De Blanc Family/Albert/Story/Melodia/Meeting Andrew

A messenger clothed with the most expensive material approached Andrew bearing the insignia of Melodia's Crown.

"Sir Andrew Dolohov, Knight of Libba, Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Fissoa, His Imperial Highness the Monarch of Melodia is looking forward to your gracious acceptance of His invitation for a meeting in the Old Estates of House de Blanc in Madina City the soonest possible. I feel it is my duty, Sire, to share the information regarding the Crown's leave from the Republican Capital before the sunrise. The royal sailing-vessel will depart in a few hours."

Sir Andrew, having sent ahead an RSVP accepting the invitation ("One does not say no to the Monarch of Melodia."), arrived at the Old Estates of House de Blanc on the evening before his departure from Madina in a fine coach bearing a (somewhat hastily-drawn) depiction of the coat of arms of the Dolohov family.

At the gates, a couple of servants welcomed Sir Andrew to the Old Estates and escorted him to the improvised Royal Chamber where one could see a cheap, wooden Throne.

"Your Imperial Highness, Sir Andrew, Knight of Libba and Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Fissoa has arrived in Your Estate.", one of the servants announced to the Monarch with his head always lowered.

"Let him in.", Albert ordered the servant determined.

Andrew, who has surrendered his hat and sword, bows deeply.

"It is an honor, Your Imperial Highness. On behalf of His Grace the Grand Duke of Fissoa, I greet you, and am glad to see you in good health. Your Highness's home in Madina is magnificent. If it pleases Your Highness, I have brought a gift."

A liveried servant stands to attention, opening a box of dark wood. Inside is a bright white object, that faintly glints in the flame light of the chamber. The front panel is lifted away -- a skull with great fangs looks out of the box.

"It is the skull of a jungle cat, one of the terrible beasts of the Palm Sea. This one was responsible for the deaths of scouts, hunters, and local peasants before being hunted down. It is filigreed with Libban silver, so that in the light of a yellow flame you can see an inlaid map of the region where this monster lived. The black lining of the box is made from the cat's pelt."

Sir Andrew smiles a little.

"It might be considered an odd gift by some, but it was once a proud and elegant beast, and it belongs in the hands of a proud man with a warrior's heart."

Determined with a cold expression on his face, upon seeing the gift a faint smile, that hardly anyone but the most attentive could ever observe, was shaped on Albert's lips. With a nod, one of the royal servants approached the liveried servant to take the box and the skull from Sir Andrew's possession.

"I thank you for the kind gift, Sir Knight. The wildcat skull surely suits my personality well as you have so accurately stated."

With only a look, another of the royal servants carried an armchair and placed it to face the Throne.

"You may approach, Sir Andrew. We have not much time available as I will be leaving Madina soon, thus I will be as short as it is deemed necessary."
"Your devotion to the Grand Duke is touching, but to reject my offer for service to the Crown of Melodia from an eminent position, you must be either stupid or ignorant."

Sir Andrew gratefully takes the seat offered; his knee bends stiffly and it clearly pains the knight.

"I must admit that Your Highness's gracious offer is extremely interesting to me. However, it is not only loyalty to the Grand Duke that stays me. I was sent to Madina to attempt to cement an alliance of realms; if I were to accept even so well-intentioned an offer, His Grace would surely see it as a grave insult. My liege, Sir Samuel, would suffer terrible embarrassment, and could even fall out of favor."

He pauses.

"Of course, once I have returned to Fissoa and am no longer Ambassador, then my situation changes. In that case, if I were to open up a scroll box and find a letter inviting me to visit Melodia, who would I be to refuse?"

Albert remained unexpressed, though it was obvious that his mind was working like a well tuned machine.

"You are an agile man and I can see that. Agile men are precious, but they are also dangerous."

He paused.

"What has happened to your leg? You need something to ease the pain."

A servant approached carrying a golden tray with a glass and a bottle of wine on it.

Andrew grimaced a little at the mention of his leg, but accepted the proffered glass.

"I came to Dwilight by accident, Your Majesty. I was shipwrecked while traveling to Beluaterra, and washed ashore in Fissoa while it was still a part of Madina. My knee was injured in the storm, among other injuries. It is an annoyance, but the healers tell me that the injury is permanent."

Andrew sipped from the glass.

"It is excellent, I must commend Your Highness on the quality of his cellar."

Again that faint smile on Albert's face as he commented.

"So you were one of my commanders in the past..."
"...but tell me, do you always trust foreigners that easily?"

Andrew furrows his brow, mind apparently racing, and replies slowly.

"My injury is no secret, Your Majesty, nor my arrival on the island."

He smiles.

"As to trusting foreigners, Melodia and Fissoa are practically brother realms. We sprang fully formed from Madina, after all, and it would be unfortunate if we started considering each other foreign."

Upon hearing what he considered a noble joke, Albert laughed.

"Sir Andrew, your spirit is well cultivated, I must commend your for that. However, I was referring to the wine; it could be poisoned. Keep that in mind when you will be serving me for I did never accept losing worthy knights."

He nodded with his head and wine was served to him as well. A female servant, one looking more like a concubine, placed a neckerchief to Albert's neck. lips with a

"Cheers!"

Albert sipped the wine from the glass before placing it back to the golden tray. The concubine wiped his lips before he went on speaking with a more serious expression on his face.

"Indeed Melodia and Fissoa have great potential as allied realms... At this time though, it is not very possible this will happen any time soon."

He left no space for further debate and went on.

"To the matter at stake... I want you in Melodia to teach in the Royal University as a Mentor. I am a reasonable man though and I am willing to grant you with priviledges. Other than your service as a Mentor of the Royal University, it is expected that you will remain loyal and devoted to the legitimate Crown and House de Blanc, without ever conspiring or inciting rebellious spirits against Us. Now..."

Albert examined Sir Andrews carefully.

"...what do you wish for?"

Andrew smiled.

"I confess, it had not occurred to me that the Monarch of Melodia would poison the Grand Duke of Fissoa's Ambassador while they both were guests in a third realm."

He takes another sip of wine.

"And it is good wine."

He pauses to take another drink.

"It is an intriguing offer. Not many rulers go to the effort to ensure that their Academies have good mentors, let alone take the time and trouble to recruit one. Your Majesty is to be commended for such attention to detail. Of course, this rough land has produced its share of rough nobility; this position would likely entail teaching not only the ins and outs of command, but probably also basic etiquette."
"Naturally, such a position entails a great deal of informal power. That must be why rulers offer such generous stipends, sometimes up to 8 to 10% of a city's income. Indeed, with such extensive contacts among the realm's knights, I've heard that some wise rulers place the heads of their Universities on their councils!"

Andrew takes a long sip.

"Oh, Your Majesty had asked about compensation. My own humble needs are few, and it would not do to make demands of royalty. I am quite certain that Your Majesty already has in mind a quite satisfactory offer."

A uniformed commoner opened the door and entered the Royal Chamber. After steadily approaching the Throne, he kneeled and lowered his head.

"Your Imperial Highness, everything is arranged and We are ready for disembarkation."

Obviously, the discussion between Albert and Andrews had come to an untimely end.

"Alright, Captain Lupus, you may go."

The captain stood up and left the chamber. Albert stood up.

"Sir Andrews, it is time for me to leave this place and head back to my lands. I would ask you to come along, but after having yourself explained in the most accurate way, I can not do otherwise than to respect your wish."
"Head back to Libba and arrange your departure. I will be waiting for you in Port Raviel. Try to not be late. Now, if you excuse me..."

He rose his head to face the exit; his eyes remained nailed on the door.