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Posted on May 3, 2013 at 04:32:11 AM by sir walter smythe
| “Certainly, Your Majesty,” Sir Walter ventured in his most agreeable tone yet. “It would be my privilege to provide you with all the information you require regarding Aurania, be it in written communication or verbal. We have a number of educators employed.”
He rested his hands on the table and lent back in the chair, adopting a mild expression. Let the king say his piece of it pleased him, however unnecessarily. It would have surprised the church if they had been granted their request on the first try, pleasantly so, but none of the high priests had really considered that the king would so easily give up the child. Politicians, after all, knew best that nothing was free in this world. The king had a price, that Sir Walter did not doubt – every man did – and that price would be found in the complex battle of will and intelligence which would surely follow this meeting. As the first to make their move, the church already had the advantage of foresight. The entourage which had accompanied Sir Walter would not be sitting idly by, and he could smile calmly in the face of the sovereign knowing that they were already out there turning the tables against him. To the prince, Sir Walter paid little attention except to unconcernedly incline his head in acknowledgement that he had spoken. Sir Walter had publicly expressed his views on the prince’s irresponsible grandfather, many a time, and was well aware that the consequences of such expression were null. It was physically and legally impossible – laughably so – for Mallos to hunt down and personally punish anyone who dared voice a less than positive opinion of him, and provided that opinion was not voiced in person, he was safe. Whatever connections the Shaman royal family had with Mallos did not inspire or intimidate Sir Walter in any way, since Mallos was little more than a pretender-deity and a co-conspirator of the council. He would be judged after death, as would they all, and only those who followed the true path of Aura would be glorified in the afterlife. “Mallos’ offspring require no additional protection while he is present to personally do so himself,” the priest pointed out calmly. “Certainly not if he deems his own protection adequate, in any case. That, however, is a matter for his own church to contend with, and I cannot see its relevance to this discussion. Our organisations are not comparable.” Ignoring the prince, he looked directly into Arthur’s eyes. “I was under the impression that you were the type of ruler who would be flexible with your resolve in the light of new information, rather than one who stubbornly stands by an initial decision at all other costs. If I have made a mistaken assumption, I apologise.” The high priest rose to his feet, indicating an awareness that the audience was almost at its end. “Thoth’s psychological wellbeing we can protect from afar – to a certain extent – but to protect his physical self does require that he be placed in our care, as I’m sure you well know. However, I have a compromise,” he rested his hand against the back of the chair but did not lean on it. As before, he was straight-backed and strong. “If Thoth decides that he would like to come to Earth, then he should be allowed to. Likewise,” he acknowledged, “if he comes to Earth and decides to return here, that decision would be respected. However,” the priest’s eyes hardened slightly. “If your protection proves inadequate and he is abducted in your care, the church will assume responsibility for the rescue and subsequent custody. In the meantime, the church will continue to work from Earth, and to send assistance to Shaman if it is required.” Once chance. If the king truly had complete confidence in his ability to protect the child, then he should have no difficulty in agreeing. |
Replies:
- chased your ghost across the yard - By a r t h u r May 4, 2013 at 11:38:13 PM
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