When Doul arrives, he'll be met at the guarded nexus door by a young Arum man by the name of Ewar, who introduces himself as his Lordship's swordmaster and informs the older man he'll be escorting him to aforementioned Lord.

Castle Valdis is...an interesting place. Old, very old, but much of it seems new or at least fresh clean; recently renovated, much of that only recently complete. It's a life's work, this place, and Martel is happy to make it his. The lights that follow through the building are seemingly glass torches, lit up with enchanted fire by a command. (Some of the Arum men seem more used to it than others, but they all take it roughly in stride.)

The staffing is sparse, only the necessities, and Doul is led to Martel's library - to which the most effort has been devoted in restoration. It's an impressive room, and large. Martel, lately Lord of Valdis, is at one of the tables nearer the fireplaces and their cushioned armchairs, bent over a choice of maps and family histories.

"Thank you, Ewar," he says, without looking up and almost before the door is quite open.