Negotiations

Writers: AL, Avery
Date Posted: 25th November 2008

Characters: Ishek, Briata, Bridinar
Description: Briata accepts Ishek's proposal, bringing Garnet Valley a new Lady Holder and new trade advantages.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 13, day 8 of Turn 4

Briata

Briata glanced at her father as they made their way through the halls.
An assistant steward was guiding them, evidently having not only been
informed of their arrival, but also of Lord Ishek's wish to meet with
not only Brindnar, but her as well. She let her gaze slip back in
front of her for fear of tripping over something and falling upon her
face. Wouldn't that be something to laugh at! Well, she certainly
wouldn't be laughing, but others most likely would. It had been an
odd request, having her come along.

They came to a stop in front of a door which Briata assumed led to
Ishek's office. The young steward rapped upon it and once given
leave, they entered.

"Bridinar. Briata. Welcome back." Ishek said, rising to greet them.
"Was your journey well? Can I send for refreshments?"

Bridinar took the Lord Warder's hand and shook it firmly. "Yes, it was
a good journey and refreshments would much appreciated."

"Shall I sir?" The Steward asked, lifting an eyebrow. At Ishek's nod,
he turned and hurried away.

"As usual, guest rooms have been prepared for if you want to spend the
night." Ishek said. He knew he was dragging out the pleasantries a
little, but he was nervous. They were here, which implied some
positive reaction. But was it just about the trade? How did Bridinar
really feel about alliance? How did Briata feel?

"Thank you sir." Bridinar inclined his head, his smile warming a bit.
"Your hospitality is much appreciated."

Briata was studying him, silently, almost sullenly at first. Then
suddenly her own smile warmed her features. It was a smile especially
for the Lord Warder.

Ishek smiled back. Her good humors was infectious, he'd found. "Would
you prefer to start the business now, or chat first?" he offered. "As
I had promised, we have all of the day set aside."

"Certainly." Bridinar glanced down at his daughter, still uncertain.
He had an inclination as to what one of the subjects would be after it
had been requested that she come. From the look she gave him, he had
a feeling she was thinking similar thoughts.

Shards, were they all uncomfortable? Ishek knew that he was. The
arrival of the refreshments distracted, and he took a glass of fruit
juice gratefully. It was a cover, but it didn't last very long.; With
a reluctant sigh Ishek set it down and began to talk.

"I'm sure you're wondering what kind of negotiations are going to go on
here. Let me assure you- both of you-" he emphasized, "that no matter
how a particular set goes, I still want to open better channels of
trade between our holds. That is an absolute."

"I'm quite amenable to that." Brindar stated slowly, nodding as if to
emphasize his feelings upon the matter. "Yet it seems as if the
request for Briata to be here encompasses more than simply trade, if I
may be so bold."

"It does." Ishek admitted. "My advisors have impressed upon me the fact
that Garnet Valley needs a Lady Holder. I had been averse to wedding
again, because I miss my wife. I realize, however, that what the Hold
needs is more important than what I want. Onyx Peak is one of the
largest minor holds and one of our best producers of raw goods. In
addition- I honestly like Briata. And I hope that the lady likes me."

"I see." It was just as Bridinar has suspected. Thinking back on it,
he wondered if maybe he should have read more into the letters that
had been sent to him from Ishek. "My Lord, Briata knows that she has
my blessing in anything she wishes to do, but I can not speak for
her." He turned his gaze upon his daughter who had cocked her head to
the side and was regarding Ishek thoughtfully. After a moment, she
met her father's gaze and asked with a smile, "Papa, would you let me
speak to Ishek alone please?"

Bridinar was rather surprised by the request, but he nodded and stood,
then turned to Ishek. "By your leave?"

"My Hold is open to you if you want to take a walk or if you just want
to rest anywhere." Ishek said automatically. He was as surprised as
Bridinar.

"Thank you sire." Bridinar gave a small bow, then turned and made his
way out the door, though not without one last glance behind him. For
a long time, Briata simply sat there, staring at Ishek, her fingers
playing delicately at her mouth.

Maybe she didn't like the idea. Maybe he'd misinterpreted her liking of him. Maybe she wasn't ready to marry, even though she wanted children. Maybe... "Briata, if you don't want to do this, then I can just negotiate ovines with your father."

"I never said I didn't want to do this." The girl stated slowly. After a moment, she leaned forward, still staring at him, her eyes meeting his own. "My question is, do _you_ want this. You have already mentioned that your advisors are pressing you for marriage and you want to do this for the good of the Hold. But what about for yourself?"

"If I have to do this, then you're the best-" Ishek stopped and corrected himself. "Briata, I think you're the _only_ person I'd marry. I don't want to marry a stranger that I could never love. I don't want a solely political alliance. I truly like you. I think that's important for a marriage. We could be happy, I think. And maybe...maybe I've been alone, long enough."

"Being alone isn't good." The girl stated softly. She straightened and stared at him for a few moments more. She wanted to get married, she wanted a family. She liked Ishek, and that was important. Love could grow from that easily. In fact, friendship was simply a type of love. Finally Briata smiled and she nodded. "Then I accept the proposal."

"You...you do?" Ishek stared at her for a moment before a smile spread over his features. "That's wonderful. I was afraid...I didn't want you to think you were a pawn, I wanted you to know you mattered." He felt disbelieving. He'd been so worried about courtship, about finding a match, about his responsibility...and it had been so easy. All he'd had to do was ask- it was as if he wasn't a lord, and just a man, and that felt _right_.

"I know I'm not a pawn, not to you, and you're the one that matters." Briata's own smile brightened at the site of his. "I know that you see me as something more than just a pretty face. You have no idea how much I appreciate that about you."

"Other Lords might use people, but I don't want to." Ishek said quietly. "Should we- should we tell your father? _He_ will approve, right?"

"Of course he will!" Briata laughed at the Lord's uncertainty. "He likes you, but even if he didn't, he wouldn't keep me from something I really wanted to do unless it put me into danger."

Ishek smiled. "He's a good man. I think we should call him back in." he said, and moved for the door, intending to find the steward.

The Lord didn't even get a chance to send for the holder as he hadn't moved more than five feet from the door. Indeed, Ishek almost bowled him over when the door was opened and the man looked rather sheepish at having been caught trying to eavesdrop.

"We're done talking." Ishek said politely, ushering the other man in. He didn't blame him for his curiosity about the events. Ishek looked over at Briata, uncertain which of them should do the talking.

The girl stood and took her father's hand. "I've accepted the proposal."

"Oh." Bridinar was both surprised and not so surprised. He knew that Briata liked the Lord Warder, knew that she wanted a family. At the same time, he had thought, almost hoped, that such a proposal would seem to hasty to her. "Well, I suppose we shall have to get ready for a wedding then." The holder managed a smile, sliding his arm around his daughter's shoulders.

"It doesn't have to be immediate." Ishek reassured the other man. "It's going to be a big event, we'll need to invite dignities- of course, Hold funs will be available for the planning. But if we wanted to wait a few months, a Turn, letting the expectation build..." He trailed off. "I guess I'm saying it doesn't have to be overnight, not if no one's ready."

"That would be up to Briata." Bridinar looked down at her but the girl simply shook her head.

"I see no need in postponing it either. I'm ready, Ishek, whenever you are." Briata asserted.

"What about the day after Turn's Beginning?" Ishek asked. "That way we can combine it with the Turn's End celebrations, but that way other Lord Holders won't feel obligated to skip out on their own celebrations. It can just be an extra day of celebrating."

"That sounds wonderful." Briata agreed.

Bridinar nodded. "Certainly, Lord Ishek." It was rather sudden and Bridinar almost reeled at the preparations that would need to be done before then. "Shall we conclude our business then? Tomorrow we can head back and get started on getting ready."

"I believe that would be best." Ishek agreed.

Bridinar gave his daughter a light kiss upon her head. "I'm certain this will be rather boring, so if it's all right with Lord Ishek," The holder let his gaze dance over to the Warder for a moment, "Why don't you find something a bit more enjoyable to occupy your time?"

Ishek grabbed a hide, scraweled a short note, and handed it to Briata. "This will tell the staff to give you anything you request." he told her. "Consider the Hold at your disposal."

Briata took the hide, though she didn't look at it. "Thank you." She said softly, then gave a small curtsy and one last look to her father before heading out the door, Bridinar watching.

Ishek watched her go, and then turned to the man who he would soon be related to. "I was thinking of offering you first choice of new livestock..." he began.

Last updated on the December 4th 2008

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Negotiations