Queen Stasya had largely kept quiet once matters had turned to business, she had little interest in global diplomacy unless it had some immediate impact on her. She however was more about the entertaining that these matters required. "I think David will need his minions to neaten this up" She said holding up his handwritten note, "I mean in the centuries to come we don't want some historian looking back and think Morelanders in the early 21st Century wrote in Clysperis hieroglyphics" she teased. Truth be told the King's handwriting wasn't that bad but it did bring some more humour to what had been a rather formal few hours of negotiating and discussion.
"Well it will require being on something other than my notebook" David agreed. "We'll have the civil service make two copies, one in Morelandish and one in German, we'll have the media gather to get their publicity shots and then the deed is done. Perhaps three hours or so?" David knew his Press Secretary Malcolm Tucker would have briefed the media that it was likely a treaty would be signed and they'd be on standby to get the pictures for the front of tomorrows newspapers. "In the meantime if King Jonas wants to get a quick swordsmanship lesson in I can probably find Rhiannon's tutor as he still teaches her when we come here."
"Perhaps then, me and you can enjoy a drink on the lakeside while the boys play with swords?" With that Stasya extended a hand to Karin and the pair headed off to the courtyard where a car was waiting. Stasya did like the Rockhampton retreat and down by the lakeside was a lovely little restaurant that she'd forewarned about them perhaps coming. As the two Queen's arrived the owner, Stephen Bragg, appeared.
"Two Queens!" he said rather surprised as Stasya had only informed his staff she and a guest would be visiting. "I apologise Your Majesty" he bowed to Queen Karin of Hassfurt, "I'm thrilled you've come to our little place, please follow me." he lead them through what looked from the outside like a large wooden panelled boathouse where the lapping of the lakes waters came up a small pebble beach. "Queen Staysa" he pulled a chair out as one of his staff did the same for the Hassfurtian Queen. "We've a bottle of that Heryan 1953 you enjoyed the other day ready, unless you'd like something else."
"No that's great thank you Stephen, can we have some snacks too please." Stephen nodded and disappeared and within a minute his staff were busy setting things up for the Queen before his wine waiter appeared and showed them the bottle before pouring each a glass. "I'm pleased we've seen a deal made between neighbours. It makes the continent so much stronger doesn't it?" Stasya was interested in Karin, she was a beautiful women and clearly had a lot of power in her nation, they would be friends or at least Stasya had decieded they would. "I'm interested though" Stasya picked up a small cracker with some cheese on it. "Is it true you had to physically fight to become Queen?" Stasya couldn't imagine having to do such a thing and was sure if it had come down to violence rather than seduction she'd never have ended up a Queen.
Meanwhile up at the retreat the King and Jonas had ventured through several halls and rooms before finding Sir Charles Townshend. "King David" Sir Charles had spotted the King ascending the outdoor stairs that lead to the old guardroom of the Palace which now doubled up as a kind of armoury. The old man had his back to the door and was busy oiling a sword working a cloth carefully along its length. "Rhiannon's made some good progress this week. She's going to be rather handy as long as she keeps her temper under wraps." The man turned and spotted King Jonas, "Oh my apology" he bowed, "I didn't realise we had company. Sir Charles, its a pleasure to meet you King Jonas" Charles quickly wiped his hands on the cloth before extending a hand towards the Hassfurtian King. "Was there something I could do for you two gentleman?"
"Yes please" David still kind of felt like a young boy speaking to his tutor with Charles. "Jonas here is interested in learning some good old fashioned Swordsmanship and well it was either you or Rhiannon." David smiled.
"I'd be honoured, you have some time now?" Charles asked and David confirmed they did. "Very well." Charles went over to a locker on the wall and took out a bag laying it on the table and unzipping it. He removed two wooden swords, both similiar in design and weight to the swords used by
Red Legion. They headed out into the courtyard and David sat himself on the wall. "Now Your Majesty" Charles began to explain as he handed one of the blades to Jonas. "East Moreland swordsmanship isn't just about the sword, its not fencing. Its not about some gentlemanly dance with blades. Its about stuff that worked on battlefields when surrounded by people wanting to kill you. The concept is simple, drop the other bloke before he drops you." Charles chuckled and began running Jonas through a series of lessons for about 30 minutes before a pair of skipping steps distracted them for a moment. Princess Rhiannon had heard the tell tale sound of practice swords colliding and had come to watch. Her father waved her over and had her come sit on the wall next to him as he placed an arm around her shoulder and told her what was happening.
"He's standing too square on" Rhiannon said rather loudly. "It makes you a bigger target."
"Indeed it does" Sir Charles was rather pleased with his young student. "This however Princess is more of a taster lesson to give King Jonas here a feel for our ways. Hopefully if he's interested you can get someone from our embassy to teach you more of the proper techniques. Or I think we could just let you take Rhiannon with you." Charles returned to the session for another 20 minutes or so before exchanging hand-shakes with Jonas. "I hope to see your progress one day." Charles said.
"Here you go" A cheery little voice appeared with a little tray with orange juice. Rhiannon was stood there. "I think you could be really really good." Rhiannon gave her critique. "You should come to Ostlake and make a sword with us. I'm going to make one when I turn 11 in 4 years time." She said proudly.
"Thank you Charles" David helped put the swords away while Jonas refreshed himself. The pair had a bit of time to kill relaxing overlooking the lake until the Queen's returned and it was time to sign the Treaty.
As was expected the ceremony would take place in the courtyard with the media assembled at the foot of the steps that lead into the Castle's main entrance. A table had been set up, half with the East Moreland flag and half with the Hassfurt, it was however hard to work out where one began and the other ended as they sharped a colour palette. A pair of Red Legionnaires stood on each step one on the left and one on the right their polished breastplate glistening in the sunlight. At the appointed time King David's Head of Royal Household Quinn Germaine appeared and spoke , "Ladies and Gentleman, the monarchs are about to arrive if we can make sure to form an orderly line for photos, they've agreed to give you all the time you need." With that King David and Queen Karin appeared and took their seats followed almost immediatley by Queen Stasya and King Jonas. The four waited for the flash of cameras to finish before David stood and addressed the crowd.
"East Moreland has tried since I became King to ensure we are good neighbours with everyone on our continent. It was for that reason I tried to form the Alba Karinya Organisation which has had what I'll optimistically call mixed success. One piece of the jigsaw for those continent wide relationships existed and that was Hassfurt. Today I am exceptionally pleased and excited to announce that East Moreland and Hassfurt have agreed a treaty which will form a foundation as solid as this castle for us to build upon. This document is not where I hope the friendship between our nations end but is in fact just the beginning and I hope as our two people's get to experience and understand each others ways we can add to this and make Alba Karinya even stronger. Our continents name translates as the "White Peaceful Home" a name taken from the cliffs that ring our continent and even the snow that tops our highest peaks, we are a continent that compared to others has known little bloodshed between its residents and this treaty means this peaceful home becomes a more friendly and hopefully prosperous one." With that the King took the pen that his wife offered him and signed his name to the treaty. He then was unsure which of the Hassfurtians would sign first but seeing as he was sat next to Queen Karin and they do say "Ladies First" he offered the pen to her.
The Kingdom of East Moreland and the Diarchy of Hassfurt, having meet in Rockhampton on the ?? July 2020 have entered into a Treaty of Co-Operation between their two nations. The conditions of this Treaty shall be in existence until ?? July 2025 upon which representatives of the two nations shall meet again to consider the future of this Treaty.
The following articles shall be in place within 60 days of this treaty being signed.
1. Both nations shall maintain active embassies for the purpose of supporting their citizens while in the other nation as well as being a first point of contact for diplomatic purposes.
2. Embassies shall seek to make an active contribution to the community in which they are based.
3. Citizens may travel to the other nation without a visa so long as the following conditions are meet.
a) The trip is booked at least 21 days in advance.
b) The traveller is in possession of a valid return ticket.
c) The traveller does not intend to stay longer than 30 days.
d) The traveller has sufficient funds to support their stay.
e) The traveller is not considered a threat to national security.
4. Students may apply for a place at institutions in the other nation and will be given consideration on the same terms as a domestic student. In order to take up a place however a student must fulfil the following criteria.
a) Be able to prove they have adequate funding to cover the cost of their course and stay.
b) Not be considered a threat to national security.
5. The nations shall reduce tariffs to be in line with the lowest rate of charges levied by the nation against any other.
6. Nations in multi-national treaties[1] shall not be included in the consideration given in Article 5.
7. Any goods crossing the border must be accompanied by a certificate of origin of manufacture. Only goods manufactured totally in East Moreland or Hassfurt may take advantage of Article 5.
8. No limits on goods traded may be imposed except in ensuring that goods comply with local health and safety laws.
9. The two nations agree to grant access to criminal records databases to the other for visa purposes.
10. The two nations agree to extradite suspected criminals to the other upon request so long as the following conditions are meet.
a) Details of the suspected crime is presented.
b) The nation requesting extradition can provide assurances of a fair trial.
c) The nation requesting extradition can provide assurances of torture not being used.
Signed:- King David III of East Moreland.
1. e.g CNN, CSU, AKO etc