West Frankish Court - Audience with the King

[Vinzelles de Sennis]

(This is the continuation of This Thread)


Knowing the messenger sent by his nephew Remard was well cared for, fed and had plenty of bed toys for himself, Vinzelles let only a few more days pass before he finally decided to approach the king himself with the news about Windstorm, ist ill fated alliance with the Vikings and the help that surely must be rendered to poor king Agustin to rid him and his people of the pest from the North.

For days now he and his closest council Raimbault had poured over sea maps, land maps… planning the expedition that not only free his nephew Remard and his man but also prevent the Vikings from establishing an even better springboard on the Anglican coast for their invasions of Frankish territory.

With measure, yet firm steps Vinzelles de Sennis and Raimbault approached the main hall of the palace, their footsteps echoing ominous in the tall hallways leading to where King Charles would be holding meetings and court. The guards immediately stepped aside when they saw the two men coming, lowering their heads more in fear than out of respect, and letting both men pass and enter the hall where the king already was in deep discussion with another man.

Charles III “the Simple” … the name was a misnomer, or so at least Vinzelles thought. Simple wasn’t even beginning to describe the idiocy this king at times demonstrated to those around him. But – he was king, and Vinzelles had to be careful. The more so when he recognized the man he was with – Aymer de Vraineville.

“What’s that old fool doing here, now? Shouldn’t he be rotting in bed?” Raimbault was not one with much tact, and Vinzelles shot him a warning glance.

“Could you not speak any louder so the man may hear you even better! Hold yer tongue, Raimboult or I’ll relieve you of that burden for you!” he hissed and then straightened again, now being very close to where the king and the other French noble stood close together.

Vinzelles de Sennis coughed politely, waiting until the king’s attention was drawn to him, nodding briefly towards the other Lord. “Milord de Vraineville! I hope this day finds you well?” He now turned towards the king himself, bowing deeply. “Sire, I hate to disturb you at this moment, but I bear important news about a new and impeding thread to our realms. We have been appraised of a new threat by the Vikings… coming from the realm of windstorm!”

He stressed the last word, hoping the name would trigger some immediate dislike in Charles for that realms. To emphasize the urgency of his business, Vinzelles bowed again and held out the missive Remard had written. It should get the king’s interest. And if not, he would find other ways to ensure he had the king’s full attention!

[Aymer de Vraineville]

*the audience of this morning had been difficult... I found our sovereign in one of His less aimable moods. When the doors the the Hall swang open, a distinct feeling of doom entered me . Only one man dared marching in like that . And aye, upon turning around to greet him, me suspicions get proved : there comes Messire de Sennis , with this horrible Raimbaud at his side. Though his Majesty's councellor greets me politely, I feel the hairs on the back of me neck raise. Answering his greeting graciously, I make some space to allow him to speak...peeking me ears *

[Charles III King of France]

I, Charles, third of that name, King of the Frank Realm, feel utterly displeased this morning. The lass that spent the night in me quarters was nae what I thought she would be ...beautiful and young ..aye... but useless alltogether. And she reminded me of that ungrateful English creature that fled me court , renouncing me protection .
Now, Messire de Vraineville be here ...the young one...he be promising...but mayhap a little too soft still.
Then, however, the doors to me Hall swing open and the councellor appears , with a face that would turn fresh milk sour. Everything tells me he bears ill news.
I let him speak . "Windstorm ?! And what Vikings..."I growl when he be finished. Then the full meaning of that name enters me brain. "WINDSTORM??" I bellow now . I snatch the parchment that Messire de Sennis offers me out of his hand and, with a dismissive gesture, toss it into the hands of de Vraineville. "Read" I command , a foul mood coming up very quickly...*

[Lady Edfeil]

((would any of the players of this thread give me a quick q? *W*))

[Lady Edfeil]

((BUMPS this thread up on request.))

[Vinzelles the busy]

(Won't be able to post either today or tomorrow. maybe over the weekend at earliest)

[King Charles III away]

((ties with Vinzelles ...* with all me excuses for being away ... would the end of the weekend be a good time to take things back into hand again ?*ss*))

[Vinzelles de Sennis]

While he watched de Vraineville read the parchment, Vinzelles moved closer towards the king, leaning in closely to whisper to him.

"We must act now, Sire! Now, in a decisive move. Give me 10 ships and I shall teach that little English fief how wrong his ways and notions of friendship with the barbarians are. It's bad enough that that cursed Alfred granted the Norse settlements in the isle, now this Agustin seems to want to outdo him. Sire, we are in serious danger from that man and his freidnship with the barabarians! We cannot endure another stronghold from which they can easily attack our shores!"

Vinzelles avoided to mention his nephew. Mentioning Remard's folly and consequent imprisonment would make Vinzelles eagerness to go to England only looks like his personal vendetta, which it was clearly not. But not all at court were capable to see the larger picture, Vinzelles again looked over towards de Vraineville and snorted. No, not all understood how a kingdom needed to be run and what was needed to keep the King and his lands safe.

"Sire… I can have the ships ready within a week. We shall not be made a fool by that Agustin, Windstorm or his barbarian friends!"

[Eurich]

*Eurich was bored, Bored! BORED!! Was this how the Nobles lived?? With nothing to distract them but mindless pursuits of Pleasure?? If so then they can have it. How could anyone not want to be able to put their hand to a task that brought about a feeling of accomplishment.

Eurich needed to feel the wind in his hair and his eyes to meet the horizon of the sea. To have again the freedom to go where he wished when he wished. The four walls of this room were beginning to close in on him to the point he had sent the girl away that had given him so much of herself at the start but even she had become boring.

Eurich needed some action. When next he saw Raimbault, He would have a few things to say to him. This confinement even in a silken cage was still confinment.*

[Lady Edfeil]

((*Grins and sits on the rim of her chair in eager anticipation of more.*))

[Raimbault]

While De Sennis spoke to the king, Raimbault looked on impassionedly, casting the occasional glance over to the other noble, de Vraineville, but otherwise presenting a facade of calm and resolve just like his master and friend.

However, unlike Vinzelles, Raimbault was always a brooding one, always on the lookout for trouble. And trouble presently came from two fronts. Aymer de Vraineville might have looked innocent and amiable on the outside, but Raimbault was well aware of his ties with foreign nobles. He had placed his informants not only within the castle, and what knew about de Vraineville made him think of ways to try and detain the Lord for the while their little expedition to Windstorm would last. For was de Vraineville not good friends with the king and that lady who so dastardly refused their king? Aymer would be a liability in their endeavor to seek dominance over the southern coast of England, that much was clear to Raimbault, and also to his friend, he knew.

And then there was the matter of that sailor they had made accept their hospitality. Sure enough the man had readily accepted food, drink and women, but lately he seemed to grow less content. Maybe it was time to show him another side of his hosts... as side which was only too capable of inflicting discipline by severing tongues, limps and even heads. That restlessness of the sailor would not last, Raimbault would make certain of that.

Once they were finished here, with the king.

[Charles III King of France]

*automatically stroking me beard, I listen to de Vraineville's gentle baritone, declaring the presence of barbarians in Cornwall...then me Councellor leans in to me and starts to whisper about battleships...I frown deeply, utterly displeased by both the news and de Vinzelles whisperings. As de Vraineville lowers the parchment, I look at him . He seems a little unsettled , though that be only visible by the faintest hint of perspiration on his brow.
Then I settle me gaze upon me councellor. " Tell me what Ye know about that Agustin and his land "I speak gruffly ...*

[Vinzelles de Sennis]

The king's request came as a bit of a surprise for Vinzelles, as he had expected Charles to take his word at face value and not much question the necessity of his request. He himself knew as good as nothing about Agustin, but there was someone amongst them who knew the Windstorm King much better, Vinzelles presumed.

"If you will excuse me a moment, Sire?" De Sennis didn't wait for the King's permission to turn away, instead motioned over to Raimbault and pulled him aside a little. "Get Eurich here. We need him to verify the Viking's presence, and ONLY that!" Vinzelles fixed Raimbault with his eyes. "Make it clear to that little sea rat that he is to breath not ONE WORD about my nephew or that idiot Darek! Now... fetch him!"

Raimbault sketched a bow and then bowed deeply towards the king before scurrying away.

Meanwhile, Vinzelles turned his attention back to the King... when another thought occurred to him.

"Sire, we have had little dealings with Windstorm and its inhabitants, although you may recall that unpleasant incident with the Windstorm lass who ... refused your charms? We know that Agustin seems to like impertinent creatures like her, and he has cultivated a friendship with the northern heathens. About the man himself I know little, Sire, but... maybe Messir de Vraineville could be of help? Has he not the best connections with the unwilling beauty from those shores? I would not be surprised if he had even visited there before!"

Vinzelles smiled amiably at Aymer, a cold calculating smile that would freeze the blood in any normal man's veins.

[Aymer de Vraineville]

((Aymer ponders his reply carefully....how to talk himself out of this ;D ;D will be there very very soon !))

[Aymer de Vraineville]

*seeing the smile of his Majesty's Councellor, I sense I could be in trouble in an instant. Bravely, I withstand his frozen smile and even return his sneaky gaze with a neutral one of me own, though I feel the hot blood of me ancestors rush through me veins as it dawns on me what de Vinzelles is playing at."Snake..." I think, determined nae to give him what he wants.

After a nod that be just polite enough to de Vinzelles, I bow deeply for the King. "Yer Majesty , it be true that the Lady of Windstorm and I be on good terms. She be a good friend of me wife Blanche, who admires her art .It pained me greatly that she did nae accept Yer most generous offer.

As for her King , Lord Agustin Stormblade, what I know of him , I gathered from her Ladyship. He is told to be a powerful , valiant knight, who rules his lands with the strange combination of a firm hand and compassion. A Spanish noble originally, he might even be related to Yer Majesty, however distantly ..."

Keeping me head bowed in respect, I pause for a second, gathering me thoughts. The presence of de Vinzelles disturbs me highly...I can almost feel his eyes boring themselves into me and I can imagine his insufferable smile all too well. In a vain hope that it will pass unnoticed, I don't speak the name of lady Beren's lands...his Majesty's memory nae being the best . I know that this is a fool's hope, for de Vinzelles will certainly remember and maybe the mentioning of the incident reminded his Majesty as well of the position of the lands of Lune.

"I never visited the Windstorm lands , however, Yer Majesty, for the Lady of Windstorm always visited my spouse and me either at the court or in Lyons-la-Forêt.

As for the Norsemen... the Lady told me that Windstorm has been besieged and attacked by them, nae too long ago. It would seem very unusual to me that King Agustin would have an alliance with those who ravaged his lands. "

Again , I bow and take a step backward, giving his Majesty the chance to ponder me words.*