A Business Deal

Writers: Miriah, Yvonne
Date Posted: 20th June 2014

Characters: Yriadha, Humari, Taril, Jakin
Description: A marriage is negotiated
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 6, day 3 of Turn 7

Yriadha

Humari

Taril arrived precicely on time at Yriadha's suite trailing a rather rumpled Harper Jakin behind him. He rapped on the door with his knuckles before turning to the harper. "Remember- you are on your best behaviour. And if you touch any sort of alcohol I'm adding another twenty marks to your debt. Understand?"

"Understood," Jakin said sullenly. "But one drink is never a problem."

"You're right-- it's the one after the first, and the one after that." Taril frowned. "Best. Behaviour."

Instructed by her mother, Humari answered the door, opening it slowly. Dressed in her best day gown, the material clung to the young curves and was only barely appropriate for a young woman her age. It was clearly meant to be enticing but Humari didn't carry it off well, her body shrunk slightly in nerves. "Please sirs...come in. Be our guests." She stepped back, keeping her eyes downcast.

"Hello, Humari. It's a pleasure to see you." Taril didn't notice the rather concerned look that Jakin sent his way. He limped inside, and waited until
Humari had closed the door before offering her a small black wooden box he'd dug from his coat pocket. "I know we don't know each other terribly well
yet, but I wanted to give this to you as a... way to start," he said, finishing a little haltingly. It took him a moment to realise that he was nervous-- nervous of a slight young woman in a dress that didn't suit her. It was disconcerting.

"Oh...I.." She looked down at the box and then looked back up at him. She didn't get gifts very often, excepting on her birthingday. She sucked in her lower lip and slowly opened it. Her eyes widened as she took in the silver bangle and her hands hesitantly touched it. She had jewelry, but not of silver and not so lovely. Her fingers stroked over it and her eyes shot back to him. "Thank you, sir." Her voice was soft but there was a small, grateful smile on her lips. It warmed her face as she clutched the box to her chest. "It's beautiful."

Yriadha stepped out of their small kitchen to survey the scene and her brows arched as she strode to greet Taril and the man she assumed to be the
Harper. "Good evening to you both..what's this?" Yriadha turned to Humari, looking at the box.

"He gave it to me. It's pretty." At Yriadha's gesture, Humari opened it and showed the little bangle to her mother.

Yriadha plucked the bracelet out of the box and smiled. "It is indeed. Lovely." She nodded to Taril. The man's reputation for taste was true, it seemed. Yriadha gripped Humari's hand and slid the bangle over her wrist with satisfaction.

The satisfied look on her mothers face boded well, but Humari couldn't help but want to cringe at the realization that this was going to happen. The smile faltered on her face for only a moment before she looked down at the bracelet and slid her hands over it, feeling the cool metal. Now it seemed like a shackle.

Now ignoring Humari, Yriadha turned to Taril and gestured towards the dining area. "Please sit. Humari, will you get the wine?"

"It's a pleasure to see you again tonight," he said to her, bowing slightly. "May I present my companion, Harper Jakin?"

Jakin swept a much more elaborate bow. "Headwoman."

"A pleasure, Harper."

Humari went for the wine while Yriadha showed both men to their seats. She had placed she and Taril at the opposite ends of the small dining room table and left a seat symbolically at his right for Humari and the seat at his left for the harper. She gestured for them to sit, Humari pouring wine for
all except herself; she contented herself with water. The food lay in wait, a fragrant smelling sliced roast with grilled tubers, legumes and hot yeast rolls were there for the taking. Humari finally sat, folding her hands in her lap while her fingers spun the bracelet around her wrist.

Yriadha settled into her seat after the men and steepled her fingers. "Would you prefer to eat before we look over the contract?"

"Before, I should think." Taril gestured at the plates before them. "I would hate to see such fine cooking go to waste, especially as it has come directly from your own kitchen. Your reputation is formidable."

Yriadha gave an polite smile and inclined her head. "Thank you. Humari assisted of course. She is well versed in cooking." Humari glanced up at Taril and gave a little smile before looking back down at the bangle on her wrist. As the head of the house, Yriadha served each of them, giving Taril the choicest pieces of the meal before she served the rest.

He waited until Yriadha had sat down again before raising his glass. "A toast, to start us off. To the beginning of a partnership between our families." He included the table in his speech, but locked eyes with Humari at the end of it.

Humari slowly raised her glass of water and met Taril's eyes. She didn't sip her drink at first, her gaze locked on his own for a long moment. Was he really toasting her? Her eyes softened, then flicked down to the bracelet before she remembered herself and dropped her gaze quickly. His gaze was more intense than she was used to from a man and she didn't know what to make of it. What would he say if he knew the truth? About what and who she had wanted and cared for? She bit her lower lip and glanced quickly at her mother. She knew from her mother's satisfied smile and murmured thanks towards Taril that there was no escaping this.

She looked down at her plate and as the toast ended, attempted to put food in her mouth to chew. It tasted like ashes to her. But she did her duty and swallowed.

Taril smiled, then picked up his cutlery and began to eat. The meal was delicious, perfectly balanced and seasoned, and a testament to the Headwoman's formidable skills. It was also a treat to have red meat at the table at a Sea Hold. As much as Taril enjoyed fish, it was nice to have a change. And it was another clue to how much Yriadha wanted this match.

The dinner passed with light conversation, although he did notice that Humari was silent unless prodded by her mother to speak. Taril wasn't much surprised by that either. She was young and pretty, and he didn't imagine that she wanted to marry him much. Jakin also managed to stop himself at a second glass of wine before asking for water, which did surprise him. Mentally he added another twenty marks to the man's debt. As much as he hated being out-of-pocket with debtors, he was finding it useful to have a pet Harper.

When he was finished and the table cleared, Taril got down to business. "I am very much looking forward to this match, Headwoman. Like I said before, an alliance between us could be very beneficial to the Hold as a whole, and to both of us, personally. I do have a few conditions to discuss before the match goes ahead. I prefer to formalize these things ahead of time, to avoid misunderstandings down the line. I'm sure you understand."

Yriadha inclined her head. "Of course. It is to be expected. Humari..."

She rose from the table and faced Taril. Her voice was soft. "Thank you for joining us for dinner. If you will excuse me, sir..Harper." She curtsied, glanced at her mother and then left the room on quick feet.

Yriadha stayed silent until Humari was gone and turned to meet Taril's gaze. "I have my own requests as well. What are your conditions, Taril?"

"Mostly to protect my family's harbor," he said offhandedly. "I am the eldest son. Therefore if there are any children they stand to inherit. Should anything happen to me or Humari before they come of age the children will be raised by my family, and yours will forfit any potential claim to my family's ships, land, business and other holdings."

Yriadha drummed her fingers on the table as she considered it, then nodded. "Very well. And should anything happen to you to leave my daughter as a widow?"

"My family will take her in, with or without children. Unless she chooses to stay here with you, in which case I will set up a stipend," Taril said.

She nodded with satisfaction. "Very well. My main concern is her well-being of course." She poured glasses of water for all at the table before sitting down. "What else?"

"Well.." Taril sipped his wine before continuing. He was honest about his shortcomings, but in private, in dark rooms and silent places. It was much harder to say them aloud with Yriadha as an audience. "I am not... most young women's idea of a husband," he said after a moment. "But I also have a reputation to think of. Humari should have a sevenday to decide if she truly wants this match before it is announced publically. After that..." His expression hardened. "If she calls off the marriage, I will take it as a personal insult and expect appropriate recompense."

"She will not call off the marriage, Taril." Yriadha was firm. "She is committed to this match." Whether or not she truly wanted it. "Do not concern yourself with any public embarrassment. We stand by our word." She held up a finger as she paused. "But as her mother I expect you to hold to yours as well. You will agree not to put her aside after the marriage without compensation of your own."

"That would depend on the circumstances. Should she prove to be barren after... oh, five Turns, or should I find that she has been unfaithful, I reserve the right to set her aside. I have a duty to my family as well, you must understand." Taril smiled to soften his words. "But as you said, you come from a fertile family, and Humari is a good girl. That clause should be no worry for you. It is there simply to protect my family."

She inclined her head. "I highly doubt that she will prove to be infertile. But should that unthinkable event happen, I would still like her cared for. I am not getting any younger and barrenness is through no fault of her own. I must protect my family as well."

"Of course. I would not leave her with no support at all. If she is barren, she'll recieve a small annual stipend to ensure that she is cared for. You're listening, Jakin?" he asked sharply.

The Harper, who had just raised his third wine glass to his lips, reluctantly put it down again. "I'll add the clause to the marriage contract," he said.

"Good." Taril turned his attention back to Yriadha. "Anything else?"

"My only concern is that she will be cared for." Yriadha replied smoothly.

And yet she was marrying her young daughter off to a man almost twice her age, who looked the way _he_ did. Taril smiled. "Naturally. Jakin will draw up the contract, then, and we can sign in a sevenday."

"Very good." Yriadha rose with a satisfied smile. "We will sign it then."

"Here's to us," Taril said, lifting his glass. "To our future." **Whatever that might be.**

Last updated on the July 1st 2014

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A Business Deal