Kesara is, in Vares' estimation, more than old enough. He conducts himself accordingly, giving her the pause of silence for her to either elaborate or to amend her statement.
You don't know it's a lie. It will be Folk Ken versus Guile if you want to go that route 
OOC: Per+Folk Ken gives a base of only 3 (in this case), plus any modifiers for familiarity with the subject. If Vares has been charged with Kesara's care, he's presumably dealt with her to some extent. I'm not clear on that point. Truthfully, until it was indicated by you, I'd assumed that he'd had no more than a few dealings with her, but if he's supposed to shield her with his Parma, that indicates that she would have to be around him considerably more often.
How close is it to sunset?
If there's still several hours, Vares will let her go (unless he detects the untruth) and take charge of her at sunset, when she's to be under his charge. If it is soon, he will assert that perogative and primacy of mission. I'll post accordingly.
Go with the second. The sun is setting in a half an hour. Use Leadership and tell her what the orders of the day are. Flambeau magi are indeed independant (much to the chagrin of their traditional Tremere allies), but she is an apprentice and their is a semblance of hierarchy to be maintained 
Factoring in the time before the sun sets, Vares determines, "You will be spending the evening with me, Kesara." His authority is clear, and will be reinforced soon enough. "Change and prepare for dinner. We will be dining with our guest." He signals to one of the servants to deliver Kesara to her quarters and see that she is tended to properly. With the stamp of his orders on it, the girl will be ready in time.
Should she prove truculent, he says levelly, "Would you prefer more direct assistance?"
[color=red]Humphff! 
Fine... (stomps off to go change)
Vares has had to deal with other girls with Kesara's temperament. Usually, however, he would exert more effort into persuasion than authority, or else exert authority that cannot be resisted. Her particular status, and the tangled hierarchy of authority, makes him almost long for the clearer structure of the Tremere.
And then he smiles at her retreating back, his own love of independence strong. Properly cultivated, that same wilfulness may help make her a strong figure within the House and the Order--as long as she learns self-discipline.
Turning to Tresmillia, he says, "We have a little time ourselves. Sunset comes quickly in these mountains."
The servants prepare a feast of some roast fowl, greens, fruits, fresh baked bread, nuts, wine, and so forth. Kesara is dressed in "Carmen" style. Feminine, but not very ladylike. She is wearing breeches with boots, a silk poofy blouse and a leather bustier (not that she has anything to lift, it just goes with the outfit).
As long as Kesara is clean and presentable, Vares feels no cause to object to her particular choice of clothing. As a Maga, she will have substantial discretion, and with her combat training ahead, it is better for her to be comfortable in more practical attire. His own penchant for changing his appearance with magic gives him a flexible fashion sense.
Beginning the meal (OOC: who else is present? Are they eating in the main hall with others, a side chamber, or the welcome room of Vares quarters?), he gives her a chance to relax while opening the conversation with Tresmillia. "I'm curious; did you take all of your instruction at Duresca, or were you part of the Quaesitorial circuit? You've mentioned Barcelona."
[color=red]I have travelled all over. Most of my actual training took place at Duresca, but as an apprentice I had accompanied my pater all around the covenants of Iberia, and even to Magvellius and Durenmar. As a maga, I have studied in those various places and even travelled as far as Thebes. I know the situation over there, and know that your Antonio has the support of the Quaesitors.
(one of these days you should find out what he is up to 
)
[color=red]As for Barcelona, as a maga and aside from my duties, I do envy the luxury of the Jerbiton of Barcelona. Yet I also find their frustrations amusing. They seek to keep a very low profile and prefer that any magical activity be limited to the shadows. Yet for all their precautions and regulations, their fair city seems to be a magnet for all things supernatural. I would say half the magi in Europe have passed through there and/or have had dealings in Barcelona. It is the "capitol" of the west Mediterranean.
With the time spent 'out of time', Vares has been away from the flow of the gossip in the Order. Still, news does filter back through the Redcap network given Andorra's position as a Mercere House. This is the first he's heard of Antoninus Exupereus being involved in something in Thebes. His pater travels frequently.
Vares considers asking Tresmillia further questions, but knows better than to openly reveal his own lack of information. So, instead, he slants it differently. "What is your take on the matter with Antonius?" If the Quaesitors are involved, it is almost definitely worth knowing.
Concerning Barcelona, he says, "The restrictions stem from the Treaty of Barcelona, I believe. It would be difficult for the local Qbblist community to keep their own counsel if we were too open. Truthfully, they were in the city even before Barcelona Covenant was founded. So it is something of a free city for the magical world, as long as everyone maintains decorum and avoids drawing too much attention."
He smiles at the mention of Durenmar. "Ah, you've encountered the Guilds. I've heard that there's tension even within Durenmar about the course the Order should pursue. Some are aggressively, openly expansionist, some are more moderate, and others verge on magical isolationism."
OOG: By "your Antonio", I had meant the leader of your covenant here, Antonio Perez. However, you just gave me a clever idea. Perhaps Antoninus Expereus is friends with Antonio Perez. They are in cahoots. That could be another reason why you were recommended to join Andorra. They are both involved in the Thebean situation! 
[color=green]Tremsilla: [color=red]The Thebean situation begins with their 12014 regional tribunal, and it represents yet another reason why magi and mundanes should have nothing to do with each other. Many magi from the west have been migrating to Thebes since the fall of Constantinople. I think this deserves investigation, for it seems a bit to coincidental. The Franks have divided up Greece into fiefdoms, and for some "mysterious reason", more than a few of these migrant magi happen to be friends and relatives of these new barons. Thebes is already strained as far as magical resources go, so naturally this created conflict amongst the magi. But it was easy for new covenants to settle in, because the established covenants of Thebes had deep and bitter rivalries. Hermetic politics took a quite "Byzantine" turn for the worse, to coin an apt phrase. When I was there..., what year was that? It was during the Shadow War, I went to Macedonia to study under Crinos of Gurnicus, the legendary witch hunter. I saw a tangled web of tenuous alliances, conflicting loyalties, misplaced priorities, and double dealings. Crinos said his way of dealing with it was just to ignore them all. His duties were as a specialist for the whole Order, and he felt he was above the petty squabbling of a single tribunal.
The untreated wound doth not but fester and worsen. 1214 was a test of the treaty of 1207, and it was a failure. In 1207, they had established a complicated set of rules for the establishment of new covenants and regulations for the allocation of resources old and new. Your pater, Antonius Experus, I believe he was one of the principal architects of the agreement. (he had migrated to Thebes a few years after Vares was gauntleted, master and filius parting ways to each explore their own individual esoteric destinies) [color=red] It was a splendid document and a brilliant effort of diplomacy. But it was quickly ignored and openly flouted within a short time. Thus, there was quite the caseload when it came to their 1214 tribunal. But because of these tangled alliances, voting blocks were formed in such a way that it was nearly impossible to convict anyone of anything. The most flagrant violations were given nary a reprimand, and to be innocent without allies was the most severe crime one could be guilty of. The tribunal ended with more conflicts than resolutions, and no fewer than three Wizard's Wars were declared by the next new moon.
My old friend Crinos has thankfully seen the error of his ways since we last met, and has taken responsibility for putting order to this chaos. Magvellius is deeply divided by his actions, but he has the full support of Duresca and others as well. He has formed a Hoplite covenant in Laconia, your Antonius Experus is a member there. They have taken it upon themselves to enforce the Thebean Treaty by force, and they have demonstrated that they are willing to use Wizard War as a tool of justice.
That's where your Antonio Perez comes into this. Antonius Experus has a friend among the Archmagus named Fuego (your mentor)[color=red]. Fuego brought the matter before the Council of Antares. Mysterious group, don't know much about them. Word is that they have fully endorsed Crinos and his activities, and they send in Antonio Perez as a champion to deal with some of the stronger contributors to chaos. This puts him at odds with your primus though. Just this past year, he had slain a magus named Vegetius of Flambeau. But it just so happens that Vegetius was an associate of Garus and his covenant has close ties with other members of Castra Sola. Garus wants to punish Antonio Perez somehow, but his hands are tied. There is too much popular support for the Archmagus and his actions. The most Garus was able to do was to put together a referendum to present to the 1221 Provencal Tribunal, stating an intention to annex Andorra and bring the matter before Grand Tribunal. If he can't punish Antonio, he'll punish his covenant.
It is an empty threat, and I am sure it will flop. Each regional tribunal can only bring a certain number of issues before Grand Tribunal. Most magi in Provencal do not want to waste a "slot" on such a trivial issue. As for me, I feel the same way. Why waste the time of Grand Tribunal? Why bother to annex you? You simply are a part of Iberia, you just refuse to admit it. Doesn't change the reality of the situation. We even placed one of our Quaesitors here to watch over you. Why do you think Andorra took Octavian on as a member? I say to just let you play and pretend at independence until such a time when you grow bored with it or until it become a necessity for your own protection.
There, she just laid allll the cards on the table.
OOC: That is a LOT of information. Is it something you composed, or has Atlas Games finally published the Thebes Tribunal sourcebook? If so, do you know if Ferguson contributed to it?
I made it up myself just the other day
I mean, I had some ideas floating in my head for a while now, I just put the pieces together. I went through two rejected drafts before I settled on what I posted. I needed to be consistant with what I had established, and I needed it to make sense when looked at as a whole. It comes from my shelved idea for a Covenant of Laconia (Sparta). Naturally I was envisioning a Flambeau covenant. Your mistaking Antonio for Antonius gave me the idea I needed to fit it together. I am imagining that, though he may have different magical interests than you, Antonius Experus would have a very similar mindset and temperment. The philosophical Flambeau. Crinos is the example Quaesitor from the old Houses of Hermes for pre-4th edition. The Wizard War of Antonio Perez versus Vegetius was something that occurred in the old old saga. Carmello was playing Antonio, and when he came upon Vegetius by surprise, he hit him with the old "Absent Mind" spell from the WGRE. He liked variety. After that, standing stunned and confused, Vegetius was killed by a simple sword thrust from Antonio. No flashy blam-bang, just taking care of business. I was impressed with his innovation.
Players drive the story. Even when I am writing things, I am reacting to what you want to know about the world, and I also take your perceptions of what is and what must be, and fit it all together. I have an endless supply of story "pieces", but little is ever set in stone.
Vares listens, and listens closely to Tresmillia describing the situation from the Quaesitorial perspective. He also observes who else present is listening, including young Kesara, whose career will be affected by these events and many more.
Setting down his drink, Vares finally voices, "Provencal has its own concerns. The 'Crusade' called against the Cathars has devastated most of the central part of the Tribunal, breaking established contacts with the mundanes and entangling others. More than a few Magi have been skirting the Code trying to save their long-time allies--and there are indications that Magi from Normandy are using it as a pretext to make their own play for Provencal resources. Pursuing a grudge against events happening at the other end of the Order would not be profitable, nor do I think that Doissetep would back it. If Garus wants a political maneuver, he'd be better off working through the dispute with the Levant."
He shakes his head. "Enforcing the Code through repeated Wizard Wars doesn't address the underlying issues. The Code exists to reduce conflict, not to sanction brute force dominion. What is House Tremere's stance in this? They have a strong representation in Thebes, and have been advocates for stability since the end of the Schism War. The upheavals brought by the Fourth Crusade would have been something they'd use to their advantage, I think--even with the fallout from their own 'corruption' scandal (OOC: Tremere is{n't} dead; long reign the Seven)."
(OOG: I did indeed use a bit of that old Tremere hook back in the day. For use in 5th edition? i am willing to go with the idea of an isolated incident or three (such as Triamore), but not as a House wide scandal. It does stain their record of duty and honor, but I also figure that they were the ones who moved in to clean it up as soon as the House hierarchy caught on. But anyways...)
[color=green]Tremsilla: [color=red]The Cathars are another example of why it is unwise for magi to associate too closely with mundanes. Personally, I have nothing but contempt for the heretics. But at the same time I believe in a culture of tolerance, as exemplified in our Order full of diverse magi. Still, magi simply should not take sides in a mundane conflict. There is an argument that, since it is a declared Crusade, it is no longer a mundane conflict, but a divine one. Still, it bodes nothing but ill for the Order, and can lead to the church turning upon us. And it is spreading. Refugees have been migrating into Catalonia, brining their heresy with them. And with the precedent being established, calling a crusade upon Christian lands, the Vatican found it easy to take the next step and declared the Reconquista a crusade. That will cause trouble over the next few years, just watch!
As for Thebes, I think you misunderstand me. I did not mean to suggest that Crinos and his covenant enforce the code through repeated Wizard's War. Rather, I mean to say that they have done so a few times when necessary, at least three cases that I can confirm. Champions for the cause of justice. In fact, it was Vegetius of Flambeau who was responsible for this escalation. He established himself as a sort of a king pin. He ran a protection racket for the treaty violators. In exchange for a cut of their profits, Vegetius would serve as champion for Certamen and Wizard War when their victims came seeking revenge or tried to bring up charges. He had to be put to a stop, and a lawful duel was the only solution they had available. I am unfamiliar with the other two cases of the use of Wizard's War. I am only concerned about the one, as it involves a magus from my tribunal (again, she is operating under the presumption that Andorra already is a part of Iberia)[color=red]. As for House Tremere, they have had rivalries and conflicts with the Jerbiton magi of Thebes since the beginning. They are part of the Byzantine complexity of the problem. Officially they say they support the use of force to control chaos. Unofficially, they are divided amongst themselves over the issue.
"From what I have heard of the self-proclaimed 'Pure Ones', their beliefs would lead to the end of Man were they adopted universally. Gradually, though, instead of the bloody calamity now unfolding." Vares tone is not overly inflected, but there is a small current of exasperation. "The theology is clearly Manichean. Yet there is little denying that they also have a conduit into the Divine. Once again, the Church wars against another aspect of the Divine, as it has in its other Crusades. The fact that Divine Powers can be turned on one another... raises questions. There are rumours that other forces are moving within the Crusade, that they may have instigated it." The Magus sighs. "The truth is elusive."
He is thoughtful. "The Reconquesta has led to several rulings that may be pertinent. Magi are allowed to defend their homes, and if those homes are within cities under siege--with supernatural forces on the attacking side--then they have greater latitude. It would be wiser to deflect hostility than to meet it head-on. Open magical conflict has caused the Order enough trouble in the past."
Something about the situation in Thebes bothers him. "How can they have a champion in a Wizard's War--unless they have their 'champion' declare it preemptively? That practice goes against the principles of the Code, though it may be technically legal."
He is curious, "How do the Quaesitores orchestrate dealing with Inter-Tribunal disputes?"
What is your score in Theology and Divine Lore? I think you have one of those, don't remember.
Anyway...
[color=red]You have no proof that they have a connection to the Divine. That is just their own propaganda. And Divine Power (singular, as there is only one)can never be turned upon itself. It is the institutions of man that war upon each other, Mundane conflicts we should have nothing to do with.
[color=red]It is legal, and some say it is a necessity. I am sure it will be brought before Grand Tribunal in 1228. Rome once had a similar case back three-score years or so ago, but they settled it internally and the matter was never brought up.
She misunderstands you 
[color=red]Quaesitores orchestrate disputes only if necessary for the advancement of law and justice
OOC: Vares has Theology 1 (Heresy specialisation) and Divine Lore 1 (Powers specialisation). He also has a strong Philosophiae (admittedly, Natural Philosophy specialisation, not Metaphysics) and Alchemy Lore (Manichean principles of opposition have been integrated into Alchemy). He's a generalist with a very broad sweep of knowledge and deeper expertise in a few fields.
IC: "No? Then how can the Mullahs and Sufi call upon defenses against the 'Holy Crusaders' and have their prayers answered? If the entire Crusade is 'Divine', then their defense would be meaningless against the Church and its Dominion. If the Divine answers both sides, in different ways, then the Divine cannot truly and unequivocally support any single institution--such as the Church--or one of the Faiths of Abraham in absolute supremacy of the others." He smiles. "You remind me of Ameline, Kesara's tutor." He nods toward the thus-far-silent girl at the table. "She also has very definite ideas about the Divine."
Bringing those two together may or may not be beneficial, but if Tresmillia believes that one of Kesara's tutors is truly Faithful, it may temper her response to other things.
"I meant how do you orchestrate your responses to Inter-Tribunal disputes. Do you have a system like House Mercere, whereby there is a Trans-Tribunal hierarchy to which all ultimately answer? Presumably, this would be Magvillus? But Magvillus doesn't seem to have full precedence even in the Rome Tribunal where it resides." There is not a trace of mockery or derision in his voice. "And then there's the matter of your proxy votes. Do you, by any chance, ever make arrangements to convey a matter to the Grand Tribunal through an exchange of votes across Tribunals?" A perfectly legal procedure.
OOC: Is there some kind of conversational tripwire that I keep kicking whenever Vares starts a serious discussion about the scope, limits, and factionalisation of the Divine? It seems like whenever he challenges orthodoxy based on observations of known phenomena the conversation screeches to a halt. Tresmillia may not like it, but with the different Faiths (and a few practical agnostics--i.e. the Dominion exists, yes, however, no one really understands it, and the dogma is so paradoxical and self-conflicting to make it untenable) in the Order it is a very real issue.