Andre, having made arrangements, awaits a guest and admission to the de Clare pavilion...

Llelweyn wait peacefully, doing his best to give the impression of being serene and placid.

Sir Robert Faulconbridge comes out of the tent looking a little upset. Moments later the guards usher you inside, where Lord de Clare sits on his camp stool. He nods kindly enough to each of you, though there is a certain tenseness to his expression.

"Agnatu, good to see you. Who's this?"

Llwelyn offers a bow. "Llwelyn mab Iorwerth at your service Lord de Clare. I wished to see if my services would be useful while here in Court. In truth, while I am in service to my own reputation, and am not so glory starved that I need shine on the tournament grounds. Therefore I ask: who do you wish to lose? At either the melee, or in the shaping that is taking place in other halls. And how may I be of assistance?"

"As he says, my lord," Andre replies to the Earl with a bow. "And a man already associated with us in the eyes of the Coeur de Lion."

Richard de Clare is silent for a long time. "What an interesting proposition. How is it that you can make a person lose, Llywelyn?"

Testing Trusting, tn 11: 1d20 17

Richard de Clare wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 18, 2021 1:23 am

Richard de Clare is silent for a long time. "What an interesting proposition. How is it that you can make a person lose, Llywelyn?"

Testing Trusting, tn 11: 1d20 17

"I am a prudent person My Lord, and I don't promise more than I believe I can deliver. I am no juggernaut. However, even the mightiest of figures can be forced to retreat when beset from multiple fronts. If there is a knight who you wish met before yours must face him, I can make him a priority. If there is an argument you wish to have opposed your man" Llwelyn motions to Andre, "can attest that I am at least in the room when people have made decisions, and ideas have been listened to. I do not promise bold moves that wipe away the lines. I simply offer that chance to offer you and your people an opportunity where one might not be before"

Andre nods in affirmation.

"He speaks truly so far as that, my lord," he says. "Indeed, King Richard did give him heed in support of ideas we shared, his insights doing much to bolster what I could do."

He sighs. "And another in service is not a bad thing to have."

"I think I understand." de Clare is quiet for a moment. "Well, it is no secret that our allies are not as thick on the ground as once they were. But I confess that I am curious that a Welshman would offer his services to the rightful lord of all southern Wales. What precisely are you looking for in exchange, sir?"

Llwelyn cautiously studies the man's face. "Welsh politics is, as you know... I'll settle on "complicated". Daffyd and Rhodei Owain Gwynned have carved up their own parts of the land that bears their name. The church disputes the legitimacy of their claim, both sons bourne by a wife of Owain never recognized. Of those recognized was one son. Iorwerth mab Owain Gwynned, killed early...but not before he sired an heir."

"Were my efforts to aid you worth a position of some note... perhaps to organize those who intend to join the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, it would legitimize myself as a leader to the Marcher Lord's. If I can lead them to glory in the Holy Land, then perhaps in Gwynned. And if so, you would gain a northern neighbor that you know you can work with"

"Ruling a united Gwynedd?" de Clare considers for a moment. "Alright. You sign a truce with me for the duration of the Crusade +5 years. I promise not to expand at your expense, you promise not to expand at mine. I warn you, though, Llywelyn, the enemies of my house are strong. If we have an agreement on this point, I am prepared to discuss our problems further. If not, we'll end here and part as friends."

Llwelyn lowers his chin in thought.

"Danger is all around us regardless. One of my uncles might decide I am more trouble than I am worth. An infidel may take me in Levant. What you offer is fair. I accept"

"Very well. My principle rival is Prince John. By himself, he would not be a problem, as he is hated by his mother and brother. However, he is supported by the actions Henry II took during his life, which won him Gloucester and Ireland at the expense of my wife's claims. These lands are not stricly John's, but rather his wife's, who is my wife's youngest sister."

"Likewise, Buckinghamshire, Glamorgan, and Pembrokeshire were handed to William Marshal through the second sister of the three. Now, I do not wish to harm the Marshal, but the conflicting claims should be settled. Pembrokeshire ought to be his, but to be a friend to you, you want me to be master of Glamorgan and of Gloucester. Buckinghamshire wouldn't hurt either."

"Well, that certainly is a tall order." Llwelyn thinks quietly for a moment. "Those three holdings are the ones you wish to target?"

He looks over at Andre. "Are there any plans in the work already that I need to avoid running afoul of?"

"I do have an understanding with some of the Marcher lords, not all of which owe fealty to me," de Clare offers. "And I think the Archbishop has no love of John, so we may well have a friend there."

"It seems that very few people do." Llwelyn paused to think. "The might be the key to Gloucester. How tightly do you believe the Prince would cling to it if his pride dictated that he object elsewhere?"

Andre stares, or seems to, but those who know will know the big man is committing things to memory. He is a witness, and he knows what it means to be one.

Llywelyn mab Iorwerth wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 19, 2021 11:30 am

"It seems that very few people do." Llwelyn paused to think. "The might be the key to Gloucester. How tightly do you believe the Prince would cling to it if his pride dictated that he object elsewhere?"

"He'll cling to it for his wife's sake as well as his own. Isabella of Gloucester should never have inherited, but she was assigned those territories by Henry II, and John will risk much to hold on to them. Without them, he has no holdings in England, and it is known he has no love for his Irish "kingdom," nor it for him."

"My lord," Andre puts in, "might it not be done that the inheritance be set aside on grounds of agnatic primogeniture? You point out that Isabella ought not to have inherited; would not that principle give cause for it?"

He inclines his head, holds his open hands palms up. "It is but a thought that occurs, suddenly. It may well be of no moment."

"Perhaps Richard might consider that line of reasoning. He's not a very subtle man, but he's no fool. And he did not agree with many of his father's decisions. He can sometimes resent interference, however."

"As my lord says," Andre replies. "But it might be a thing to point up, should opportunity arise again."

"Or should it be created." de Clare smiles. "One seldom has the privilege of fate opening the door." He considers for another moment.

"There is another matter which may have some bearing on this, but it should not be our first recourse. There is some danger involved. I have trusted you men with much, but this...I would need your solemn oath not to unnecessarily endanger the person whose identity I intend to reveal with loose talk or a dodgy gambit."

Andre raises his right hand in token of the same.

"I swear not to speak of it" Llwelyn likewise raises his hand

"You may need to, in the end, but do not use it except out of deepest need."

He hesitated, then shook his head and plowed on. "Philip, Sir Robert Faulconbridge's second son, is the natural son of King Richard. We have been keeping him safe at the request of King Henry. I am not altogether certain that King Richard knows of his existence."

Andre blinks a couple of times in surprise, calculating in his head, and shrugging.

"Of course this will not be spoken of without utmost need," he says, "but that does raise the question of how many more such are to be found. Pliny the Elder attests to the, er, amorousness of the lion, after all. And one must wonder at the late King's solicitude for this grandson."

But it sets up conflict within the household, in any event.

Llwelyn looks at the Earl with an incredulous expression. "I would not have guessed. And, with due respect, that does seem like risky leverage to use on the King directly. I can see a real possibility of him executing the messenger purely on principle."

"The King is not the only player in the field," the Earl replies. "And he has no heir named as of yet. It would be galling to some men to have a brother or nephew on the throne when one of their own is in play. I suspect, but cannot be completely certain, that King Richard is one of these."

"As for King Henry's motives, I cannot be entirely certain. He was known to love his son, John, and he could show recklessness at times, but he grew crafty in his old age. Perhaps he suspected John would move against Arthur, and damn himself in the process. In any case, there is a likeness to this grandson to his father in frame, in appearance, and in temperament. It has been hell keeping him away from the tournament, where a person might put it together. That's why Faulconbridge is tearing his hair out."

"I hear he's made friends with Henry de Bohun, but there is little chance that boy has put it all together, yet. Boys of 13 seldom think much of coincidence, and in any case Philip has no idea himself of his true parentage."

"Are we then to guide the youth," Andre asks, "or to take some other tack?"

"Sir Robert Faulconbridge is entrusted with his care and development, and has been doing a good job. No, I merely wished you to be armed with the knowledge if it became necessary to achieve our aims. It may be that he will produce the effect we need to expose the fault-lines between the Plantagenets, or it may be that he is a needless complication and you can unseat John without much persuasion required."