Snippet #1970622

Elim sat down and gladly accepted the wine, Elim inspected the vintage and nodded in approval sipping a few drops and then pausing to inspect the king.

The young man seemed far older then he had been in the coronation; both his manners and his stance where no longer boyish or irresponsible and conveyed an impression of seriousness to the observer. The king's eyes echoed the confusion and frustration the affairs of the day had forced upon him, however Elim saw a slight hint of confidence in those eyes; a flicker of newly found confidence which with time had the unmistakable potential to grow into a power of will.

Elim saw this happen before and would have shuddered if not in the presence of the king; if this young man found the confidence he so desperately needed nations would tremble and gods would weep. Elim almost preferred the misguided ideals of republic then to see strong kings rise to the throne of any nation but he took comfort in the knowledge that this young king still had a great deal to learn and many trials ahead of him before he became one of those men Elim and all nobility dreaded and feared even more then the radical liberal ideals spreading among the peasantry.

Elim nodded in approval again enjoying the fabulous wine, he would have to handle his words carefully; the king lacked experience knowledge and a great deal of common sense but he was no fool or at least less of a fool then Luxor's current rulers.

"Your majesty I think it is imperative we make our positions clear and believe me as ambassador of Luxor it is a difficult choice for me to take."

Elim sipped another drop of the wine clearing his throat and continued to speak with a clearly displeased tone of voice.

"An Ambassador should never make his position clear about anything; it is one of the fundamental rules of our trade but today is not by any counts a normal day."

"Your current situation is quite clearly an undesirable one; I think you shall agree with me when I say that Avalon isn't as united as it should be. The nobility think of how to exploit the death of your father and how to forge you into a symbolic figurehead behind whom they can justify all their petty schemas and corruptions. Your lords look for rule not only in you but also in Duke Devalin. Loyalty to the crown is second place to survival and these lords wonder to whom they should pledge allegiance and slowly make their choices by the actions you take today and the next few days. The people now serve you but in the realties of war to whom would the then owe allegiance to? Not to duty, not to honor but to whomever asks them for less and gives them more."

Elim knew he angered the king but it was his intention to do so, he did not leave a space from which the king could strike back and continued talking.

"The kingdom is facing a trial you are facing a trial and your every action and every word shall carry weight not only in Avalon but all around the earth and maybe even to the gates of heaven itself.
Luxor faced this moment; our king came to the throne years ago at the time of your father but you would be unwise to believe this makes Luxor a nation with stability; the truth is quite different."

"We did not have a king like your father we have a king who may have been a great king had he not been subject to continued lack of health. Why is such a weak king still on the throne you may ask, the answer is because the nobility want him on the throne and I would not be at all surprised if they have a hand in his illness.

As you know I am bound by oath to serve my king but it is difficult to serve a king who can no longer rule his own country. It is no coincidence that Luxor has stagnated in the face of Avalon's growing cultural and technological supremacy; we may sell a good image to the world but in truth our nation is not as great as we would like to pretend it is. A year ago the presents revolted and formed a republican army which quite nearly succeeded in usurping the throne. The revolt was crushed as was a revolt 15 years ago was crushed but each time the numbers grow, the liberal ideals reach new complexity and nobility itself is subverted by the liberal ideals. The nobles have a free hand in all matters and are taxing the people in a rate they can no longer pay and we have no king to stop it. The nobles make war on each other freely and hardly any one even bothers to attend the king's court in person these days.

I have just been informed that the king is again gravely ill and it seems that he shall not live for more then a month at best and what little authority the royal family had is no longer significant. I have also been informed of certain interests in the current struggle in Avalon from very powerful lords of Luxor. I am of the opinion that men and resources are making their way into the Devalin armies as we speak and that very soon fleets of Luxorian warships shall sail together with the Devalin fleet."

"I can no longer speak for my nation and promise peace because there is no longer any central authority other then an alliance of self interest of the strongest nobles in court. I do not make a threat; I am giving you a warning that unless the duke is taken care of soon the Devalin's will have a force capable of defeating you. If you loss ghosts pass the war shall be lost to you before it starts; you need a victory if you are to survive on the throne and win the confidence of your subjects."

Elim drained his cup, amazed at the conviction in which he spoke his words.

"Let me give you a few more words of advice; trust no one not your family, not your friends and not even your love. trust no one "