Alexei keeps his smile and adds. "I wish to see someone who resides there, that's all. He goes by the name of Rotgers, he asked me to come here."
((Has Alexei felt that he has passed an Aegis yet?))
No, regarding the Aegis, they are well away from the castle.
"Sir de Gerberoy? He has not informed us as as to any visitors. Abide a moment." He pulls a horn out from his satchel and sounds it. Another person on horse comes out. "This man says Sir de Gerberoy has asked him to come, but we haven't been informed. Please ride ahead and inform him of our arrival, with guests... he looks back at Alexei, as if expecting him to fill in some detail.
Alexei gives a slight bow at the waist and fills in the blanks. "Alexei von Kroitsau ex Milites, and company." he adds, gesturing to the grogs and Mufarrj. "And my thanks. The Baron has retained fine men."
He acknowledges the compliment and escorts your party to the castle. Once inside, Alexei and his retinue are provided some refreshment and provided a place to sit and rest while waiting.
And waiting.
And waiting.
When would Alexei get annoyed with waiting?
If refreshments are provided, he'd wait an hour. If no refreshments than half that. Did Alexei cross an Aegis yet?
Sorry, yes he did, as soon as they crossed into the castle.
Alexei is kept waiting for over an hour. He and his retinue are never left unattended and if they request food and additional libation it is provided.
Alexei will address one of the guards. "My good man, have you on occasion had a guest named Alaire? Young man, wears a red hat? He may have been here within a fortnight or two? And is Sir de Gerberoy actually in? He would be so vexed if he missed me and I had to return another time." He doesn't say that with any menace or implied threat, it would sound more like he'd be disappointed that an old acquaintance was here and he missed the chance to speak with him.
If you want that you need to roll some Com+Guile...
Would you roll for me? Or I can just wait.
Just waiting... (you know how I hate rolling on players' behalf. I'll do it for awareness and other "hidden" rolls, but not when a PC actually does something...and I never object to waiting for the player to roll.)
Alexei's attempt at subterfuge doesn't seem to have an effect, whether because the man knows better, or because it wasn't very good, Alexei can't tell.
About 3 hours later, nearly before sunset Rotgiers makes himself present.
"Ahh, Alexei, had I known to expect you I would have rolled out a suitable welcome. I've been indisposed with my lord Baron. Come, we'll see to you and your people, and I've made arrangements, as best I might on such short notice, to have you greeted as a guest of honor by the baron and his court."
Edit: I'll let the player determine whether Rotgiers is genuine or not... 
Alexei stands to greet Rotgers and the grogs do as well, matching Alexei, while Donner makes a brief bark as he feels the tension Alexei has for the man through their bond and then pants and sniffs the air.
"Well, I'm sure I don't rank up there with the Baron, so I am pleased you can see me at all. But you needn't have gone through the trouble to have me appear in his court, I'm sure he has more important guests." this is put with perfunctory humility. Alexei though is reminded of the visit with the Bishop that he had while Valerian was there. 'This closeness to the rulers of the land is truly bothersome!'
"But I shan't keep the Baron waiting of course, if you have arranged this I shall attend and be greatly honoured by the meeting." he lowers his voice and speaks briefly in Latin. "A token for the Aegis if ye please."
In French after Alexei asks for a token, Rotgiers responds "That won't be necessary, as I'm sure you know what is given can so easily be taken away. The demands of courtesy require I offer you lodging, food and hospitality, and I intend to give you all that and more, Alexei. Come, let is sup with the baron, and after he has retired for the evening, his other knights will regale you with tales to last throughout the night. Rotgiers stands above 6', well above 6' and puts his arm about Alexei, escorting him into the castle.
Inside it's dark and it takes sometime to adjust, but they fall out of earshot of any visible mundane staff, "So, Alexei deigns to visit his house brother, Rotgiers. Do I remind you of your pater?"
"I would think it more fitting to say that you deign to visit with me, considering how close you are with royalty." There is no attempt to mask his disdain for this display. "And no...you do not remind me of my pater." he says that simply as he dwells on Tristan a bit. Tristan was many things and though Alexei has great respect for him, plenty of times he remembers darkly the harsh training methods he used to prepare Alexei for combat...he could have perhaps used more training for the politics of a court or a hall. "But I wouldn't take that one way or the other, Tristan is unique, it would be difficult for any magus to be like him. Which is perhaps for the best." he sighs as they continue down the hall. "Very well Rotgiers, since I am your guest, and you my host, please accomodate me and my men. We do have business to discuss though, and not business disccussed in the presence of the Baron or his court."
"We are in my house, Alexei. We will discuss what I want when I want. I could just as easily had the baron order his men to chase you away.
Alexei pauses in midstep. "Rotgers...I want you to listen and hear me well. I didn't come here for your hospitality..." he holds up a hand to ask for patience. "that you are showing me it...is a good thing, and I actually appreciate it, it speaks well of your character. But understand, there is important business and we will discuss it, it will be better for all parties that you and I discuss it shortly, rather than later and under more...formal and unpleasant terms. You know me, you know the authority I bear. So I will be the guest and you the host and I will act the part. If you try and dissuade me from the real purpose of my visit...it will not go well, and threatening me with the baron's men would be...inadvisable. But, I shall say no more of my business for now, I will not keep the baron waiting."
With that Alexei bows in deference to his host and allows him to lead on to whatever awaits.
((Trying to balance Alexei's statement here. On the one hand he wants to impress that he is here officially and that Rotgers is not higher ranked that Alexei, and at the same time offer some deference since Rotgers is the host and save him some face. Trying not to be threatening, more like offering good advice. This requires a Guile roll I'm sure, I'll make that when i get home, and it's worth a confidence point IMO, Alexei wants to impress Rotgers, even if he doesn't like Alexei, he wants Rotgers to be suitably impressed and not overly insulted.))
"You have absolutely no authority here, my good man." Rotgiers laughs a deep belly laugh, as if Alexei told a stupendous joke, but it is mostly fake, tinged every so slightly with a bit of true mirth. "Your authority begins and ends with enemies of the Order. You have no rights or responsibilities beyond that. If you'd like, I could contact Valerian for additional instruction you need for handling your office." Rotgiers stops walking and turns to give Alexei a deadly smile, "Now, before you overstep your authority, I will once again remind you that you are in my House, insult me in front of my liege or covenant mates at your own peril."
Guile won't work here, Alexei knows instantly that as soon as Rotgiers says what he does about authority, that it is correct. Only a Quaesitor in good standing can conduct an investigation. Anything that Alexei does here is a matter of courtesy, and nothing more.
((Ah...I thought he might say that. But Alexei does have authority, it's just not well known, certainly not by his host. Which is fine, this is a situation where I hope I can turn a few things around and get out some of the frustration Alexei has felt in his dealings with Valerian, Rotgers and the others. Alexei warned him...))
Alexei smiles, it is a rare smile from him in that there is plenty of sly menace in the eyes. "Truly? No authority? Well then, I am at your service Sir Rotgiers de Gerberoy Flambonis. But no need to contact Valerian on instruction...when last he and I met on the field I was the instructor...I believe you saw that? I do hope it was instructional for you as well. But...please, let me not delay your hospitalities nor overstep what little authority you see in me. Please, let us speak no more of this until you are ready, and do forgive any lapse in decorum I may have shown." He bows again and waits for his host to lead on.
((Just so I'm clear, what authority does Alexei think he has? Whatever the Praeco asked him to do is still circumscribed by the Code, and his ability to investigate is therefore limited. That being the case, if Alexei can build a circumstantial case against Rotgiers with compelling evidence, she can eject him from the House. But that's a political decision, not a legal one, and there are consequences. And if Alexei is referring to the Joust, Alexei never faced Valerian, as he'd been DQ'd from the tournament.))
"Yes, I found Valerian's performance at the Tournament most instructive. His terram magics seem rather powerful. Well, when they get away from him, that is. I'd hate to see anyone else be around him when he 'botches' a terram spell again." He smiles wickedly and threateningly at Alexei.
Rotgiers invites Alexei to continue walking whereupon they arrive in a large dining hall, with several other armed men seated at the table. All are armed, but none are armored. An old man sits at the head of the table, Rotgiers addresses him, "My lord, Baron of Montverte, allow me to present one of my peers, Alexei von Kroistau. He is a humble knight on a quest, and has sought us out for comfort and succor. I invited him to the bounty of your table in your behalf, m'lord." The old man Rotgiers was speaking to appeared to be asleep, but upon hearing Rotgiers, he snaps awake.
The Baron acknowledges Alexei wordlessly, but does not rise from his chair, and quickly goes back to sleep, with a bit of drool sliding down his chin.
"He likes you, Alexei." The entire table erupts in laughter.
((Actually he did joust with Valerian, he was a last minute replacement, remember? He summoned a stone horse and a stone lance? Alexei he beat him in two passes))
((As a matter of Hermetic records, he faced off against Rotgier's champion, Rotgiers is the one who was listed as losing, and the name of the champion was never specified in the legal recording, although anyone who was there knows who the champion was.))