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Less ideal was the <span class="mu-i">Giardino Rosso</span> preparing to make its own move. While the Duke’s mercenaries had been diverted into their territory, and were purportedly causing havoc to the local Revolutionary occupation and governance, it wasn’t enough to deter the main thrust coming from the east. A march now three thousand strong, and still swelling, even if it was largely with armed rabble rather than anything considered troops. The core of the <span class="mu-i">Giardino Rosso’s</span> assembled force were the “Red Rose Guard,” an eight to nine hundred strong battalion sized group made up of both hardened veterans and militia they had trained and equipped up to a similar quality to yours.
Their ultimatum had already been delivered to your men in Fulmicroce. Stand aside, and let them through to the capital. Your troops would only be suffered to watch, not to get involved, not even to aid the Red Garden if they wished. Your Intelligence Department, growing more concerned by the day, also reported that there was plenty of infiltration by the Utopian Front and their radical allies in Tolvidaria already. It would be Larrocia all over again, if they had their way. Your disruptions had ironically played a large part in preventing the Duke from interfering with the Red Garden’s plans.
So the negotiations would be taking place under the shadow of the <span class="mu-i">Giardino Rosso</span>’s advance. There would be no back and forth, no days of deliberation. Anything to decide would be decided then and there.
The Duke Di Larencci would be hosting the both of you on his private vessel, a pleasure craft the size of a corvette, but altogether humbly appointed, after sailing it halfway up the Tolvi towards the provincial capital. Both you and Di Interres’s guards would be outnumbered by Larencci’s own life guards- a guarantee of civility was the umbrella that would protect both yourself and your young rival for power over this part of Vitelia. There was even wine and [i[bruschette de marea set aside for those who became thirsty or peckish, though you would only be having water.
There was one particular accommodation made for you specially. The banner of your Revolution would be behind you at the table. You would not be brushed off as some gangster thug making a backroom deal on another man’s ship. Not when you had a standard borne behind you.
The dining room for the vessel was brightly lit even if it was pitch black outside. Your attendant Revolutionary Fusiliers stood reverently, waiting, while you stood with hands behind your back by your own seat. Your mutual host waited at the other side of the square table, but he was not expected to speak much. Even at this brokered meeting, the Duke Di Interres would be coming <span class="mu-i">to you</span>. So he did, with his own clutch of Life Guards, and you both beheld each other in person for the first time.
