"Err, he's certainly strong enough, but, well..." Roger began to answer, "Griffins are extremely proud creatures and they're very picky about whom they allow on their backs. I should be able to convince Shortclaw to take you as a passenger, but it'll take some bribing."

Shortclaw would never allow anyone aside from Roger or Roger's parents take his reins, but it was possible to sway him- usually through food- to allow a passenger. Still, sometimes the griffin was willing to put up with it even without coaxing. He didn't mind transporting Velvetica, having evidently deducted her place at the top of the Lions' hierarchy. In one instance, he had even been willing to give a ride to a woman whom Roger had met at a ball. With Cadmon, however, Roger wasn't sure if he could pull it off without bribing the griffin with food.

"But you can be assured that if you need me, I'll have your back on this," he assured Cadmon. "Even if this Baron Bridger isn't actually mad enough to make good on those foolish threats, he can't be allowed to go around pushing other nobles and land-holders around." He didn't really think that Baron Bridger would try it, though- Roger figured that the Baron was bluffing in hopes of coercing the young Cadmon into giving him what he wanted or taunting him into making a serious misstep. Over the generations, dealing with over-entitled nobles such as this was a common problem that the Falkners faced, and if Cadmon's trouble were any indication, this wasn't going to go away just because they had been elevated to nobility.

@The Otter@HereComesTheSnow

@Crimson Paladin@The Otter

The waves of heat and vitriol broke against the plaintive coast, as István savored his mug and nodded along to his understudy's ranting, smirk playing across his heavy features toward the end.

"At times anger takes one's focus and narrows it. You know that well, just as you know that was all I advised against." he countered, characteristically unfazed by the uncharacteristic fire of the tall youth before him— all things being equal, it looked more like he approved than anything else, gaze sliding line by line over the handed missive. "Should you be leveraging your full measure against this callous temerity, who could complain to see the upstart squashed?"

His smile deepened, a couple more teeth baring with each word, and a dangerous mirth fell upon his timbre when he next spoke.

"Quick and decisive action are virtues. It's simply a shame I'd have no means of swiftly accompanying you."

Two grown men would be doable, with coercion, as Roger had quickly reassured his charge— but it was a forgone conclusion that even with all the bounty in the world that he could ever desire afforded to his beak, three would be pushing it for Shortclaw. More's the pity, it meant he'd not have had the distinct pleasure of reminding Feldger the type of allies the Demet fief held in proper esteem, and what they could do with the steel that silks meant to mask.