Who To Rely On? - (10/09, Evening, Onboard the Golden Rod, Rex/Rollo/Nick - CLOSED)

[Rex]

After the complete misfire that was the Donovan/Ramira wedding, Rex drastically needed some good news for Letalis. He had recently sent a message to just such people as he knew could help him get plans in place for the future. Hopefully, that at least would not go wrong. But he couldn't be sure, so he had wracked his brains for exactly who he should send.

He had also taken extreme care to make sure that he was not followed to the Golden Rod. Rex wasn't particularly paranoid or fearful, but he didn't want some stray little fucking servant bursting in what was one of the most important discussions he needed to have, with people he knew he could rely on completely. He had a task he needed done, but had two important traits he needed from them - Persuasive and steadfastly loyal. Immediately, Rollo had risen to the forefront. He had nearly dismissed Rollo, fearing that he would be taking Ramira's death exceptionally hard, but had been told by Regina that she had talked to him and while he hadn't exactly come to terms with it, he wasn't on the brink. Maybe this would even take his mind off it.

Rex realised that at times, he wouldn't get far without Regina watching his back. He loved her for that. Where he wasn't, she would be, sorting and sifting. While he was sorting out the big mess between Castell and Letalis, she was sorting out the big mess with the Letalis and the Letalis. He would have happily sent her, but had decided it was not a good idea. He needed her help here.

So instead, he was sending Rollo. But he needed a second on the mission, someone just as dependable, but who could be trusted to keep a surreptitious eye on Rollo, too. For that, he needed one of his main bannerlords.

The first candidate he thought of was Hadwyn Curtenay. He had few doubts the man could accomplish it, but felt his more...laid back attitude wasn't what he wanted for this. He needed diligence and scrutiny, even if it was directed at his own cousin. The next idea was Eli Ainsley...but he had only just set the knight over Torrna. He could hardly shift the man straight away and leave Torrna to rot. Again. Next up was the Miridians. Marcus would have fit the bill quite tidily, but he had a different idea for Marcus. Plus, his annoying "honourable" little brother Michael was a bit of a bargaining chip at the moment, which he needed to have Marcus on hand to sort...even if he may have told Victor otherwise. Shit, this was frustrating. Which left...of course. Why hadn't he thought of it sooner?

So, in the end he had sent a summon to both Rollo and Nicholas Ambrosios to come to the Golden Rod, this evening. He had kept them brief, simply asking them to be here and that was that. So he sat in his office, a remarkably large shot of whisky in his hand, waiting for the two men to arrive...

[Nicholas Ambrosios]

Nicholas had been walking the deck with Minerva when word came that Lord Letalis wished to see him. Of course, it would be no issue. The Ocean's Pride would have no trouble pulling up beside the Golden Rod to allow him to board. After settling Minerva with his brother, he ordered the helm's man to do just that, and with little effort on his part and done as he'd expect men who worked for him to do, he was quickly on his lord's ship and was making his way towards the office. A servant announced him before he entered and he stood before him, bowing his head respectfully towards Rex.

"Good evening, my lord," he said crisply. "I am sorry if I had kept you waiting."

He did not say or do anything else. This was Rex's party, after all, and Nick was the one who had been invited, so he just stayed where he was to await further instruction.

[Rollo Letalis]

Rollo had been informed that Rex had called for him, but it took him more than a few moments to get up and get ready. Even then, his ready was barely presentable. He had cleaned himself off, yes, but his clothing were not new. The servants had laid out new ones, but he had refused, rather liking his wrinkled breeches and tunic. They were black, as he was in mourning. Mostly, he refused to wear their family color for the moment.

Walking along the deck, Rollo considered just falling off, but he knew he could never let himself drown. He had left home and two of his siblings had died, maybe he would be next. It seemed that Amalthia had it out for his line so it was either him or Reule. If he went back to Strom and Reule was dead, well then, he would just commit to suicide to avoid Amalthia from taking him in some wretched way. But Rollo wasn’t truly the suicidal sort of man, and the thoughts were mostly out of grief.

Entering the office, he bowed, mostly out of muscle memory before taking his seat across from Rex. He said nothing, just leaned his arm on the chair’s arm rest and placed his head in it. Rex would tell him what he wanted, and he knew the only reason he was there was because he was Rex’s right hand man and Rollo would serve him until the end.

[Rex]

As each man entered the room, Rex inclined his head to each of them. He needed to be cautious. Just incase anyone was overhearing, he didn't want it to be known who was actually here discussing with him. Chances are rumours would circulate anyway, but he didn't want to take unneccessary risks. Not like Rex, usually, but this event had opened his eyes - All of these mainland scum were the same. No matter what painted smile they wore when talking about alliances. They would always treat them from Strom as second rate. Bastards.

"Here, Rollo, you look like you could use this larger glass more than I can." He slid the glass carefully over to Rollo, before pouring two smaller glasses full for himself and Nick. Rex, however, drank it straight down without a second thought and poured himself another. "I need you both to do something important for me. But not a word of it leaves this room, understood? This is why we are meeting onboard the Golden Rod, not in some suitably cosy and furnished Castell room." Gods, this was going to get messy if it did get out. They were still in Castell territory after all, so chances were that if anything fed back to any of them, Rex or maybe all three of them would end up like Ramira. Maybe even Regina too, depending how sadistic the Castells felt. Rex couldn't be sure anymore. This was so fucked up. "I need you to visit the Sanseverinos in Sodra. Word has it they are investigators and they have some strong mercenary ties, too."

"After the way the Castells acted tonight, I can't take any more fucking risks. I need the alliance with them, but we also need to consider our options. If my money can buy their loyalties, then I need to exploit that. Can I count on you both to go and secure a deal for me? I need to be able to count on them if..." or when... "the Castells decide we are all expendable."

[Nicholas Ambrosios]

Nick took the glass but held it still as his Province Lord spoke. He had only been allowed to put the pieces together on the Ramira situation but had not flat out asked Rex exactly what had happened. In time, perhaps, but he knew his friend well enough to know that sometimes, the present wasn't always the best time to get information out of him. However, there was no longer any doubt about how he felt about how the Castells handled everything. He had to fight back a smile. It was about time Rex learned that the family could not be trusted.

"I understand," he said to Rex. "As always, you know you can depend on me to keep our words between us." But the request was a strange one. Sodra? In Gyllene? Why the hells were they doing business with them? And then it was answered. Thank the gods. He'd been afraid that he was trading in the serpent for the grizzly. Neither of which could be trusted in his opinion, but mercenaries were different. They were useful.

"Of course, my lord," he said. He was tempted to ask which of the banners was keeping an eye on the Castells, but it didn't seem like any of his business, so he bit the question back. Instead, he asked, "How high are we willing to go in terms of price?"

[Rollo Letalis]

Rollo took the glass without any acknowledgement to Rex, just picking it up and cradling it in his hands. He stared into the amber liquid, considering how quickly he was going to drink it. Then Rex spoke, and he was halfheartedly listening, though he found himself annoyed at Rex’s words. Rollo had never shared a private word with Rex with anyone else, he wasn’t about to start now, and it was obvious why they were meeting on the Rod.

Rollo thought Rex’s words would please him, the acknowledgement that Castells were scum who could not be trusted, but yet they didn’t. Taking a deep sip of the glass, he was content to play the observer in this conversation. Going to Sodra would be easy, Rollo had never had a problem with the Sanseverinos. He knew just about everyone, so of course he was familiar with the family.

“Yes, my lord,” was all Rollo said for Nicholas was to fill in the gaps with the specifics. Rollo did was not incredibly close to Nicholas Ambrosios, so he hoped the man would not be a burden in the endeavor, but knew the Ambrosios family was a loyal and trusting one.

[Rex]

He was glad to see that Nick was being helpful, quick and prudent. That was how he had planned this meeting to be and it was good that was how it was going. The thing was, Nick was asking him a question he didn't have an answer to. Because he needed them to do that kind of thinking. This was why he was sending Rollo and Nick. They were both clever, loyal and could play at politics. That was what he needed for this.

"Price, Nicholas, depends on what offer they bring to the table. For the Sanseverino information gathering services, I'd imagine we should offer a tiered payment scale. The more crucial the info, the better the pay. I have nothing solid in mind what to ask them to investigate, so it's mainly to open up the potential to do so in future with them. If you can work up some sort of mutual arrangement for a more general operation, so say a set fund paid to them when they return us any good information on any of the houses, that would be ideal. As for the mercenaries..." Rex shook his head, but lightened it with a grin. He knew it wasn't the most clever or well thought out plan in the world, but when you were hiring a bunch of rough and tumble types known for being happy to put a price on a life, it never could be. "Fuck it, I'd happily give them a town if they were to move everything they had down here. But since that isn't likely, offer at least double what their usual estimates are. Maybe even first pick of out trade runs, if that appeals to them. Offer higher than they are worth and we'll surely get them. Not only that, but they'll work for it too."

Rex polished off the drink that he had poured for himself, then made sure to pour another. He knew what was coming next, even if both of his current companions didn't. He wasn't going to be in the best frame of mind anyway, so he might as well have a bit to drink to make it easier. "A lot of it even my best advisors can't seem to figure out without shitting themselves. But that's why I'm giving you an almost infinite budget for this. Negotiate how you see fit and as long as you don't bankrupt us for it, I'll consider it a success."

He turned to the loyal lord of Ambrosios. That was, he was sure, enough for Nick to be going by. As much as he wanted to go into more depth though, there was something more pressing - Rollo. His cousin was being very curt and decidedly clinical in his words and actions. Rex needed to straighten that out. For that, he didn't really want an observer. "Nicholas, that's all I needed from you for the moment. Was there any more you needed to know?"

[Nicholas Ambrosios]

Nicholas absorbed everything Rex told him, nodding slowly as he sketched out a rough plan in his head. Nothing permanent, of course. Everything tended to change, especially when you knew very little of the people you were dealing with. "No, my lord. You have told me everything that I need. It would be my honor to do this." Standing up, he reached out to shake his hand, attempted the same wit Rollo trying his best not to change his expression. Rollo did not seem the type to appreciate pity or comfort which was good because Nick sucked at both. "I shall take my leave now, my lords." And with no further words, he turned and was gone, leaving the two of them alone.

[Rollo Letalis]

Negotiating would be easy for Rollo, as it was what he consistently did for Rex, and he did it well. He had never worked with an infinite budget before, which was an interesting twist. Even in his darkened mood he was interested to find out how the mercenaries would handle haggling. Rollo was always fond of the process to come to to an agreement.

None of what Rex said required a response, and so he stayed silent, merely nodding where he felt appropriate. Rollo did not mind either that Nicholas was coming, and if he hadn’t been so distracted he would have been offended that Rex felt he needed someone else. Instead, he just cast as it off as a necessary precaution due to the emphasis Rex was placing on this. The Ambrosios family had always been trustworthy, and Rollo had no reason to doubt Nicholas.

Rollo shook Nicholas’ hand, though he didn’t really the see need and responded more out of habit than out of actual action. He watched Nicholas leave, and then turned back Rex. “Yes, my lord?” Rollo asked, wondering if there was additional information he needed to be informed of.