She curtsied gracefully, her pale cheeks tinged with a soft pink. Her soft Northern accent, lilting and charming, added a melodic quality to her voice that was hard to ignore. "Thank you, Duke Dorian. Everything has been wonderful. Your hospitality is most gracious."
Arla, ever perceptive, stood and approached us. She placed a gentle hand on Cladia's arm and gestured to an empty seat beside her. "Lady Cladia, come, sit with me. Let us get to know one another better. I'm sure you must have questions about life here."
Cladia looked to her father, who gave her an encouraging nod. "Go on, lass. Best to learn the ways of your new home."
As Cladia settled beside Arla, I turned back to Eimon. "Shall we take a moment to discuss matters of the North, Duke Eimon? I wish to understand which houses we can rely on, in these troubling times."
The large, burly man stroked his thick, golden-beaded beard thoughtfully. "Aye, that's a conversation worth having. The North is a harsh land, lad, but we De'Rollos know where the loyalties lie."
I guided him to a quieter corner of the table, where we could speak more privately. Over plates of hearty fare, we discussed the intricate web of alliances, feuds, and opportunities among the Northern houses. Eimon's insights were invaluable, his words painting a vivid picture of the challenges and strengths of the realm's northern reaches.
Meanwhile, I couldn't help but notice how Arla and Cladia were already deep in conversation. Arla's warmth and easy charm put Cladia at ease, her initial nerves melting into a more confident demeanor. Seated nearby, Cylvia chimed in occasionally, her youthful curiosity adding a lighthearted touch to their exchange. The silver-haired beauty caught my gaze, her returning smile bringing a slight blush to her cheeks before she turned back to the conversation.
The children, seated at a separate table, were buzzing with excitement about the arrival of their new 'aunts'. Their chatter about upcoming lessons and their plans for the day added a cheerful backdrop to the morning's proceedings.
After my discussion with Eimon, I made time to meet with Duke Corlen May'Shire, father of Sonya and Katarina May'Shire--my first two concubines. The significance of his offering was not lost on me, and it was clear that a strategic alliance would benefit both our houses.
Once we were seated, I addressed him directly. "Corlen, your daughters are remarkable women--a testament to the strength and grace of House May'Shire. Their place in my household signifies more than just a personal bond; it forges a new connection between our houses, one that should be reflected in our dealings."
Corlen inclined his head, his expression shrewd yet open. "Duke Dorian, I appreciate your kind words, and I agree--our newly established ties create immense opportunities to strengthen our alliance further. If I may ask, which dealings, in particular, have your focus?"
Leaning forward slightly, I ensured my tone conveyed both respect and intent. "Your agricultural exports rely heavily on our canals and rivers to reach the wealthy markets of the Crown Lands and the southern kingdoms. The tariffs we impose for using those waterways are substantial--and for good reason. The canals of Tur'Ruk Valley are a marvel of engineering, and their upkeep is no small matter. However, for allies of our house and duchy, I propose replacing those tariffs with a fair, fixed fee per shipment.
"Furthermore, with the looming conflict ahead, I seek to formalize an alliance between our houses--one that ensures we stand together in the battles to come."
A gleam of understanding lit Corlen's eyes, and the beginnings of a smile tugged at his lips. "Your offer is intriguing. I believe we can come to a suitable agreement. That said, with the markets of the Crown Lands in turmoil--and their future uncertain--it may be wise to take this a step further. What if we established a unified operation, perhaps even a guild? If our duchies negotiate prices together, we could wield greater influence and secure higher profits from trade with the southern kingdoms."
We sealed the terms in principle, and as the morning drew to a close, I looked around the table with quiet satisfaction. The bonds between our families were visibly strengthening, and the groundwork for future alliances had been laid with care. Surrounded by kin, with the promise of newfound unity before me, I was reminded of all that I fought to protect.
I spent much of the day conferring with both Duke Eimon and Duke Corlen, finalizing the details of our respective agreements. My discussions with Duke Eimon centered on establishing standards for military communication, contingency plans, and overarching strategies. He seemed genuinely impressed by the level of foresight I had devoted to preparing for a potential conflict with the Queen--and with any opportunistic lords who might exploit the brewing civil strife. Eimon assured me that, given recent developments, the North would stand united against any attempt by the Crown Lands to subjugate them.
I cautioned him, however, that the Queen would not shy away from morally unethical tactics. Assassination, sabotage, and betrayal were all in her arsenal. Drawing on my own experiences with treachery during the sieges of Harvest Hall and Ravens Rock, I advised him to remain vigilant. In particular, I stressed the importance of keeping an eye on lesser lords who had historically been overlooked or slighted; such individuals could easily become pawns of the Crown, lured by promises of power or riches.
Beyond military matters, we spoke at length about renewed trade opportunities. Though our lands are separated by potentially hostile fiefdoms, we agreed that commerce might still be secured by sea. Ships could take the western route around the continent, then sail east to the northern port of Kor'Haven--a duchy on good terms with House De'Rollo. This route, while long, promised safer passage and opened the door to valuable new markets, ensuring that both our lands could flourish despite the turbulent times ahead.
We also explored an alternative route through the western duchies, where riverways were well-established and land-based trading routes led to the North. Though this path was shorter, it came with additional tariffs and would require agreements with the houses that ruled those lands--most notably, House Ja'Vez.
Duke Eimon grinned as he mentioned his unmarried son, a promising match for Duke Diego Ja'Vez's firstborn daughter, Marcia, who stood to inherit her father's lands. He also noted that Duke Diego had a much younger daughter, born to his second wife, who was said to be both beautiful and quick-witted. At about the same age as my firstborn son, she could one day be a suitable wife for him--especially considering he was heir to Harvest Hall and would require a match befitting his station.
With our strategy for trade and marriage alliances thus outlined, Duke Eimon and I concluded our meeting. We parted with a clearer understanding of how our houses would move forward, bolstered by our shared interest in consolidating power and navigating the looming threat of the Crown.
From there, I turned my attention to Duke Corlen. We spent the remainder of the day finalizing the finer points of our trading agreement and establishing expectations for mutual military preparedness. Our conversation naturally shifted to the possibility of shipping goods through the western duchies, prompting us to negotiate the fixed passage fee for trading vessels. We also negotiated the initial establishment of a 'Southern Produce Guild', whereby we would unify our negotiation power with the southern realms while our trading within the borders of the kingdom would remain unchanged for the most part. Though the details were intricate--typical of tax law--it was clear that laying this meticulous groundwork would serve both our interests well in the future.
The weeks to come saw my scribes drafting the necessary provisions, transforming verbal promises into codified agreements that would stand the test of time. Through these alliances--secured by trade, marriage, and military cooperation--our duchies inched ever closer to the strength needed to weather the Queen's ambitions and preserve our rightful autonomy.
My morning concluded with a series of simpler meetings involving the three bannermen, who had offered their daughters for my harem. We settled on slight tax reductions for a limited period, coupled with reminders of their obligations toward our ongoing military and economic preparations. They readily agreed, thanking me for the gracious adjustments.
Afterward, I rejoined Duke Eimon De'Rollo, his family, and Duke Corlen May'Shire for lunch. Following the meal, I took a stroll in the gardens with Cladia, under the watchful eye of a discreet chaperone. Our conversation flowed with ease; she displayed both keen intelligence and wide-ranging interests. By the walk's end, I felt certain my intuition about her suitability as a wife had been correct. The brief, sweet kiss she offered held a promise of deeper affection yet to come.
