NOVEMBERLAND: the little shieldmaiden

18

The meeting was held shortly after the garden party, and it was all men, except me. I was still wearing my gown, and most of the men were looking at me as if I was not supposed to be there.

"King Richard has shown a behaviour that might be dangerous. It threatens not just Calibur, but Lynrike too," Grandfather said to break the silence.

"Yes, and we don't know what kind of plans he has, nor do we know what he is able to do," a noble from Calibur said in response.

"They've almost changed into an unknown nation just like Esca," a Lynrikan man named Krokur added, a man with a big fortune, but not too big.

"King Richard seems stronger than ever, and his regime is said to be very strict," Gryffin said and looked up from staring at the mapped table for some time. It had all the kingdoms except Esca, as no one knew where it was.

I began thinking about what all these men were saying, that King Richard was strong. I had never gotten that expression, he was more like an animal trying to look strong, even though he was weak.

"It is said that he has an army with hundreds of men," one of the men said, and I could feel a hole growing inside my body the embarrassment of the men standing in this room.

"To me, it seems as if all you men are saying there are rumours that are sent out to scare you. The Muriellans don't support their rulers like they did before. For King Richard to have an army of hundreds, he'd have to include his poor slaves and the people he's put in prison," I said to them, and all of their faces went into a statued faze. "And of what I've heard, they're not in a good state."

All of the men were staring at me as if it was a surprise that I had my own opinion. Some looked at me with a slight sense of disgust, some were astonished and some just gasping.

"How do you know all of this Princess?" A Caliban noble asked me with a pair of big eyes.

"I have my ties, and I've met the king himself. He's full of lies," I said and looked over all of the men. Gryffin looked at me with a slight eyebrow raise, and Grandfather smirked.

"But what do you suppose that we should do then princess?" Krokur asked and looked at me with a selfish look. His slick hair had thinned by the years and his crooked nose gave him the Krokur characteristics.

"We should not do anything when it comes to war if it is not necessary. The things that will beat King Richard is winning over him in the battle of a conversation. All he wants is a reaction, a reaction he expects. If there's no reaction, there's no satisfaction for the King. We have to win over him with the unexpected," I answered and gave Krokur the same look back. And he totally changed his look, he even looked uncomfortable.

"And who should do this talking?" Grandfather asked and glared at the men first, and then at me.

"I'll do it," Gryffin said and it made the entire room go silent.

I looked over at him, and he held Grandfather with the stare. He really meant it, and he could do it if he wanted to. But I doubted that he would survive it.
"I think that it will be better if I do it," I said in protest and looked over at Grandfather.

I could feel Gryffin's eyes piercing into my head, but I did not turn. I meant it, and I knew that I could handle the vicious King. All I needed was help from one or two people.

"And why is that princess?" A Cal asked, clearly faithful his king.

"Because King Richard has nothing on me. And he has insulted my kingdom, my kingdoms allies and me. I would like to speak to him, as I think it would be the best option."