conversation. Not
really that long at all, but he was clearly behind the rest of them. This
wasn't about truly delicate sensibilities, though that too no doubt, but rather
that she, the Princess of the realm, figured that Counts, Countess's or their
proxies should do this by their own hands. As proof that they won't let their
fellow's sister be abused. Short of backing him in war, it was about as close
to proving loyalty as could be gotten.
Gerent snorted, which was the
wrong sound, but then he smiled to cover it.
"We just need to get the
King to come along too then. Or at least someone to stand for him. I'd have
invited Alphonse, but he can't attend right now, thanks to some moron making
the world impossible for him and the others to live in right now." It was
clearly the wrong thing to say, since everyone glared at him. All of them,
including the Count.
Before Gerent could add that he
was certain the King would attend in his own person, if they could allow it,
the giant roared at him, seeming angry suddenly.
"No! I will not stand
and listen to you denigrate yourself like that! You did what no one else could
have, and ended a battle that we were ill prepared to fight. Our best armies
would have been spent unto death and utter destruction with nothing to show for
it save bodies, if not for you, sir! Again, I say, I will not have it!"
Gerent bowed, since he didn't
particularly want to be beaten, if it was all the same.
"Bad habit. I'll try not to
do that, in the future. Sorry."
The man smiled, his features
going very polite, just as fast as they'd turned mean and hard.
"See to that. As for King
Richard... In most cases I would agree, but given the situation, perhaps we
should at least arrange for him to have a hand in this? That... is fair
thinking. The rebellion, well half of them are simply sore that Richard has
ruled against them from time to time in various projects or votes. Seeing him
as standing for right, no matter the state of the climate, that might well
assuage some of their ire." The words were a bit rough in accent, but were
well educated.
Gerent looked at him, envying for
a moment whatever teaching he'd gotten that had allowed him to make speeches
like that. His, even when he aped the stereotype of the dandy noble, tended to
be a little simple. He used what big words he knew, but this man had simply been
talking like that. It was impressive in a way that no one else there would even
be able to see, he bet. They all did that kind of thing, all the time.
He bowed to the Princess and then
the Count, doing it pretty close to right, with his right arm folded across his
middle.
"If you are with us in this,
then we need to be off to find the next on the list. Count Thomson, I think? I
don't know where Captain Kerry is at the moment. When I pick up my ship from
Tiera I should be able to get her however. We leave tonight. Midnight, after
dinner with King Richard, and his Lady Queen." Stopping himself, he wanted
to take the words back.
His Lady Queen? That was
literally from a street performance and not proper etiquette. It wasn't even
close to being correct. Veronica covered for him, by stepping in with a hug.
"Very good, cousin. We stand
ready to your word. Dear husband, are you traveling with them to Thomson? A
show of support might sway them, or at least let them know that we stand by
right." That got her a hug from the giant and the rest of them almost
pushed out the door by the man. They took off from in front of the place, after
Gerent made his craft about twice as big inside. The giant simply needed a
bigger seat than the rest of them did.
It wasn't the plan, but Count
Peterson had, it was clear, been raised with a military mindset. He didn't
dither, or wait, once the plan was set, simply helping to map out how to travel
most directly to their destination. He even had a map of the whole land on him,
in his pocket. All Gerent had was a bunch of magic, and some letters.
Who carried a map like that
really that long at all, but he was clearly behind the rest of them. This
wasn't about truly delicate sensibilities, though that too no doubt, but rather
that she, the Princess of the realm, figured that Counts, Countess's or their
proxies should do this by their own hands. As proof that they won't let their
fellow's sister be abused. Short of backing him in war, it was about as close
to proving loyalty as could be gotten.
Gerent snorted, which was the
wrong sound, but then he smiled to cover it.
"We just need to get the
King to come along too then. Or at least someone to stand for him. I'd have
invited Alphonse, but he can't attend right now, thanks to some moron making
the world impossible for him and the others to live in right now." It was
clearly the wrong thing to say, since everyone glared at him. All of them,
including the Count.
Before Gerent could add that he
was certain the King would attend in his own person, if they could allow it,
the giant roared at him, seeming angry suddenly.
"No! I will not stand
and listen to you denigrate yourself like that! You did what no one else could
have, and ended a battle that we were ill prepared to fight. Our best armies
would have been spent unto death and utter destruction with nothing to show for
it save bodies, if not for you, sir! Again, I say, I will not have it!"
Gerent bowed, since he didn't
particularly want to be beaten, if it was all the same.
"Bad habit. I'll try not to
do that, in the future. Sorry."
The man smiled, his features
going very polite, just as fast as they'd turned mean and hard.
"See to that. As for King
Richard... In most cases I would agree, but given the situation, perhaps we
should at least arrange for him to have a hand in this? That... is fair
thinking. The rebellion, well half of them are simply sore that Richard has
ruled against them from time to time in various projects or votes. Seeing him
as standing for right, no matter the state of the climate, that might well
assuage some of their ire." The words were a bit rough in accent, but were
well educated.
Gerent looked at him, envying for
a moment whatever teaching he'd gotten that had allowed him to make speeches
like that. His, even when he aped the stereotype of the dandy noble, tended to
be a little simple. He used what big words he knew, but this man had simply been
talking like that. It was impressive in a way that no one else there would even
be able to see, he bet. They all did that kind of thing, all the time.
He bowed to the Princess and then
the Count, doing it pretty close to right, with his right arm folded across his
middle.
"If you are with us in this,
then we need to be off to find the next on the list. Count Thomson, I think? I
don't know where Captain Kerry is at the moment. When I pick up my ship from
Tiera I should be able to get her however. We leave tonight. Midnight, after
dinner with King Richard, and his Lady Queen." Stopping himself, he wanted
to take the words back.
His Lady Queen? That was
literally from a street performance and not proper etiquette. It wasn't even
close to being correct. Veronica covered for him, by stepping in with a hug.
"Very good, cousin. We stand
ready to your word. Dear husband, are you traveling with them to Thomson? A
show of support might sway them, or at least let them know that we stand by
right." That got her a hug from the giant and the rest of them almost
pushed out the door by the man. They took off from in front of the place, after
Gerent made his craft about twice as big inside. The giant simply needed a
bigger seat than the rest of them did.
It wasn't the plan, but Count
Peterson had, it was clear, been raised with a military mindset. He didn't
dither, or wait, once the plan was set, simply helping to map out how to travel
most directly to their destination. He even had a map of the whole land on him,
in his pocket. All Gerent had was a bunch of magic, and some letters.
Who carried a map like that
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