Diplomacy at The Spotted Mare

[Thaumantica]

Lexkirk, Engwahlia (Thaumantic Communal Order)

Crown Prince Haglia's plane from Angliarique was greeted on the tarmac by Engwahlian choir students who, to the best of their ability, sang the foreign national anthem as a horse carried carriage met the white and black checkered carpet laid out for him. Modern motor-carriages then winged the horse drawn one on way to a historic tavern and hotel called The Spotted Mare. Her paintings, as imagined by centuries of artists, decked the walls beside original theater scripts of world or nationally famous playwrights and comedians.

Thaumantica's Commisar, the Engwahlian known as Linc Yeovil, greeted Prince Haglia and invited him to sit at a corner table. Around the tavern were well-screened politicians, Neighbor agents, and security from Angliarique to match the Thaumantic presence.

"Great Prince, may my blessings be yours . . " Yeovil began in the typical communalist greeting, "Angliarique's honor humbles me, and to meet a vessel of such stupefies!"

In the tavern then an Engwahlian Revolutionary song began to play, to which Linc Yeovil masked partially a cringe, its lyrics celebrating the death of their final monarch: Queen Aelis, the one who performed suicide to end the royal reign.

"We stand by our mark to guarantee fair coal pricing," the Commisar continued, "should we achieve or speak of nothing else here today, great prince, know that Angliarissians will not go without warmth and power this winter."

@Angliarique

 

[Angliarique]

The Spotted Mare

The revelation to Prince Haglia that the meeting was to be held at a hotel, drew considerable surprise, as he had thought diplomacy was always conducted in more formal settings. But it was a not time for choosing, the Federation’s withdrawal of coal supplies placed Angliarique once again at the edge of an economic and humanitarian catastrophe.

It was a meeting of much importance, as Sir Lutoune, the Vice-President of the Foreign Affairs Cabinet looked on at the conversation taking place a few steps away, at a corner table between Prince Haglia and Commissar Yeovil. Sir Lutoune, an elderly diplomat, had only a day before, celebrated his 102nd birthday. Now he witnessed as it were the meeting that would decide if the Angliarique that he grew up in would change forever.

The Commissar’s greeting surprised the Prince, as he had thought that a leader without a monarch shudder even to express such blessings. So equally he reciprocated with a gift of an expensive crystal orb, “Ah, the most chivalrous Commissar..” And further, “The Spotted Mare, an exquisite place for this meeting, well chosen..”

As a song in the background began playing, Prince Haglia hummed along with the tune of it. “Rather nice song. Feels uplifting.” The Prince knew not of the song’s origins so naively, he continued to hum to it. Close by, Sir Lutoune covered his face in embarrassment.

The Prince went on, “Commissar, I understand that it is in the interest of regional harmony, that your great people so offer my people, coal.” He continued, “And so I am willing to accept the offer, and ask humbly what does your great people expect in return?” He added in loud whisper, “We are prepared to compensate you and your immediate family with treasures beyond imagination. If need be, we will aid you in seizing absolute power.”

 

[Thaumantica]

"Denounce the Federation from Westernesse, dear Prince . ." Yeovil asked in response to the price of this coal bargain, "deny their troops, their vessels, and winged killers a landing spot in your fair kingdom."

So it was now that colonization occurred in reverse. The Westermen of Anglian and Engwahlian stock were returning to hearth ports with intent to reclaim their forefathers' bounty. "Sir Luotone, great laird, did you know the appointed ones of Engwahlia as a wee one, surely you heard of them? Their titles, their lands, and their legacy were auctioned and sold to merchants from the Meridian, the West, or any who offered a convenient purse."

"Is this you, Great Prince Haglia?" Yeovil asked, "Is your royal house so sick as Engwahl's was when good Luoton was wee? Surely not, and Engwahl's Thaumantic Order will offer fair bargains of coal to protect your right."

 

[Angliarique]

Prince Haglia was surprised yet again, when Commissar Yeovil revealed the price to pay. The prince thought to himself, how wasteful it was for the commissar to ask in return for something, so little in value. To the prince it was the best deal he had ever come across, or so he would think for now.

Sir Lutoune uttered proudly to Commissar Yeovil, “Pardon me for my intrusion. I was young in those days, as you say, so I have little recollection. But, I understand it was a momentous time for your great people.” He then kept silent, after Prince Haglia shot a serious glance at him.

“Great Commissar… The Charleroi Charlatans will never, I promise, never set foot on my father’s soil. They have betrayed his trust by reneging on their promises. These manipulators are never to be forgiven. Never!” Prince Haglia accepted the exchange, with a satisfied smile on his face.

Still rather overwhelmed by the Commissar’s cheap price. The Prince assured and toasted with beer in hand, “Lest you forget, Great Commissar, ask and you shall receive. I will aid you by whatever means possible, in any cause against your foes.”

 

[Thaumantica]

Commissar Yeovil had lost himself for awhile in the madness which was this reception and performance with the Angliarissian monarch before remembering himself. Linc Yeovil was, by his guest's standards, a common nobody. Sure a great-great grandmother had caught a dash of royal seed on her apron a century or so ago, paid handsomely to stay private and marry a lifeguard of that Engwahlian Prince whose name Linc made a point of trying to forget. What happened back then, as it were, made that lifeguard and young woman wealthy enough to create significant enterprise.

Accepting the prince's toast with a clink Linc nodded, "Such great company you are, Great Prince, and Sir Luotone! Good sir, there are photo albums here from the time before that a historian and curator is dying to reveal to you!" Yeovil half offered and half ordered as a nebbish professor from the Queen's Legacy University appeared, white gloves adorned, with a cart of historical photographs and documents. "Might I take you back in time, Sir Luotone, it would be my deepest honor!" the professor declared.

Engwahlian Neighbors, the security detail, then invited the Angliarissian guards into another room where Prince Haglia might order more exotic fancies. Women, boys, drugs, and footmen ready to fetch whatever the prince desired. "How long do you think it will be your father's soil, pray tell, your Kingdom?" Yeovil inquired before knocking on a billiards table that was quickly being surrounded by young women and men, whatever the Prince might fancy. "Pick a partner, Great Prince!"

Yeovil waited, he would pick an Angliarissian guard as his partner regardless of who the Prince picked.

"Surely we will stand steadfast against our foes, you and I Great Ki-, hmm, Prince Haglia, but first let's do stagger as mates! I think peerage dictates that your team shoots first?"

 

[Angliarique]

Prince Haglia was delighted by Commissar Yeovil. The prince had doubted that anything would come from this meeting, but was pleasantly surprised by the outcome of the conversation. He thought to himself that Linc Yeovil would make a crucial friend for the Angliarique monarchy, so he did his best to have the Great Commissar on good terms.

Letting Commissar Yeovil have his way, Prince Haglia told Sir Lutoune with a chuckle, “Lutoune, dear friend, do indulge the professor’s questions! Go ahead and have your fun while we’re here.” Sir Lutoune shook hands with the professor, “Dear scholar, I’ll indulge whatever questions you may have, take me back to the distant past.” Sir Lutoune eagerly followed the professor to his study; they would not be seen for the next few hours. Perhaps, a camaraderie was brewing.

After a couple of drinks, Prince Haglia and Linc Yeovil moved to a billiard hall. A gentlemen’s club of decadence, one might argue. But, for the Prince he felt at home, the lively environment reminded him of his Radilan cocaine parties back at the Manor of Valeria.

“Great Commissar, my father’s realm will all be mine, all in good time! All in good time. And when it happens, you’ll be the first to know.” Prince Haglia replied to Linc Yeovil, in an eager tone after drinking whiskey straight from the bottle. For the Prince it got better and better, Linc Yeovil’s invitation for him to pick a partner, deepened his interest in the whole affair. “It’ll have to be you then! Max?” The Prince uttered as he read off the nametag of a blonde waiter nearby.

“Great Commissar, you seem to be lover of this game, hmmm, have this! I know not anyone who perform as well as you do.” The Prince placed a gold eight ball in the Commissar’s hand. It was a gift. He continued in slurred drunken speech, “L- Let -tuce toast to hour? Our! Our continued friendship! Without Westernesse.” Safe to say, Prince Haglia lost the game.

 

[Thaumantica]

Yeovil was nearly gone himself after these drinking hours and tumbles of extra-marital affairs yet he remembered, after a sniff from the prince's offering, that there was something else to inquire and secure.

"I think you would like . . no, no, no . . . You must have a penthouse here in Lexkirk, okay?" Linc declared. "Should things get too dreadful, unbearable, or if you just need a night or two away you will come up here . . anytime . . and . ." Yeovil straightened himself a bit in an attempt to be serious, "Eng-no-Thaumantica will back you, Haglia, only you . . you against the world, you against the mainland, grape prints, you against the Spascirians . . your nation . . your everyone, and even against your Fath . . the faith, the faith. I love you, and I want you to be at home here."