[SRP] Bernese Ball

[Swift_Assassin]

"Cecily?!" Shad tried to chime in, but was drowned in by Satsume and Cecily's exchange. He pursed his lips, tilted his head to the side and just stared off as the conversations went on around him. He began gathering his thoughts for an arguement as Paige threw in her two cents. He let Lita respond to Cecily's ire and her explanation. When she finished, Shad stood up, looking right at Cecily.

He cleared his throat, both to get her attention and, well, clear his throat. "As someone who's had to fight for my home once already, I've got a word of advice for you, Lady of Laus," He specifically called out her title, as she did him before. "Beggars can't be choosers." He put his hand up, to acknowledge how basic that advice was. "Hear me out. If we can't secure some sort of alliance with Lord Faren or any of the nobility of Bern, then we'd be forced to look to mercenaries, volunteers, or worse. If Lita was already looking into Lycia's situation, then the Fang has interest there. Having a discreet group like that would be handy for smuggling supplies, gathering information or...I don't know, securing safe passage for mages and other refugees out of Lycia?! You may not like them. But, and forgive me for saying this Lita, USE them. Ignore their history and use and exploit them as a tool, if that makes the arrangement palatable. If you turn them in, we lose those resources. And, may I remind you, who in this room has a standing army that can't all fit in this room? I've got maybe 25 guys, not including a handful of spies and family, left after the castle fiasco. I'm not taking on Ostia in a fight. I'm stupid, but not that stupid."

He looked around at the group before continuing, even looking at Maria, who's actually listening intently. It was a bit unnerving actually. "Lady Cecily, take this from the the Baron of Arretium. You're smarter than I am. You should know that war makes strange bedfellows. It happens to Pharaen's all the damn time. Right Paige?" If anyone should know, it would be the librarian. Just the fact a librarian is part of this group should be the definition of the term to begin with. But Shad just stopped then. Without waiting for an answer, he sat down in his chair and leaned back a bit.