That's right. In Alvin's eyes, Altan was nothing more than a stray dog.
Alvin knew full well that although Altan still held the title of "Count," he was just a solitary man adrift in a foreign land, with no fief, no army, and no foundation.
He was getting by in this strange land on his glib tongue, his so-called "Wandering Count" title, his Knight... and perhaps a few members of his Personal Guard.
If Alvin chose to give him face, he would address him as "Count." But if he didn't, he could make Altan kneel and lick his boots, and Altan would have to smile and say how good Lord Alvin's shoes tasted!
It couldn't be helped. After all, Alvin had a fief, an army, money, and grain.
In this land, Alvin was a true magnate. His fief was fertile and rich, and the grain and wealth it produced each year gave him more than enough confidence to maintain his status and influence.
