William took his seat upon the cushion, the guardian however stood.
William took a moment, and a slight bow to the emperor, to explain. "I apologise for any appearance of disrespect to you on my Guardians behalf, but the Guardians hold to a strict set of rules that cannot be broken, less they forfeit their very souls. As such, he shall not take rest until this meeting of ours is adjourned."
Continuing, William addressed the emperors words indirectly. "The Aschen may indeed be a peaceful people, and outwardly so all signs say such, but their history paints a very different picture. And it is that history that concerns the leaders of my people, the Knadan specifically. For among our kind there stands a logic that has held true for generations immemorial, that evil must be destroyed utterly, lest it be allowed to grow again from the roots."
"The Kingdom of Asylia holds that the Aschen, though now peaceful, engaged in acts of war across the universe, and likewise enacted depraved stratagems of cruelty and abuse. By the Knadan of Orta, such an evil must be wholly vanquished in entirety, lest it return to power."
"His majesty the King has given leave to the Knadan to enact this campaign, and as such it will not be contested, nor will any other stand in his way. But you yourself, and your people, are of a noble heritage. The Knadan shall suffer no allies of the Aschen to impede his crusade, and any who set themselves in his path shall be destroyed utterly."
"I Mean this not as a threat, but as a dire warning, though your people are strong, the Knadan is beyond you, the forces he holds are beyond you, and if you engage him, you shall be swept away as weeds on the path of a mighty storm."
"But this does not need to be your fate. His Majesty the King is benevolent and kind, and would welcome your people as allies, if you find it fitting to leave the Aschen to their fate, and join yours with Asylia. I know such an action may be seen as dishonorable, but in history many terrible sins have been committed by those who could have been stopped, if their advisors and allies had just been willing to stand for justice. Asylia does not ask that you betray the Aschen, nor that you risk your own forces in a conflict not of your making. We ask only that you refrain from taking part of this war."
The Guardian stood silently during this, his body as still that it might be a statue all it's own, the armor gleaming and glowing softly in the shallow darkness of this place.