Done Properly

Writers: AL, Avery
Date Posted: 5th December 2008

Characters: Briata, Ishek
Description: Ishek talks to Briata regarding contracts and inheritance.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 13, day 20 of Turn 4
Notes: Takes place late afternoon/early evening, after "Good Intentions"

Briata

"Briata?" Ishek called as he knocked on the door of her room. He'd sent Yimas to her with a note saying he had some business to discuss and would be there in a candlemark. He hoped she was in.

"Please enter!" The girl called out. She turned as the door opened and Briata's face lit into a bright smile. "Ah, I was thinking you would be here soon."

"I do try to keep to my schedule." he said with an answering smile.

Briata lowered herself into the settle and patted the seat next to her. "You said you had something you wished to discuss with me?"

"Yes." Ishek said, taking the invited seat. "I realized that, well, I forgot to make some things clear to you and your father when I proposed, and I think we need to talk about them now."

"Oh?" What could he have left out? She knew it wasn't intentional, whatever it was. "All right then, what sort of things?"

"Mostly contracts. You see, as the Lady Thalia so recently reminded me, I am the Lord_Warder_ and not the actual lord. I am in charge of Garnet Valley only until Aslian reaches his full age and takes over. But, Briata, that means any children of ours can't inherit the Hold. And when Aslian reaches his age, we'll retire." He looked at her. "I hope that this doesn't disappoint you- I know I should have been more up front about it."

"Oh Ishek, I'm well aware of your status and I never expected you to remain in this position forever." Briata laughed. Was that all? Well, Ishek had nothing to worry about. "After all, Aslian is rightful heir." She paused for a moment, then, wondering. But what if..."What if something happened to Aslian though?" Faranth forbid it, but she supposed it was something that others thought of as well. "What then?"

"I just needed to tell you, in case you weren't aware. There's many a woman who would be disappointed to give up her power in a few Turns, and I didn't want you to be disappointed." he said honestly. "As for that, well, That's something to be brought up with the Harpers. Several contracts will need to be renegotiated. And I think we'll find out then. I would say that they would still rule that none of our children could inherit, in case we arranged something." he mused.

Briata sat quietly for a moment and pondered that. She wasn't so sure that she agreed with the idea that any children wouldn't inherit should something happen. "I would never agree to any arrangement of that sort." She stated adamantly, "But who then would be the Lord Holder should something indeed happen?"

"I don't know." Ishek said honestly. "I just know that it will be hard to convince the Conclave that one of ours should be heir, because that does raise the risk for...accidents. I know I would never, nor would you, but there are less scrupulous lords out there. I believe this is something that would need to be worked out with Thalia, her family, and the Harper contracters. Possibly with Conclave input."

Briata nodded slowly. "Perhaps a clause stating that if foul play is found on our part then of course our children could not inherit?" That would solve everything, wouldn't it?

"Possibly. I hadn't considered that. I think it's definitely a matter to bring up with the harpers." Ishek said, pleased with her cleverness. "We'll need to meet with them sometime in the next few days."

"Of course." Briata nodded, then her eyes lit up. "Oh Ishek, I finally met Lady Thalia. She's just lovely! I hope I can meet her son soon. Maybe we'll have children quickly and they can play together."

"Oh, did you?" There was one of his worries avoided. "I'm glad you like her. I was worried you wouldn't. I've liked her ever since I came here- she's a good woman and I don't want our marriage making her feel like she doesn't belong here anymore. If you two get along that will alleviate a lot of that."

"Doesn't belong? Of course she belongs. I wouldn't have it any other way. I hope she likes me." To be honest, Briata had picked up more in the conversation than Thalia probably realised she had. "Maybe she's concerned about her son and what our marriage means for him." That would explain it, certainly.

"She was when we last spoke, which is why I began this conversation in the first place." Ishek said. "I'm also wondering how our own children will react to the situation. You and I might be comfortable with retiring, but if they grow up used to the whole Hold... well, I just hope they don't become too spoiled by the idea of being Lord's children."

"Then we'll have to simply make sure they aren't spoiled and teach them that they can't just have everything handed to them." She and her brothers had all been taught that from very young. Though Bridinar had been a bit more generous after he had remarried and the hold had suddenly become quite prosperous, they had all gone through times of struggle and knew that things couldn't just be taken, they had to be worked for. "It will be all right. We'll raise them properly."

"That we will." Ishek agreed. He'd seen Briata with the children at her hold. He was sure she'd be a good mother. And he hoped that his own experience with Miralani's girls would help. "I'm sure we'll be excellent."

Last updated on the December 13th 2008

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