>>6285370They were helped aboard the ship, and you yourself felt your body stiffening. You knew what was to come, though you knew that for now, you should fight with tongue and wit, not sword or spear.
The one who you identified as their king was a short, broad man with wide shoulders, a bushy beard and eyebrows that seemed to bristle with anger. As he approached, you could see the colour of his eyes, green, the colour of jealousy, narrow and with a greedy glint. You took a deep breath.
You remembered what Konrad of Mozolavia had told you about Karl, wrathful but calculating. Stepping forward, you knew that you had at least one advantage in that you had, as far as you knew, indulged Artuileno's ramblings about history. Wrathful and calculating, but not a word about how blunt or well-spoken he is. Another advantage you did have been your height; you towered over him, it would seem. Perhaps you could exploit some kind of insecurity, but that would remain to be seen.
You extended your hand. <span class="mu-i"> ''It is very kind of you to come, Your Majesty. I had hoped you would see reason and acquiesce to my demands. Ölfand is mine by rights, as your father had agreed upon in the treaty.'' </span> A half-truth of both kinds: you intended to come home with at least two of the three islands, and the treaty was between the Svengalians and the Order, though the wording of the treaty was in such a way you could make use of it as well.
<span class="mu-i"> ''Your avarice for islands that have been part of Svengalia for centuries will not go unnoticed, Your Majesty. It is clear that your true intentions lie in expanding your territory at any cost, even if it means disregarding the history and agreements that have been in place for generations.'' </span> King Karl was direct in his approach, it would seem. He had a growling, low voice that would belong more to a woodsman than to a king.
<span class="mu-i"> ''The treaty clearly states that Ölfland is to be handed over to the holder of Ulrichsburg; as the King of Greifswald, that position belongs to me. Your refusal to do what is right and hand over that which is rightfully mine has led to me being forced to muster up force of arms.'' </span> It was not within your nature to act the lawyering prick. But diplomacy required you to sometimes act against your natural instinct.
<span class="mu-i"> ''That treaty was between us and the order before you and your father drove them out for good; Ölfland was never handed over, and for good reason.'' </span> Karl coldly stated.
<span class="mu-i"> ''Nevertheless, Ölfland is now in my hands, and I will not relinquish it without a fight.'' </span> You said in an equally cold manner.
