GLOBAL STORY UPDATE: A NEW PATH FOR ALL OF US

Enjoy your surprises!
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A New Path For All of Us

Prince Chartres agreed with his best friend Goði Joran Holmstrom, “I really did need this fresh air and the ocean, Joran, especially now that it’s Spring.”
The Garhim nodded, “Indeed. I wouldn’t be interested in a life permanently away from the ocean.” He was a young chieftain from Grahnhaven and had lived his entire life near the sea. He leaned on a crenelation of the tower they were on, and gazed out over the nearby shore to the waves calling to him. “Yes,” he simply stated.
“Yes, what?” Chartres asked.
“Yes, I will be the Best Man at your wedding. Of course.”
The two laughed and the young prince nodded, “Of course.”
“She is most lovely,” Joran spoke of his fiancee Emmaline, “and with spirit too.”
Chartres could’t help but grin again at the thought of her.  "You know, Joran, you have been a great friend to me since I came to Garheim as a child.  It means so much to me that you have not shown the least bit of suspicion or resentment toward my Emmie.  When my own people of Lenfald show nothing but cynicism, you've been a true friend through everything."
The Goði nodded assuringly, "I'm sucking up for favoritism."
The two had a good laugh, as Chartres knew full-well Joran was one of the most honorable men in his court.  In fact, the Garhim was a little too honest at times. 

The mood however was rapidly changed by the sudden appearance of Prince Jarius Lorean, coming upon them by the south wall walk very quickly with a look that was all-business. He briefly nodded at Goði Holmstrom and then soberly intoned, “Your grace, sorry to disturb you, but there is a Lenfald delegation which just landed. It is on its way to speak with you, and I wanted to see if you had made a decision as to our courses of action if…”
Prince Chartres looked down at the stones he stood upon, as if someone had just placed a burden back on his shoulders.
Seeing his troubled expression, Jarius offered, “My apologies, Prince, but the role you are about to take on involves many weighty matters, none of which is more pressing than the results of this shady Lenfald Congress. As I told you earlier, I have not heard from my informant for some time now — I am highly concerned for his welfare to be honest — and the end state of this affair. We must be prepared with an answer if they do not,” he paused again, reluctant to say such words, “accept you as their true sovereign.”
Chartres blinked and looked out at the ocean once more. “I am still hoping for the best. Once High Lord Triphian truly sees Emmaline for who she is, he will better understand how this union will benefit all of Roawia, not just myself.”
Prince Lorean looked doubtful but nodded, “Happily I wish it becomes so, your grace. Yet the wise prepare, and we should choose our words now before we have to choose them in front of…”

“Grand Duke of Durrough, Lord Cartney bears a message!” a loud and burly Lenfel suddenly called in the distance while the delegation was still some 80 yards away.
“That was fast,” Jarius said under his breath.
“It appears we are a little late in deciding courses of action,” Joran stated in that brusque manner that Garhim were famous for.
They watched the Lenfald delegation approach and Jarius suddenly snapped his fingers for their guards’ attention, “They appear well-armed, get more men here.”
Chartres glanced at him, “It’s Duke Cartney, he is too civilized for anything martial. He’s always been very friendly to me.”
Jarius nodded at the procession, “Then why the bodyguard, eh, young Prince? Lenfel Scout Snipers too, never to be underestimated.”


A New Path For All of Us

The Duke did indeed have a sizable force with him, including the renowned archer Captain Tavish. Yet the Duke’s approach was warm and cordial and he greeted Chartres with great grace, “My prince, how you have grown since we last met,” shaking his hand, “and in good health too, excellent!” Glancing over at Joran, the Lenfel examined him quickly and asked, “You are Edvard Holmstrom’s son, yes? Of course, you have that seafaring look that runs in your family. My condolences on your honorable father’s passing.”
Joran nodded, “Thank yee. I now have his title, and hold it with pride.”
“Ah Goði, yes of course, and I am certain you will take after your father in carrying it in honor, and if I may, friendship with Lenfald.”
The Garhim nodded diplomatically, yet said nothing.
Duke Cartney turned to Jarius and immediately offered his hand, “Congratulations Prince on the birth of your son, what a wonderful blessing this is for you and your wife.” While Jarius all-too briefly shook his hand, Cartney continued, “My own Lady Iona and I have just had our first as well, and what a lovely…”
“Duke Cartney,” Jarius interrupted, “we assume you are here for more than small talk.”
Unfazed, Cartney continued, “Yes of course, duties, duties. Well Prince Chartres, we can assume Lorean here has informed you of our illustrious congress, yes? That we considered several options on the future of Lenfald?”
Before Chartres could answer Jarius interjected, “Now why do you assume such a thing? Am I that concerned with Lenfald’s business?”
Cartney raised an eyebrow in his direction but did not look at him, “Ahhh, Prince, sometimes it is necessary to point out the fly in ones…soup.” While Jarius was still trying to work that one out, Captain Tavish was choking down a laugh.

The Duke pressed on, “So Prince Chartres I have rushed here to speak with you of our matters, as you have our greatest respect and it’s so vital to maintain an open understanding between our illustrious parties, yes? The coronation is still set for a fortnight away?”
Chartres nodded, “Yes, with a feast to follow and you are most welcome to come with Lady Iona my good Duke.”
“An honor sir, thank you. Yet I must ask one more question prince, and please understand I am merely doing my duty here — are you still intent on marrying the young Lady Emmaline after the coronation?”
The mood between the four leaders suddenly chilled, especially with Chartres, who held his emotions in check while answering, “It is decided, with no reservations, and will happen one week after my coronation as King of all Roawia.”
Cartney nodded formally, “And you have my warmest congratulations as well, may both of you enjoy a long and happy marriage together. ….However as part of my duties here I must now offer you this my prince,” and the Duke reached back and took a large scroll from Captain Tavish and held it before Chartres, who did not take it right away but looked upon it with dread. The sudden formal nature of Cartney’s present behavior did not bode well.

This delay gave Jarius all the chance he needed and he snatched the scroll from the duke, breaking the seal immediately. As an excuse he offered, “Perhaps it is best if I bear the news.” He had determined to protect the young prince from the worst, but unfortunately it did not appear so to those watching. He began to read aloud, “We, the people of Glorious Lenfald, have convened together in earnest to determine our fate — blah blah blah, we don’t need all these details — and declare…” His face fell, then great indignation came over him, and fury began to build in his eyes. “How dare you!” he suddenly shot at Cartney, who seemed to have expected it. “Such insolence declared openly, it is nothing less than despicable treason!”
The Duke fully maintained his composure. Indeed, he looked no more concerned with Lorean’s outburst than he would a passing butterfly.
Chartres shook his head and stated, “Enough Prince Lorean, we must know what is written!”
Jarius continued to stare with indignation at Duke Cartney, and then read further through gritted teeth, “…and we the senior leaders, nobility and common people of Lenfald declare ourselves a free and fully sovereign nation, independent of Roawia and owing no allegiance to same, holding to our own and responsible to no other land, people or king other than our own good conscience…”

A stunned silence followed while these words sunk in. Lenfald was leaving Roawia. Unthinkable.
“This…this can’t be right Duke, it cannot!” Chartres declared, recoiling in disbelief.
“Have you all gone truly mad?” was all Joran managed.
“My Prince, I assure you that the people of Lenfald made this decision in full…”
“‘The people’?!” Jarius interrupted, “The people of Lenfald made no such decision, it’s Triphian, that scoundrel, he’s always wanted to be king, but knowing Roawia would never submit to the likes of such a base scheming fox that…”

At first, Duke Cartney tried to offer him the dignity owed a Prince of the desert, but as Jarius continued on, Cartney grew bored, or at least appeared to, and began to drift away, raising an eyebrow, glancing casually at the waves in the distance, noting that Captain Tavish clearly needed a new pair of boots, and then finally spotting a splash of mud on his pants, to which he reacted as if that mud had no right to besmirch his excellent appearance. He began to swat at the spot as if to say, “How dare you settle on my finery!”

But when Lorean reached a point in his indignant lecture where he intoned, “You go back and tell that so-called ‘King Triphian’ that…”, Cartney suddenly raised a hand.
“Ahhhhhhh, that is most impossible, for no such person exists. Or ever will.” Looking at their questioning faces he added, “No king. Ever. Lenfald has survived for three years without a king, through some of the most trying times in our history; why would we have one now?”
Prince Jarius shook his head and continued, “His true tyrannical nature will eventually come out in time, but for now you go back and tell High Lord Triphian that…”
The moment Cartney had been waiting for, indeed had counted on with relish, had arrived. “Ahhhhhhh, that is most impossible as well, for no such person exists either. Anymore.”

A second shock went through them and Chartres, with great and genuine concern for High Lord Triphian’s welfare, leaned forward and asked, “Please tell me he has not befallen some horrible fate? Pray tell he is not dead?”
“Oh,” Cartney intoned casually, “not dead — fishing. Which can sometimes smell the same I suppose, a recreational hazard apparently.”
“What are you saying man?” demanded Lorean, who couldn’t believe what he just heard.
“At the Congress. Triphian resigned, suddenly and of his own will, immediately after 78 out of 99 of our most senior leaders and highest nobility voted to leave Roawia. Permanently. And so he left as well — also permanently. He’s gone back to being known merely as Lord Tripp and also gone back to his estate in Isil Oro, where he mentioned a collection of trout needing his attention.”

“This isn’t the Triphian we know!” Jarius declared, “It must be some sneaking Lenfel trick to confuse those of us still loyal to Roawia.”
And this was the part Cartney had been looking forward to the most, for long had Triphian endured the derision of his fellow Provincial Leaders, especially Prince Jarius. And now to see the look on his face was priceless for a Lenfel. He turned gracefully and stated, “Actually you never really knew him at all. You always suspected the worst in him, a mirror of your own self, Prince Jarius, never understanding that his real concern was and always will be for the People of Lenfald. Which is precisely why he resigned.”
Jarius let his anger turn into a cold stare.  “And you, Duke of Durrough, do not know me either,” Jarius corrected, “But I know where my duty lies.”
“As do I, Honorable Prince — with Lenfald.”

Chartres now started, almost in tears, “This is a disaster for all…what have I caused? Am I to be the stone upon which the ship of Roawia finally crashed?”
Seeing the prince in such a state of distress, Cartney now felt the weight of his own cold-blooded behavior, and offered the young man some words in kindness, “Young Prince, we in Lenfald bare no ill will toward you, nor Roawia for that matter, and this certainly is no declaration of hostility. Indeed we are all hoping for mutual understanding. Rather than viewing it as a disaster, may I suggest you take it as a new path for all of us, a sure path, and a good one. I bid you farewell, your grace, may you come to see the wisdom of all this, but for now I must be off to help steer our own affairs.” And with this he turned with his men and started off.

“But who is now High Lord of Lenfald?” called Joran Holmstrom.
Duke Cartney paused, turned carefully and announced in an official tone, “Field Marshal Albrecht von Falkenborg was elected to the High Lord position for the next five years, by an overwhelming majority at the Congress. For those who have not heard of him, he drove the Queen’s forces out of Stonewald and Northern Lenfald, and has never lost a single battle…or political campaign for that matter. I should know, as I lost the election to him. Good day gentlemen!”

As the Lenfel party departed, a cold silence fell over Roawia’s leaders, masking the anger and sorrow they all felt. Seeing Chartres so despondent, Jarius realized that his own rage did not serve his Prince well. Sighing deeply, he recovered his composure and his clarity, and turned to him. “I am with you my Prince,” Jarius reassured him calmly, “and will support whatever you require of Mighty Loreos.”
“Perhaps we should return to the Great Hall, and discuss this matter for the betterment of Roawia,” Joran added.
Chartres nodded sadly. Before turning toward the castle he stared once more at the ocean and said, “It was a lovely time…while it lasted.”