In Windstorm - Parley and other niceties

[Vinzelles de Sennis]

The Goélette silently slide into the harbour of Windstorm, a place called Sommersville laying ahead. To their right Vinzelles could discern another large ship, sitting at her mooring like a giant laid into chains - the Forell. His nephew's ship. Anger rose in Vinzelles chest - he would give him a good lecture when he would see him - after he had spoken to the king of this land.

Having their horses made ready, Vinzelles de Sennis, Chevallier Lamont Duchesne, and Chevallier Francois de Trechanoux rode down the boarding plank onto the docks, sitting tall and proud in their saddles, guiding their mounts in slow measure steps towards the row of guards that had formed to block their passage.

Vinzelles leaned over to Lamont. "Stay close to me, Lamont. We cannot trust these dogs to act civilized!" Nodding towards Trechanoux, he rode up towards one whom he considered the leader of the soldiers standing in their way.

"You there… my name is Vinzelles de sennis, Chevalier du lis flamme and Councillor to his majesty King Charles III. I seek to speak to your king Augustine. I wish you bring me to him post haste, Monsigneur!"

A look at Lamont and Francois confirmed what he knew would happen - the two knight positions themselves close to his sides a bit behind him, shielding his back.

[Admin]

((ooc here.. great post..been waiting for it.. I will post when I get home from work. RT tonight..working early to get off early.. ))

[Admin]

*word had spred to me ears quickly of the French ship sailing into our harbour.

So it begins I think to me self and put on me best regal face and sets off to the docks. Me faithfull guard Siya be at me right side, two paces back, and William be to the left and back as we step onto the docks and await the arrivals to deboard.

" Siya..* I say as I turn me head to whisper to her... " Now remember, keep ye temper in check, and await me word , and above all...iff I start to loose it.. give me a kick in the arse...*grins*.. dont want to kill him just yet.."

With that, the men deboard and begin their walk towards us.

*standing there, feet shoulderwidth apart, me hands crossed in front of me to show nae a weapon. * Befoe I can speak a greeting, the one in the middle speaks.

" Well M'lord, Vinzelles de sennis, Chevalier du lis flamme and Councillor to his majesty King Charles III,,*takes a breath.... Thee be speaking to him face to face. I be King Agustin Stormblade, Ruler of Windstorm Castle and it's lands. Knight of the Crimson, Member of the Council of Windstorm Castle. Takes another breath... Welcome to Windstorm. * , me eyes locked on yers , and nae moves as I bow slightly

[Midnight]

Walking along side the King powerful muscles ripple underneath of my shiney black hide. Large black ears flicker lightly as I listen. Muscles quiver lightly as I stand beside my Master. Watching the new people that come to the place I know as home. I look to the King and let ou a very soft growl not liking theses people any

[=Siya Maiden=]

She had walked to the docks, side by side with her King, silence kept until they reached the docks, the panther soon catching up with us aswell.

She listens to the kind carefully as he instructs her, a grin curls her lips for but a moment, before she nods and takes a step back from the King, keeping to his right.

She takes her formal stance, her feet spread apart a little, her arms, keept straight at her sides, of course, ready to take the hilt of her sword if needed.

She watches with hawk eyes as the King speaks to the man, but her attentions also slide to the two gaurds on either side of the man. She susses out their movements, facials, anything to do with thier body language, seeing if she can pick up any clues as to what is about to happen here.

[Admin]

*reaches down with one hand to pet Midnights head* " There there girl.. these are guests, no eating them. "

[Vinzelles de Sennis]

(AAAAAAAAAAAH, could someone please delete the preceeding post? Somehow I only copied part of my post. Thanks)


Sitting on his horse, his left hand resting on the hilt of his sword – the cut he received during his play with Lamont may not have been very deep, it had nicely cut into the muscle nonetheless, making each movement of the arm painful – his right holding the reigns of his horse Chevent, Vinzelles looked down onto the man calling himself King of these shores.

Agustin seemed taller, more massive than he had anticipated. A man in the prime of his life, strong, healthy, his words betraying an education behind the hardened face. Diplomacy was not beyond this one… reason might not be either. He found the English politer than was usually said of the English.

The company he kept was strange, however. A big black cat, the likes he had not seen before. And a woman, seemingly posing as a guard. Aah, the ways of the barbarians had indeed taken hold here, with animal worship and female warriors. Chevent neighed nervously, the big cat made the horse nervous, his head reared up, his ears flickered back and forth. Vinzelles could see that the mounts of his companion were as nervous. Be that as it may - if Agustin thought his little display of his menagerie would make Vinzelles or his men shake in his boots, he had calculated wrongly.

With a nod towards both Lamont and Francois to follow suit, the councillor carefully dismounted, biting his teeth and ignoring the discomfort his arm gave him during the movement. Standing eye to eye with the man, Vinzelles also bowed slightly, keeping Chevent's reigns in his hand, patting the old and experienced war horse lightly onto his neck, calming his faithful steed.

"Monsigneur! You award us great honor meeting us here in person. Even bringing your… pets with you!" It was clear from his intonation that the term encompassed both cat and the woman standing behind Augustin. His eyes never left Agustin's, they needn't to. Lamont and Francois would make sure that any fallse threatening move by either of the English, or that cat, would be answered by steel. "Why I have come here, however, has less than honorable reasons behind it." His face remained a mask of calm, his speech not hostile but also showing he was dead serious and would not back down to this king.. However, first the introductions would need to be finished. "But let me first introduce my two companions – Chevallier Lamont Duchesne, my closest confident, and Chevallier Francois de Trechanoux. They will accompany me, for certainly this is not the proper place to speak of the things we must address!"

Vinzelles' eyes went to the black cat, smiling. "Maybe… after we will be done, you will let me know where you found that … cat. Something like that would look quite exquisite, on a wall, or in a cage." He never ceased to smile. "The journey has been a long one… may we be allowed to rest in your home while we talk?"

Vinzelles wasn't certain whether his suggestion would be met with a positive response although the rules of hospitality would demand such. In any case, he had made certain the men on board, and those having landed north of Windstorm would be informed about what was happening here and within the castle.

[Dorian Hawkmoon]

((post deleted as requested))

[Lamont Duchesne]

Swinging his thickly muscled leg to dismount with fluid rapidity, his dark eyes sweeping the array of English braced before them, his face not holding the smile that Vinzelles' did. Constantly scanning the environment surrounding them, weighing, anticipating a sudden movement. He did not need to glance towards Francois, he knew he would be mirroring his own vigilence.

Relaxing just slightly, the ones they'd seen thus far not quite as formidable as Vinzelles had warned. The one claiming to be the King seemed to fit the role, though who knew if it was truly Stormblade for certain. An imposing figure, nonetheless, right down to the slightest hint of arrogance in his greeting, though his need to draw deep breaths between his statements seemed to indicate an edge of nervousness.

Wincing slightly at Vinzelle's jibe at the large kitten, he smiled inwardly at his friend's penchant for provocation. His glance skimmed across the face of the one calling himself King as they awaited his words.

[=Siya Maiden=]

She simply stared ahead at the two men on either side of the one whom sought himself as a leader. She did as her King said, and just let the man fling thier insults at her, she wouldn't budge, nor bite into the jibbing, although she laughed on the inside at the "pet" comment.

She didn't like the look of the men, the smell of the men, nor the sound of the men, arrogance reeked from the one whom was speaking with the King.

She kept a sharp eye and a wit about the situation, not giving anything away, this is what all her time spent training was for, these situations, this is what she lived for.

So she continued to stay by her Kings side, ready at his will to take any action that would be nessacary to protect him. The two gaurds is whom her eyes peeled to the most.

She knew what they were thinking, about her being a female, it didn't bother her, cause she knew when it came down to it, she would prove her worth if need be.

She didn't move an inch during the mans speech, she simply just starred onwards.

[Robin of Loxley]

He stood silently leaning against a tree, with His bow......... an arrow noched against the string, nae far from where the King , Siya and Midnight faced the Franks. His eyes took in the discomfort that the apparent leader showed when he moved his left arm , He listened carefully to the mans words.

As He listened ......He almost chuckled at the words spoken by the one that introduced himself as Vinzelles De Sennis........

"Why I have come here, however, has less than honorable reasons behind it."

Quickly followed by:

"Maybe… after we will be done, you will let me know where you found that … cat. Something like that would look quite exquisite, on a wall, or in a cage." He never ceased to smile. "The journey has been a long one… may we be allowed to rest in your home while we talk?"

He approached the group silently from behind the Frankish party as they dismounted and spoke to His Leige.............May i speak Sire ??

"Mayhaps Sire.............Diverting His gaze to Vinzelles'.......Iffn M'Lord Vinzelles' has truly less than honourable reasons for being here........as he has so clearly stated.......then mayhaps we should hear of them now afore we grant him acess to the Castle.........or mayhaps better still......He should leave and send forth another from his land that has more honourable reasons and intentions for being here "................

Then adressing Vinzelles directly..........

"Sir...........You should chose more carefully thy words when speaking about those of our lands".........Indicating Midnight and Siya with an incline of His head..........." I assure ye .....both bite hard given good reason!! "

Turning His gaze to Lamont Duchesne..........He nods ......acknowledging the man and sending a silent warning that He will be nae one to be triffled with.......

[Vinzelles de Sennis]

(OOC: hey - at least Vinzelles can always claim that English is only his second language! )


Confound their blasted tongue!

As the man, who had just appeared from behind the one called Agustin, indicated, it seemed Vinzelles had made a serious blunder in wrong grammar in their tongue. Now he stood here, being corrected like a school boy. His left hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, almost unnoticeable, casting a quick glaze over to Lamont, his face darkened. Vinzelles hated blunders! He turned his attention back to the man who had spoken, composing a response in his head.

He bowed slightly towards the man who was clad like a forrest runner. "Monsigneur… ah, what can I say? Your language is so.. crude? Although I speak it well, it so apparently fails to convey my meaning properly sometimes. Not our motives for coming here are dishonorable, but rather the treatment of one of our ship's crew and Captain here in Windstorm by your men. But… as I have said, my companions and I are quite tired and talking will be better done … elsewhere? After some rest? Where privacy will not be compromised?"

His gaze went over to the woman warrior again, then once more rested upon Agustin. "You now clearly have the advantage, Monsigneur, as you do know those by my side, yet that one having addressed me is a stranger to me still. Introductions and talk would be much easier inside! Qui?"

[Admin]

*turning to me knight as he slips from his vantage point*(( didnt even know Robin was back...LOL.. ))

"Robin, they be guests, and we shall treat them with the same respect we treat all guests with. "

*turning back to the others, *
"M'lord, I do appologise for nae introuducing those with me. To me right, this be me personal guard, Lady Knight Siya Hawkmoon, Amabassidor to our Lands.

To me left, this be another of me guards, William o'Shancy, and the other gentleman to me side, be Robin of Loxley, First Knight of Windstorm, and the Commander of the Rangers of Windstorm. Now this.. * pats me pet's head softly * This be Midnight , me personal pet. I have to agree, indeed she be a amazing cat, but.. iffn caged, would loose that part of her that is amazing and stuffed and adorned upon a wall, just is nae the same . As to where I found her.. she found me and showed up at me door one day.

Now.. iffn thee would care, we may retire up to the castle, were a banquet has be laid out for thee. Food , drink and a chance to speak in private of the reasons thee be here in our lands this day.

[Vinzelles de Sennis]

Looking from one man to the other, finally letting his eyes rest upon the lady warrior, Vinzelles nodded, stroking the neck of Chevent.

"Ah, very good, Monsigneur. I shall now know how to properly address those in your confidence … Although it is a shame a woman is wasting her beauty and charm and trying to be something God has not made her out to be. Well… that shall not be my concern. I thank thee for granting us a bed and food while we stay here with you. I hope our talks will be fruitful, as talk usually is between reasonable and civilized Christian men! Lead the way, we shall not tarry."

He wondered if he would see any of the Norse his nephew had spoken about. The harbor looked Viking-free, on their voyage here they hadn't seen any indication of Longships or even pirates. maybe Agustin had told them to hide… maybe he would try to play him and the Frank delegation a fool by pretending that no Norse was here at all. Ah, but wasn't there the one who had started all this trouble? The one who had almost killed that Darek?

That boy had been trouble from the day he was born, Vinzelles thought while he and his two companions walked with the king, their horses in tow, up towards the castle of Windstorm. That boy should have been killed the moment he had seen the light of day, yet Remard had decided to let him live, to appease the whore who had born that bastard. Not many knew about who Darek was, and that was good as it was. Any knowledge would compromise the councillor's and his family's position. They should have let that Norse kill Darek – at least then there would be a clear cause to take action here more decisively.

All that was academic, Vinzelles knew, and so tried to focus again on the men walking in front and next to them. Leaning over to Lamont and Francois, he whispered to his men.

"So, what do you make of this king? He must be hiding his Norse friends, and well at that. the question is – where!"

[Francois de Trenchanoux]

Francois knew he had come a long ways since his noble upbringings...as he now stood protecting Vinzelles' backside..for all his nobility, there were things he had done for the man that were best left unspoken of.

He looked over the guardsman and this arrogant sounding King of Windstorm, how uncouth! Coming to a parley with a small zoo following! He never did understand this penchant Englishmen had for animals, so ill-mannered he thought!

So for now, he stood at his leaders' back and kept a wary eye on the Guardsman and that strange woman at his side..and of course, that blasted HUGE cat!

No accounting for tastes he thought to himself!!!