Conseil du Royaume

[OverKnight]

Reeves's eyes widen. He redoubles his efforts to awaken Duc Hugues. With a grunt, he awakens and the two have a hurried conversation. The Duc then shuffles forth to speak.

Uh. . .right. First, thank you for the praise your Majesty. Just doing our part.

He shakes his head trying to clear the cobwebs.

Second, I can't speak to a lot of what has been said, but Duc Alain did meet my prioritizations for men. It's just that due to our resources, it would have been peasants or militia, no archers or cavalry. There was one time I was refused mercenaries, but that was more than balanced out by the time he granted me money to hire them to defeat the Germans at Staufen.

Duc Alain has been straight with me.

With respect, mon Roi, the only Seneschal whose performance would be completely satisfactory to your Majesty, would be, well, your Majesty.

[AussieGiant]

A rye smile cross Alain's features as the King makes his speech.

That smile continues as he stands, the parchment he holds in his hand folded carefully and precisely, then slowly and with great care torn in to equal parts.

With a even and ironic lilt to his voice he addresses the Council as a whole.

My King, Dauphin, fellow Duc, lords of ze realm.

I was going to provide a summary of ze last 15 years and 'and zis report to ze next Seneschal, whoever 'e may be.

While holding the gaze of the attending nobles he absently holds the torn parchment out to which Medoc proceeds to eat with just a few gulps.

'owever, it seems zere is no need. Our King 'as made 'is will known and zere is clearly no need to add anyzing furzer. I did as I was instructed to ze best of my ability.

As a result, 'ere openly and publicly in zis chamber, I, Duc Alain of Bretagne make no claim to any of ze lands 'eld in ze King's demesne. I will leave to ze rest of you to stake your claims at ze Kings pleasure and to rule in 'is name over zese lands.

I would simply ask ze King to consider ze claims, which may come from ze nobles of Bretagne, and 'opefully put aside 'is zoughts towards me and allow zem to reap some rewards for zeir valiant efforts.

God save France, God save ze King.

Alain sits.

[_Tristan_]

Having listened to Duc Alain reply to his criticism, the King speaks again.

It is now time to take into account our conquests and reward the Maisons du Royaume with the lands they helped us acquire for the greater good of France.

The King's Demesne has been much enlarged by these recent additions and now has come the time for me to share it with you, mes Seigneurs.

Of all our conquests, only Frankfurt and Marseille have not yet been ratified by the Conseil and thus cannot be allocated. Nevertheless, let me say that should these provinces be ratified I intend to offer Frankfurt to the Duchy of Lorraine.

Marseille will remain the propriety of its conqueror, my son Louis and the House of Aquitaine.

There remains in the King's Demesne five regions to be handed out : Bruges, Antwerp, Caernarvon, Zaragoza and Valencia.

Zaragosa is to be given to my son Louis and the House of Aquitaine, as should only be fitting.

Antwerp is to be given to the Ordre de la Fleur de Lys, as a base for their headquarters, as a reward for the good service they provided at my side.

Bruges will remain for now into the King's Demesne, as I intend to oversee its building to become a major trading centre personally.

As for Caernarvon and Valencia, these will have to remain into the King's Demesne. The first one ws never intended to be a lasting addition to our Royaume but rather as a way to show Guillaume what it felt to have a foreign power at his throat. It was intended as a bargaining chip with England towards the return of English-held French territories. The second is too distant from our homeland to be easily defensible should the Moors prove more aggressive than they've been these past years and choose to push north. Better leave Guillaume to deal with them first.

I'm sure that under the proper guidance, the deal that was reached between Guillaume and myself can still see the light and will allow us to give lands to Houses that have been neglected until now.

[Ituralde]

Simon bows before the King.

In the name of my brother Knights I thank your for rewarding the Order of the Fleur de Lys with the gifting of Antwerp. Posession of land will enable us to serve the Royaume even better in the future. With land comes power and the possibility for one of our members, who holds the land during Council to run for the position of Seneshal. I am sure that the widening of the field of contestants for this most venerous office can only benefit France as a whole.

I thank his Majesty once again and also congratulate the other Nobles to their new possesions. France has prospered may it continue to do so!

[Cultured Drizzt fan]

As a member of the house of Aquitaine I am also thankful to his majesty for allowing us Zaragroza, and Marseilles. We will not disappoint him, and the cities will become shining examples of our nation.

[AussieGiant]

Alain stands and bows to ze King.

I would state for ze record 'ere zat ze English are still open to negotiations wiz us. Ze next Seneschal will most likely be able to obtain ze conditions for a land exchange upon a simple meeting.

[_Tristan_]

Philippe acknowledges Alain's word with a simple nod.

Exactly the reason why both Caernarvon and Valencia have not been handed out to the Houses. I hope the deal with my cousin Guillaume can be finalized in the next term.

Had you done this yourself Alain, rather than wait on the next Senechal to fulfill your mission, there would have been lands for your House in this.

Now, I'm not one to hold grudges for long, and I may have been a bit harsh earlier... I spoke in anger... You've done what you could to keep the kingdom afloat and aside from your diplomatic setbacks, you did rather well, all considered.

So if the deal can be brokered next season, I'll reward your House with one of these newly exchanged lands.

I wouldn't be doing France a favour by antagonizing one of her Duke, would I ?