You mentally prepare to meet with your father. He may be family, but he's still the king, and a private meeting with a King is nerve wracking. You strap on the dagger he gave you on his whim, and dress in practical if fine clothes. He's not the kind of person who is impressed by wealth, particularly being surrounded by it all the time.
Soon, his servants usher you into his chambers. He's writing letters, probably making the last of the wedding arrangements, and you take a seat beside him. "Ah, yes, Raynor, I had nearly forgotten we were to speak." he puts quill and ink aside. "So, boy, what was it you wanted to talk about?"
"There were a few things actually, if you would indulge me." you remove Robilard's letter from your pocket."This is the last of several letters Robilard has sent me, all inviting me to speak with him privately, in his home." you lay the letter on the table. "He hasn't said what he wants to talk about, but it seems delicate."
Your father doesn't bother reading it, but his brow furrows in thought. "Well that seems suspicious, certainly." he scratches absently at his beard. "Well, that doesn't implicate him in anything, and his intentions could certainly be innocent, personally i've always found my brother too clever for his own good. I'll keep an ear open to anything suspicious, thank you for coming to me with this. I'll certainly be grateful if you come to me with more information."he let's out a deep sigh. "I hope this doesn't have anything to do with Penrod's arrival, those two have... never liked eachother."
Inside you feel elated at the rare parental approval. "Of course father, I want to assure you that I have the best interests of Analysse and the crown at heart, I will not let anything put the future of the kingdom in jeopardy. Speaking of which, i'm sure you are aware that I am strengthening ties with what remains of the Keshlan nobility, and am doing what I can to put them back in power, i'm sure you can see why that would be in our best interests, and must ask for a small solitary favor from you as king." you remove another document from your pocket. "Here are the names of seven influential Keshlan merchants who are doing quite a bit in order to raise forces that might aid Keshlan imperials, however their authority as lowborn men is highly limited, and so I ask you to grant them Baronet titles as if they had purchased them from the crown. They won't need any land, and their service can serve as token Annalysian military support without our navy having to lift so much as a finger. Not to mention that we will have more allies in whatever government the imperials manage to cobble together."
The King frowns deeply and stares at you for what feels like several minutes. "Or perhaps you are the one who is too clever for his own good." he sighs deeply, "very well, it's not like this favor is going to take much effort on my part. Oh, I would like to say. I know you're forming something of an unnoficial escort for Penrod, and that's all well and good, but I urge caution, Penrod is another of you clever ones, and he can be quite tricky."
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Topic: Prince: of Lords and Sorcerers (Read 63677 times)