A man in a darkly colored bliaud enters and begins to inspect the place with the keen eyes of a career soldier. Seemingly satisfied with his cursory inspection, the man pulls back his hood and approaches Hugues de Champagne.

"I am Gaeten de Rethel, of the noble House of Rethel, and, in the interests of my family, I hereby swear an oath of fealty to Hugues de Champagne of the Duchy of Lorraine, if you will have me."