The Land of Grimney - The Illustrated Adventures of Cora Pearl, aged 12

Kalvos... yes I know he cleared his name for betraying the vows he made as an Elite knight but that was before we knew who Philomena was. I mean, if the mermaids want to allow her to marry who she wants that is all fine and dandy but this isn't some mermaid Princess. This is our Princess. It is an insult to the High Council and the very throne of Dudrassa that some peasant child, who was lucky enough to be scooped out of whatever slum he was living in and raised to be a knight, should raise his eyes to marry a Princess of the Blood.

*She roots in her bag for another dead mouse*

I have no objection to a half-blood mermaid on the throne when the time comes, but something needs to be done about this Kalvos and whatever brat they have hidden away in the Dudrassa.

*Lady Aoife pulls out a toffee and begins to chew.*

Wonder what Carados makes of having a granddaughter? Or has the mermaid not found the courage to tell him yet?

You know I think Lady Aoife may be right. Who is this Kalvos to think he is worthy of marrying a princess of Grimney? She needs to marry a noble man.

*Lord Blayze looks thoughtful.*

Once our beloved Queen Eleanor is deceased, a mermaid Queen would been very malleable I think. All we would need to do is give her pretty clothes and expensive make up. It would signal equality to non humans but no laws would change and we would still govern. Better still she marry a member of the High Council. Lord Silas you are unmarried but I imagine you would object to a mermaid wife however beautiful, I am unmarried but modesty forbids me from nominating myself, and Strom of course you are a widower. Perhaps you should take the Princess as your bride once we have disposed of Kalvos? Its not like your first wife was fully human.

Oh yes... I forgot your wife was partly elf Kayled, such a tragic death.

*She smiles coldly round the room*

Purity of blood. I wonder how many in this room will bear scrutiny to their lineage? Some here should not forget I know their history.

This is outrageous!

*He slams his fist upon the table causing the goblets to shake and wine to spill*.

At least with Sir Robert and Darke at our table we had more moderate voices! No one will be disposing of Kalvos. He completed his trials and any such action taken against him by the High Council would be unlawful, we are the law, we must uphold the law and do right by its people.

*He looks around the room and looks sternly at the many faces gathered*.

A mermaid Queen in Grimney is a dangerous idea, we all know the strength of the Militia and civil war must be avoided. The concern is Carados, he is no diplomat and he would rule cruelly and brutally, for it is he who seeks to take the throne, not Philomena.

*He sits back in his chair*.

You all know that I am a military man and because of that I insist we solve this business without resorting to war.

I do not believe that Carados seeks the throne. I have yet to see the evidence. His quarrel with us has always been about limiting our powers but he has always been loyal to his family. If we want this settled peacefully then we must speak to Carados and to the Dudrassa ambassador. The mermaids have never seemed interested in placing Philomena on the Grimney throne, preferring to keep her to themselves.

In your eagerness to defend this Kalvos, you overlook the fact I did not call for the boy's death, merely that I agree with Lady Aoife that he should not marry the Princess. She suggested sending him to Vorgania, and I agreed. Lady FramptonI haveno idea why you are always defending this lowly knight. You were against him facing more than one opponent in the arena too. If it was Lucia I would think it because of his handsome face, but we all know you are too superior to be motivated by lust. He has no value, no importance in this world. You cannot be serious in wishing him to marry the Princess?

*He laughs*

Convenient that we must now follow the law when we were talking about preventing the lawful heir from inheriting the throne and nobody objected to Lord Silas sending assassins after Carados or kidnapping the Princess.