A Grand Affair

[Venico]

"Claire, you know you have to start looking at a suitor soon." Enzo said to his daughter with a slight sigh in his voice. His daughter was such a stubborn girl sometimes, but all good leaders should have a stubborn streak in them. The king slouched back into his dining chair as his daughter stood a few feet away with pursed lips.

She started to speak, stopped, and then continued, "Right now my focuses are on the kingdom, father, and not on any suitors. When the time comes and I need to have children I will. But at the moment my duties are required elsewhere." Another sigh from Enzo the Fair. He tries to throw an event to get foreign dignitaries and political lines over to court his children and of course they put up a fight.

"You know as well as I do that a marriage with any foreign political bloodlines could secure us an ally, with you and Remus. This is one way of helping the kingdom, and quite frankly it is an easy one. If this is about that boy..." Claire's cheeks flushed, her fists clenched, and her jaw set in. "...don't worry about him. Feelings change and people move past relationships. He must know that eventually you start looking at marriage. I...oh balls to this. You're my daughter and you have duties as a diplomat to aid the kingdom. I'm also your father and am not going to talk to you about your love life." Claire bowed slightly and left to go find something to wear and to try to contact Valk so she could explain that if there were rumors of her being courted, he would know they were not true.

Standing up wearily, Enzo called for a scribe. After he was done recording what the king asked, Enzo asked for it to be copied over and sent to as many nations as possible. "Even Zeira sire?" He tossed it around in his head some and shrugged. "Everyone. Even Zeira. They may be a brutish bunch but at least they'll liven up the party. Maybe we might even be able to civilize them a bit."

With that, messengers were sent out carrying letters that bore the Romule seal. They read...

Spoiler

To our cherished friends,

Romule would like to extend an invitation to a grand affair that will be thrown in the capital in one month's time. We would be delighted to have your company and to show you around our fair kingdom. Our two children, Remus and Claire, will also be attending and socializing with the company. As you know, both have a chance for the throne and are unmarried at this time.

We hope that this feast will be a time of bonding, understanding, and enjoyment. If you have any more questions the messenger who brought you this letter should be able to answer them thoroughly. Thank you for your time and we hope to see you in attendance.

Best Regards,

King Enzo the Fair
Queen Vela of Romule

[George Holland]

Anneb

"10000 Ruun for the whole dozen." Inic snorted and turned away.

"The 3 Joms alone are worth 7." He replied, popping some seeds into his mouth and chewing. The man he was negotiating with seemed to have no idea what he was doing. The 11 men and one woman were worth double what he was offering. "25000, and not a silver coin less."

"No one trades in silver in Anneb. 13000 Ruun."

Inic shook his head. "I do. If you don't want to spend there's a debtors jail nearby. Get your wagon pullers and farm workers from there." He went to go back into his shop but the customer followed him, forcing him back against the wall and drawing a knife.

"I have tried to be fair with you, Inic, slave trader and scumbag. But now I will not be. 9000 Silver pieces and you will be happy with that. If I hear anything from you other than a 'yes sir, right away sir,' then your guts will be filling your slaves food bowls, instead of the shit you give them now. Am I clear?"

Inic swallowed and considered calling for his guards. As if on queue, two of them walked into the room, sharing a bag of Ruun between them. He cursed them silently. Turning back to the man he muttered, "Yes, sir, right away sir."

The man dropped him and Inic scurried off to finish the transaction. The man felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see who it was.

"Amusing, Tiorin. But unnecessary. I was willing to pay his price."

The one called Tiorin scoffed at him. "And that is why our father sent me along with you. To make sure you aren't broke and in the gutter within a week." He looked towards where Inic was presenting the contracts to an aide. "Why do you even want them anyway?"

"The Joms will be freed and sent to train at Mar Duuk. The rest will accompany us to Romule." Tiorin's brother thought for a moment. "The woman is yours. Just try not to kill this one."

Tiorin grinned. "You worry too much Taer! This will be an excellent adventure!"

Taer sighed. "That's the problem, brother, I don't want an adventure."

Mar Duuk

Sabeen sat cross-legged before the shrine, praying to gods that she did not know. Raised from infancy as Sabeen, she didn't know her real name, nor who her parents were. The warsmiths of Mar Duuk had plucked her from her family and brought her here, the Citadel.

She was given the name Sabeen and raised to pray to every known god and deity. Her role within Mar Duuk was as both inspiration to the warriors of the city and an example of why foreigners were wrong in their beliefs. Sabeen could pray to as many gods as she was able, but for what when the warsmiths destroyed their walls and ransacked their temples?

Sabeen knew enough of the Citadel and Mar Duuk to know that escape from the city was impossible. So she prayed. She prayed to every deity set before her, eating when she was told, sleeping when she could stay awake any longer. Sabeen was Sabeen. That was her purpose, her life.

So she was incredibly surprised when one of her watchers took her out and away from the Citadel. They used the underground caverns to go through the city unseen, coming out in the palace of the Tajin himself. She had been here before, paraded in front of foreign guests and made to serve them. This time however, she was taken to a simple looking office with an unimpressive man there.

He introduced himself as Jai. And Jai would give her a way out... and a name of her own.

Swenett

"Look, now, as Shay pours the molten in." Jadir's voice rang out across the room, lit only by the furnace and the molten liquid Shay was pouring over the axe head.

"If you carve the wards correctly the molten follows the channels, look, there it is." Jadir's voice was full of pride as the entire axe head seamed to shine in the gloom.

"I carved wards of foreboding, warning and long-life into this axe head. It will shine when shine a brilliant blue when those who would mean you harm are there. The foreboding will keep it from the hands of all but the most determined thieves, and long-life means it will never break, not in ten years, not in a thousand."

He looked around the forge. "Go now, and return a month hence with your designs. We will carve and craft them here, then pick good, hard yew wood with which to make the haft. We will ward that as well. Remember, one month, and no longer."

An hour or so later, the last of Jadir's apprentices had left, to go teach their own students some of the techniques Jadir had passed on to them. His apprentices were all masters of their craft, but Jadir was the best of a generation, possibly the best ever. He had invented his first ward at age 7, crafted his first weapon age 11 and was the youngest ever Master of the Warder's Guild, spending just 5 weeks in the role age 17.

He was loving his role, teaching the other master-smiths and warders of Swenett. But now, now he was being sent to Romule. A great banquet where the brat's of the king would be paraded around and auctioned off behind the scenes. It was enough to make him spit.

[shetef]

The safest way of getting to Zeira for most travelers is to travel upriver to Lake Sarandis in southwest Osiris, which forms the southern border of Zeira. The Romulan messenger had traveled by this route and was met by a Liocasian caravel in service of the Confederate Navy.

The captain stopped the Romulan vessel and bade the messenger come aboard the caravel. He addressed the Romulans politely in a passable but accented dialect of the common tongue.
"What is your business in Zeira, azeri?"
Clearing his throat, the messenger spoke. "I come bearing the seal of Romule! I have a message to deliver to your ummm...leaders. From King Enzo himself!"
The Liocasian captain nodded. "I trust you seek audience with King Gaharis, then. We shall escort you to Biga."
"Uhhh, sure. Lead the way." The messenger wrung his hands and shifted nervously.

The captain nodded and dismissed the Romulans to their vessel. Once the two ships reached Biga, three Royal Guardsmen escorted the messenger through the winding, twisted city streets to the palace. Gaharis awaited them in the audience chamber.
"Welcome to Biga, azeri. What word have you from King Enzo?"
The messenger bows slightly but keeps his eyes up to watch these new people. He then silently hands over the letter.
Gaharis read the letter silently. Unlike the naval officers and guardsmen, his mastery of the common tongue was flawless and unaccented. Likewise, he stood apart from his soldiers in that he was quite familiar with the Romulan script.
"We are honored by His Majesty's invitation. I shall ensure that this letter meets the eyes of the other Tetrarchs. I'm sure there will be many eager to make the acquaintance of the Romulan court."
"Oh well...I...that's good. King Enzo will be glad to hear of this." The messenger said, bowing quickly again.
Gaharis nodded. "You are dismissed."
The messenger left silently but with a brisk pace, escorted by the Royal Guardsmen.

The letter was then distributed to the other Tetrarchs. Damutur and Marov agreed to send delegations while King Ozimar of Thanosia reportedly threw the letter in the fire, only muttering obscenities about foreigners in reply.

[Small Huts]

He returned the invitation to the scribe who had brought it who retreated so smoothly as to seem to disappear and young Tush sat back down for his lecture. Aye would undoubtedly go on about duty and opportunity for some time and predictably, before his ass had hit the stool it was underway, but he didn't pay attention. He saw only the water in the pool and how the sunlight played upon its ripples, and felt the warmth of the day which brought new odours to his senses. A hummingbird flitted through the garden checking to see if the nectar was running which it was. Outside somewhere he heard a man laugh while his Vizier took a rare breath. In the doorway she appeared.

Khes was a little older than her husband Tush and every inch more savvy and sure. He knew he would attain a position of great competence and confidence one day and he knew that Khes would help him find it. She had been watching Aye as he spoke, determining the situation. It didn't take her long and when she did, she made eye conatact with Tush. Instantly he realised that he was wearing his uncertainty on his face because her expression changed immediately to signal this. He smiled a small comfortable smile and she smiled back. It was a knowing smile. They both knew about the future of the kingdom and the roles they would play and as long as they got to do it together they didn't mind.

He rose from his seat and Aye's tone changed. He hadn't noticed Khes entering slowly and making her way to the pool. It was Tush' rising which stirred him from his diatribe. He was off balance now and they were together Tush and Khes. It was obvious that Khes was challenging her grandfather's authority more and more frequently and showing an example for Tush to do the same. He cobbled together a clumsy pronouncement of some kind and Aye the Vizier started off to make arrangements for the journey. Calmly and peacefully the coupled entwined fingers and watched the humming bird until she darted away.

[Treize Dreizehn]

Khoresh, High Priestess of Thor looked at the invitation in her hands.

"Tomlin, this says 'To our Cherished Friends,' but I don't know that the Romulans have ever sent us a diplomatic missive before,"

Tomlin, the Priestesses acolyte nodded slowly, "I don't think so either ma'am, still, it would behoove us to send a delegation. At the very least it would add to your legitimacy as the new High Priestess,"

"We've been over this Tomlin," The Priestess said with a slight growl in her voice, "Why would you say 'behoove'?

"I'm sorry ma'am, it means..."

"I know what the fuck it means, but I'd prefer, if you please, that we not be a bunch of pansy ass eggheads,"

"Yes ma'am, I think it would be best if we sent a delegation, since the overthrow of the Lacasias princes we lack any real allies on the mainland,"

"We still have the Water Guild," She offered, probing his reasoning.

"Yes ma'am, and that alone can probably protect us from an invasion, but we need to be looking towards expansion, and for that we need allies," He shifted uncomfortably on his feet as he spoke.

Tomlin was unsure of his place in this new administration. The High Priest had been a good friend and strong supporter for many years before he'd died. This new priestess had the same lean and hungry look the old man had in his early years. Maybe she really was the one they'd been waiting for.

"I agree," She said suddenly, after what seemed an eternity, "Send a delegation. Be mindful of their lack of contact in the past, send a representative from the Thor, Freyja and Odin houses. Someone in the upper rungs of the priesthoods, but not too close to the top. It's possible these could be the mainland allies we've been looking for. But we're not going to grovel,"

"Yes ma'am," He said before hurrying out to make the plans.

The High Priestess stopped for a moment to give him time to clear the door before mumbling to herself "Maybe that one has some promise after all,"


__________________________________

Tomlin spent several days pouring over the Priesthood rosters, at one point he knew the names of all the priests and priestesses on Seirdr above fifth rank. But that was a long time ago, when such knowledge was important to have on hand at all times. He'd have to burnish those old abilities again, if he wanted to avoid a retirement.

The representative from House Odin was easy enough. Hayden Odinson. Given up by his parents at an early age to the priesthood, he lacked a family or any real problems in his history. Known almost universally as a gentle and kind fellow, he might make a fine match for this "Claire".

As for Remus. He had half considered sending Jhasa Havias, reportedly the most beautiful woman on the island. Then he remembered the words of the High Priestess. He would send someone ranked a little lower from House Freyja. It was actually an errant suggestion from Hayden that brought his attention to Kala Olioun. Quite strikingly beautiful, and ranked only mid-level in the Freyja priesthood, she would be a perfect fit. Perhaps she could woo this Romule prince.

As for the Priesthood of Thor, he'd left that decision up to the High Priestess, after she turned down several of the candidates he'd selected. Finally she presented him with her choice, Reista Variat. He chuckled at the choice. He doubted Reista Variat would make a good match for the prince. And if what he knew of her was true, she'd probably be more interested in Claire anyway. The High Priestess had a sense of humor.

That was a good sign.

[Venico]

Spoiler

I'm going to post about preparations and stuff like that soon. Just trying to give people a chance to join if they want, but we'll be starting soon.

[Venico]

~3 weeks later~ "Do you think it's wise to be bringing in so many strangers into our home?" the queen said with her jaw set. No one could say Vela didn't love her husband, she truly cared about his health and well being. Sometimes though, she cared a bit too much.

Enzo simply brought his hand up to his temples and rubbed. Parties were not his thing and his wife stressing about security was not doing much to alleviate that. "Darling it will be a bunch of pompous princes and diplomats who probably don't even know how to wield a steak knife properly, let alone the gall to attack me or slip something into my food." He brought a chalice to his lips and sipped from it before going on. "Let's just throw this ball and enjoy it. If diplomatic happenings arise, we'll deal with them. Otherwise let's just have a nice time eh?" He tried using his smile to ease Vela, but that trick stopped working years ago.

Dropping her shoulders a bit, she admitted, "I just would be more comfortable with Valk around." Enzo chuckled a bit at this and shook his head. "His private guard will be there if needed and quite frankly I'm glad to see the boy out of the castle for th..." Vela was glaring at him. He sighed and went on, "I know Claire and the boy enjoy each others' company but it'll be healthy for them to spend some time apart." The king really did not enjoy the fact that Vela encouraged their daughter's romance, but he could only do so much.

Casks of wine rolled into the castle, large banners bearing the house crest were draped along the walls. The next week was going to be hectic, especially with Vela dictating the clean up and worrying over everything. The staff would be paid extra of course but the castle would look amazing to receive their guests.

Spoiler

I was asked if this means you guys can arrive yet. Feel free to do some prep work/travel and then arrive.

[Small Huts]

The sails billowed in the wind as the seagoing boat traveled south along the coastline. The sun shone brightly and dotted along the shoreline people could be seen fishing and trading. Wherever people were, there were gulls too making their racket and these would increase in number around the sail boat as they passed these points of business. Tush preferred the ride without so many gulls. It was more peaceful. He could watch the landscape change and dream.

This journey was unprecedented. Never before had any king left empire soil except to wage war. As for Tush, he had never personally been so far from any family, especially Khes. He missed her, but not too terribly. He thought of their reunion and what sights he would see which he would share with her then. He busied himself with absorbing every detail for that purpose.

The sea became more choppy as they sailed further south, but by mid afternoon off in the distance Tush could see the great nation of Romule rise on the horizon. Anticipation began to wrap itself around his young heart and his face beamed as brightly as the afternoon sun.

[shetef]

The Zeira delegation was small but had many important figures in attendance. The Liocasian prince Trenn Xeredu had offered the use of his private ship to make the long and arduous journey downriver. With Xeredu was Deladus, the Tetrarch of Marov, and the anarch Valith Enam from Damutur. Deladus' wife Aesis also accompanied the party.

After stopping in Thebes to restock the vessel, they set sail again and after many nights the Zeira arrived off the coast of Romule. The ship's captain waved an orange flag, the sign used by Zeira ships to indicate peace and a request to dock.

[Small Huts]

Thutmose jockeyed through the busy street. The king had insisted that he buy some eels and have the cook prepare them. He'd never seen their pale pink and purple colour before. He was sure they wouldn't be that colour when they came off the grill, but it was what the King wanted. That and a few other items.

"How much for the berries, the blue ones"? he asked.

"You want a bushel these are very good, best in the city", the shop owner upsold.

"No, how much"? Thutmose raised his voice to clarify.

"Twenty for the whole bushel, excellent deal"!

"No the small basket, that one", Thumose pointed.

"Good choice, sir. This will cost you just five", the vendor said holding out the basket with one hand and an open palm for coins as the other.

Thutmose pulled five coins from his purse and made the exchange. The vendor was yelling out into the street before Thutmose could wish him a good day or even thank him. He relaxed his stance and the crowd began pushing him along away from the shop and out into the stream of people. As the shop and vendor faded from his view he heard the next customer complaining about the price and the vendor lowered the price instantly. Thutmose had overpaid. He had likely overpaid for the eels too, and everything else today.

Ah well, it was done and so was he. He would know better for next time. He shouldn't be out here shopping in the first place. He was a scribe, an Ambassador's aid and should be sipping something refreshing in the shade while discussing political matters with his neighbours. Since that's exactly what he was going to be doing for the rest of the day, Thutmose sighed and finally started to relax. He thought it odd that a simple trip to market should cause him such distress while beads such as some of the ones embroidered onto his kilt apron, should be so casually carried throughout the streets of a foreign nation. Any individual bead on its own was nothing special, but combining a few together to dissolve in wine would ensure the death of its drinker. They might not have as much variety in the marketplace in Nebkheperure and they might not be very good hagglers, but they did know a little something about Alchemy.