"Look, I get it. I don't like being ripped off, either. Anyway, this guy gets to be fired. He gets to pay me back. And he gets to get his stuff and come on Crusade. I don't need to be there to make that happen."

He smiles. "That's why I have guys."

"Well, that's no good." He looks over at de Mandeville, who nods once to support your assertions. His fists tighten on the arms of his chair. "I might just have to have a chat with this Sheriff."

"Huh." He straightens up a little in his seat. "Yeah?"

The group is allowed in. Richard looks a little tired today. The hunt must have taken something out of him.

"Hey!" he says gamely. "What's this, Northumberland and Essex and the Chancellor, huh? I bet this isn't good news."

"Excellent." He leans back in his chair and nods. "Well, I'll have Longchamp look it over and we'll take what we can. Thanks for your help, you can go."

+30 Glory to Andre l'Ecrivain

"Right. There's sense to that. So this just maintains the status quo? Longchamp's not going to be surprised by anything he finds in here?"

"Right." The King leans forward. "Probably best if you got specific. I heard something general about continuity of kingship. Are you making choices about the succession process?"

Richard blinks. "Thanks." He looks up at Longchamp, who comes forward to take the list. "I guess we'll look it over. There anything in here I should know about before I find out for myself?"

Andre is shown into the receiving area, there to find Richard and Longchamp poring over a document. After a brief pause, Richard looks up, squints, and says: "Ah, yes, the writer. You want something to do with my legacy?"

"Leave John in Ireland? No, that wouldn't do at all. He's made such a pig's ear of it, and anyway the de Clare's just paid a large some for the transfer. Gloucester's his through that silly marriage. I'd have to harm the legacy of Miles of Gloucester by stripping his daughter of the title. My God, t...

Richard's eyes widen slightly. "Alright, sounds like a plan. Great!"

"Keep your sword, Welshman. You've earned it, standing firm as you did against the greatest warriors among my Earls."

He pauses. "And take the falcon, too, in light of your courage."

"The occupation of Ceredigion would suggest that the Welsh are not incapable of concerted action, but I will be content if their struggles are limited to Wales herself. I do take your point on Ireland, the addition of the de Clares there will create its own troubles, as my little brother is quite pi...

"It was nicely done, Whitehands," King Richard acknowledges. "And your years of faithful service to me will be remembered, that much I can assure you. I must say the Earl of Chester made a good showing of himself as well. And that Welshman who stepped in for the King of Scotland. I think...yes, I th...

"Well, it was 14 years ago he was raiding as far south as Alnwick. I think there might be something to having a strong watch on the North. Not that I don't trust him, you see, but it may be that I need to disappoint him temporarily. I can't be worried about his feelings when I've got my own house to...

"Oh, Scotland. Right. I thought you were talking about a specific threat from one of my Earls. I'd have to do something about that. Pronto."

Richard at first doesn't hear over the pounding in his ears, but Simon de Montfort's timely call for his attention breaks through. "Huh? Right, yielding." He looks around, noticing the blood arcing out of William of Salisbury's gorget. "Yeah, probably best. Alright, everybody, knock it off!" he roars.

Richard squints. "What the hell are you talking about? Is there a part of my lands that I should be worried about?"

The King frowns. "I hear you, Welshman."

Richard absorbs the speech, though partway through his leg starts to bounce. "Right. So...I should give it to him because he's a great guy, reminds you of what you'd like to be, and because he'd swear homage to me. Do you know how many of these old farts call themselves Earls swore fealty to my fath...

"Ha! Healer's tent. Don't you worry about that! Take care of yourself, de Braose. See you tomorrow."

The king opens his mouth to speak, then closes it. He thinks for a few moments. "That's a good point, de Braose. That's a pretty good point. Of course, I'd just have to grind them under my heel, but who needs the hassle? Yeah, the fight's in Outremer, and later it'll be in France. The island needs t...

"She does," the King replied. "And she's not alone, but a man gives his word that a deal's made, what else can he do?"

"Okay. Well, I did say my offices would go to the most devoted, and mother seems to have lit a fire under your ass. Maybe it'll happen."

"It'll cost you in the end, but I can't hate you for it." Richard shrugged. "Don't say I didn't warn you, though. And don't pull it with Mother. She's the most vindictive one of all of us."

The giant blinks. "Well, I can't say that I've given your prospects much thought. I've heard of your father; if you've got even one-tenth of his grit, you're not going to need my advice to make your own opportunities. Unless..you had something specific in mind?"

The guard shows you in, revealing Richard standing by his table, looking at a set of maps. He turns his head to take you in and frowns.

"Ah, the Prince. You wanted something?"

It was not long before a guard opened the door and ushered Giles into the chamber.

Richard was seated at table, a large hunk of bread in one hand and a bowl of soup in the other. He regards Giles with a curious expression.

"You're de Braose's kid, right? What's this all about?"

The sennet that heralds the arrival of the king is punctuated by a tremendous *boom* as the door leading deeper into the palace slams against the stone wall of the hallway. The king enters, his prodigious height surmounted by an expression like a thundercloud. Behind him, Prince John and the Earl Ma...

Richard's eye twitches. "Make me, huh?" He taps his finger twice on the table in a gesture of plain annoyance. "You boxed me into a corner with the 'stab me' thing; I'll give you that. But it won't be a coronation festival forever. Don't make me regret not taking you up on the offer."