At the West Frankish Court

[Vinzelles de Sennis]

While the letter was read by the taller man, Vinzelles de Sennis, one of the king's most trusted and powerful councilors, had stood by the window, his back turned towards the messenger, looking out the window down into the busy streets of the Parisian capital. It was a matter of precaution that Vinzelles had the letter be taken and read by his confident Raimbaut aloud. Too many times messengers like the one standing in his chambers right now, stinking of fish, the sea and filth, had attempted to use the proximity to the councilleur during such occasion for attempts on his life. Twice he had been lucky and fast enough to kill those men instead of being killed himself, the third time he had no been so lucky, as the large scar running from the base of his collar bone crossing his chest bore witness..

Ever since that day which had almost cost him his life, Vinzelles had called upon his friend and confident Raimbaut for his personal protection.

Now he had turned from his place by the window and watched the messenger with scrutinizing eyes, one hand on the hilt of his dagger, the other stroking his beard for a moment, but then coming foward and taking the scroll out of Raimbaut's hands, this time reading it again himself.

"Twould seem that my kinsmen is in need of aid... again!" Remard had a reputation for being an excellent merchant and captain but also for having one of the rowdiest crews in the known world. "But maybe this time his unfortunate picking of crew members will prove to be a blessing for us.” That other realms dealt with the Vikings was always cause for concern, and the earlier one knew about another who fell to the side of the enemy, the better. “Raimbault, this man here will stay with us for a while”, Vinzelles looked at his friend, “After we’re done here, give him... Teberin’s rooms. He is in the north for another month, and I want this man close for a bit... after...”

Exchanging looks with Raimbault, the taller man began to search the messenger for any weapons. He produced a small dagger and handed it over to Vinzelles who smiled amiably at the reeking man.

The councillor tapped the tip of Euricgh’s blade against his left palm, walking around the sailor, his voice warm and non-threatening. “You came all the way from... what was that place called? Windstorm? And you made it here with a mere dagger for your protection? Impressive. Now, tell me more about your way here, and what has befallen my ill-fated nephew. I need details ... and I need them now!”

De Sennis indicated a seat with his hand, waiting for Eurich to sit down and tell him all he knew about Agustin, Windstorm and what had happened to Remard.

[Eurich]

*Eurich stood uncomfortably as the missive was read aloud by the one he believed to be Vinzelles de Sennis. But the reason for his discomfort was not in the plush surroundings of the apartment he now stood in but from the penetrating look given him by the man that stood at the windows, a well shaped large hand on the hilt of the daggar he wore. The other stroking the dark well trimmed beard that cover the chisled chin beneath. The look was hard, calculated and seemed to burrow deep to read his soul. Eurich had seen many men such at this one but met his gaze unshakeably despite his feeling of discomfort.

He watched and listened as the man by the window now left his post and walked to the side of the taller man taking the missive from him and reread it himself. His weather roughened face could not hide his amazement when the man spoke and Eurich realized that he had been decieved as to the identity of which man was de Sennis. He became even more watchful as listened to the instructions of de Sennis to his confidant to house him in the rooms of another for the time being while he was searched thouroughly and his own daggar was taken from him.

Eurich stood tall not to be daunted by the clearly commanding presence of de Sennis but taking in every word spoken to him demanding answers for the happenings of his Nephew in port of Somerville. Thinking his words thru first before giving them to the M'lord de Sennis. -I kin nae tells ye much M'lord 'ceptin' dat Darek da navigator hae been imprisoned in da dungeons of da accursed Windstorm for da beating a 'ore. She had da aid of a- a sneer covering his face at the next word, -Viking who found Darek and near beat him ta death and dragged him off to the 'ell 'ole he now be livin' in. Cap'tn de Sennis went ta the Castle ta demand da return of Darek an met with nothing but insults from da King, who clearly supported da actions o' da Norseman.- Again his countinence looked as tho he wanted to spit at using the word. -At least dat be da drift o' da missive Cap'tn de Sennis sent ta da first Mate. Las word we hert abut da docks, be dat sen'ence was passed on Darek witout trial fer a year in da dungeons. 'Da first mate and some o' the crew tried ta capture da accursed Norse dat brought down da trouble on Darek ta 'old as a trade so ta speak for 'im but that went afoul and our men were returned ta da ship under guard an' none be allowed to leave ship atal now. Cap'tn de Sennis will nae leave port without Darek and there be talk of how when we do leave, a Viking ship be waiting ta spring upon us.

When da guards came with our men ta da ship, I hid out in a skiff and waited til da Capt'n got me word o' what 'e wanted me ta do. 'E give me dat note dere -points to the missive in de Sennis's possesion- an a purse to pay fer passage back 'ere to deliver 't. I sailed the skiff fer two days and then walked the rest of the way to the next port and bought passage back 'ere. Dat be the long an da short of 't Milord.

[Vinzelles de Sennis]

The news this man, Eurich, gave to Vinzelles was not much different from what his nephew had written. A detail here, another there, confirming what Remard had written, but those details themselves might be enough to interest the king in the fate of his foolish nephew Remard.

"Wasn't there already some unpleasantness connected with Windstorm, Raimbault? Some … business about an unwilling lady?" De Sennis looked at his friend and saw a smile forming on his face.

"Qui, a young fox by the name of …of Barén I believe, who has refused our king's invitation to his bed." The man laughed loudly. "I hardly have seen his majesty so mad as that night when she told him off. But you must have been there, weren't you?"

A sharp glance was shot back over to Raimbault. "No… other business kept me in Normandie then. But knowing the king's temper…" A thought crossed Vinzelles mind then. "Knwoing his temper, he will want satisfaction for such an unwise decision by that lady from that far away place. I always keep telling him to stock his bed with local fowl but no…. Raimbault, get me a map of Britania… while our new friend here will tell me a bit more about Windstorm, its harbour and people."

Vinzelles now invitingly held out his hand to Eurich, while Raimbault briefly left the room to bellow for some guard to bring a map of the island.

"Now, my good man, you have been in windstorm and its harbour for a few days, have ye not? Listen carefully now - I will need to know every detail of the harbour, how many ships you saw, how many guards, soldiers, any other fighting men, how many of them were Vikings. If I will be satisfied by your recollections, you will be well awarded," he tapped a small pouch with coin hanging from his belt, "but if not…. There is a pit with hungry dogs who haven't been fed in a week's time!"

Vinzelles smiled winningly, reaching for a goblet and a pitcher with dark red wine, pouring the goblet half full, then pushing it over to where Eurich was sitting. "I know we will become fast friends, monsignor!"

The French noble smiled some more and waited for Eurich's tale.

[Eurich]

*Eurich finished his recitation of what he knew to be the facts of the events at Windstorm. Oh, he had heard stories of what was happening up at the castle being bantied about the taverns but it was gossip and not to be taken too seriously. After all it was snips of tales gotten from servants heard in the taverns after a days work had ended and they had stopped in to have a drink or three with friends before going home to their families. But as Eurich had learned long ago, in every piece of gossip there was some fact of truth.

He watched and listened to the two Nobles discuss what they had heard, and he learned a few things himself, about a Windstorm woman having insulted his King by refusing his advances while she had been a guest of his Court. Which put him in mind of the tale he heard about a woman at Windstorm having dared to talk back to his Captain and snub him. There was something else as well. Nodding as he remembers, of course... she had the audacity to slap Captain de Sennis. but Eurich didn't think that this was the same woman. The one he had heard spoken up was a foreigner, who spoke with an accent that was not commonly heard or so the gossip went.

Eurich listened to what de Sennis wanted to know about and as he spoke, Eurich pulled from his mind everything that he could remember about what defenses he could remember. After all such things as this were kept secret from strangers are not kept out where they could be just fallen over. He took the pro-offered goblet of wine -M'lord, I kin tell ye of what I know from seein' wit me own eyes of da 'arbor and village, but what goes on up at da castle I kin only tell ye of gossip and rumor I hear'd in da taverns. When I were dere there was a Viking merchant ship, and da Captain of it be going up to da castle when it be in port. Den dere is da Viking dat grabbed up Darek. Dere mayhap be more but I nae know fer sure.-

Eurich spoke of the rumors of what he had heard of the different people, such as the King and the tales he had heard of the Captain of the Guard and of how most of the villagers were in awe that man in black. Eurich spoke of the Men that live in the forests, called rangers but of them not much was known and could only give a sketchy discription. He finished his tale up with the story he had heard of the Woman who had given his Captain such a hard time and spoke the tale of how de Sennis had been assulted by her not only by her tongue but laying a mark upon his face. When he had fully finished he tossed back the remainder of the wine and looked to the Noble to see what he would say.*

[Dream Loxley]

(( ooc. I have to compliment you on this thread.....it makes for wonderful reading...well done! ))

[Vinzelles de Sennis]

(Thank you for your praise, Milady. We sure enjoy telling our tale )


Hiding his impatience quite well, de Sennis listened to Eurich tell about tales he's heard at court; the gossip from taverns he had picked up; things he had seen with his own eyes. By now, Raimbault had procured a map of the channel between the Frankish realm and the Anglican isle and had rolled it out on top of the table de Sennis sat at. So there were wood men, ranger, about the perimeter of Windstorm. A useful information, although Vinzelles doubted they would prove nay hindrance for a force of ships to come Windstorm's way. And come they would... he only had needed the right incentive to bring before Charles to launch an expedition force. Maybe 20 ships, just to be on the safe side... keeping most out of sight while two came to parley. If things didn't turn out as desired, the rest would swoop in and make sure any demands they would present to Windstorm's king would be granted.

Slowly he opened his pouch, took a gold coin out of it and flipped it over to the sailor. "So there is no great army in Windstorm but a single black Knight? We should be able to deal with him, wouldn't you think, Raimbault?" His head turned towards his companion, Vinzelles smiled only so lightly, a smile mirrored in the face of the other Frank noble. "As for those wood men... we recently put down a small revolt by a group just like them. They are nothing... usually badly organized and lazy slobs. But those guards..." Vinzelles stroked his beard and looked back to Raimbault. "Those men we should neither underestimate in their devotion, nor their loyalty to their king. I take it our own men are as eager and loyal?" It wasn't so much a question but a demand, and Raimbault nodded his head silently, understanding well the consequences in case his friend's demands would not be met.

"And it is as we already suspected for a while... the Viking attack two years ago left Windstorm weak... they must be threatening its king to grant them safe harbor and let them linger in his realms. Why else would nay Christian king house these rats in his own home and harbor? No, it is time we help him, make him see the folly of this force alliance with the Nordic barbarians... offer our help and assistance and if he won't listen to his friends... show him our might and benevolence in guiding him back to the right path...Oh Remard, I thank God for that man of yours, and a simple slap into yer face should be worth such an opportunity to help a ruler in need!" He laughed, first only chuckling but soon laughing louder and louder. "And maybe I will take back one of those reluctant ladies of Windstorm meself! Eh, Raimbault? I'm tired of taming Saxon and Moorish shrews. It's time I tried my luck with a real challenge and bring one back, don't you think?"

"If the king has anything to say about this," Raimbault smirked, knowing full well who held the real power in the West Franken realm, knowing if he had done so in the open it may have cost him his head, "ye might find yerself staying there... in good king Agustin's stead... relieving the poor man of a burden he cannae seem to carry alone any longer. But what are friends there for!"

Now both men laughed, until finally de Sennis cast his gaze back to the sailor in front of him. "Eurich, you have not only done my nephew a great service, but your king as well! If we didn't know about this treachery, soon the Vikings would have a permanent outpost and springboard for their attacks on our realm, right HERE," Vinzelles pointed his finger to where Eurich had indicated Windstorm lay, "and then not only your captain – my nephew! – and your friends on board the Forell would suffer. You have seen how these barbarians treat honest men... they need to be stopped. And you, my friend, knowing the area and waters already, will guide us there!"

Vinzelles stood now, coming over to where Eurich sat, placing his arm around the sailor's shoulder. "When the time comes, you will come back with us to Windstorm." He grinned slightly. "You'll see your captain again, and maybe, after all is said and done, a ship of yer own awaits you? ... Raimbault will show ye to yer quarters for now. Wine, food, women - you'll get anything you'll need, but make sure you'll not stray too far. Hungry dogs are even better at finding men, and I'd hate to see my beauties taxed with the task of finding ye."

He then released Eurich from his semi-embrace and nodded to Raimbault who would take care of bringing the man to his quarters and making sure he wouldn't bolt from their caring custody.

[Eurich]

*Eurich had indulged his passionate pursuits of fine dining, drinking the best wines, and being entertained by the erotic talents of the Frank serving wench that had been brought to him by de Sennis's companion, Raimbault for the last few days.

Now while the girl rested between bouts, looking like the devils own temptation in her sleep, He rose and went over to the window looking out over the brightly lit City of Paris. But his eyes were not seeing the gay vision but the scene he had lived thru in the Count's apartments

He remembered catching the gold coin that flipped through the air to him after being launched by de Sennis' thumb. He listened to the men gloat over the possibility of taking over the Kingdom of Windstorm, as a gesture of mercy and bringing the Norse controlled downtrodden peoples back to their rightful place in the eyes of the Heavenly Father.

He had warmed under the praise of de Sennis for his having been such a good messenger and delivering the warning of what was occuring. He dreamed of the rewards he would have after his ship mate was free of the Dungeon of that accursed castle and his crewmates free to sale the seas again with out fear of reprisal from the hell plagued Vikings.

What did he care if he couldn't wander around freely. This was the life, his every want met and satisfied. Looking from the window back to the mussed bedding and the shapely form under the sheets and with a leering grin walked himself back to the bed, waking the wench.*