"Yes, m'lord," answers the maid, curtsying and hastening off, concealing her relief at Lord Urbien not questioning why she was there. She goes to Lady Valerie's rooms, whence Valerie comes with surprising speed for one so aged, going straight to Lord Urbien's study and tapping the door loudly with her cane.
"Come in."
Lady Valerie enters the room, closing the door behind her. "I gather you wished to speak with me."
"Yes. Please sit. We've received word from the Abandoned Fortress."
Lady Valerie wlaks over to the desk and seats herself. "So, what tidings have arrived?"
"Well, for one thing, it's not as empty as we thought. Do you remember Lord Ulrich of the Zweihanders, the Sylvanian Lord Demiu bargained with during the invasion?"
Lady Valerie wlaks over to the desk and seats herself. "So, what tidings have arrived?"
"Well, for one thing, it's not as empty as we thought. Do you remember Lord Ulrich of the Zweihanders, the Sylvanian Lord Demiu bargained with during the invasion?"
"Well, for one thing, it's not as empty as we thought. Do you remember Lord Ulrich of the Zweihanders, the Sylvanian Lord Demiu bargained with during the invasion?"
"Vaguely. He has occupied the fortress?"
"He did not survive the injuries he suffered during battle. But his wife has taken up residence there. And apparently they were displeased by the arrival of our people."
"He did not survive the injuries he suffered during battle. But his wife has taken up residence there. And apparently they were displeased by the arrival of our people."
"He did not survive the injuries he suffered during battle. But his wife has taken up residence there. And apparently they were displeased by the arrival of our people."
"That is...problematic."
"Indeed. It seems they may be in considerable danger there. But we do have an ally, potentially. I spoke to a man today, Lord Eldarion Cyril, he was with Lord Ulrich as well. He had some very interesting ideas."
"Indeed. It seems they may be in considerable danger there. But we do have an ally, potentially. I spoke to a man today, Lord Eldarion Cyril, he was with Lord Ulrich as well. He had some very interesting ideas."
"Indeed. It seems they may be in considerable danger there. But we do have an ally, potentially. I spoke to a man today, Lord Eldarion Cyril, he was with Lord Ulrich as well. He had some very interesting ideas."
"And what does this Lord Cyril propose?"
"He believes he can oust the duchess and get our people free. If we allow him to stay there as a lord of the Lion Kingdom."
OOC: Lady Valerie knows that it would take a king to grant Cyril a lordship in the kingdom.
"He believes he can oust the duchess and get our people free. If we allow him to stay there as a lord of the Lion Kingdom."
OOC: Lady Valerie knows that it would take a king to grant Cyril a lordship in the kingdom.
"I see." Valerie's eyes narrow for a second or so, but she gives no other outward sign of having guessed his purpose. "Did he give any estimate of the size of the Zweihand contingent?"
"He believes he can oust the duchess and get our people free. If we allow him to stay there as a lord of the Lion Kingdom."
OOC: Lady Valerie knows that it would take a king to grant Cyril a lordship in the kingdom.
"I see." Valerie's eyes narrow for a second or so, but she gives no other outward sign of having guessed his purpose. "Did he give any estimate of the size of the Zweihand contingent?"
"Roughly a hundred. We might be able to defeat them, but given the recent events and their fortified position, it would be close."
"I see." Valerie's eyes narrow for a second or so, but she gives no other outward sign of having guessed his purpose. "Did he give any estimate of the size of the Zweihand contingent?"
"Roughly a hundred. We might be able to defeat them, but given the recent events and their fortified position, it would be close."
"It seems our options are limited, then. Are you minded to accept?"
