the attention some of the other notables are paying to their conversation there's definitely interest in it.

Time to go find Irabeth and piggyback off her expertise, then!

Nurah will also step out with her to speak for a moment before returning to her work.

"Thank you for trying; I suppose the Prelate is just committed to whatever his current plans are. I'll let you know if I figure out what he's up to, but thus far he's been very tight-lipped about it."

"Thank you very much for your efforts."

Nurah gives her a grinning salute, then returns to her work.

Irabeth remains just as findable as she was before.

"Knight commander! I take it something came up in your check-ins?"

"I've got a fellow who has some pals who want to be lieutenants! How in the world can I tell if that's a lousy idea or not?"

Irabeth does her best to suppress a wince, and mostly succeeds.

"I presume a nobleman looking to enroll their son? You or a professional interview the kids, make sure they aren't lying to you about their qualifications or priorities, and then ideally you only let them in as Cornets or lieutenants until they've proven themselves. Of course, that's not exactly always practical; for one thing we genuinely do need more officers than we have, and unless someone stumbles on a crate of diamonds we're also going to need more money. It's almost a cainan bargain; if you don't take in nobles officers, you're giving up most of the experienced talent and the most capable soldiers and spending a lot more money than you can afford and making enemies of the most powerful people in the country, and if you do take them a bunch of your officers end up arrogant idiots who refuse to listen to orders and the men respect the other ones less too by association. There's nothing for it but trying to thread the needle.

"Do you know who it was, and did you already promise anything?"

"I promised nothing. The fellow's Baron Gradsky, and he made the men sound pretty good, but he could say anything, I knew I needed to ask you."

"Good."

Irabeth pauses, thinking back, then continues.

"I remember that name; he fought in the fourth crusade, so unless he wants his cousins killed he's probably not lying too much about their skills. Whether they're good at leadership is another question though. Ideally we'd be able to get Harmattan to handle the interviews, but he's even less a fan of having a noble officer corps than I am so it might take some delicacy."

"Well, I can sound him out on it if it won't require particularly experienced delicacy."

"He can't be that bad about it if he's gotten this far in the army, but if you're nervous about it I can find time this evening to speak with him."