Conseil du Royaume

[Ramses II CP]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

"So highness, you left the field in posession of the enemy. I find it hard to believe that laggards would catch your forces unaware. Non, I suspect some treachery was likely involved here. In any case, do not let the thought trouble you. I think there is no man here that expects every general to win every battle. The important thing is that you have found your way back safely to the Royaume, and will in time too to your caring family. Three lovely daughters now? They must be a joy to behold!"

Louis responds in an angry but controlled tone without rising from his seat,

"Treachery. I will consider that possibility. Certainly there are many in France, even in this room, who are honorless and would consider such a course.

It is also possible that I was merely careless. Next time I will kill the Germans as I run them down rather than gathering them up to see if their latest master will pay a ransom.

My daughters are the most beautiful things in all the world. Their service to France will be beyond reproach."

Standing now, he turns to face the members of the Council as he speaks,

"I will concur that we should surrender no lands to the Germans at this time. If the Pope declares that we cannot retake them we will have no ward against further German treachery. They are not a people to be trusted.

I also wish to congratulate my father on putting down the most recent claimant to their throne. I had encoutered the fool myself, and I must say that his armies will be the better for his absence.

As to my intentions, I will remain in the region if requested to do so by the Seneschal, otherwise I intend to retire to Toulouse to resupply my army and perhaps retrain some of my depleted regiments. I believe the Germans will gather their forces at Bern for a time before they come again. We have dealt them many stinging defeats in the field and they have no bold commanders remaining."

[deguerra]

"Treachery. I will consider that possibility. Certainly there are many in France, even in this room, who are honorless and would consider such a course.

Come now, Dauphin. If you are going to insinuate such things, give the perpetrators their names.

[Ramses II CP]

"Though I might find fault with your tone I will be clear that I do not refer to you, Raoul de Chatillon, or you, Thomas de Saint-Amand. There is, however, a man who in public swore he would never bend knee to his future king. You all know the name. He has demanded repeatedly that I defend myself against his baseless claims in the face of all logic.

Know that I am not of his ilk. I suspect he is capable of treachery, but I do not have any reason to call him a traitor, and so I do not claim he is such a beast. There is a difference between the two statements, and I chose my words very carefully on that precise account."

Louis' control over his voice is tight, but anger still provides a bright undertone to all his words.

[OverKnight]

Hugues points a finger at Raoul.

Asking for a full explanation!? You must be the traitor! J'accuse! How dare you question the existence of the seemingly infinite and shadowy network of traitors around us!

The Duc cannot keep up his sarcastic facade, he starts laughing.

Most likely it is just bad luck, though we assume it to be malicious. When I lose my quill, my first impulse is to ask who stole it, as Reeves always looks a bit sketchy, when in fact I later find it underneath my desk.

Edit: Hugues ponders the Dauphin's words for a moment.

Oh, him, well if he is able to sabotage you mon Prince, you are in a great deal of trouble.

[ULC]

Gaetan, who has been silent most of this time, finally shrugs at the Princes words.

"I would ask forgiveness for not coming to your aid when I saw that another German army had come upon your flank that you were not watching, and to blindly kill my men and myself in a flurry as you tried to find out how much those who surrendered to you were worth and had finished raiding the baggage train."

"However, I do not see it being forth coming, so I will not ask of it."