Carol
Levi Cortez
Northwind

Levi slowly looked forward, his pupils flaring in anger. "Do not get comfortable sitting in that seat of yours. If you have something to say, say it, before your snide remarks cost you your tongue." Levi said, glancing up. He sat back in his seat, before flipping the coin high in the air and letting it hit the table, bouncing up once before landing on the stamped head of a monarch. 

"However, out of respect to De Burgh, I will not kill you for this show of disrespect. The wolfmen under my command will stay under my command. That "Unwashed throng" Would have slit your throat and eaten your eyes for the hell of it should you have been out there." Levi said, before looking over at John. 

"My men are loyal to me. Each other. Whoever we fight for is our concern, and right now that's De Burgh. You are unimportant to me. Why are you here? Why were you not on the battlefield? Weak men like you disgust me." He said, looking back at Geigor. Levi was furious. No one spoke about his men in front of him, no matter who the man was.
Ronald
```Geigor 'Ironhand' | The council forum```

The Marshall's eyes squinted ever so slightly, but otherwise his scarred face let out no reaction. When facing furious men, it was important not to aknowledge their fury. Getting defensive only gave them control over the conversation.

This Cortezial mercenary was aware of his skills in the unsubtle and undignified way of many young warriors, but for better or worse, seemed to have no idea of who Geigor was. The Marshall couldn't blame him: too often, even he had a hard time recognizing the man he had become.

"Young man," He said. His raspy voice tone had gone from menacing to dispassionate with disbelief. "Do you honestly believe I have never set foot on a battlefield?"

There was a short pause. Geigor then continued.

"As you mentionned earlier, who I am is of no importance. Unfortunately, whoever your men fight for does happen to be my concern, and our lord's. You said they were loyal to you, so I shall ask you again: are you loyal to our lord, or does your loyalty lie with his cause?"

The Marshall's words weren't accusatory this time. But his monotone voice, halfway between grumpy and patronizing, was certainly annoying.
Carol
Levi Cortez
Northwind

"My loyalty surely doesn't lie with you." He said, crossing his arms and staring at the man with an expression that no longer betrayed any emotion. "I know you have seen war, and battles. But have you watched as someone you truly love get slaughtered. Have you cared as your men get massacred, torn from their dreams by madmen led by a maniac. Who stood by your lord as he faced Tharn? Not you. You sat here, in this city, guarded by men and walls. I envy you. Not caring is something I wish I could do." Levi said, uncrossing his arms and picking up the coin and holding it up to eye level. 

"I have seen many battles in my short life. I have faced Kings, and walked away. You call me Wolf-killer as those who do not know me do, however if you are going to question my loyalty know this. I do not take that lightly. I am Levi Cortez, formally of the Eclipse who fought Vronti Kelwynd, and I will not take insults from someone who is no longer brave enough, or willing, to fight alongside his lord."

"Most men are like this coin. Loyal to whoever holds them tighter, and easily exchanged. If you do not own this coin, you cannot spend it, however it still holds worth. Like this coin, I will not leave whoever is holding me unless I am given away. Do not worry yourself about where my loyalties lie, however worry about where your next meal will come from." He said, his anger subsiding. 

"I must ask you a question, because it is burning inside of me and won't let me live in peace unless I ask. How did you gain a seat here? I have never heard of you before." He said, looking up at Geigor again.
Ronald
```Geigor 'Ironhand' | The council forum of Irongate```

Cortezial continued to dodge the question. Geigor would't normally stand it. But John was present, and he had heard enough. If he didn't feel the need to press Cortezial on his loyalties, then neither did Geigor. It was time to move onto something else.

"How I got this seat, huh?" He asked to the gothic vault of the forum. The Marshall turned pensive. "It was so long ago now I can hardly remember. Perhaps I have always been here."

It was a vague answer, but Cortezial could use some of his own medicine. Besides, it had truth to it. Geigor had served under John since the beginning. He could remember a time where he didn't, but said times were always a blur. John brought clarity and purpose to his memories.
Carol
Levi Cortez
Northwind

Levi smiled. "So he does have a sense of humor. Finally, something I can respect." He said, before leaning forward. "My loyalties are here. My men need a home, and through John I can finally make that happen. Is that answer suitable?" He asked, before pushing his fingers against each other and making them pop. "If it's not, too bad. It's as close to an answer as I am willing to give you." He said, flexing his hand to ease the soreness of his muscles. 

"This Westbrook family... Would they be able to command a large enough host to occupy the surrounding territory?" Levi asked, reaching into his bag and pulling out a crude map his scouts had made. "The north is easily taken if not guarded well. There are not many natural defenses such as rivers or mountains. It is going to have to be held by men, and if an attack is mounted by anyone it would be catastrophic." He said, pointing to a few spots on the map.