No one says you have to be the one who accepts them

"What a fine gift you have given me, my good merchant." It is always better to give out a bait first, and it is true that this pair of twins must be some of the finest prizes seized so far in this siege. The Slaver's eyes start to light up in victory, only for you to continue speaking. "But I am afraid that I am not worthy for this gift."

"Uh, wha- Pardon, Your Majesty?" The Slaver clearly doesn't expect the humility in the way you choose your rebuttal. Even so, if you are not careful, a skillful courtier like this pretentious slaver can still trap you in your refusal. Already you see the representatives of Raxius' war council smirking at your boyish naivete.

Turning to Raxius, you decide to once again involve him in this discussion to your advantage. "Please tell me, Lord Raxius. During our war against Persia years ago, which soldiers received the most of gifts and the best of slaves? The soldiers who did nothing but sitting in their camps, 'defending' supplies as they claimed, or the ones bravely charging into battles, killing the enemies and winning merits?" You know Raxius won't lie to you on this topic. You were both there at the war, and besides, Raxius is from Polares.

"Obviously the latter, Your Majesty. Although the laws regarding division of spoils award shares to all soldiers who fulfil their duty responsibly, the fact remains that men who choose to fight on the frontlines must receive the finest shares." Raxius answers clearly and succinctly as you knew he would. One of the reasons War Masters of Polares are chosen to lead armies is their indisputable understanding of all aspects of war.

"And there you have it, my good merchant." Although addressing the gold-robed merchant, you are really speaking to the assembled generals, ambassadors and junior officers that fill the busy tent. "Tell me Lords, what merits have I earned in this siege that I deserve to have two of your finest girls? Have I won a battle? Have I ended a siege in the victory of the United Armies?" More than a few of the previously smirking men are now nodding in approval. "Nay. Quite the opposite. I am well aware that my pushing for this ceasefire has instead made all of your work harder." You turn to the elderly statesman sitting at the table wearing the brown and gold Thebes. "That does not even count the fiasco I have created with the Prince of Thebes, depriving your armies of his leadership." That of course is drake-droppings, but it never hurts to use a little flattery. "How do I deserve these beautiful girls? Are you saying that a king such as I deserves the pleasure of their companionship although I have accomplished nothing, even more than the soldiers of Polhermes whose effort has brought them to you in the first place?" That one is a long speech, but you hope that you have pulled it off well. Secretly you wish to see Alexia's reactions to you being diplomatic like this. It surely would be amusing but you don't dare take your eyes off of the war council.

Sweating while thinking for a comeback, the two slavers are engaged in a hushed discussion on how to best counter your argument. Instead, it is a dark-haired woman in a tight red dress at the far end of the table who speaks. "So, is Your Majesty saying that these two girls should be given to the common soldiers who found them?"

Obviously, you can't directly say yes without being seen as pandering to the lowest of normal foot soldiers in front of this arrogant High Council. These highborn representatives will eviscerate you if you try something like that, but that's why you save your ace in the hole for this chance. "Well, this esteemed War Council of the United Armies seems a far more suitable body for the division of spoils than an outsider like me, isn't that right, Lord Raxius?"

"That is correct, Your Majesty. But still, the Slaver Guild paid for these twins especially as a gift for you. The soldiers might feel disgruntled over what they would see as favoritism, but the High Council can't unilaterally commandeer these prizes to do with as we please." The steady eyes of the High Marshal meet yours curiously. "Unless maybe you have someone in mind, Your Majesty?"

"As a matter of fact, I do, Lord Raxius." Turning to your sworn brothers at the side of the tent, you sign for them to step forward. "Barticus, Victor, would you mind telling the High Council what you guys have just shared with me?"

Victor looks at you with confused stare, but thankfully he realizes your game. With a wry amused smile, he turns to the rest of the High Council. "Greetings, My Lords and Ladies. I am Crown Prince Victor of the Biessoi, and this is my oath-brother Crown Prince Barticus of the Coreli. I apologize for not sharing with you this news until now, but our duty to the United Armies prevented us from meeting Lord Raxius or the High Council. Fortunately, His Majesty Kalion called for this meeting, and with our relations, I manage to be present here."

"What is this news, Prince Victor?" Raxius asks, an eyebrow raised in skepticism. This predicament must have spiraled out of control from what the Lord Marshal must have expected as a mere simple chastisement of the boy-king, but he can't help but be curious about how this plays out. Luckily Victor is used to this role of ambassador, in the past five years he has served in this capacity for Biessoi on several occasions.

"Lord Marshal, your Holiness, esteemed representatives," his voice is loud and clear as he shares his news. "The Horse Tribes of the Eastern plains have finished consolidating their coalition and expansion in their local region, it seems now that their attention has turned to our lands." Looking at the High Council's members in the eyes, Victor stresses the importance of his message. "They are heading here, to Hellene. We don't have an estimate to when they will arrive, but we are sure they will arrive before winter falls."

At once the tent falls into a cacophony of hushed whispers and panicked mutterings. The 100 Tribes is the collective term used for the countless tribes living in the plains north-east of Hellene. This coalition of tribes recently have been expanding their territory at quite the troubling pace and might be a threat if left unchecked. The representatives of the cities located at the northern regions in particular are obviously worried about the safety of their cities as the ones closest to the tribes.

"Is this true?" Lord Raxius asks seriously.

"Yes, Lord Raxius. My Rider scouts reported a vanguard of around 5,000 horsemen with unknown numbers of skirmishers. Their main **** is numbered around 10,000 and maybe more, following not far from behind." Barticus reported this time.

Raxius moves his hands to rub his eyes, a feeling that you can very much sympathize with. While you know most of the High Council probably underestimate the horsemen, the current situation gives everyone here nothing less than a migraine. The United Armies can't just drop the siege and go to the north, yet at the same time they can't dally here for too long. With most of their soldiers here down south, the northern cities only have their defensive garrisons, which certainly will prioritize their own cities than their neighbors. All in all, this is not the good time to be throwing around women in a tent.

"By the gods, this is a mess..." Raxius sighs deeply. "Reginald, I am afraid I can't let you give the Iraklidis twins to King Briareos at the moment."

"W-why not?!" The Slaver asks indignantly.

"If the soldiers learn we gifted a neutral outsider the two girls, they might protest, or even riot, especially that rabble from Polhermes. And if the news of the 100 Tribes invasion were to leak, the soldiers of the northern regions might just wholesale desert the United Armies to defend their own homes. We absolutely can't afford that, and so we can't afford this." Raxius answers frustratedly.

"Lord Marshal -" the slaver starts again but Raxius cuts him off with a sharp motion with his hand.

"If you want to give out the girls, give them to the two Crown Princes here. Our scouts undoubtably would have discovered the invasion sooner or later, but surely not as fast as this warning. Any later and we might have dallied for too long in this godforsaken city, the damned horsemen already too close to our northern borders for comfort." Raxius grunts. "Do as I say, Reginald. Your Guild stands to make a killing from this siege, don't risk that arrangement. I am in no mood to compromise."

"B-but... Lord Raxius!"

"Don't make me repeat myself, Slaver." Raxius grits out.

It seems your plan works perfectly. If the Slaver pulls the girls back, he will seem insincere, and you will be free from the obligation. Though you will pity the girls in that scenario, beggars can't be choosers. If the Guild insists on giving the girls to you even under the extenuating circumstances, the soldiers will see them as currying favor with outsider, a neutral, unrelated, and one without merit at that, and not them who have given all their effort to conquer this city. And if the girls are given to your oath-brothers, well, you hope an apology is enough for your brothers.