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Insurance
Story: Insurance
Year: 968 FY
Characters: Amassa, Minalu, Odaki, Ulore, Kesshare
Warnings: References to the civil war in Feredar.
Notes: This takes place in the Murder AU.
Odaki had broached the subject, and the suggestion itself had come from Minalu, but Amassa was fairly certain the whole thing had originated with his niece.
"Things in Feredar seem to be calmer," his elder son mentioned, almost casually. "I think we can finally be certain the unrest won't spill over to us."
"I'm not so sure," Minalu said, frowning. "The king is young yet, and we don't know how radical his personal politics are. All we have to go on are the regencies."
Odaki shrugged. "Point."
"What would you suggest?" Amassa asked her, mildly.
"Unite our interests to theirs," she said, after a moment's thought. "The propsect of our wealth and military might could well be enough for them to overlook our line, and it would be a positive step for them. And they have enough prestige and wealth, despite recent disturbances, to make it a smart move on our part."
It was a good point, a solid argument. "What do you think, Odaki?" He caught a brief glimpse of Ulore glowering in his corner--probably upset that Amassa hadn't asked him.
He sighed internally.
"I think it's worth trying," Odaki said slowly. "Minalu's right, Feredar has a reputation and historical power we'd be fools not to try and act on. And this may be a way to help the mages who suffer there."
"Your altruism is charming, brother," Ulore interrupted. "As is your logic, but we don't have any way to make this work. If, as I think, you're proposing a marriage offer, who would we send? Lidare is celibate, Mina too old by their standards."
Amassa winced. As blunt--bordering on rude--as Ulore had been, he was right. Neither of his daughters was a viable option.
"Send me," Kesshare said, quietly, the first time she'd spoken at all in today's meeting.
Amassa blinked. "Are you certain?"
She shrugged, fluidly. "I am close enough to you by blood, sir, that they can take no offense, but not so close as to cause legal difficulties for our heirs. I am of an appropriate age, if a little old by their standards, and unattached."
All of which was true. "It will be difficult for you there," he said. "Even if Kellom does change his laws to allow it."
She met his eyes, and Amassa remembered how large and solemn hers had seemed when she came to live in his household, seventeen years ago.
His niece had changed so much since then.
"I do not fear hardship, Uncle."
Amassa broke her gaze first, and turned to his younger son. "Does your objection still stand?"
Ulore was watching Kesshare, a faint frown on his face, as if he wasn't quite sure what to make of her volunteering. "No, Father," he said.
"All right. Minalu, I want you to have a draft of the proposal for me by tomorrow," Amassa said. He caught, from the corner of his eye, a brief flash of triumph on his niece's face.
Yes. Definitely her idea.
"Yes, Father," Minalu was saying, and Amassa dismissed them.
Exactly what Kesshare had up her sleeves was not yet clear. All he could be certain of was that she had more riding on this betrothal than he could divine.
But as much as that worried him, Minalu's logic was still sound, as was Odaki's. For better or for worse, he would offer his niece to King Kellom.
Amassa had a feeling that that union, if it took place, would in the end either save or break the world.
Year: 968 FY
Characters: Amassa, Minalu, Odaki, Ulore, Kesshare
Warnings: References to the civil war in Feredar.
Notes: This takes place in the Murder AU.
Odaki had broached the subject, and the suggestion itself had come from Minalu, but Amassa was fairly certain the whole thing had originated with his niece.
"Things in Feredar seem to be calmer," his elder son mentioned, almost casually. "I think we can finally be certain the unrest won't spill over to us."
"I'm not so sure," Minalu said, frowning. "The king is young yet, and we don't know how radical his personal politics are. All we have to go on are the regencies."
Odaki shrugged. "Point."
"What would you suggest?" Amassa asked her, mildly.
"Unite our interests to theirs," she said, after a moment's thought. "The propsect of our wealth and military might could well be enough for them to overlook our line, and it would be a positive step for them. And they have enough prestige and wealth, despite recent disturbances, to make it a smart move on our part."
It was a good point, a solid argument. "What do you think, Odaki?" He caught a brief glimpse of Ulore glowering in his corner--probably upset that Amassa hadn't asked him.
He sighed internally.
"I think it's worth trying," Odaki said slowly. "Minalu's right, Feredar has a reputation and historical power we'd be fools not to try and act on. And this may be a way to help the mages who suffer there."
"Your altruism is charming, brother," Ulore interrupted. "As is your logic, but we don't have any way to make this work. If, as I think, you're proposing a marriage offer, who would we send? Lidare is celibate, Mina too old by their standards."
Amassa winced. As blunt--bordering on rude--as Ulore had been, he was right. Neither of his daughters was a viable option.
"Send me," Kesshare said, quietly, the first time she'd spoken at all in today's meeting.
Amassa blinked. "Are you certain?"
She shrugged, fluidly. "I am close enough to you by blood, sir, that they can take no offense, but not so close as to cause legal difficulties for our heirs. I am of an appropriate age, if a little old by their standards, and unattached."
All of which was true. "It will be difficult for you there," he said. "Even if Kellom does change his laws to allow it."
She met his eyes, and Amassa remembered how large and solemn hers had seemed when she came to live in his household, seventeen years ago.
His niece had changed so much since then.
"I do not fear hardship, Uncle."
Amassa broke her gaze first, and turned to his younger son. "Does your objection still stand?"
Ulore was watching Kesshare, a faint frown on his face, as if he wasn't quite sure what to make of her volunteering. "No, Father," he said.
"All right. Minalu, I want you to have a draft of the proposal for me by tomorrow," Amassa said. He caught, from the corner of his eye, a brief flash of triumph on his niece's face.
Yes. Definitely her idea.
"Yes, Father," Minalu was saying, and Amassa dismissed them.
Exactly what Kesshare had up her sleeves was not yet clear. All he could be certain of was that she had more riding on this betrothal than he could divine.
But as much as that worried him, Minalu's logic was still sound, as was Odaki's. For better or for worse, he would offer his niece to King Kellom.
Amassa had a feeling that that union, if it took place, would in the end either save or break the world.