Conseil du Royaume

**Vladimir** · 10-06-2009, 12:13

Originally Posted by OverKnight

Hugues is drinking wine when the chests are brought in. When their bounty is spilled on the floor, he expells a spray of purple over a report in shock. Daubing at his doublet, he speaks.

Most impressive Dauphin. Your Highness makes a better bandit than a martyr.

Standing, the Seneschal rethinks his last statement and genuinely bows to the Prince.

Your Highness shall have the stables at Toulouse and building in other parts of the Duchy. As for the mercenaries for Gaetan. . .I am loathe to reinforce a man who sieges a castle with just his retinue. Unless we take hostages every season, adding more companies to our forces will eventually bankrupt the Realm. This is not an insult to Acquitaine, it is a problem that faces the entire Kingdom.

We should not base the long term finances of the Realm on the continued expectation of such impressive wind falls as this.

*Gontran's squire intones*

Forgive me Sieur, but my lord informs me the stables at Toulouse are already at maximum capacity. If you wish to proceed with your most noble statement we will need to expand the castle. With my lord's recent success at Bordeaux, that time draws closer. You would be the Seneschal responsible for approving the first fortress in French history. It's quite an honour.

**KnightnDay** · 10-06-2009, 15:20

Thomas enters the conseil having ridden from the battle of Champagne. He walks over to the bench of Lorraine and bows to the seneschal. Then, Thomas moves to the bench of Aquitaine where Louis is seated. Thomas stands before him and then kneels, his head bowed.

“Dauphin, I have been advised that my actions at Champagne warrant consideration for my adoption into your family. I would consider it the greatest honor if you would accept this humble offer. My words and actions in the conseil have been consistently supportive of France. To that end I spoke against the suggestion that your forces at Bordeaux be disbanded as the seneschal suggested.

My actions in battle when I have been given the opportunity have been no less. I have fought well at Metz and other places that have been properly documented. My latest action at Champagne was a victory for France, without benefit of anything more than spear militia and my own guard.

I have served by lord, the Duc of Champagne faithfully these years past and I offer my same pledge to you if you will accept. I earnestly pray that you will.”

Thomas then looks to the prince, and awaits his reply.

**Ramses II CP** · 10-06-2009, 16:23

A troubled look crosses Louis' face before he replies,

Thomas de Saint-Amand I mean no disrespect to your great service to God and France, but I must decline. My wife has yet to provide me with a natural son and my daughters have yet to come of age, so in the absence of a direct heir to carry on the line I fear it could create chaos for me to adopt a noble, especially of another House, as my own.

In compensation for this dismissal and recognition of your valor I offer instead that the next company of Mailed Knights trained at Toulouse be sent to serve under your command. Though we face war on many fronts all parts of France can work together for the greater good.

**KnightnDay** · 10-06-2009, 17:16

"I quite understand, highness. I pray God delivers a son to your family and thank you for the favor you have bestowed."

Thomas then rises and takes his place at the bench of Lorraine.

**OverKnight** · 10-06-2009, 22:35

Hugues glances between the two men, shakes his head and remains silent, a hint of a rueful smile on his lips.

**Ramses II CP** · 10-07-2009, 03:52

With a wry look Prince Louis addresses the Council,

So, now that the Moors trouble lands other than House Aquitaine's they are finally seen as a threat? Perhaps if the Seneschal had taken my requests seriously Aquitaine would have the forces in place to meet them, but in truth recruitment has been insufficient to replace my losses from the previous Moorish invasion. No matter, we all know who places grudges ahead of the good of their people.

A sneer crosses the Prince's face before he continues,

I do not know how the English reinforced Pamplona, but I mean to consolidate my forces and secure that front first at this time. If any other House wishes to ask aid against the Moors I pledge my House to answer as best we are able, next season, dependant on what men are available to us, of course.

As to how the Moors reached the position they have... do we need to hear charges of treachery and treason again? I am not fond of some members of this Council, but even at that I cannot imagine they would stoop to treating with infidels, much less aiding them in crossing our lands. Some other trickery is at work. Fortunately the solution is simple, we should prepare a line of fortifications blocking passage from Iberia into France proper. Eh, a matter for the future anyway.

It is well that the German front seems quiet, as the English are rallying large armies to the defense of their King. We'll put them to flight soon enough, and the more the merrier, eh Mon Roi?

As I've said all along, training requests for Toulouse and Bordeaux, once the latter has been assigned to House Aquitaine, will be entertained fairly no matter who issues them. The defense of the realm cannot be left in the cold over petty disagreements.

**OverKnight** · 10-07-2009, 04:30

Hugues shakes his head.

All the companies your Highness requested last season were recruited, as well as all your prioritizations met.

Hugues stands, back straight and head high, with a flash of rage in his eyes.

I tire of your baseless slanders. I tire of your holier than thou attitude. I tire of you blaming everyone but yourself for the problems facing your Duchy.

You are a mindless bully. A wart on the face of this Kingdom. Your heedless aggression has landed you in trouble and now you whine like a child whose toys have been taken away.

You pushed for a war with the English, you have it. You pushed for a war with the Moors, you have it. You have attacked on all fronts, leaving your Duchy without a reserve, and now events have overtaken you. That is not my fault, but your own.

So if you wish to impeach me, try it. If you wish to challenge me to a duel, I'll accept. But for the love all that is Holy, cease your snide insinuations and focus on the challenges that face all of us.