"Only a few, mmph mmph. Only a few."
Thumb wriggles free from behind vest button.
"First, I should trust the contents of this discussion shall
not reach the good Governor, hm? And second: the Lady Verreaux. If you shall pardon my saying so, mmph, she seems to think that she controls the place personally, that she sits in the meetinghouse and signs the laws into practice and dictates the Council's actions, mmph."
Left hand goes up to smudge glasses back into place.
"What, precisely, is her role in all of this? If she is meant to be a replacement, a Governess of Myrken Wood, mmph, I can't say that I fancy her quite politically suited, either. It's. . . well, sir, it's quite like my time in Westenford and my brother Langley's time working as a traveling, circuit judge over Amasynia until a few years ago. Langley and I, mmph, well, we knew our roles and jurisdictions. We had the trust of the people, and we knew how they interacted with each other, and, mmph, we knew how they would react to us."
A gentle nod.
"I firmly believe that the Lady has her. . .uncle, is it? The King's support, yes. I think she has the greatest of intentions. However, sir, I fear she might not be the one entirely suited for the best. She implied as much, here, in a letter she sent out to the Council members."
A pause as fingers tighten around armrests; the chair rocks; the old man grunts and scoots forward with a huff of breath.
"One moment!"
And up he goes! Cane is almost immediately in hand, and Aloisius makes for his countertop, soon bending to pull out a locked chest, about the size of a breadbox, from roughly knee height. Keys are fished from pocket, lock is
twicked, and the letter retrieved and carefully unfolded.
"Here 'tis," he offers, holding the note out for the Colonel as he returns, "for your perusal, hmm?"
Councilman,
I pray that you will still your loyalties to the Governor to heed the dire warning that I bring.
The King has noticed the faltering attentions in the territories that He controls. He will stand against the cur in Thessil very soon, since that dog continues to bite the hand that feeds. In that most urgent duty, He wishes to gather close all of those loyal to him in a united front. His questioning eyes rest solidly upon Myrken Wood.
He wishes for a kinswoman, his favored cousin, to bring order to the current chaos.
Baron Surdemer and his men stand at my side in defense of His Majesty's rulings. I have sent word to your wayward Governor. I would expect him soon, should it find him in good health. Your positions on the Council will not be altered. You have my word.
I implore you, do not stand against the Might of your King. For the people's sake and for your own, do not earn his ire.
I will humbly step aside if you find that I am not fit to give these lands guidance.
The choice is yours, good Ser.
The Lady Egris Verreaux
"'Order to the current chaos,' sir, and 'I will humbly step aside?' It seems to me, and take this not as a mark against her, that, should the Lady see titled power in Myrken Wood, she will either need a personal advisor, mmph, or she will need someone
else to take that title and rule in her stead. So, in brief summation. . . what, precisely, is she meant to do, here?"