The Royal Council

[MerlinusCDXX]

Mardakou turns toward the new messenger "Your lord Alexandros speaks sense, sir, but I have been trying to urge that very course of action for some days now. It seems the Basileios won't budge on the matter, so I suggested the other course of action to minimize the danger to our soldiers. Ask Hilarion over there, he'll give you all kinds of excuses why we can't garrison the city."

[The Celtic Viking]

Hilarion sighs and shakes his head.

"Mardakou, I am not lord Sarpedon, but I am still his representative here in the Council and that garners some respect from you. I do not have to sit here and take your sarcasm."

Hilarion turns to Alexandros' messenger.

"It has absolutely nothing to do with the manner the city was taken, and I do not wish to repeat myself on that over and over again, so I will simply refer you to the scribes' scrolls as for the real reasons. You would find that your objections are turned to the wrong person altogether."

[MerlinusCDXX]

Hilarion, my apologies for my outspokenness, you won't be hearing anymore such outbursts from me. Let's just respectfully agree to disagree.

I just received a messenger from Hekatompylos. Satrap Phanias has confirmed his son Marsyas L. Lydikes as his aid, and would further request that the records be adjusted to officially remove Mikithion Kalamou Phoinikikes from the position on the grounds of non-performance of lawfully ordered duties.