((Well, it's player's choice, are you going overland or paying via portal? I can let Alexei have an OoH roll to know who to ask for if he's gone overland. If he's going via portal, he doesn't deal with the abbey. Part of my post was rewritten because you submitted between the time of my starting the post and the actual submission. So, I assumed you were arriving overland, traveling for 4 days, but you can retcon this if you wish. You can also retcon to talk to Renaud about who to ask for at the abbey if you travel overland. Keep in mind, I've pretty well advised you that there isn't much here in Cunfin, but you're insisting on going here, so...
Further compounding the problems, is that you, the player has forgotten that there has been a significant amount of time that has passed since the letter arrived, and you undertaking this journey. The scent is pretty faded, since the letter actually arrived nearly a season prior, in 1228.))
((I was intending to travel over land, but it's either the length of time between posts or I'm just not reading this well enough. At any rate I still wanted to look around Cunfin just a bit, and if it's OK, I'd like to retcon so Renaud would tell him who to ask for plus any protocols that need to be made before going into the Regio. Regarding the sense, it's a magic power that works on arcane connections not so much just a smell, would it have faded by now?))
Yes, the Arcane Connection for letters is weeks.
I'm still really not sure where you're going with this trip to Cunfin, to be honest, when I quite clearly indicated that Alaire is in the western part of the Tribunal. So, let me swing the clue by four here. Which covenants are in the western part of the tribunal? Maybe one that is a nominal adversary of Mons Electi? Someone who has a reputation for less than savory behavior. Someone Alexei doesn't like, and he feels the same way. Someone who Alexei has beaten in competition. I'm not sure if you know that as a player, but it is probably reasonable that Alexei suspects it. In short, Cunfin doesn't have what you need, and I'm just going to handwave this and say you never went, because all you'd get from Eloi is that Alaire came through Cunfin's portal, and then a few days later went back through it to Dragon's Rest.
So, your next stop, whether you traveled to Cunfin or not should be Dragon's Rest, but the question is, what are you going to do?
((OK...now I'm confused. Part of it has to do with the length between posts because of the page load problems. I thought Alexei going to the Dragon Inn was not a good idea? And regarding the geography and where the Covenants are...I have no clue, I don't have the book. Based on the hints there I'm assuming that a former Tremere turned Flambeau is who you're referring to.
I'll be reading up on thise and get back to you on what I do next. Sorry I'm going so slow, but solving the mystery while the page keeps going down is making it tough for me.))
The Inn being referred to was one in Autun, where Alaire stayed. It's not that going there wasn't a good idea it's that going there wasn't going to do Alexei any good. The only thing that could be learned there is that Alaire came through it, which Renaud relayed to you. As to going to Dragons' Rest or not, well, Alexei has a thorny problem on his hands. He knows Alaire delivered the note. He suspects, but doesn't have any proof that someone, to borrow Markos' name for him called Rutebega of Flambeau might also be involved.
Regarding the map of the Tribunal, I did post a google maps link of the Tribunal, indeed, much of the Order so not having the book wouldn't be a problem.
((OK, stuff happened last night...let me look at this again. Alexei will go to the Dragon's Inn, he is looking for Alaire, but that is not high in his priority if he's not there. Rotgers would be the main one he'd want to see and have a chat with, so if either is not there, he'll try to track down Rotgers. I'm re-reading the threads again for stuff that I keep missing. Once again, very sorry for the lengthy delays.))
Covenant of Dragon's Rest is where Alaire is.
Montvert is where Rotgiers is. Alaire is going to be trickier to track down, because he's a redcap and travels. Although Dragon's Rest is his home covenant, and you might get an idea of where he's at, if he's not at Dragon's Rest.
Since this hasn't been going the way I intended (many reasons, chief among them the site going wonky for 6 weeks), I'll leave it to you as to where you want to go and adjust the story accordingly. If you want to just jump to Montvert, travel there because Alexei "knows" that Rotgiers is responsible and wants to challenge him, we can go there, and I can adjust the circumstances to fit. What I'm saying is that you should feel free to play Alexei authentically, how much proof would he need to go after Rotgiers? All within the context of this being a Hermetic legal issue, if he wants to push it, or a matter of House Honor, or whatever. I'm going to respond to how you play Alexei and adjust the story accordingly.
Montvert it is. Alexei ((and my own personal style)) is to play it by ear a bit and see how things turn out. One of the things that Alexei will need to get comfortable with is the exercise of authority which he now possesses. Part of that also involves knowing how far he can go with it, and if he painfully finds out its limits, that is also a good lesson.
Alexei can travel overland (at a cost of several weeks there and several weeks back again). Or he can travel by portal to Dragon's Rest and Montvert.
I will say that a large contingent of grogs, horses, etc going overland, the supplies for them will cause a problem with silver finances[1]. He will need vis to use the portal from Harco to Dragon's Rest, if there is a portal to Montvert, it's anyone's guess as to whether Alexei would be allowed to use it, but he would cut the travel time down to a week or less wit just the use fo the Dragon's Rest portal. We will say that the cot for the Dragon's Rest portal is 2 pawns each way.
I'd like you to describe the level of pomp you wish to travel, the grogs you have, etc. I'm going to step in and play Gerulf for a bit, and say that the 7 pawns of Rego is rejected, and he suggests you take Herbam. If you want to discuss it more in character you can. Also, Korvin can jump in and affirm/overrule Gerulf in this situation.
[1] No one has actually started to do anything about the finances issue. It's been discussed, but it's up to you guys to actually initiate a story, and I'll respond from there.
Alexei will see Korvin about the vis so he will be travelling to Dragon Inn, no sense taking a chance with the portal to Montvert and encountering extraordinary resistance or cost. Since Herbam is appreciated for this, he will request Herbam to use in travelling.
He will keep his entourage small; Michel, Brionne, Helmut, Osster and Mufarrj (they were with him when he first went to see Ariel) and that's it, we're not bringing additional servants or anything, we're going loaded as if on campaign; not with extra pomp and circumstance, but still with tabards of Alexei's symbol. He'll buff everyone with spells from the Dragon's Inn to Montvert and announce himself properly, but not like he's besieging Montvert or delivering ultimatums.
What's starting to bug me, as I look back, is that I sent two letters back to Ariel, one with an immediate response regarding the use of the portal. That might be a clue we can use to track down those responsible; follow the money/vis.
Is it bugging you or is it bugging Alexei? 
Think about it, and what the implications of that mean...
We'll say both. And bugging me means, it's making me think more about it. Like if there was a network of people involved. They had to take my first reply, then my second and then deliver a reply to the second one. So, they were patient with Alexei's 2nd guessing himself, as long as it worked to get him out to Ariel and further the plot. So, yeah he has to look into that as well. Since there was that later reply...does that have an AC on it still?
No, I had read that happening over the course of a few days shortly after receiving the first message.
However, it does suggest that there is more to it than Alaire...
Exactly. So no AC but more evidence anyway. Hey! I could see the Guernicus, they have all kinds of spells for stuff like this! Oh...wait.
So anyway, heading to Montvert from the Dragon's Inn. If he sees Alaire he would try to speak with him, just not expecting that kind of luck.
When Alexei inquires as to Alaire's availability he is politely told that he is presently delivering messages. His route is Montverte and it's vassals.
From there Alexei and his grogs and Donner will head to Montvert, but not announce his intentions to go there. Along the way he won't avoid or try to hide his presence, but he will be cautious, including keeping a watch at night.
Montverte is different from most covenants. It's the castle of a baron, and the way is marked, clear, and I'll just handwave that Alexei is told this. But the full nature of the covenant isn't really clear to Alexei or anyone who isn't familiar with the covenant.
Alexei and his retinue make their way to the castle, on the verdant hill, along the way, two mounted and armed men come from the castle and interdict his party. In French, "The baron is indisposed, and is not currently seeing visitors."
Alexei povides a large smile and bow to the men. "Ah, many thanks. I have not come to see the Baron, and I'm sure he is far too important for myself. Might I still travel to the castle?"
((Before I ask anything further, can Alexei make an OoH Lore roll to see what if any protocols exist to contact the magi of Montvert? Is the Baron's castle also called Montvert or is it a different name?))
The only thing that Alexei is that one or more of the magi might act as retainers or mundane knights for the baron. The castle has the same name as the covenant.
"And why would you travel to the castle, if not to see the baron?"