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

He's a very nice young man Kalvos. I told Gids he was wasted in the mire but young Kalvos insisted he stayed... I guess he wanted to stay with his charming mermaid friend.

*He smiles*

There is no need for assassins. I am sure the Princess can be reasoned with, she is very sweet. Ask her gently to renounce any rights to the throne and I am sure she will comply... and if the issue is you object to get marrying Kalvos then pass a law to say nobody of the Queen's bloodline can marry without permission of the High Council.

Perhaps Lady Montrose should go. She is always so fair and charming, I am sure Carados will melt at our beautiful ice maiden's beauty.

I don't always choose to be here because I would rather my poinys be recognised than your egos protected. Now who does Carados hate the least...

*Her eyes gaze round the room and she looks at Strom.*

Perhaps you Kayled? You are known to be considerate of other races and that will go down well with a man who has a mermaid wife.

*She smiles languidly at Karn*

Lord Karn your flattery and legal knowledge is most welcome here.

What you are suggesting is treason, pure and simple. If we harm a hair on that Princess's head, we shall have the wrath of all the oceans flood our land. Look what they did to the Kanaran navy. The Princess is a beloved favourite of her Grandmother the Empress, to hurt her in any way is madness.

A mermaid a formidable opponent! My dear Strom! They are the most empty headed creatures in the world. Just distracr her with a shiny object and bring her here. Carados will have to behave if we have his daughter. I don't like war, too much money and effort.

*She looks at Lady Frampton*

I must say Isobella darling you are a little protective of this Kalvin fellow. Is he a friend of yours? I hear he is very handsome... must be if he snared a mermaid, vain little creatures.

*Blayze reads the latest dispatches*

The Legion of the Hawk decimated, I thought this was to be the defeat of Carados? Not only that but instead of disowning his daughter as Lady Montrose assured us he was planning to do, he has married her off and now holds the largest army as a consequence?

*He pours a goblet of wine*

We should have taken control of her earlier and wed her to a groom of our choice. How could a brute like that outsmart us?

Ah but the East holds strong and we still have control of the treasury. Carados will soon run out of tobran and that is what wins victories. So the Legion of the Hawk is decimated? We shall buy more men and more swords.

*She strokes her owl and ruffles its feathers*

Lord Karn is investigating the validity of the marriage. I heard that she did not assent, merely that Carados forced her head into a nod of acquiescence that neither she nor the Bishop questioned. One almost feels sorry for her. I mean if she wasn't the child of a vile traitor.

Well Carados hardly has to pay tobran for Thranmere's hoards, now he's sold him his daughter.

*Byron gives a wry smile and nibbles on some gold dust covered grapes. He chuckles.*

My spies tell me she wept through the whole service and the wedding feast. Hardly surprising when wed to such a beast.... you could almost pity her. If she wasn't the child of a traitor.

*He looks at his well manicured hands.*

Could be useful for us one day. Perhaps she can be persuaded to betray her husband and father. Mermaids are not clever creatures, she will think onky of escaping to the sea, not what will happen once her House falls.