Post by Lisa on Jan 13, 2010 4:43:01 GMT 10
Title: The King's Scheme
Rating: G
Summary: Some things aren’t exactly as they appear.
Note: Thanks always goes to Rosie, who knows where to find my misplaced "i"s. And since there's snow on the ground, I'm writin' for Wyldon Winter! ;D
442 H.E., Corus
“I have a proposition for you. If you choose to accept it, however, no one can know. Not your closest friends, not even your wife.”
“Why me, sire?”
“Because you’ve been relatively quiet about your political ideas. Because the only time you’ve been adamant in court is regarding Sir Alanna.”
Wyldon scowled. It wasn’t so much a matter of her sex that made him dislike the lady knight. She was irritating. But he didn’t think women were made for the battlefield, just the same. Conservatives had flocked to him since that declaration. He was young and relatively untested, but they liked the way he wasn’t afraid to speak out. “What exactly do you want me to do?”
“I want you to be the Conservative voice at court.”
He blinked. “But – I’m not a Conservative.”
The king smiled wryly. “Exactly.” He poured two glasses of wine and offered one to the younger man. “The Conservatives are loud and adamant, and think I do not listen to their objections. I assure them that it’s not the case, but they don’t believe me. With the uproar over Thayet’s new schools, and the changes in the taxes and lending laws, it’s impossible to get any kind of compromise from anyone.”
“I don’t see where I fit into this.”
“You will reassure them. They know that the training master has always worked closely with the king. They will trust that not only are you whispering your objections into my ear, but that you are training tomorrow’s knights to be as sensible as you are.”
Wyldon did not like deception. “So you’re asking me to lie for you?”
“Yes.”
“In order to prevent people from objecting to your whims?” He winced. He did not like hearing the bitterness in his voice; the man was his king, even if his proposition was loathsome.
“No,” King Jonathan said quietly. “I listen to their objections. I consider everything very seriously before I made any decisions. But my opposition tends to think the worst of me. I’m sure you know this, having been hoisted on to the shoulders of the Nonds and haMinchis.”
Wyldon grimaced. He did not always like the people who had come out of the woodwork to befriend him. Their callous remarks bordered on the treasonous at times. And the only thing he disliked more than lies or the infamous lady knight was treason. “You were aware, before today, that I’m not Conservative like them?”
The king shrugged. “I’m usually quite good at reading people. I noticed that when Lady Mirania of Nond was decrying the education of commoners, you were silent as all your friends nodded in approval. I knew there was a chance you were in agreement, but thought this conversation would reveal your opinions before I explained my offer – which it did.” He flashed his most charming smile, clearly not knowing that charm had little influence over Wyldon of Cavall.
“I think educating commoners is the only way to improve the entire nation, and give peasant and working classes a chance,” he said softly.
“Does anyone else know that you feel this way?”
“Vivenne. Well, she knows that I’ve agreed to comply with the crown’s wishes, and have established a school in Cavall.”
“Do you share your political values with her?”
“Not often,” Wyldon admitted. “She doesn’t care much for politics.”
“Then you won’t have to lie to her.”
Wyldon pressed his lips together, fighting the retort that first came to mind. “I wouldn’t have to tell a lie, my liege, but I would still have to live it.”
Jonathan sighed. “You’re a painfully honest man, and that’s part of the reason I’ve chosen you.”
“I thought you picked me because I was the best for training the young boys who want to be knights.”
“I seldom make decisions based on one aspect of the situation.” He sighed again. “Can I count on you, Lord Wyldon?”
“All you want is for me to continue my acquaintances with Conservative families, and assure them that I am their voice at court?”
“And to not oppose them when your opinions differ.”
Wyldon nodded. “They’ll ask me to speak on their behalf, and I’ll do it if I think it’s appropriate.”
“I know you will.”
“So I really will be the Conservative voice at court, even when I disagree with them.”
“Yes, I suppose you will.”
“And if your Champion calls me to the courts in response?”
The king covered his smile with one hand, though it was too late to escape Wyldon’s notice. “I would suggest challenging her to tilt rather than fence.”
A heavy silence filled the room, and both men gazed at one another.
“I don’t like this,” Wyldon said finally.
“I know you don’t. But you’re among the few people I can trust, because I know you will inform me of any treason.”
“So that is your primary concern,” Wyldon mused.
“I’ve had several attempts on my life already, Cavall. I don’t need more.”
He tried to imagine the chaos that would ensue if an assassination was attempted; there was an heir, at least, but the selection of a regent could lead to civil war. “I’ll do it, your majesty.”
“Thank you,” Jonathan said, smiling again. “Now you should leave here and complain loudly that I’m asking you to support the realm’s new schools.”
Wyldon stood, bowed gracefully, and left the office. It was a matter of paces before Padraig haMinch grabbed his arm. “What did he want?”
Shaking his head, he grimaced. “We were discussing the training program. And his new schools.” He growled the last line – let the fools hear what they wanted.
-the end-
Rating: G
Summary: Some things aren’t exactly as they appear.
Note: Thanks always goes to Rosie, who knows where to find my misplaced "i"s. And since there's snow on the ground, I'm writin' for Wyldon Winter! ;D
442 H.E., Corus
“I have a proposition for you. If you choose to accept it, however, no one can know. Not your closest friends, not even your wife.”
“Why me, sire?”
“Because you’ve been relatively quiet about your political ideas. Because the only time you’ve been adamant in court is regarding Sir Alanna.”
Wyldon scowled. It wasn’t so much a matter of her sex that made him dislike the lady knight. She was irritating. But he didn’t think women were made for the battlefield, just the same. Conservatives had flocked to him since that declaration. He was young and relatively untested, but they liked the way he wasn’t afraid to speak out. “What exactly do you want me to do?”
“I want you to be the Conservative voice at court.”
He blinked. “But – I’m not a Conservative.”
The king smiled wryly. “Exactly.” He poured two glasses of wine and offered one to the younger man. “The Conservatives are loud and adamant, and think I do not listen to their objections. I assure them that it’s not the case, but they don’t believe me. With the uproar over Thayet’s new schools, and the changes in the taxes and lending laws, it’s impossible to get any kind of compromise from anyone.”
“I don’t see where I fit into this.”
“You will reassure them. They know that the training master has always worked closely with the king. They will trust that not only are you whispering your objections into my ear, but that you are training tomorrow’s knights to be as sensible as you are.”
Wyldon did not like deception. “So you’re asking me to lie for you?”
“Yes.”
“In order to prevent people from objecting to your whims?” He winced. He did not like hearing the bitterness in his voice; the man was his king, even if his proposition was loathsome.
“No,” King Jonathan said quietly. “I listen to their objections. I consider everything very seriously before I made any decisions. But my opposition tends to think the worst of me. I’m sure you know this, having been hoisted on to the shoulders of the Nonds and haMinchis.”
Wyldon grimaced. He did not always like the people who had come out of the woodwork to befriend him. Their callous remarks bordered on the treasonous at times. And the only thing he disliked more than lies or the infamous lady knight was treason. “You were aware, before today, that I’m not Conservative like them?”
The king shrugged. “I’m usually quite good at reading people. I noticed that when Lady Mirania of Nond was decrying the education of commoners, you were silent as all your friends nodded in approval. I knew there was a chance you were in agreement, but thought this conversation would reveal your opinions before I explained my offer – which it did.” He flashed his most charming smile, clearly not knowing that charm had little influence over Wyldon of Cavall.
“I think educating commoners is the only way to improve the entire nation, and give peasant and working classes a chance,” he said softly.
“Does anyone else know that you feel this way?”
“Vivenne. Well, she knows that I’ve agreed to comply with the crown’s wishes, and have established a school in Cavall.”
“Do you share your political values with her?”
“Not often,” Wyldon admitted. “She doesn’t care much for politics.”
“Then you won’t have to lie to her.”
Wyldon pressed his lips together, fighting the retort that first came to mind. “I wouldn’t have to tell a lie, my liege, but I would still have to live it.”
Jonathan sighed. “You’re a painfully honest man, and that’s part of the reason I’ve chosen you.”
“I thought you picked me because I was the best for training the young boys who want to be knights.”
“I seldom make decisions based on one aspect of the situation.” He sighed again. “Can I count on you, Lord Wyldon?”
“All you want is for me to continue my acquaintances with Conservative families, and assure them that I am their voice at court?”
“And to not oppose them when your opinions differ.”
Wyldon nodded. “They’ll ask me to speak on their behalf, and I’ll do it if I think it’s appropriate.”
“I know you will.”
“So I really will be the Conservative voice at court, even when I disagree with them.”
“Yes, I suppose you will.”
“And if your Champion calls me to the courts in response?”
The king covered his smile with one hand, though it was too late to escape Wyldon’s notice. “I would suggest challenging her to tilt rather than fence.”
A heavy silence filled the room, and both men gazed at one another.
“I don’t like this,” Wyldon said finally.
“I know you don’t. But you’re among the few people I can trust, because I know you will inform me of any treason.”
“So that is your primary concern,” Wyldon mused.
“I’ve had several attempts on my life already, Cavall. I don’t need more.”
He tried to imagine the chaos that would ensue if an assassination was attempted; there was an heir, at least, but the selection of a regent could lead to civil war. “I’ll do it, your majesty.”
“Thank you,” Jonathan said, smiling again. “Now you should leave here and complain loudly that I’m asking you to support the realm’s new schools.”
Wyldon stood, bowed gracefully, and left the office. It was a matter of paces before Padraig haMinch grabbed his arm. “What did he want?”
Shaking his head, he grimaced. “We were discussing the training program. And his new schools.” He growled the last line – let the fools hear what they wanted.
-the end-