King Francois of Frankia

The King of Frankia seats upon his high chair. The council table has all its numbers in attendance. A group of five wise but not so old men who were the best in their field. They told the king what he needed to hear, good or bad. Bad news King Francois would tolerate but an outright lie was just begging for a guillotine. "Now that we are all assembled we can now get to business. What do you have to report?"

"The army and the fleet are maintained and at the ready, your majesty. Recruitment is steady and the war galleys are being built on schedule." says the man in charge of the army and fleet's maintenance.

"Excellent. And the border forts."

"With Lothelsabourg now out of our reach, your majesty, the forts are now a little closer to home. It makes transport of materials and men easier. The forts on our border with the Kingdom of Nederbel are nearing completion. The forts to the south bordering Iberia are coming along nicely as well." says the man in charge of the Kingdom's static defenses.

"Excellent."

"The taxes are being collected without trouble. We've dealt with corruption and cracked down on it hard. The finances are stable." says the man in charge of economy. King Francois nods contently.

"Our ambassadors report nothing new from their assigned countries. The civil war in Daynland has ended. Queen Helga is now the ruling monarch of the Kingdom. The King of Ostgrenze assisted her and helped place her on the throne. They have formed an official military and trade alliance." says the man in charge of foreign affairs.

One of the councilmen scoffs, "That boy-king. Not even a year and his already making war."

Another councilman is even more dismissive, "Only a boy playing at war. It is the generals of Ostgrenze that lead men into battle."

Francois raises a hand and silences his men, "We are not here, gentlemen, to talk about that boy."

"Of course, your majesty."

"Our apologies."

"We also have an emissary from your cousin, King Franz Karl of Sudreich. The man has requested to speak to you... in private."

"And are you certain that this man is Franz Karl's man?"

"Quite, your majesty. There is no mistake."

"Is there anything else this council wishes to speak of?" The councilmen shake their heads.

"There is one more, my King." says the man who is in charge of the spy network courtesy of Alana. "Many of our spies in the confederation have slowly gone silent. I fear the Confederation must have discovered them or worse, your cousin Franz Jacques is using his infamous anti-spy network."

"How many of our spies are still in operation?"

"Still a sizable number, my King. These are composed of the more experience spies and those who are mere observers and informants. I recommend that we make do with what we have got. Sending in more my only lead to a needless loss of manpower."

"So be it. What do the remaining spies have to report." Francois asks.

"None that seem too suspicious. King Franz Karl has increase the training of his men and is building more boats for his meager little fleet. But seeing as how there is an entire Italian Peninsula between their waters and ours. We need not be concerned. At least yeatz There is nothing else to report, Sire."

"Then this council meeting is adjourned. Show yourselves out, gentlemen, and send that emissary in here."

"Alone, your majesty?"

"Alone."

"But-"

"I know my cousin. If this man is his servant, no harm will come to me. All the same, tell the guards outside to double their vigilance."

"We will obey, your majesty."

A minute later a man enters and bows respectfully at Francois. "Hail, your majesty. My name is Heinrich, emissary of his majesty King Franz Karl."

"What does my cousin want?"

"I know not, your majesty." King Francois frowns. He would have bellowed at the man but he pulls out a letter. "This letter was given to me by my King. His direct command was to ensure it reaches you and to be read only by you."

Heinrich hands Francois the letter politely. Heinrich noted Francois's undivided attention on the letter. After several moments and several times of reading the letter over and over again, the Frank King walks to a candle and lights the letter on fire.

"You go tell your king that we will talk some more at my son's wedding. Go! Now!"

"Yes, your majesty." The man rushes out, alarming the guards outside. "Let him go!" Francois orders. "You," he points to one of the guards, "call my generals. We need to talk about a new campaign."