Conseil du Royaume

[Ramses II CP]

The Prince offers de Chatillon a genuine smile before speaking,

No need to be circumspect; your own lands are under greater threat and so you question any recruitment away from them. I comprehend this, however, the Moors and English are the neighbors I primarily mean, not to forget the Milanese. Rumors have it that the Moors are gathering forces once more, and we've no cavalry at all other than Sir de Xaintraillies' own bodyguards to meet them. I ask only a few peasant archers, who are cheap, and perhaps some crossbowmen, to answer that threat and offer you the best cavalry our realm has in exchange.

I will also point out at this time that I rode north, halting that expansion to no benefit of my own House, the very instant I learned of the threat here. If my wife is any proof the Spanish will curse, scream, pitch fits... and keep their word to the bitter end, loyal as a dog. I see no reason to doubt them at this time, but I see little strength in their realm either. If we do not aid them the Moors will sweep them aside and be at our doorstep, a doorstep which has very few men watching it and enemies on all sides.

My motives are utterly transparent. I wish the realm to benefit, but I wish my House and lands to be secure as well. Can you truly find fault with this?

[Ramses II CP]

Mmm, yes, I should also note that I have moved with my remaining men into position to block any German move towards our lands out of Bern. You need not fear the enemy from that place.

[deguerra]

You misunderstand me, my Prince. I was trying to bring neither your House nor you into any disrepute. Few nobles of this Kingdom can rightly claim to have done as much of you for our safety and prosperity.

I do find fault with our expanding into lands on which we have no claim, at least insofar as our purpose is for annexation rather than to trade them in for those lands to which we do have claim. House Aquitaine's expansion was, in this regard, the lesser of my worries.

But ultimately, I talk here of things I understand too little of. What I do understand is that my Duchy needs men, so I ask that any who can help do so.

[KnightnDay]

If I may point out to members of the Conseil, that a member of our diplomatic corps, Geoffroi de Cressensacq has been enjoying a steady diet of wine and brie within the relaxed confines of Paris for the better part of a year now.

Perhaps the Seneschal might direct the fine gentleman to meet with a representative of the Kaiser without delay for the purpose of fulfilling the edict just approved, to seek an equitable peace with the Reich?