October 1081
October 1081
Phillipe stood in the strategy hall, looking down at the wooden figurines on the map meant to represent armies, and he asked the Duke of Flanders, who stood on the opposite side of the table,”How many men can we raise against the traitor?”
The Marshal gave the king a reluctant answer,”About seven thousand, which should be enough to at least hold off Duke Henri.”
Phillipe nodded,”Good, thank you Robrecht.”
His stepfather, the Duke of Picardie, who sat at a small table some distance away took a sip of water and announced,”My visit to Vannes two weeks ago went well your majesty, King Konan has vowed to aid you in this conflict.”
The king stroked his beard, and forcefully pressed his finger against the portion of the map representing the eastern portion of the realm,”You have done well Duke Raoul, that should bring our total up to nearly eight and a half thousand men, enough to crush the Duke of Burgundy.”
Duke Robrecht of Flanders grimaced,”Yes it should be, barring treachery.”
Phillipe raised an eyebrow,”What do you mean cousin?”
“Well, Prince Hugues is son-in-law to the man after all, whose to say that he, or the lady Helie are innocent in her father’s plots?”
“I would say they most likely are innocent. Though it is a valid concern, at the very least Duke Henri sought to ensure my successor would be his son-in-law or grandson, at worst he would kill both so that he could take the throne for himself. Therefore, we must be vigilant, and guard ourselves against his schemes.”
His spymaster, Duke Guilhem of Aquitaine, who was now standing next to Marshal Robrecht nodded his head,”Of course, I will make sure to double the guard around the Prince, for the Duke will likely continue the plot until we defeat him.”
Phillipe looked to his right, where Duke William of Normandy stood,”What is the state of the royal coffers? Could we hire mercenaries to bolster our forces?”
The Duke frowned and shook his head,”Unfortunately I do not think you could hire any mercenaries for anything more than a few weeks, and they would not be able to accomplish much in that time.”
The king nodded,”Very well then, you are all dismissed for the day.”
As the council members filed out of the door, Phillipe followed them silent, and after a short while skulked his way through a hallway to the right, and he chuckled to himself as he heard rain start to pelt the roof of the keep,”It’s as if the heavens know the bloodshed to come.”
As he walked past his brother’s chambers, he heard a woman crying, as their mother was teaching Adele and Emma embroidery in her own chambers he knew it had to be his brother’s wife, Helie of Burgundy. Curious, he stopped midstride, and opened the door, where he found his brother trying to sooth the woman, hugging her, and stroking her hair.
Hugues, gave his wife a kiss on the forehead,”It’s okay my dear, you’re not a traitor.”
Phillipe rose an eyebrow,”What has happened to her?”
His brother gave him answer that would have been comical under different circumstances,”Your wife happened.”
“What exactly did she say?”
Hélie took a shaky breath,” It happened this morning, when I offered to look after Prince Charles, as Anne was being fussy, she glared at me and told me that she would never allow a traitor to look after her son.”
Phillipe shook his head on hearing this, he felt a mix of anger and sadness, for he thought it unfair for Ingrid to levy such an accusation, for Hélie showed little sign of being involved in her father’s treason,”I am sorry Helie, she should not have done that. Besides, what matters is that I know that you are loyal to me, regardless of your father’s foolishness, for you have been a good wife to my brother and the child that you carry will always be safe so long as I am king.”
The young woman nearly smiled at this,”Thank you Phillipe, I am grateful that you give us such protection.”
His brother nodded,”Yes, thank you for always protecting us brother, you are a good king but an even better man.”
Phillipe nearly blushed at this,”You two deserve protection, you are my family after all, through both blood and marriage.”
Phillipe stood in the strategy hall, looking down at the wooden figurines on the map meant to represent armies, and he asked the Duke of Flanders, who stood on the opposite side of the table,”How many men can we raise against the traitor?”
The Marshal gave the king a reluctant answer,”About seven thousand, which should be enough to at least hold off Duke Henri.”
Phillipe nodded,”Good, thank you Robrecht.”
His stepfather, the Duke of Picardie, who sat at a small table some distance away took a sip of water and announced,”My visit to Vannes two weeks ago went well your majesty, King Konan has vowed to aid you in this conflict.”
The king stroked his beard, and forcefully pressed his finger against the portion of the map representing the eastern portion of the realm,”You have done well Duke Raoul, that should bring our total up to nearly eight and a half thousand men, enough to crush the Duke of Burgundy.”
Duke Robrecht of Flanders grimaced,”Yes it should be, barring treachery.”
Phillipe raised an eyebrow,”What do you mean cousin?”
“Well, Prince Hugues is son-in-law to the man after all, whose to say that he, or the lady Helie are innocent in her father’s plots?”
“I would say they most likely are innocent. Though it is a valid concern, at the very least Duke Henri sought to ensure my successor would be his son-in-law or grandson, at worst he would kill both so that he could take the throne for himself. Therefore, we must be vigilant, and guard ourselves against his schemes.”
His spymaster, Duke Guilhem of Aquitaine, who was now standing next to Marshal Robrecht nodded his head,”Of course, I will make sure to double the guard around the Prince, for the Duke will likely continue the plot until we defeat him.”
Phillipe looked to his right, where Duke William of Normandy stood,”What is the state of the royal coffers? Could we hire mercenaries to bolster our forces?”
The Duke frowned and shook his head,”Unfortunately I do not think you could hire any mercenaries for anything more than a few weeks, and they would not be able to accomplish much in that time.”
The king nodded,”Very well then, you are all dismissed for the day.”
As the council members filed out of the door, Phillipe followed them silent, and after a short while skulked his way through a hallway to the right, and he chuckled to himself as he heard rain start to pelt the roof of the keep,”It’s as if the heavens know the bloodshed to come.”
As he walked past his brother’s chambers, he heard a woman crying, as their mother was teaching Adele and Emma embroidery in her own chambers he knew it had to be his brother’s wife, Helie of Burgundy. Curious, he stopped midstride, and opened the door, where he found his brother trying to sooth the woman, hugging her, and stroking her hair.
Hugues, gave his wife a kiss on the forehead,”It’s okay my dear, you’re not a traitor.”
Phillipe rose an eyebrow,”What has happened to her?”
His brother gave him answer that would have been comical under different circumstances,”Your wife happened.”
“What exactly did she say?”
Hélie took a shaky breath,” It happened this morning, when I offered to look after Prince Charles, as Anne was being fussy, she glared at me and told me that she would never allow a traitor to look after her son.”
Phillipe shook his head on hearing this, he felt a mix of anger and sadness, for he thought it unfair for Ingrid to levy such an accusation, for Hélie showed little sign of being involved in her father’s treason,”I am sorry Helie, she should not have done that. Besides, what matters is that I know that you are loyal to me, regardless of your father’s foolishness, for you have been a good wife to my brother and the child that you carry will always be safe so long as I am king.”
The young woman nearly smiled at this,”Thank you Phillipe, I am grateful that you give us such protection.”
His brother nodded,”Yes, thank you for always protecting us brother, you are a good king but an even better man.”
Phillipe nearly blushed at this,”You two deserve protection, you are my family after all, through both blood and marriage.”
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