Considering Courting

Writers: Avery, Eimi
Date Posted: 21st November 2008

Characters: Kiomo, Ishek
Description: Kiomo gets Ishek to consider the benefits of an alliance.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 13, day 3 of Turn 4

"You look half lost /between/," Kiomo commented, moving his Lord Holder
out of harms way of the opposing Lady Holder.

"I do?" Ishek asked, taking a moment to consider his move. "I suppose
it's because of things on my mind."

"That would make sense," Kiomo smiled, leaning back in his chair and
swirling his glass of mostly ice with a little whiskey splashed on top.
"What's on your mind this evening, Ishek?"

"I suppose I don't enjoy being back at work after my visit to Onyx
Peak." he admitted. It was partially true, anyways; he'd enjoyed leaving
the Hold to Penryn and Kiomo's care temporarily while he saw more of his
territory, and it had been nice to spend time meeting with those holders
who were also a part of his domain even if he didn't contact them every
day.

"Oh?" the holder asked with a knowing smile. He had not been unaware of
the fact that the Holder there had a young and eligable daughter. Might
Ishek have had alterior motives, or had the Holder, for his visit? "And
did you find anything that peaked your interest there?"

"They have very nice runners and are quite a prosperous hold. They have
fine ovines, as well, but less luck with farming, so perhaps we could
reduce the amount of grain they tithe us in exchange for more of the
ovine. That would reduce the burden." Since he had gone there to survey
their propsperity, Ishek was first and foremost concerned with that.
"The holder and his family are very nice." he added as an afterthought.

The man was so sharding wholesome Kiomo had to fight the urge to throw
up. Perhaps he had to make himself plainer. "I believe I met the
Holder of Onyx Peak's daughter. She's rather pretty."

"Briata? Yes, she is." Ishek agreed. "Very traditional- her father's
raised her right. She's quite good with kids, I find it rather
endearing." he admitted. Though his praise wasn't too effusive, his tone
spoke of how much he'd liked her.

"Endearing. How very..." Proper. "Interesting. And does the young
woman find you endearing as well?"

"I think she does; she sought out my company multiple times. I don't
want to speak ill of the holders here, but I think she's one of the
smartest and most articulate young women I've ever met."

"Excellent," Kiomo grinned. He had met the young woman they spoke of,
and though she seemed capable, she was also rather young and
inexperienced. She certainly wouldn't pose much of a threat to him,
especially if he could find a way to 'endear' himself to her as well.
"It sounds as though an attraction may be forming there between you
two."

"An attraction? A friendship most certainly, but I haven't thought about
anything else."

"You should, you know. There's no guarentee a fine girl like that will
vbe available long. I'm sure her father is already looking for eligible
suitors for her." And she was a safer choice than many young women
Kiomo could think of off hand.

"My sister has been suggesting I look for an advantageous match." Ishek
said, trying to be analytical. "Onyx Peak is a fair-sized holding and
there would be trade advantages, wouldn't there?"

"Most certainly. Not only that but her father is an influencial man.
Having him solidly at your back could only strengthen the Hold. But
even more importantly, you like her, Ishek. It may not yet be love, but
that would grow with time." Besides, Kiomo didn't really want the
Warder to marry for love. It would shift the balance of power in her
favor, and Kiomo rather liked the influence he currently had.

"I don't even know how she would feel about it, or how to go about this
at all." Ishek admitted. "Courting when you're just one man can't be the
same as it is when you're a Lord."

"Trust me, it's even easier when you're a Lord," Kiomo snorted. "You
can have your pick of ladies, Ishek. Just send her father a note and
say you might be interested in discussing it and he'd probably be ready
to offer her to you on the spot." Though he was sure that was a little
to honest for innocent little Ishek. He was much too noble and had far
too many good intentions. It was enough to make him want to gag. "If
you actually like this girl, you should perhaps invite her and her
father to visit you casually. Up until now it has always been business.
Let him know you're interested in seeing him, and _her_, outside of
business."

Ishek pondered that for a moment. It couldn't do any harm- it was the
truth that he liked Bri, and her father was an intelligent man. "I think
I'll do that. Sometime this month actually."

"The sooner the better. Show a little eagerness."

"I should do it tomorrow, then." Ishek said. He still wasn't completely
comfortable with the idea, and yet he liked Briata. If he had to marry,
well, she was a nice girl.

Last updated on the November 23rd 2008

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Considering Courting