675-11-18 - Matters For the King
| Matters For the King | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary: An audience for the common people with the king of Two Rivers | |||||||
|
It is time again for the King's Audience, an occasion when matters are brought before the king that require his decision. Barret rarely makes a difference there between those of low or higher birth, as he will lend his ear to the concerns of nobles as well as those of common people. Of course, the matters of nobility would be brought forth first, during the morning. But now, after an hour of lunch break has passed, King Barret Brais is back again. A wave of his hand signalling the guards to admit the next petitioner, as he leans forward in his seat, offering whoever will enter a friendly yet very regal smile.
First people lead by the guards into the audience room are two men. One of them is incredibly slim and looks like a beggar. He is dressed in pretty dirty rags, which have many holes and corners are burned. The man has long wet dirty hair, which stick this way and that. It is hard to notice his features, because just two dizzy eyes are glinting from behind the dusts. The smell, which spreads from the man could make anyone vomit. Maybe that is why two guards, who are leading him, try to keep safe distance.
Another man is dressed in pretty shiny warm clothes. His hair are kept nicely brushed back. The man is young and likely, just recently started his successful journey as merchant. That first man bows deeply in front of the King and speaks, "Your Majesty, I can't keep quiet anymore. At first, I thought, it will be my charity for this man, but now... He just keeps stealing my goats and sheeps. Not for food. He sells it and buys himself ale in the taverns. Please, do something about this skunk."
"N-n-n-o..." Tries to stammer the dirty man, "I... I... found his sheep once..."
King Barret raises his bushy brows when the first two petitioners of the afternoon enter. If he notices the smell about the poor looking fellow it does not show in his features. He will listen in silence while the richer man speaks, pondering his words for a moment before his own baritone voice is raised.
"You accuse this man of stealing your goats and sheep? How do you know it is him? And... how about that charity? Please do explain."
His raised hand signals the poorer man to stay silent for now. "I will hear what you have to say, after I have heard him out.", the king remarks with a faint smile.
The richer and well groomed man nods slowly, "Yes, indeed. As I told you, this is not the first time, when this man steals my animals. I myself saw that a few times. I warned him about the consiquences. However, at first I thought he needs these animals because of hunger. But people started to tell me, that this man sells my animals to get money for ale, got drunk and roll in the mud. So, that is why I finally decided to bring him to you..."
The smelly men staggers a bit, his gaze wanders around the room. He might look impressed or he honestly believes, that he died and he is standing in front of the gods now.
"Hrrm," the king grumbles, furrowing his brows as his brown eyes flit from the merchant to the poor man with the intense odour. "What is your side of the story, good man?"
The man blinks a few times, when the King speaks with him. He frowns slightly, then waves with his hand as if wanting to blow the image of the KIng from the horizon, as if that would be just the mist. However, when the King is still in his place, the older dirty man shakes his head and raises and eyebrow in surprise, "I... We-we-well... Found it just in the yar-yar-yard."
"In the yard...?", Barret echoes with raised brows, nothing in his bearing suggests he is not taking the man seriously. "A sheep? This man here claims you stole from him - more than once. What do you have to say to that, good man?"
A murmur goes through the small crowd of courtiers that attend the audience, and there is more than one doubtful glance shot the smelly man's way.
The beggar shifts from one of his foot to another, he staggers a bit again as if he will fall soon, but luckily, he manages to stay on his feet.
"I... I didin't do it. No. IT WAS NOT ME! I PROMISE!" The man suddenly starts shouting. "IT WAS THEY. THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS SHEEP AND ALL OTHERS WERE FREE TO TAKE!"
His eyes go wide and for a moment he may look like a mad mad, "THEY SAID JUSTICE MUST BE MADE. POOR ONES HAVE TO LIVE IN WEALTH AND ENJOY TREASURES OF LIFE!!!!"
The man shivers a bit and looks around, as if he is seeing all these others around himself, "THEY SAY THAT WE, SIMPLE PEOPLE, CAN BRING JUSTICE! NOT THESE, WHO SIT ON THE GOLDEN PILLOWS!!!" He shivers again and falls on his knees, "We must help them to bring justice, otherwise we will be considered as one of others..."
The young man shakes his head, "He is mad! He stole everything. He acknowledge all that!"
Whatever murmur had filled the audience chamber before, it is nothing compared to the tumult that breaks free once the poor man yells his statements. Lord Jarvis Bainsworth who had been sitting close by with a slightly bored expression jumps suddenly to his feet, pale grey eyes narrowing as they take in the deranged commoner. A brief glance is shot towards the King when Bainsworth already raises his hand, not making the gesture for the guards until Barret Brais inclines his head with a sigh.
"Seize him." This ordered by the Master of Foreign Affairs, words that a clearly audible through the ruckus and are obeyed most swiftly. Two guards appear beside the man, each grabbing him by an arm - depite the rather intense bad smell the poor fellow emits.
"We will investigate the matter," the king assures, rising to his feet as well now, his own voice carrying effortlessly through the chamber, "You, good man, leave your name and address, so we can inform you of an recompensation, if we find the culprits in time..." A hand points to a scribe seated somewhere to teh side.
Lord Bainsworth meanwhile offers a thin smile as he walks over to the smelly commoner. "We need to talk," he mutters casually to the man, before he moves off and leads the way, the two guards with the man following whether the smelly one likes it or not.
The merchant moves to give his contacts to the scribe, while the other man will be dragged out of the chambers. He won't leave calmly,of course. His voice will echoe in the hallsof the castle till the beggar will be dragged actually far far away from the room. People willbe able to hear, "THEY WILL PUNISH YOU...THEY WILL PUNISH YOU...THEY WILL PUNISH YOU...THEY WILL PUNISH YOU...THEY WILL PUNISH YOU...They will punish you..."
After that man,the guards will likely lead a new person into the room. This time it will be a young looking common woman.
Actually, Breeshey looks as beautiful and sparkling as a shower of broken glass during the sunny day. Even if her eyes have color as blue as a cube of ice, it is easy to see a little fire there, which betrays various emotions of this young woman. Each of her emotions may be easily stressed out with these wonderful wriggling, sticking this way and that, brightly red locks.
She has thin as a stripe of sunlight body. Shey expresses her colorful personality not just through her fiery hair, but also her clothes. She has a light silken flowery scarf wraped around her neck just once, leaving long ends to blow in the wind together with her wild wavy hair. The scarf is dark itself, but the flower pattern has green and red colors. It stresses out the pale skin of this young and wild beauty.
Shey also wears manly long dark green trousers and warm jacket on her shirts of the same color. There are some small pouches attached to the trousers and a bag is tossed over her shoulder, dangling somewhere beside her side. The bag is obviously filled with many things.
The girl looks over the crowd shyly. She rubs her fingers nervously,keeping her hands in front of herself. When she approaches the King, the young woman does not say anything, she just bows as low as she can. Her red curls falls on her features,hidding the girl's nervous expression.
There is a bit of a tumult when the man is led out by the guards. Lord Bainsworth will offer a last bow to the king, before he vanishes with them, probably to some chamber where the man will be further interogated.
"Quiet!", King Barret Brais bellows, a bit indignation showing in his regal features. "This the Royal Audience chamber not some common room in an inn." He clears his throat, when the courtiers fall silent again. "Who is next?"
When the young woman steps forward she will have the attention of all in attendance, after all her appearance is quite a contrast to the previous petitioners. There may be something about her, that light touch of nervousness in her bearing, that brings the king to lean forward in his seat, and a friendly smile warms his features.
"What is it you wish to bring forth, Mistress?"
When the King speaks to her, tbe young redhead raises her gaze up. Her eyes color of the ice cube meets the kings, but he will clearly see fire there. Some kind of passion for life, mixed with fear and sorrow.
"Your Majesty," soft voice speaks, "I know, that I may sound too bold, that I am just a simple commoner, who you see first time in your life, but..." She sighs and straightens.
The woman bites her lip and stays quiet for awhile. She looks over the crowd. All these eyes, staring at her makes the girl blush a bit, "Your Majesty, I was an apprentice once of a good healer in the town of (ooc: don't remember the town name, but she tells it. We need to add it in the log). My healer used to tell me, that I was born to build in this world fill of destruction. Build by healing others. You can't ask her now if I am not a lier. She grow old and turned to ashes...."
The girl smikes shyly, "I am sorry for bothering you with all my history, but... Well... I learned a lot. I became healer myself. I can heal, grow herbs and mix potions. I had my own apprentice. It was an orphan boy, whom I wanted to help. He looked talented..."
Suddenly some tears show up in the redhead's eyes, "I was out in the woods, gathering more herbs... I don't know, what he was doing, but when I got back my home, my research, my herbs, my apprentice... everything was burned. Likely, he decided to mix some potions and he was not careful with fire. I didn't have anyone there. So, I decided to come here. With request. I don't ask home. I will build my own home, if I will have work. I wanted to ask if I could join royal healers... somehow..."
The woman tries to smile again, "One of your daughters is married. I am sure that another will be married soon too. It is no longer a secret that you will bring yourself a new wife. You will be in the need of midwife and a good healer near your side. Let me serve you, your Majesty..." And like a knight, she falls on her one knee in front of the King.
King Barret sits in silence, there is kindness in his eyes to assure the girl that she may speak and he would listen to her. And listen he does, taking in the story, only interjecting where it is necessary. "Redfield? You mean that village in Granville?" Then falling silent again, one brow going up at the tragic story about the apprentice and the fire.
"I am sorry about your loss," the king finally states, probably in regards to the death of the boy and the loss of her home. "Just what may be your name, young woman? And why do you think you could earn that place among the Royal Healers?"
"Yes," the girl nods. She takes one of her red curls and chuckles quietly, "I am from REDfield. Breeshey. That's my name. I don't know my second name. I never saw my parents. People usually keeps calling me just Shey..."
When other questions are asked,instead of growing more shy, Shey straightens and even steps closer. She bravely fixes her gaze on the King, "I can be among them. I just know that. I don't ask you to believe in me in blindness. Try me out. Let me be just a helper for one of your healers. Let me prove you, that... You need me, your majesty."
She sounds firm and really confident, at least when it comes to healing.
The king seems to be intrigued by Shey's enthusiasm as the slightly amused sparkle in his eyes betrays. "I will give you that chance then. I will ask Master Joran and Master Graham to test your skills," Barret Brais decides with a smile. "But don't be discouraged if they should reject you. There may be other opportunities here in Farris for you, if that Plan of yours doesn't work out."
"I won't disappoint you, your Majesty. Thank you," Shey bows deeply to the man, "I can't wait for a chance to meet Master Joran and Master Graham... I hope, that we will understand each other and these men will teach me a lot and I will be able to teach them," And the girl slowly moves to the background, if allowed, or to someone, who will lead her to these Masters.
