King's Court at Esztergom

[Cecil XIX]

Approximately thirty miles north-west of Budapest, the King of Hungary holds his court at Esztergom. Since the Kingdom was founded by Stephen I eighty years ago, it has been here that the Kings of Hungary hold court with their nobles.

[Ramses II CP]

Prince Kalman enters the chamber with mud still clinging to his boots. Throwing his gloves onto the table he loudly proclaims,

The rebels at Bucharest have been brought back into line! That town was occupied in the name of Hungary on this day and her people submitted without too much of a struggle. Some thirty soldiers were lost, mostly mercenaries.

I march now for the walls of Sofia to claim that place for the our great people as well! By God it is well to be on campaign again, I swear the very walls of the castle at Bran had begun to stink of laziness.

[_Tristan_]

Congratulations, son !!

I knew the blood of our ancestors ran in your veins, boiling and leading you to fight for the greatness of our Kingdom.

I am still some distance from Iasi but I hope to seize it soon so that we can consolidate our access to the Black Sea and begin trading with the people of the steppes. There are riches to be had over there and I would rather they fill our pockets than those of our neighbours.

By the way, my son, would you be so kind as to let have the use of the cavalry in Bran ? In exchange, I will send the cavalry currently en route from Budapest to your castle.

What say you ?

[Ramses II CP]

I will cut orders for those Magyars to join you immediately, at your discretion (OOC for absolute clarity: They're yours now) my King.

An excellent plan with regards to Iasi, and perhaps points further east? After Sofia falls I expect we may wish to consolidate the best of our forces into an offensive group for operation further afield and fill out garrisons at home lest our neighbors think us weak.

[_Tristan_]

My son,

I am happy to see we have an understanding as to the ruling of our kingdom.
Now that Iasi has been added to our kingdom, I've heard of the large city of Kiev to the north but the unrest from those orthodox christian may put on hold further expansion.

Anyway, I'll send our spy Balthazar Iakab over there as soon as possible to try and esimate the forces facing us.

In the meantime, I have made sure our capital is made surer by recruiting some militia in order to keep order and deter our neighbours from launching an attack on our capital.

I have also ordered bigger walls to be erected in Zagreb.

Who do you think should lead our main foray into the steppes ?

[Cecil XIX]

My Lords, if it please you, I ask that I be given Lordship over our southern border with the Romans. I hope I am not being presumptious in think that you will want to expand into the unorganized hinterlands of the Rus before they are taken by the Principality of Novgorod or some other power.

[_Tristan_]

Once Sofia is in our hands, and it should be soon as I've heard reports that you already have it under siege, then it shall be yours by right of conquest.

I don't know how the Romans will respond to our speading of the True Faith but I'd advise you to keep a vigilant watch.