Post by Alined on Jun 3, 2017 18:37:04 GMT
The day was a dreary one. Not due to the weather itself, which was unseasonably pleasant, but rather the snow on the ground had turned to wet slush, and dampness seemed to penetrate even the sturdiest boots and finest woolen socks. The army of Alined was encamped in Nemeth with their king's royal presence, and the proceedings thus far had been much like the day's conditions: A miserable bog, even without a storm brewing.
When reports arrived from elsewhere, Arthur Valiant was optimistic about hearing some progress from lands other than Nemeth. His brother had good news, though hardly surprising, and letters from the rest of his council were often entertaining even when they discussed matters of little import. But today, his messengers had brought him a letter from Lloyd the Builder in Camelot...
Arthur clenched his teeth. For once, he thought he understood what might have inspired that odd habit of some of his men, who would chew on the iron rims of their shields. Still, he was not quite of their stock, and resisted the impulse to gnaw on something--though he did still check the fit of his gauntlets. "I knew Prince Uther might be unfit to rule, but I never thought to consider it might be because he's such a poor judge of character. Or has no one seen fit to inform him of his uncle's incompetence? We can hardly fight for a king who thinks it is proper for his land to fall into ruin.
"Or, no... one who cannot see when or why it is happening. Sadly, Bayard hasn't provided an alternative."
Attending King Arthur, in his tent, were only his two squires, and the old knight, Earl Wulfric of Hwicce. The mouths attached to the room's ears weren't the best ones to offer him political advice. Earl Wulfric only concurred, "Yes, Bayard's claimant is no better equipped than young Uther, it seems..." It hardly needed to be said, the claimant in question was either an infant or not yet born, depending on whose reports Arthur read.
The squires, neither one older than Uther, to look at them, were playing some sort of game where they made faces and hand signals at one another to communicate private jokes across the tent. They were paying their king no attention. His letters and the import of what they contained was clearly beyond all the youths' comprehension.
Arthur Valiant shook his head, and resolved himself. "This changes nothing. If Uther isn't yet ready for his coronation, so be it. That is not, in itself, something we did not anticipate. It means only that he cannot yet rule, not that Alden should replace him until Nemeth and its namesakes are nothing more than ash and memories. We need only arrange an interim government with the aid of the coalition."
"Yes, sire."
King Arthur batted an eye at his advisor. "I appreciate your agreeable nature, Earl Wulfric. Perhaps you could review this letter for me, and see if I missed any important details."
Earl Wulfric was a powerful man, at least physically. He examined the letter once, looked up at his king, silently, and then to King Arthur's pleasure, he read through it a second time, muttered "Oh dear," and handed the letter back with look of concern. After a pause and a furtive glance, Wulfric managed to find the words to express himself, though by his tone he still seemed to doubt them... as if thought the test might have been contrived. "It appears King Alden is to become one of King Glendall's... bannermen?"
Arthur Valiant almost wished he could have answered with 'Gotcha!'. "Quite so, Earl Wulfric. After a modest reign, at last, King Glendall appears to have taken leave of his senses and decided to declare himself High King, and attempt to reconquer all Albion. Or perhaps he sees it as 'restoring peace'. I'd hoped this day would not come so soon. We will have much to discuss with the coalition."
Earl Wulfric blanched, froze for a moment, then returned to stand at attention, while Arthur returned to his maps. The two squires had sobered themselves as well, and came to watch as their king explained not just the landscape of Nemeth and its war, but that all of all Albion.
When reports arrived from elsewhere, Arthur Valiant was optimistic about hearing some progress from lands other than Nemeth. His brother had good news, though hardly surprising, and letters from the rest of his council were often entertaining even when they discussed matters of little import. But today, his messengers had brought him a letter from Lloyd the Builder in Camelot...
Arthur clenched his teeth. For once, he thought he understood what might have inspired that odd habit of some of his men, who would chew on the iron rims of their shields. Still, he was not quite of their stock, and resisted the impulse to gnaw on something--though he did still check the fit of his gauntlets. "I knew Prince Uther might be unfit to rule, but I never thought to consider it might be because he's such a poor judge of character. Or has no one seen fit to inform him of his uncle's incompetence? We can hardly fight for a king who thinks it is proper for his land to fall into ruin.
"Or, no... one who cannot see when or why it is happening. Sadly, Bayard hasn't provided an alternative."
Attending King Arthur, in his tent, were only his two squires, and the old knight, Earl Wulfric of Hwicce. The mouths attached to the room's ears weren't the best ones to offer him political advice. Earl Wulfric only concurred, "Yes, Bayard's claimant is no better equipped than young Uther, it seems..." It hardly needed to be said, the claimant in question was either an infant or not yet born, depending on whose reports Arthur read.
The squires, neither one older than Uther, to look at them, were playing some sort of game where they made faces and hand signals at one another to communicate private jokes across the tent. They were paying their king no attention. His letters and the import of what they contained was clearly beyond all the youths' comprehension.
Arthur Valiant shook his head, and resolved himself. "This changes nothing. If Uther isn't yet ready for his coronation, so be it. That is not, in itself, something we did not anticipate. It means only that he cannot yet rule, not that Alden should replace him until Nemeth and its namesakes are nothing more than ash and memories. We need only arrange an interim government with the aid of the coalition."
"Yes, sire."
King Arthur batted an eye at his advisor. "I appreciate your agreeable nature, Earl Wulfric. Perhaps you could review this letter for me, and see if I missed any important details."
Earl Wulfric was a powerful man, at least physically. He examined the letter once, looked up at his king, silently, and then to King Arthur's pleasure, he read through it a second time, muttered "Oh dear," and handed the letter back with look of concern. After a pause and a furtive glance, Wulfric managed to find the words to express himself, though by his tone he still seemed to doubt them... as if thought the test might have been contrived. "It appears King Alden is to become one of King Glendall's... bannermen?"
Arthur Valiant almost wished he could have answered with 'Gotcha!'. "Quite so, Earl Wulfric. After a modest reign, at last, King Glendall appears to have taken leave of his senses and decided to declare himself High King, and attempt to reconquer all Albion. Or perhaps he sees it as 'restoring peace'. I'd hoped this day would not come so soon. We will have much to discuss with the coalition."
Earl Wulfric blanched, froze for a moment, then returned to stand at attention, while Arthur returned to his maps. The two squires had sobered themselves as well, and came to watch as their king explained not just the landscape of Nemeth and its war, but that all of all Albion.