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« on: December 23, 2012, 07:29:37 AM »
@Miles
Very thoughtful analysis. He is agreeing to a future meeting, so I think it's clear he isn't breaking off diplomatic relations, but simply ending the meeting (and reminding them that he is in charge of his own court).
Also, while the Reds consider the Grey's "vassals" in a formal sense, the political reality is really that of one kingdom subjugating another by force. In a normal liege-vassal relationship, the Auberwood would be granted as a fief to the Grey lord in return for the lord's fealty. In this case, however, the Greys clearly don't think of the Auberwood as a "fief" belonging to King Herrot. They have their own royal line and recognize Julian as having authority by birth, which puts Julian in a far more powerful political position than a typical fief-holder. The Reds are powerful enough to insist that Julian meet certain demands, but not powerful enough to force the Greys to accept whatever lord or regent they choose.
Whoever arranged the assassination of Julian's father, the Reds would certainly benefit from replacing the de-facto king of the Greys with a regent subject to political control and patronage. Minor crown-princes are usually easy to manipulate or even quietly dispose of.
Note that Julian seems to have taken the Red ambassadors completely by surprise. They didn't even know his name originally, and certainly never imagined that he would show up and start giving orders. Most importantly, his father's former court seems happy to rally around him, throwing a major wrench into any plans the Reds might have had to play Grey factions against each other.
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