| Lady's Prerogative |
| Summary: | Ludovic gets Helena to change her mind about delaying her visit until the spring |
| Date: | 1873-12-19 |
| Related: | 1873-12-17 - A Knight's Letters. Battleborn North Plan |
| NPCs: | {$npc} |
| Players: |
 
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| Room Name |
| Room description |
| IC date of RP |
After being cleared to not have to be in the healer's area anymore, so long as she doesnt try and fight anyone, Helena is in the battleborn Command tent working on the paperwork, ledgers, and up to date roster accounts so that Boris knows what they have, what they lost, and what they need. Hanging from the back of her chair is her new cane, even if she doesnt really have need of it anymore, she still fancies having it around.
Ludovic stomps into her command tent at about the same time as the person who was supposed to stop people from just walking in. He's got a letter clutched in one fist and his movements have the jerkiness that comes from a temper thats about ready to over boil. He's got a simple cuirass on over his cavalier fashion cote and hose and his hat. His hat doesnt do much to hide the fact his eyes are narrowed.
"My Lady!" the door-guard starts to say, sounding and looking distressed, only to be talked over by the count. Yep. He's angry. Apparently he gets loud when he's angry too. "What the hell is this?" he practically shouts. "We had a deal!"
Helena looks up, usually when a count is angry at her it's quiet and she finds herself being talked down too, this time… a count is angry with her and actually speaking her language, and after the week she's had, she welcomes it as she pushes herself up and tilts her head. "I am honoring that deal, I am sending you my battleborn, AND when you start your push in the spring, I will be there." She says as she grabs her cane and moves around her dask, each word getting louder. "I'm sorry if someone who has been around since BEFORE THE DAMNED EMPIRE decided to make a mockery of us all, and left half our forces dead, the other half injured, and the greatest fighters in the west broken, so tell me… what part of this 'deal' did I neglect? or do you expect me to be foolish enough to commit to an offensive in the middle of a cold ass winter!" When she finaly get's close enough to him, her pitch matches his, said door guard leaves, probably to get Sir Boris, or someone who could possibly get in between the who noble knights.
Ludovic tosses the letter at her as she approaches. "Don't give me that spiel!" he tells her sharply. The same height (maybe a tiny bit shorter), he looks her directly in the eyes, without a single hint of intimidation or backing down in his manner. "You said you were coming to Hellsmouth and I still goddamn need you."
Helena catches the paper in her hand and she uncrumples the letter and sets it down. "Look here… I'm in pain, my wits are stripped thin with everything I have to do, and it's my ladies week… THE ICE IS THIN!" She says that last part with clenched teeth. "I still havent received a map of your lands, so i can have a rough idea of what I'm walking into, so I can tell my troops where to dig in, if you think me being there during the winter when it's just a time for staging will help, you are wrong.”
”Oh boo hoo." Ludovic replies. "Did the evil monster leave bruises." he narrows his eyes. "Grow a pair. We're all in pain." He steps away enough to start pacing over a path just a couple of paces long. Pace pace, turn, pace.. "Not asking you to go and hunt boar. I want you to do what you promised." He half turns and gestures sharply towards her. "YOU. Were going to come and be part of my war council. I've got 800 odd troops I've got to find a place for before the snows make it hard to travel. A map. Pfah." he follows that up with another couple of paced sets and more angry gestures. "Why the hell would I have a map with me. Besides" he turns to point at her, practically waving a finger in her face. "Hows a map gonna tell you what you need to know? Huh? All a map tells you is where the roads go."
Helena blinks and tilts her head. "Where the roa… OF COURSE THEY DO!" Oh boy… "Why do you think every commander in this army has a fucking map.' She says as she turns and sweeps the papers from her desk, showing that the top of her desk is in fact, a map of the fallow lands. "It shows forts, towns, mountains, rivers, everything that could be of use, that with troop numbers and the fact YOU know the terrain better than the enemy, what to expect when it warms up, where to push, where to flank, where to dig in, this isnt a 'ralley the troops and charge' you are the COMMANDER, that means you take advantage of every little gain you can get. This enemy will not be soft, I haven't seen them, but the stories I hear make goldhollow look like a tea party!" She says as she starts to breathe heavy."
"Thats what I've been saying!" Ludovic declares loudly. "If I just wanted someone to throw tokens at a crow blighted map why would I have offered you so much?! Or do you really think it would be best just to put MORE troops in every spot my father had them? Is that really what I should be doing? Or hey. How about I have the mercenary commander decide which cushy part of the line he should have?" He thumps the table. "I. NEED. YOU. At least come and look at the goddamn terrain."
Helena blinks. "Cushy.. CUSHY! WHAT TYPE OF WOMAN DO YOU THINK I AM? I'M GOING TO BE WHERE THE FIGHTING IS THICKEST! I'm the most qualified commander you will ever have to ask for, even if Ramius and Tarris were not laid out in a medic bed." She says as she leans over the desk. "I have business in Four corners, business that could help YOU in this damn war, if you had come and asked me about it instead of yelling and screaming…" Where had she heard that before? "Now, are you going to calm down?"
"I am calm!" Ludovic's words would be more believable if they weren't delivered so loudly and emphatically. The way he gestures as he declares it doesn't help either. "What is so hard to understand? Do what you said and come help reset the defensive emplacements. THEN go do whatever the hell you want." He gives her a challenging look and then flips a bit, his tone going a little less demanding and more cajoling. "What do you want? I can make it worth it."
Helena raises her eye abit at his sudden change of tone. "I am not a mercenary d'Korbina, I'll postpone my trip to Four corners for a week, and come help you with your defenses. As for my end of the bargaining, Upkeep of the regiment is what I expect from you. The knights are already paid. I also expect that your people will still act in a cordial manner with my battleborn, with the proper religious tolerance that I impress upon my knights and soldiers. They will behave themselves, and your people should do the same." She says with a nod. "Now, I'm not leaving this camp until I'm sure that my leiges, and our allies are well enough into this war that me being gone won't cause a rout… if that is okay with you?" She says, still pissed, but trying oh so very hard to be amicable.
"I'm not telling you to abandon the campaign." Ludovic returns. "I'm telling you to honor your words and come do this properly." He puts his hands down heavily on the desk and leans towards her. "You want to put it off. I want it at the first chance. All I'm doin is sweetening the pot." He frowns at her. "Don't bother telling me you can't be bought. EVERYONE's gotta price. Name it."
Helena looks at him with a few quick blinks. "You wont like my answer, my price is too steep, because money can't buy it" She says with a frown. "Trust me when I say you will regret pushing this, I'm going to go help you, leave it at that." She says as she moves to take her seat once more.
"Stop dancing around the answer." Ludovic tells her sharply. "If you'd come up with money as an answer I woulda been disappointed. Just tell me and let me says yes, or no."
Helena looks up at him. "My battleborn rules are that you have to be a many worshipper to join… so people is out of the question. Of the lands we take, I want ten percent of the tax you collect, in materials, to go into a specialized and safe storehouse in four corners. This 'storehouse' will not be used for my battleborn nor the country, and no one should know about it, find a way to make it a 'business' venture." She says as she leans back. "Second, I want prisoners, I need to find out why that volcano erupted, because I have a feeling our dear friend is behind that, and third, should anything happen to me here, I want your word my family can find safety in your lands."
Ludovic just snorts derisively. "Practicin asking for ridiculous things in the hope the reasonable one will sound extra good?" He asks her in a hard tone. "Because that first is outright extortion. The second is already being done and the third?" He gives her a measuring look. "Would be something you'd have to come to my door an' ask for at the time. Cos it depends why your in that sorta trouble." He pushes off the table and starts pacing again. "Ask for something I can give ya." He looks at her. "Thats reasonable for a coupla weeks worth of advice. That first?" he snorts again.
Helena shakes her head. "I don't want anything more, you pay for the troops upkeep, and make sure my people don't get lynched." She says as she moves to pick up the books and papers she swept out of the way. "Now, once our forces are good and well organized, I'll be in hellsmouth for a week, to make sure that everything is good and ready, THEN I'll go to four corners and take care of my business, when the spring comes, I'll re-join you and we can wipe them off the face of your county." She says and exhales. "I'll also suggest asking d'Rana and d'Armaz to bring up their mercenary companies as well. I need a map… shut up… and a list of what you have. Trust me when I say there will be NOTHING left of them, but I can;t do this without information."
Ludovic gives her a wide smile. "Good. Good!" In a burst of good humour he gives her one of those one-armed hugs that involves back-thumping. "Already got mercenaries and there are maps. At home. Course." Stepping back, grinning still, he reaches up to fix his displaced hat. "Thanks Helena. I owe you."
Helena blinks and gives him a sharp elbow into the rubs. "Easy on the back you oaf! My shoulders are still on the mend!" She says as she winces and rolls her neck. "Fine, and I hope ypou serve chicken there, because pork tastes like death, and I can only handle beef once a month." She says as she shakes her head. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have things to tend to."
Ludovic laughs as the elbow makes him withdraw. "Bah. You're tough. Least I did'n try and kiss you." With a grin he makes a brief kissy kissy face. "Don't worry Me'Lady." He sweeps into a cavalier style bow, complete with the hat flourish. "Aequor has chickens too." And then he leaves. In a much better mood.