The Assembly

"Dear colleagues," Adanita spoke. "I would like to introduce Rosamund Alsop en la Dale. He is the new Lord Governor of the lands that include Hannau. I fished him out of the sea a few days back, and now he is here under the protection of a parlay."
Right. This was different than last time. These people elected her in the first place, so her word had weight by default. However, Rosamund had nothing but her backing him up. Teodolit's idea made both of their positions weaker. She expected that would happen, of course, she wasn't an idiot. But he was right, she needed to see how the two parties worked. If they worked at all.

They were in a large meeting room that comfortably took in twenty-or-so people that responded to her call. In fact, this time around the group she was facing wasn't the same as the last, thanks to the meeting happening at a different time. There was overlap with the veterans of the trade, of course.
Most who came were pirate captains much like her, and there were a few of their first mates that tagged along, or in place of their captains. Some came here in plain commoner clothes, some decorated themselves in jewellery and fine fabrics to show off their wealth, but one thing they all had in common was weapons.
They all sat around a long table, with her at the head. Everybody in the room was silently staring down Rosamund, some cautiously, some curiously, and some with open animosity.
Meanwhile, Rosamund was standing behind her, by the wall. He seemed to be content with that, in fact, he refused a seat when she asked for another one to be brought. She could feel his cold gray eyes staring her down. Gods damn the man, she wished she could hide in her hat from that. He was making her nervous for no reason at all, and it was almost certainly intentional. When she told him they were going to the meeting together (and why would they not, it was his idea after all) he wasn't happy with it.

Well, now was not the time to get a stage fright. Sucks to be Lord Governor, but she wasn't about to dance for a puppeteer in the shadows. Everyone here gets to know what their plans are.

Well, maybe not the part where she died three years from now.

Still, informed decision-making.

"Lord Governor has expressed deep and eternal gratitude for us saving his life. He'd like it if we could work together in the future, instead of increasing hostilities between our two groups. I originally planned to have him here as a hostage, but it appears he is more valuable as an ally. He has offered his help in obtaining a Royal Pardon for the Cove and all its citizens. Including of course, the Captains who have declared allegiance to this city." Meaning, you guys.

Some conversations started between the pirates, and she allowed it. This was hardly the high court, and it was good to discuss before deciding on the offer.
"Would that mean we're not gonna be allowed to attack Bretonian ships anymore?" Ah, Isabela Gil. Bretonians were the main source of income to her.
"You would certainly risk the Pardon, however, I believe it can be arranged that, should individuals decide to attack their ships, the Cove itself stays safe. The Pardon should only stop applying to those who break its terms, not everybody. Isn't that right, Lord Governor?"
"A reasonable demand," Rosamund said. "However, whether or not associating with pirates who break the Pardon would be allowed requires further discussion. Such as the meaning of the word, association."
This piece of - no, no. Staying calm. Do not stab the man. Do not turn around. "The Cove will gladly welcome all pirates regardless of their current status with Bretonians." A warning. "As we always have."
"I suppose this point can be negotiated."
Wait. Oh, she got it. He was intentionally being difficult, to make it not obvious that they were basically allies already. Nice, good thinking. She can play along.

She waited for a few more moments to let her colleagues discuss it further, and from what she could hear, a few people were already catching onto the main issue with accepting a Pardon. She adjusted the volume of her voice to get everybody's attention again, and continued.
"Which brings us to the second point of the day. The Royal Pardon would have us become Bretonian privateers, in a normal situation. The Cove is, on paper, under the rule of Lord Governor, and accepting the Pardon would, in practice, be an unconditional surrender of the city to him. I find myself hating that. This city is ours. We, therefore, cannot accept a usual Pardon."
They loudly agreed, almost in unison. Boy, this was easier than trying to get them to see it was a good idea. But, she didn't have the time to dally. The next sentence was where it was at.

"Instead, I'd like us to become a real, independent country."


Silence.

She expected them to start talking more among themselves, but they were fully focused on her instead. Wary, even. Well, it sounded like an insane proposition to her as well. Building a country from their shambling barely-standing group of untrustworthy people sounded impossible. Her first step will therefore need to be to build trust between these people. Real trust, not a loose alliance of criminals with common laws that they currently had. And this time, she needed to ensure none will betray her.

"I have a question!" Nino Moretti, a young captain with a quiet Mletak accent. She gave him a nod, eager to hear it. "Do you mean an actual country, or will you just throw all administrative work on poor Teo again?"
Hah! "Would you like to become my jester after the country is built?"
The table burst into laughter. She gave Nino a grateful nod for breaking the ice, and he seemed pretty happy with himself.
"So who will run it? You?"
"This is completely insane!"
"Will we still continue electing people?"
"Would Codex continue being the law?"
"Will we have ministers? Countries have ministers, right?"
"Wait, how will we be pirates?"
Numerous questions swarmed her while people were trying to figure out if she even thought it out, or if she really was only joking. Rosamund's stare only intensified, she could feel it drilling into the back of her skull.

Hah! As if she'd come unprepared.

"We'd need to discuss," she loudly announced, "the nuances before we make a complete decision. I don't plan to be the only one behind such a drastic plan." Her voice grew quieter as she regained control of the room again. She wasn't planning to yell. "For now, I have several propositions that we should discuss before deciding on our approach to this problem."
She got up. She couldn't stand still anymore. Walking around the room was preferable.
"First, the Cove was established with the Codex as our law. Codex should therefore be used as a basis of the law of the new country. Do you agree?"
"Aye!" they shouted.
Alright, so far so good. "The discussion on topics regarding inner workings ends after a solution wins two thirds of the vote - until this temporary rule is replaced with a new law."
One of the first mates raised his hand. "Two thirds? Wouldn't that take ages to come to an agreement on any single topic?"
"I believe that is preferable to any alternative. We certainly cannot reach a full agreement, and I believe that half of the votes would risk too much of in-fighting and splitting us into two clearly defined groups who refuse to cooperate. You're not a Captain, but I am certain most people here know what it is I speak of."
She got some uncomfortable mumbling that sounded like agreeing. She didn't push it yet, she gave them another minute of conversation before ending their discussion. "Do we agree?" she shouted.
This time, the resounding "Aye!" came slower and with more hesitation. Good, they were talking about it. This was good. She still had control over them, but this wasn't tyranny. Alright, time to continue.

"We return to our Lord Governor now," she said. "I believe it is fair to say that none of us - honorable exiled nobility aside - has any experience running a country. I believe it is also fair to say that most people in this room don't exactly trust each other." Silence, which she took as agreement. "Both of these are something we must work on if we plan to stay united. Regarding getting experience - I believe each Captain should choose a number of their crewmembers, their best and brightest, who will go with Lord Governor to Hipparcos to get education. Once they return, they will assist us in both creating and running the country."

Oh, they hated this. She could tell. They entertained the idea of turning these lands into an official country, but this was the cold uncompromising shower of reality. There were logistics they had to manage, and it required cooperation. This idea - this plan immediately had everyone suspicious.

"What exactly does Lord Governor gain from this?" That first mate again. He was here speaking in place of his Captain, otherwise they'd be the one asking these questions.
"His life was saved and spared. He also gains prestige should this plan succeed. He will be the first diplomat in the world interacting with a country as it forms, after all." His influence over them would be unrivaled. Who wouldn't be suspicious? Hells, she was suspicious. "Should this succeed, he will also be at least partially responsible for bringing some peace to these waters. Furthermore, he will obtain some help with a private matter from me."
"How do we know he's trustworthy?" A different Captain.
"We do not," she said. "However, should he decide to betray us, I will be there by his side, ready to sever his head from the body."
"That's hardly good enough!"
"So you plan to go to Hipparcos too?!"
"My stay at Hipparcos will be temporary. I do not plan to move there and I will not resign from my position," Adanita said in a dangerous voice. They were slowly approaching a line, and follow-up questions were immediately dropped.

That first mate spoke up again. "So who will you take with you to Hipparcos? For this so-called education?"
"My first mate, Teodolit, and my spymaster Ekliptik."
"A cripple and a child?" he venomously said. "And what makes you think that witch would willingly go where they'd burn him at a stake?"
Did he want a duel? Because it sure looked like he was begging for one. "My men are mine to handle, not yours." What was that strange despair in his eyes? What was this man trying to do?

"How should we decide on who to send?" Isabela again.
"I will leave that to the individual Captains. I mentioned before that we lack trust in each other. The people you send will be able to form bonds while studying together, and those are the people who will be the backbone of our country as we go. Send however many people you see fit..." Wait. No. She could imagine a whole pirate ship sailing up to Hipparcos. Vividly. "Up to three. After the initial group achieves a level of knowledge, we can discuss on sending more people."
"And who will educate them?"
"Lord Governor has many suitable people working for him. I will permit him to decide on who the best teachers would be."

"So it's back to trusting that man!" Here comes the problem child. She ignored the man this time.

"Could you somehow guarantee that they are truly receiving the best and most appropriate education?" Isabela asked, also ignoring that first mate.
"I also plan to receive the same education," she answered. Well, she'll need more to navigate the Bretonian Court until that Duchess is dead. "But if you can, send someone who already has some formal education. They will serve to ensure that we aren't being played for fools."
She slowly nodded. "And how will Queen Sarmia react to this? We will cost her land."
"I believe that whatever issue she may have can be solved through diplomacy-"

That man.

That first mate.

She could feel as if the time was slowing down. A knife was already in his hand by the time she jumped onto the table. The two steps it took her to reach him at her top speed were enough for the knife to already be in the air. By the time she cracked his skull by slamming his head into the table with a kick, the knife had already reached its destination.

Pinning the man's head down with her boot, she turned around towards Rosamund who was-
Oh, he missed. Blessings.

Rosamund was standing right where she left him, in the identical pose as before. His face was calm, but those eyes of his seemed to reflect the storm they were in days ago. The knife was stuck in the wall right next to his neck. His cold, calm voice tore through the commotion of the room like lightning, and when he spoke, everybody turned to him to see what his next move shall be.

"Young man," he said. "I believe you dropped something. Allow me to fetch it for you."

Oh no. He was amazing. Mother, I want this one.

He took the knife out of the wall in one clean move, and approached the man she was still pinning down. The first mate squirmed in pain and fear, but frankly, she was the strongest person in this room and he definitely got a concussion from her kick. She curiously watched as Rosamund approached with the knife in his hand, holding the man in place for him.

He raised it high into the air, and nobody was stopping him.

The knife came down.

Into her ANTIQUE TABLE- well, right next to the bloody face of a terrified pirate. Interesting, she thought he would kill him with how furious his eyes looked. Perhaps it wasn't his... how did he call it? Modus operandi?

"If it is a duel you desire," Rosamund said. "I will gladly give you one. After you recover."
"It is within your right to kill him without a duel," Adanita told him. "He broke the Codex. You are protected by the parlay, nobody is allowed to touch you."
"I am not bound by the Codex, and even if I was, it is not in my nature to punish a well-intended underling for speaking up. We need people who take initiative, but the execution was problematic. Next time you want to complain about the higher-ups decision-making process, use your words."
"You piece of-" He let out a scream before he could finish the sentence, as Adanita dug her heel into his temple. Tears were mixing with blood, and he looked quite pathetic. Ah... but Rosamund seemed to hate it. She took her foot off of the quivering man. Annoyingly, he continued to talk, but she didn't stop him this time. "You idiots! Do you think other countries will just let us be while we plan out our little project?! Even if we make a real government, we will fall prey to everybody else! We don't have the manpower or the weapons to compete! We have nothing but the things we steal! This posh lying prick will lead us to our doom!"

"Perhaps!" Rosamund said. "Or perhaps not. I won't waste my breath trying to sway you people. It is, in the end, your decision to make, not mine. Captain Vervain believes it is the correct decision, so the question is how much you trust her judgement, not my words. And you, young man, should know this: ships and cannons aren't the only measure of a country's power. A truly successful land should know how to bring its allies together, and break its enemies apart. This is the art of diplomacy, the weapon of a truly powerful nation. A successful land has strong and brilliant people who can make it work like a finely crafted clock. This is the power of knowledge and education!"

He leaned in closer to the man. In the commotion his words stirred, Adanita couldn't make out the words he told him, but the man seemed to hate him even more.
When he stood straight again, the storm in his eyes was fading, leaving only the chill behind.

He turned to her. "Captain Vervain, I'd like to make some additional requests after this incident."
"Of course, as long as it is within reason."
"First I want this man to receive medical attention. Secondly, I want him to come with us to Hipparcos. I wish to claim him as my own student, and he should not count against any Captain's number of applicants."
"Really? Is this a strange attempt at revenge?"
"I give my word that no harm will come to him."
Eh, he broke the Codex. For all she cared, he could've killed him right then and there. It was a strange request to turn him into a student, but it sounded personal to him, somehow. Was he commonly almost stabbed to death by idiots?

"Fetch a doctor!" she ordered Nino, since he was the closest to the door. She hopped off the table. The would-be assassin was trembling. He let out a quiet pained sob as he was being carried away, well aware that nobody in the room was going to help him. He was lucky to be alive, honestly.

Rosamund returned to the spot he was in before, where the wall now sported a nice deep cut at the height of his neck. If it was possible for a man to stand in the same exact place twice, Rosamund certainly succeeded.

She pulled the knife out of her table and played with it, throwing it into the air and catching it without looking.

"So, esteemed colleagues. Should we continue?"