“When Count Herbert finally reached Renaud’s abode, it was night. The sun had long since set, but a full moon illuminated the sky, which allowed him to find the place easily. Unfortunately, the time meant that there was nobody to greet him… and no one to welcome him in. Count Herbert was a proud man, but even he would not enter a noble’s home without permission. He knocked on the door, but it took a while for someone to answer the door. In the meantime, the count waited outside and watched the stars… considering how glorious it would be when his dynasty could name them.
Count Renaud answered the door personally, eager to greet his friend. They walked together into the house and made small talk, but neither was very focused on the conversation. Both men understood that the important talk would happen in the morning when they were both completely awake.
His friend led Count Herbert to a small bedroom, and the Karling crashed as soon as his head hit the carpet - before he even looked at the residence where he would be staying. His dreams at night matched his fantasies during the day - he dreamt of a renewal of his dynasty’s glory. At night, the details of that glory crystalized into a clearer vision, but the path toward that potential future remained a mystery. When he awoke, he remembered most of his dreams, but the knowledge quickly fled from his mind as the day wore on. Silently, he resolved to write down what his mind generated at night to preserve it after this visit was over.
Now, however, he had more pressing concerns - his meeting with his friend and the raw potential of a formal alliance lay before him. Only a fool would refuse to grasp it.
The meeting occurred over a small breakfast of porridge and beer. At first, the two men ate in silence, but Count Renaud quickly changed that. ‘So… you wished to speak of…’ He briefly paused, as if searching for the right words to say. ‘Formalizing our friendship?’
Count Herbert nodded. ‘Indeed. I thought that we could make our friendship a matter of official policy by forming an alliance between our counties. We would agree to aid each other in war and in peace, ensuring that neither of our houses would fall into a premature ruin.’
Count Renaud leaned forward. ‘Do you want an alliance between our
counties or an alliance between our
houses, my friend?’
‘Does it matter?’
‘Of course it does. Those are two very different things - one option is far broader than the other. If we ally our houses, then our destinies will be bound together. We will become members of one greater house that will have multiple branches to contribute to its glory. Opposing us will become far more difficult.’
Count Herbert admitted that sounded pretty tempting, but he was also suspicious. How did his friend benefit from this arrangement? He could see how he benefited easily enough - more aid for his pursuit of his dynasty’s lost glory - but what did Count Renaud get out of this? They were friends, sure, but that was a personal thing, not a dynastic one.
On the surface, this proposal seemed designed to benefit him, but that meant little. There was always a catch. Some things were too good to be true. He frowned, and he finally summed up his thoughts in a single question: ‘what do you get out of this?’
Count Renaud raised an eyebrow. ‘Ah, my friend, ever the cynic. I cannot deny that this deal will somewhat benefit me as well. I am but a small count whose dynasty has never known glory. This will grant me something that I’ve never truly known - prestige. Everybody remembers how your ancestors once united much of the old Roman Empire, and their memories are long. The mere association will make me more notable.’
Count Herbert blinked. That reasoning made sense, except there was still one minor problem… ‘Why do you want notoriety? The ignored counts can get away with far more than the big landholders in this kingdom. Our noble overlord sees the bigger landowners as more threatening to his authority.’
Count Renaud smiled. ‘You’re correct, of course, but that also means that we have no leverage.’
Count Herbert looked at him doubtfully, and the Count of Clermont quickly changed his phrasing. ‘Okay, so you might have leverage from your ancestry, but I don’t. Gaining notoriety will give me a voice in the wider affairs of this realm. I’m tired of being ignored by my so-called betters.’ He snorted. ‘As if they’re any better than me. They would tear apart this realm for so many petty reasons - pure spite, familial issues, and even vague and far-fetched chances at glory abroad.’
Count Herbert blinked - that was a very comprehensive list, but it contained a single glaring exception. ‘Not ambition?’
‘I said petty reasons. Ambitious men would tear the realm apart, but at least they would have a good reason to do so - the advancement of their dynasty. Ambition is what keeps this world interesting, my friend - never forget that. Besides, if I hated ambition, I hardly would have befriended you, would I?’
‘Perhaps not. Anyway, how shall we unite our houses, then? Marriage? Between who?’
Count Renaud smiled, which Count Herbert took as an affirmation of his theory. ‘Indeed. Marriage is a tie that binds. Sadly, I have no unmarried sons, and I lack daughters - but my household is far bigger than my immediate relatives. I have long found that knights are more loyal if you give them something… especially a name. I assume that you do have female relatives? If not… we might have a problem.’
Count Herbert simply sighed. This might be a long day.” -
The Strange Friendship of Renaud of Clermont and Herbert of Vermandois
The vote is still going on! It ends this Sunday. As a reminder, the options were:
A. Who cares about the Count's personal friendships? Attack Clermont! (Betrayal Arc... or perhaps a friendship against all odds arc)
B. We'll never reclaim our former glory by attacking mere counties. Attack Flanders you coward! (Risk Arc - either the beginnings of a Glory Arc or an Icarus Arc)
C. I'm pretty sure we've already technically broken the feudal contract. Maybe keeping a low profile is a good idea? (Housekeeping Arc)
And Option C is currently winning, with one vote.
Thanks for the love
@Midnite Duke, by the way.