<strong>"I am always happy to lend an ear and perhaps offer some advice from time to time, but I will admit I would crave some answers from time to time as well. There's many problems at hand and many of them seem linked."</strong>She allowed herself a long-suffering sigh before smiling up at Tehr, the Queen's expression showing a measure of fondness and warmth that she would likely be restrained from showing in any public venue still, by the suspicions and expectations of the people.<br/><br/><strong>"Even as the civil-war rages among the Spaniards they seek to gain our allegiance for one side or another, and the weapon-merchants work to outdo one another. There's whispers that a particular house is even planning to start production of new ship-class without permission if necessary, though that has not been confirmed. If they did, they would be finished however, such an act of selling warships to a foreign power would count as a rather heavy crime, especially as the crown has not taken one stand or another. Some weapon shipments is one thing, an entire ship or more of them would be a whole another matter. Of course, with gold exchanging hands things are difficult."</strong>She shook her head in a tired fashion at this, looking somewhat worn down.<strong>"In blunt honesty, I am almost ready to have the Guard set forth to investigate their drydock and make sure no unauthorized shipwrighting has already began. Making merchant galleons is one thing, but a war-galleon or experimental builds to people who are at war could be hazardous. Especially as no matter who wins, they may be looking at our Kingdom with vengeance for selling weapons to their enemies if those aristocrats are as big fools as I am suspecting, having seen them talking to both the traditionalist and revolutionary messengers."</strong>She shook her head again, allowing a faint sigh.<br/><br/><strong>"I don't suppose you would have a way of finding out about them, perhaps through a servant of their house or through a lady close to them, or through the power of spells? Yet I wonder if I am starting to cross over to paranoia to consider such means without any real evidence, just a handful of suspicions."</strong><br/><br/>Taking a moment to enjoy a sip of her wine, smiling to him she reached a hand to stroke against one of his legs gently, a thoughtful expression on her face for a moment as she then spoke up a bit more at ease.<strong>"I am fairly certain the french man and his aggravating ways are just a distraction, and possible attempt to provoke me to a reaction that would benefit the church, and make earlier accusations seem in doubt. I'm going to try and ignore the man to the best of my ability, though I heard that he did try and find about Lady Wynt recently, so perhaps she would be able to offer some answers on that ground. Of course, given the man's pugnacious personality I would not expect her to tolerate the man's presence for long."</strong>Finishing her wine, she set the glass down and looked upon him.<br/><br/><strong>"Lastly as if it wasn't all enough already there's some whispers of the cultists trying to gain foothold on our land, madmen thinking of powers beyond our world. All because of a murdered noblewoman along with a suspect tome of forsaken lore. The archmage is on that topic and the guard is on alert, but its timing with the frenchman's arrival seems all too suspect. Not to mention the woman in question is of a family known to favor the <em>old ways</em> which would further fuel the disgrace of the old-ways family if the church could get their way."</strong>The queen shook her head and frowned.<br/><br/><strong>"Forgive me my dear, I tend to ramble when I feel myself a little loosened up, by wine and fine company."</strong>She smirked a hint of flush on her cheeks but a pleased, almost smug bit of expression tugging on the corner of her lips, trying to turn that lady's smile to a bit more shameless smirk at that.