Sanguine smiled the faintest of confident smiles as he rose to his feet, saving the smirk that bordered on cocky for the Princess as he turned toward her, holding his wrist irons up to be unchained by the guards. The Queen’s tone had made it clear that she had no love lost for the young, warlike Princess.<br/><br/>Once his hands were free once more, San turned with a flourish and bowed once more, this time crossing an arm over his middle as he bowed to the Queen. Politics were like a dance, in Sanguine’s experience. You needed to know the moves, the words, the titles; know when to bow, when to praise and when to pound the table. Now was the time for bowing and praising, and Sanguine had had much practice with these steps.<br/><br/>“I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, Your Grace.” San began, rising again from his low bow. “I have come, not to beseech of you what Your Grace might do for me, but rather to discuss what we might do for each other. As I have mentioned, the Aserit Royals hold my current contract, which means that if the peace talks should fail, I will be sent to execute one of your Military or Political leaders. While I am certain this displeases you, I come to offer you an opportunity to lessen the blow of this fact, and perhaps even turn it to your own advantage.”<br/><br/>“I have learned much of your court in my time here, how much of what I share as well as the validity thereof, will depend greatly on Your Grace’s response. I hold within my power, the ability to sway Prince Henrik’s decision as to who ought to be killed.” San said quickly, feeling the tension in the room rising as he spoke of murder. “Perhaps a general, who you owe more gold than you can afford to pay, or a threat to the royal line, or even a withered old monarch, already bound for the grave. If I were to paint any of them as a severe threat, perhaps I could convince the Prince to send me after them.”<br/><br/>Perhaps San was overplaying his hand, overestimating his ability to sway the minds of the noble Prince, but if he could sway this Queen not to have him executed or imprisoned, he would be excellently situated between both kingdoms. Should the peace talks fail, he could reap a boon beyond any he’d ever known.<br/><br/>“I also, hereby offer my services to the Kingdom of Theiri. If war breaks out, you will need the services of one such as myself. One blade in the dark can often best thousands in the light.”