Re: Svarik and the company II

[Mirach]

"I just couldn't believe that Sage's son would do something like that, or that the Sage would be involved himself," Svarik sighed.

[VisAnastasis]

Erdel was quiet for a moment. He took opportunity to inconspicuously put hardly touched cup of tea on table aside.
" I didn't really believe Sage was in it, either... Man is way too honorable for his own good. I believe that, had he knows, he'd have begged you for help honestly, just confiding in you, as to Falcon's friend and his king. " he said only then quietly. " But look at it as such - do you not think Falcon would do awful things, to safe you? He fought Demian, his long time friend, man he called uncle, for you, despite their long history together.... We do not know, what we would do, when beloved lives are at stake. That is why getting to bottom of things is important, getting to truth, so you can judge clearly. Little threats are sometimes needed... or big ones. I was bluffing, but you could see they know lot of cruelty of emperors - it was easy for them to believe the bluff. Falcon wants peace. He would not start an open war *just* for punishing one person for unsuccessful attempt at your life, unless it was war led to safe you. " vampire whispered. " But emperors would. I used to believe it was sign of strength, making a choice so hard, to make an example... Why would you not do all you can to keep every part of your land obedient to you? Why would you not want to motivate people for obedience? But I guess I just question lot of things nowadays, after you came around and we ended up claimed traitors and imprisoned. I guess, I question everyone nowadays. " he murmured honestly - few gulps of the tea he managed to pull out untangling his tongue a bit. " Expect Tide. Tide is nice. He is a lovestruck fool, gushing all over you. Him, I really couldn't imagine lying or trying to hurt you... The rest, I can. Sage's kids were raised as noblemen at court, and Sage himself is at position equivalent of ser Falcon at this sea. Of course they know to lie and make hard choices. "

[Mirach]

"I don't know... I can't tell when Lorenzo is lying or telling the truth. Everything he says could he a lie. But it's hard to believe that Sage's son would be like that. And who are those mysterious blackmailers? And aren't they right in a way? I know that emperors would go to a war to rule everything, but tye realm is too big, too diverse for one person to truly understand the problems and specifics of its every part. I'm not talking about souverenity, but about a governor for every part of the land, who is there for the people when the king is far."

[VisAnastasis]

" Every independence eventually leads to rebellion. What do you think would happen, if suddenly long claimed parts of land heard you gave sovereignty to sea cost? Everyone would demand one. Land would end up crumbled and separated. You must be strong. You can not yield. " Erdel said seriously. " You must be strong, for ser Falcon, sir. Give official governor for nine regions of land... And in few generations, you'd have nine self proclaimed kings. Hungry for justice. Angry at capital. Wanting to claim more land for themselves. It will be bad enough to start thriving more peaceful relations with Highland. We can't sew seeds of Civil War. Land will not benefit from nine governors. It will from one strong king. " vampire spoke quietly and confidently - but king could feel those ideas seemed rather eloquent, as they probably were not originally his, but, like many subtle things, something he was unknowingly catching from his conversations with Conrad. " I do not know if Lorenzo speaks the truth, either. Everything stenches, a little. Maybe it's some kind of test from his side, a quickly made up lie, or maybe he really just wants to force our hands to get that document. But if there's even little chance his wife is really kidnapped - I am playing along only for that. I will rather be tricked, than ignore his plea and regret it later if she gets hurt. That is why I am playing along. "

[Mirach]

"Yes," Svarik nodded. "I did not want to give Tide a hand... well, because I was afraid as well, I must admit... but if I would be sure that it could really save a life and there is no other option, I would do it," he said, still feeling bad about it. "But how can I know that Lorenzo is telling the truth this time? I can't read the man, maybe it's his ancestry or something. But don't worry, I would not really give him the souverenity. Please destroy that document as soon as the lady is safe. I just don't want to rule like the emperors, by fear. The parts of the realm should see that being a part of it is good for them. But for that, I need to be in contact with all of them, and for that, I need a representative in each of them. If it's not a hereditary title, then you get no self-proclaimed kings, I believe."

[VisAnastasis]

" Each city does have a mayor, a head of it, of a sort, appointed by the emperor, while emperor himself is deemed mayor of Capital. Having representatives, one from each bigger city, in your council, though, that would work a little better - nobody would be powerful enough to try to take over on his own, but they could still have a voice for their needs. If that is what you want, sir. " demon whispered quietly. " It is nice to have good old Lowlandian council to solve problems of the land, but it's made of only people that are from capital. You could arrange the new council made from one or more person from each bigger city, than can represent their city best. Maybe centered at capital, so that land can start uniting more decently, by usefulness, instead of fear. It would be like having hundreds of advisers, at hand, to best tell you what needs to be done for their land. " he said shyly. " Like... Having ambassadors... Instead of humiliated conquered people that still secretly stick to their religions and pride. I know Falcon has already started out issuing laws, that can help relieve some of predicaments of over expensive taxes and bad management in various land parts, this one too - they will only have to take bit more time to reach here, as it's quite far from our home. But it will start having impact in next weeks to come... It is a good time, he told me before we left, to start making small changes. "

[Mirach]

"So, having a representative of each part of the land in the capital instead of having a representative of the king in each part of the land?" Svarik murmured. "I think it would be better to have both."

[VisAnastasis]

" I never spoke with Falcon into that much details of what he is planning for land, so you will have to ask him. Your idea just sounds good to me, from where I stand now. " young demon commented quietly. " From where I used to stand, though, as high officer in the army... I will just bid you, when you go into more detail, to think of army as well, sir, specially since you're so inclined to peace. You must redefine its purpose now, too, give it something useful and good to do for the country. Your idea is good... But taking care of army is as important as taking care of the rest of land. True, emperors neglected land a lot in favor of taking care of army, but if you ignore army completely and do not give it position of power in your new world, it will rebel - and without an army, you might as well not be king. King without military power is no king. Without it to back you up, every fool would be brave enough to pay mercenaries and make attempt at your life, or to make bolder, bigger promises of conquest and glory for soldiers, in attempt to take over and gain your crown."

[Mirach]

"With the emperors, there was almost constant fighting in some part of the land..." Svarik sighed. "I do not want that, but you are right, the army needs something to do. But what?"

[VisAnastasis]

" I do not know, what army is supposed to do, in time of peace. There never was a peace in the last thousand years. Only in last ten years - and that long time without goals in the army has already led to... this. " he gritted his teeth, pointing at himself darkly, as if at something fault and twisted. " I do not know what to tell you. I became member of army in during those last years of peace, in times of its great crisis. It is still going on, with this makeshift three generals, and no new general in sight. Something needs to be done, but as I no longer desire any more wars, either, I do not know what army could do, in peace... "

[Mirach]

"I think it's a really hard question, and it should be discussed with the representatives of the army as well."

[VisAnastasis]

" As for the army, yes. But as for those represenratives... Maybe we can do something now for that already. A basic guide line, basic plan of what you wish to do in future? " Creature inquired gently. " It can even be something used for negotiations today,vif negotiations are needed. We need to make a dokument for sovereignity, that we wish to destroy, of course. But we could also make outline for another document, if you desire so, sir, to put your idea to papers clearly. You are king, after all. It does not matter where you sign something. It is still your royal decree. "

[VisAnastasis]

" As for the army, yes. But as for those represenratives... Maybe we can do something now for that already. A basic guide line, basic plan of what you wish to do in future? " Creature inquired gently. " It can even be something used for negotiations today,vif negotiations are needed. We need to make a dokument for sovereignity, that we wish to destroy, of course. But we could also make outline for another document, if you desire so, sir, to put your idea to papers clearly. You are king, after all. It does not matter where you sign something. It is still your royal decree. "

[Mirach]

"We can as wel do that now, instad of relaxing, which we apparently can't do that well now," Svarik nodded. "And speaking of the represetatives, it seems a good idea to treat the army equally as the individual parts of the land."

[VisAnastasis]

" I would like that. " Erdel admitted." I feel better if I could come there prepared for negotiations. I need to know what you desire, sir, so I can speak in your name truthfully, so I can nagotiate your terms, not mine. "

[Mirach]

"I don't like the idea of negotiating with them at all, but if it's necessary, it's good to have a clear picture of what we want," Svarik agreed, and found a some writing supplies to put down the most important points.

[VisAnastasis]

Vampire helped him out, timidly at first. He would give his advise here and there, but  more he spoke, more he showed his quiete good knowledge of laws and hierachy of ruling, and more time passed, he seemed more free to give his advises and pleased about king healing him out as equal.

[Mirach]

Despite not being too confident, Svarik had a rather good knowledge of it as well, from the times of being educated as a Derhain, but also from later when he could study more or discuss things with Conrad. Doing that also helped him calm and put things into perspective.

[VisAnastasis]

It seemed to be able to help Erdel calm slowly as well, as with it, finally some remnant of coldness and miasma around him melted. Melody also helped them out as well, though by the end of it, she seemed very tired and sleepy. Erdel noticed that as soon as they finished drafts for both dokuments.
" Sire.. if you heed for my opinions, you should sleep . Or at least, just lie and rest for a little while. " He whispered then. " I will keep a good watch over you this time, I promise you.."

[Mirach]

"Do you feel well enough to do that?" Svarik asked. "Maybe you should get some rest as well before tomorrow?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Wel, we baricaded every entrance, and Xia is perhaps even more bite-y guardian than me.... so we should be safe.. " Vampire brought himself to smile shyly. " I feel... my sences got a bit cleared again, after the tea. Maybe only really antidote is relax, and drink the real thing, so it can reverse... mend... heal... whatever that faul mixture damages within you. " He frown in bad memory, before adding innocently. " I can not drink it, alas, I fear, unless you are in my field of vision, relaxed, resting, comfy... If you could sign and seal dokuments, and then lay to rest - yeah, I would cal it a deal.."

[Mirach]

"Fine, have it your way," Svarik chuckled. He signed both documents, and then put out the candles and lied down, although he didn't undress, so he would be ready to get up right away.

----

When the Sage got to Lorenzo's house, he saw traces of struggle right in the hall. There were broken plates and things on the floor that fell from their places in shelves.

[VisAnastasis]

Once they were engulfed with darkness, Erdel seemed more in his element. Feeling safer, he took bit of time to prepare mentally, before he warmed the tea, and started to slowly sip it, indeed feeling calmed with seeing Svarik and Melody rest.

--

Sage's face was twisted with concern, but he did not touch anything, not to contaminate the possible evidence. He just observed around carefully for visible clues, while he went to wardrobe, to fetch Alicia's favorite scarf.

[Mirach]

On the way there, it seemed to him that he heard some muffled sounds from the bedroom.

[VisAnastasis]

His guards were waiting for him at the door, but he could not risk taking time. He knew it's rushed, but he went to explore the sourse of sound.