Stories Thread

[Cecil XIX]

Paris, just outside of the first Conceil

Having spoken briefly to his nobles in the Bretagne chambers, the young Duke was now huddled in conversation just outside the Council Hall with a number of his minor vassels. Discussions were intense as he was about to make his first speech.

Glancing up briefly he noticed the Duke of Bourgogne approaching and quickly brushed away his men to turn fully and greet him.

"My Lord, bad luck zere in ze tournament. It is mostly luck of course.

Are you going to make your presence known to ze king inside?"

Raymond smiled at the Duke's greeting.

"Well met, Duc de Rohan. Indeed, I am on my way to present myself to the Conseil. Though I must say, I fear you are being too modest when you say the tournement was mostly luck. I confess that in the middle of things I worried the winner was going to be decided by who would be present in the most lopsided fights; I am glad to see that the man who emerged victorious did so without ever ganging up on an opponent!"

Bowing his head slightly at the compliment Alain replies:

"Ser Raymond, I am not so sure about zat. At ze end zere I was guilty of trying to take out a wounded man like ze rest of ze blue team. My competative spirit got ze better of me for a moment."

"Maybe so, but I am still appreciative. I was beginning to worry that I would suffer an ignominious defeat while all the rest marched forward, lock-step and uniform to fight a boring battle. I was relieved to see someone else charging forward!"

"Yes well in ze end it is very simple. You have to engage your enemy face to face and best him.

I am pleased to see we 'ave a similar opinion on ze matter."

"I quite agree. Now then, if you'll excuse me. Here's to a succesful session of the Conceil."

"Indeed and good luck to your Duchy."

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Coop story with AussieGiant

[ULC]

Outside Bruges, 1081

Lessons in Humility

A page boy quickly enters your command tent, a look of hurry upon his face as he begin to announce the name of Gaetan de Rethel, who gives him no chance before he enters and bows before King Philippe with the utmost reverence. The page stands off to the side and gulps, obviously having been slow and Gaetan having grown impatient.

Gaetan waits for King Philippe to allow him to speak, continuing to kneel.

"Rise and speak, de Rethel" Philippe intones, the toneof his voice hardly hiding his discontent.

Gaetan de Rethel rises and holds his chin nobly, although not staring directly at Philippe.

"I ask forgiveness for charging ahead an laying siege to Bruges, but it was the best of intentions and with tactical assessment. The Order is entirely composed of cavalry, and Bruges his own to a potent defense and large stores. In a normal siege we could not hope to take the city, and thus I saw one of two ways - either I force the commander of Bruges hand by causing him to underestimate me, or to wait the entire city out with you."

"The first could be done, but would force our armies to be split, with one or the other of us acting as reinforcements. I chose the Order as it is fleet of foot and the defenders would be unable to outpace them before our armies combined."

"The second I could not bring myself to - their are thousands of innocent people in Bruges, and to force them to starve because their military commanders are selfish and would refuse to relinquish power to their rightful lord disturbed me."

"I will take whatever punishment you see fit to give me, but I will not have this become a protracted siege and let hundreds die, even if it were to mean you would execute me for insolence and disobedience."

"So, to sum it up, you think you have a better grasp of the situation than I have. That your "tactical assessment" is better than mine ? But do you think you have knowledge of the whole situation ? Do you think there might not have been some planning ahead that you have almost ruined ? "Tactical assessment" ? Pfah.

Why do you think I stopped within sight of the city walls when I could have lain siege myself ? Did you think I was afraid, like an old lady ? Or did it cross your mud-addled brain that there was something to it ?

And I should not bear a grudge that you're also almost calling me a tyrant, considering I have no heart and will gladly cause the death of countless innocents by laying siege to that city. But that is not so. I was in parley until now with some of the inhabitants of the city so that we could have it fall more easily into our lap. But you had to step in with your "soft touch" and ruin this.

If you want to serve the Royaume, you will first have to serve its King. And my orders were quite clear. You and your company were to meet me on the road to Bruges, never did I mention laying siege to the city, no ?

As for killing you for disobedience, I admit I am tempted. But France has need of its knights in these dire times.

So I will ask you to lift that siege immediately or I will ask your company to relieve you of your command and see that its next captain learns to follow orders.

And what kind of military operation is it anyway ? You have not even started building any kind of siege engines. Do you think that Artois is such a fool that he will sally out of his city when his walls are protection against us and that he's gaining time to negociate German or English help ?"

Gaetan listens intently to King Philippes words.

"I imply neither that you are coward, nor Tyrant. I had not received any orders from you to join with your army from any messenger until I was alerted that I had over stepped by a royal page coming into the camp."

"My first concern was for the people of Bruges - if I implied you were a tyrant, it was not so. I am more concerned with how Artois will treat the people - I know him personally. That man is a tyrant, and a coward - my father's people suffered from him, from raids and brigandry."

"My second concern was to show that I was not disloyal - I did not know of your position, and so pushed forward to Bruges to insure not only would camp be set up when you arrived, but that the infantry and yourself would be able to rest knowing the Order had already begun the siege."

"As you request, I will withdraw the order, and will do so with haste."

Philippe seemed hardly mollified by Gaetan' s reply.

"Then, everything is for the best... I trust we will not see anything of the kind anymore.

I would hate to see the trust I put in your Company be misplaced.

And be assured that I do not question your loyalty nor that of your fellow knights, for if such were the case, you wouldn't be here talking with me but you'd hang from the nearest tree.

Send your orders and have your men join my camp.

You're dismissed."

Philippe watched the knight bow and slowly exit the tent, wondering if he hadn't been too harsh or too lenient.

"If only handling men was as easy as handling your destrier or your épée..."

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Co-Op done with Tristan over the debacle