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 Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:44 pm
Trielnolu had spend some time thinking about Mas' proposition, and doing very little else. There were any number of reasons she ought to refuse him, but she couldn't help the niggling thought in the back of her mind which told her this was the closest she would ever get to leading a House, and that Baen'duis was a lost cause. She wouldn't secede from Baen'duis, but she had essentially made up her mind to abandon her House. She would not return to Llurth Dreir unless she was specifically summoned.
She had not seen Mas since he had fled from her rooms after asking her to bear him a daughter. He had given her a wide berth and any dealings they had were conducted by proxy. Clearly he did not want her to feel that she was being pressured, but she also felt a little abandoned, and the dark looks his brother kept shooting her had made her uneasy enough that she had employed a giant of a bodyguard, Ilythara, who was also a Llurth Dreir native. At their meeting she had claimed that she didn't sleep. It was true. She felt very safe with Ilythara guarding her.
She blew on the ink of the letter she had just finished writing which formally requested an audience with elderboy Mas D'aun Barrith. She planned to tell him that she had decided to do as he had asked her to do. She had no doubts that he would be pleased with the news. That just left the actual, awkward deed. She didn't want to think about that for the moment. First she would make Mas very happy by saying she would have a daughter for him. Then they would work out further details. She wanted to be sure that her position would be protected. Especially since she had no plans to return home ever again. She had to know that she would have a place after the child was born.
To make sure she had not missed any pertinent points, she read the letter aloud:
"I, Trielnolu Baen'duis, request the honor of a meeting with yourself at your earliest convenience to discuss a matter of mutual importance. Thank you."
It would do. It was very vague, but it would do. Besides, she wasn't sure how Mas would react if she told him "yes" via correspondence. Certainly she didn't want to make arrangements for the future via notecard. It would, naturally, be nice to have a written contract, but she planned to insist on that, anyway. Just in case.
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:07 pm
Mas D'aun Barrith had been driven to distraction. He could not eat. He could not study. Sleep was even difficult! He had not been to visit Tal since Tri-No had arrived and he had bluntly asked for her to give him the next heir of Barrith. He felt certain in part that she would say No to him. he had nothing really to offer her. They hardly had a well established alliance! And she knew of his aversion to females! Ah! He felt like such a fool!
Still he could not help but harbor a mote of hope for his plan. He had already taken steps that, if he did not find a female to give him a daughter, would end up with his House raided by wealth hungry bastards and bitchs. He had acted so impulsively! now if she said no he would be ruined!
When the summons was delivered, he felt immensely worried and eager. She had to have made a descion by now! Mas wanted to hurry to her..but...first...
He had to make himself presentable of course! If she said yes he wanted to ensure that the female mage would be..looking forwards to the encounter. And if she said no..well he wanted her to take a moment to reconsider...
Mas donned his most slimming robe. The pale violet of it's spider silk material felt nice and cool against his soft and slender frame. The silver accents of the robe matched the color of his hair perfectly, and he took a good amount of care in arrangeing the long lengths of it. Up or down? As he stood before the mirror, he choose to leave it down. Once the entier length was unraveled from the various twists and ties that he normally had it in, he marveled to see it reached all the way to his ankles. Hmm..perhaps he would take a moment and twist just his bangs off to the side..yes..so they spilled just a little bit over his blue eyes... Mas rather wished he could change their color to something more fitting. Red at the very least. He disliked the color that was most often attributed to the eyes of their surface cousins...
Mas choose not to wear any form of make up, as the glittering blue gems in his flesh seemed adornement enough for that..still..he could not resist looping various lengths of slender platinum necklaces over his neck so they cascaded and sparkled in the dim light. He of course slipped on his finger accents, and after a moment of consideration he choose to leave his staff behind. Mas wished to appear attractive and carrying the staff might illude to arrogance or assurity in his position over Tri-no. He wished to encourage her to look favorably upon him after all. He did though take a moment to dab a gentle scent of some purfume upon his collar and behind his earring decorated ears. It never hurt to appeal to the feminine sense of beauty after all!
After his careful primping, mas glanced at the door between his room and Tri-no's. Honestly..she was just -right-there-. he really did not have to go far or put much effort into his appearance..reguardless, he opted to approch that particular door between their rooms. Lifting his hand, he polietly knocked four times, so as to announce his presence and give her time to prepare herself to face him if she had expected him through the other door. Inhaleing deeply, he pushed the door open, and stepped inside slowly.
"You wish to speak with me Lady?" Thank the Goddess he did not embaress himself with stuttering!!
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 6:34 am
Trielnolu couldn't help but be amused, and a little startled when she heard four knocks on the door between their rooms. So he'd been in his room? How in the world had she managed not to see him, then? She'd taken advantage of the time he'd given her to think, and used it to wander around Barrith Manor under the guidance of a servant with enough authority to take her almost anywhere she wished to go. It stood to reason, however, that she ought to have run into Mas at some point during her explorations. Barrith Manor was relatively large, but it was not densely populated with non-servile persons. Maybe, by that token, it was not so unusual that she had not seen him. It was of no consequence, she decided. She would see him in a few moments.
She opened the door between their rooms and gestured for Mas to come in. She had become more comfortable with giving the servants orders, but it still felt awkward to grant someone whose proprietary claim on House Barrith was greater than her own permission to enter. She knew her status was that of Guest, and Mas was not required to show her the courtesy of knocking, but since he did, she tried to behave as though the courtesy was warranted. Even though she could not imagine she would have shown him the same consideration had he come to Llurth Dreir and stayed in Baen'duis.
It did not escape her notice that Mas was looking particularly fine, evidently dressed to impress her, which was unnecessary. No amount of trying on his behalf would convince her that he - or any other male, for that matter - found her attractive. But that wasn't the point of this exercise. The point was that Mas wanted a daughter, and it seemed he had deemed Tri-no worth mothering it. That could also be that he felt more comfortable with her than with any other female, considering his reaction to the female he had told her about on her first day here, the one in the library. Whatever the reason, she was about to agree to bear the next Matron Barrith. Unless things went awry and she had a male child. But, again, that was not something she was going to consider for the moment.
"That was fast." It just slipped out of her mouth, and it was not the kindest comment she could have made, because it implied that he had been waiting eagerly for her response and then rushed to her the instant she invited him. Which was likely, but not the sort of thing it was politick to allude to. Particularly not as a greeting. So she offered him a dignity-saving out. "I'm glad the page caught you before you left."
She made a motion with her hand, indicating that he might like to seat himself before she continued. She, herself, reclined on a chaise lounge which was fast becoming her favorite piece of furniture in her room. Well. She didn't so much recline as prop herself up on her elbow at the raised end and put the rest of her weight on one generously curved hip. It was a comfortable position which actually looked somewhat flattering from the front, where one could not see that the only reason she suddenly had a waist was because her bellyfat had succumbed to gravity and had shifted toward the cushions.
"I wanted to speak to you regarding the matter you brought up before. Me bearing you a daughter, that is. I have kept you waiting on my reply long enough, perhaps too long to be considered polite, but there was much I had to take into consideration. After all, if I agree to have this child, my life in Llurth Dreir would be over. My mother's line is forbidden to bear children, and doing so would bring down Matron Baen'duis' wrath. It would also exclude me from the running for future matronship, as Baen'duis has a stipulation that its matrons be virgins when they ascent.
"Also, there is the matter of my studies, which I've neglected shamefully in recent months anyway. I cannot imagine that being pregnant is conducive to study. Especially if the child turned out to be magical. I've heard that practicing magic while there is an infant in one's womb can sometimes excite the baby a great deal, and I don't think it would be pleasant to have the excited child of two mages living inside me. The facts I've listed also come together in a not-negligible concern I have regarding my future."
She stopped and smiled. "So you can see why I needed time to think and weigh my options."
She was drawing this out, she realized, and she shouldn't torment Mas like that. He had been nothing but solicitous and pleasant throughout their entire acquaintance, and he had taken her in with almost no questions asked, which was a rarity in the Underdark. She should give him his answer. But she was a child of House Baen'duis, and a drow of the Underdark, and she couldn't help that she enjoyed watching people squirm.
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:51 am
Mas hoped that by opening the door for him that it had been a sign of sorts of her intentions. He swept into the room. Attempting to hold himself tall and proud, yet at the same time he was quite unable to settle his stomach. had she a answer now? She had to! What if she wanted something in return? This really was no small favor he was asking her! She would be giving House Barrith it's next Matron. That was quite a big thing for the 15th House. Of course, he had no idea of just how big his favor was quite yet...
Mas D'aun choose to seat himself in a plush chair when Tri-No settled upon the sedan. She seemed to be comfortable enough there, which was..good? Or bad? Mas D'aun could only manage to form muddled thoughts at this point. He was lucky he wasn't twitching nervousely in waiting. "Ah! Yes..well... I was thinking of visting T-Tal." Goddess curse his tongue! Mas calmped his lips tightly closed after the small stuttering and he tried, and failed, to keep his eyes upon Tri-no.
His gaze dropped to the arm of his chair where one of his hands gripped the material padding it tightly. As Tri-No spoke, informing him of just what such a favor would cost her the sickness in his belly intensified. He felt as if he were sinking back into the chair with a leaden weight. Such losses surely would be a deterrant. Her loss at a chance to become Matron? What female would wish to chance that? Though there was much concern over the stipulation of birthing. She was going to say no...which would mean he'd have to find another...and Mas honestly dreaded trying to find a female that he could not expect to attempt and remove him from his place once the child was born.
"Yes. I c-c-can." Again, as he began to stutter Mas clamped his lips together firmly. Goddess! He felt so utterly deflated and depressed!
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:20 am
Trielnolu suppressed a smirk. This was really too cruel of her, and it wasn't exactly appropriate for her to have fun like this. Not when so much depended on her answer. For both of them. There were all the reasons she had listed for why she ought to refuse him, but while she had considered all of those factors, she had also come to a realization which was not pleasant at all. That was that her family did not want her to become the matron. All the evidence pointed to that. She could arrange to have her cousin raped and impregnated, and otherwise made unacceptable, and still she, Trielnolu, would never be considered a viable alternative.
"There were other things I considered." She continued. "And they were not things I truly wished to, but at some point they would have come to light, and it's better that I face them now than later. There is the fact that I am not the favorite child in my family, and there are so many females in my House who are hoping to become the next matron, despite my aunt's marked preference for Shrisin, that my chances of ever ascending are slim to nothing. Also, my family does not care for magic or those who practice it. There's a history to that which I won't go into, but let's just say that mages are not well-liked in my House."
"So I will never be a matron. It is not something that pleases me, but I am intelligent enough to accept it and move on. Additionally, my own House will never truly accept or appreciate me. I can live with that, too, provided I know my future is secure elsewhere. Having this child would also mean that I could abandon my vendetta against Shri, since I suspect that I would bring down the wrath of my House should anything untoward happen to her anyway. That would mean that I could devote myself completely to my studies, which seem to be the only area in which I truly excell anyway."
One short finger traced the spiderweb pattern crushed into the velvet of the cushions. She couldn't really draw this out much longer, though she might dearly wish to. She could almost feel physically the tension he was holding in. He was wound as tightly as a clock. She was not her cousin, but she was drow, and so she could not help savoring the sensation of power. It would probably be one of the last times she would ever feel such a thing in her life, considering the course she had chosen to follow.
"So. Yes." She didn't wait very long before addint, "But only with a contract drawn up which will ensure that I will have a place of some status in House Barrith after the child's birth with a spending allotment and a high degree of autonomy. And I will insist that this contract be bound magically or with blood. I am very serious in my concerns for my future."
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:22 pm
Mas had to mull over the things that Tri-no was was saying slowly. He felt a perk of grateful joy when she uttered the word yes..but...Considering everything she had said. he had much to think of now...and worry!
This would mean she'd not be leaving. If anything, from what he gathered..She would be staying! Possibly permantly! While Mas did not mind her hovering around to help rear the girl, he fretted that the child would be less out of his control then he intended. If she had a female presence to look to for guidance all of the normal female teachings would be instilled. She'd eventualy come to accept she was superior then he was and expect him to hand all of Barrith over to her.
Mas pressed a pair of his silver tipped fingers to his bottom lip and began to nibble upon the metal points.
That would be a complication indeed! Tri-no remaining here in Barrith would also mean that many would assume that she was going to take over the House. On the outside it did not seem like so bad of a thing. He would not have to worry about some female dragging him off to perform one of those damnable marrige ceremonies on him if they felt Tri-No had control of the House. Yet at the same time there would definatly be the problem of him being overlooked as the power of the House! He'd have constant struggles with the Guard and outside resources. It was a double bladed dagger he was grabbing ahold of pint first it seemed.
Mas continued to nibble upon the tips of his finger ornaments. That was not even considering how her family would react. If she truely left her House they could take offense. If they really did not want her having children that would target his daughter for assassination. Suddenly this idea was not so simple! He had never considered complications on Tri-no's part! He assumed she'd be happy enough to have a pretty male willing to come to her bed and sbumitt to her. As obviously she couldn't attract a male normally on her own. She'd be grateful to have him perform for her, she'd give him a daughter, she'd have a pleasureable encounter to remember and he'd safely assume control of his House while grooming his daughter to be every bit the proud Matroness on the outside...but who would submitt to her fathers will.
A contract surely would complicate things, as he'd not dare mess with the magical terms...
Mas flicked his blue eyes up at Tri-no, and for perhaps the first time since they had met he found her presence to be every bit as unsettling as any other females he had come across. He swallowed a hard dry lump in his throat and pushed himself up a bit against the chair seat.
"I...agree. W-w-we should start on the cont-t-tract then."
Terms..what sort of terms could he possibly imagin would be enough to offset the things she was giving up? The fingers he had been nibbling upon moved to gently touch at his temple. It was far easier to think when he did not have to look at her right now. There was somethiong far too...satisfying...in her facial features to allow him to feel comfortable.
"As for t-t-the spending allotment...w-w-would two hundred p-p-platinum a week be accetable?" What about status though? He could offer to let her remain as a guest, but he assumed that would not be enough. It would mean he could kick her out at any time he wished. That would not be a very acceptable choice...unless...?
"Concerning status in House B-b-barrith..." Mas took a moment to pause and attempt to calm his nerves. He closed his blue eyes and willed his tongue to stop halting on him.
"We can in the contract state that you will be brought into the House as an adopted Family member. It would award you all the rights of being a Daughterof Barrith...is this acceptable?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 5:24 pm
Tri-no watched Mas fidget. She hadn't exactly expected him to leap for joy at her conditions, but they did not seem unreasonable to her. What would have been unreasonable would have been for Mas to expect her to give up nearly a year of her life carrying a baby around, drop the child, and leave with nary a thought for what would happen to her when she returned to Llurth Dreir. Even assuming she left the child in Gallidurth and made no attempt to gain the matronship, her future was uncertain. She was not a creature who would prosper in uncertainty.
There was a bargaining tactic she had learned from watching her aunt Halynda dealing with traders and artisans. Once it was made clear that some sort of agreement would be reached - possibly - it was wise to make sure that the other party knew you were indifferent about the arrangement, and could take your business elsewhere if things were not done to suit. And then sit back and wait until they spoke out of discomfort. And wait. Arrangements tended to move in a favorable direction when a person did that.
So she wasn't surprised when Mas began to name terms, putting them in the form of a question. She was a little surprised at the terms he named. They were fairly astonishing. Particularly the "salary" he proposed. It was better than the allowance she received from her House, and since she wasn't expected to pay for room and board out of that, it would go a lot farther. It'd make paying Ilythara less of a worry. And she might go on receiving an allowance from Baen'duis for a time, too. As for the rest...Being adopted as a Daughter of Barrith was exactly what she had been hoping for.
The terms he proposed were good enough that she hadn't really the heart to sit back and wait for better ones, which she was certain she could get if she kept her face blank, maybe a little disappointed-looking, and said nothing. Besides, she didn't want Mas to begin this thing resenting her. It would be plenty awkward enough without that. And his brother probably resented her enough for the whole household. Not that she could really blame Micarreth. In his place, she would not have been overly pleased about her presence, either.
"I think those terms would be quite acceptable," she said. Then she added with more feeling, "I am sorry to put you in this position, Mas, but this is important, and things can go awry. I don't want to be left in the cold if they do."
She thought about asking if there was anything more he wanted of her, but decided to let him bring it up if there was. She didn't want to agree to more than she had to.
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 6:15 pm
With her acceptance of his first offer, Mas felt the tightness in his chest ease considerably. He lifted his blue eyes from the floor and did little to hide the gratefulness he was currently feeling. She wasn't going to be too difficult to please it seemed. This was good. His plans could be carried out as he wished. All he needed to do was add in her wishes as well to his plans. He really ought to have considered that she would have designs of her own. It was terribly selfish and one sided of him to think she'd just say yes to being used like a brood mare. They could concern themselves with the rearing of their daughter once she was born and capable of cognitive thought. That would be many years in the future after all...
He shifted upon the seat so he was a bit more comfortable and allowed the fingertips at his temple to slip through his hair. Toying with the strands, he tilted his head to consider Tri-no as he tackled a small snag he foresaw in her adoption.
"Then now...what we must decide is the means of your Adoption Tri-no. If it is placed in writing you are the Adopted daughter of my mother, this would make you my Sister, and as such you would inherit Barrith. Reguardless of our child, I would have to surrender My House to you. So I fear that will not be an option. As Micarreth and I are the only two living members of the family you will have to be adopted by one of us. Though I fear it might seem a bit strange for you to be my daughter don't you think? I can force the acceptance of your adoption through Micarreth though. This would ensure that should the little rat ever have a child of his own you will still hold rank over her in the House..." Mas paused and tilted his head as he toyed with his hair and another thought.
"Of course... I could select a deceased family member and set it up that you were the adopted child through that line, but it could be very easily challenged without a living member to accept the adoption." He exhaled a slow soft sigh, and formed a tiny smile upon his lips as he considered Tri-no's apology.
"You do not need to apologize Tri-No. I should have expected you to have conditions of your own in this transaction. I had no idea that my request would be so troublesome for you though. I understand your concern for your future, and I assure you Tri-no..I will do everything in my power to make you as happy as I can. If there is anything you need or desire you merely have to let me know and I will do what I can to satisfy you. Once Mother is dead I will have full access to all of the Barrith Vaults. I will rejuvinate the raiders timetable and continue the practice that has assured this House of it's position for so long. Perhaps I will even manage to raise it in rank. There isno reason why barrith should not be as high as tenth House of Gulliadurth. As I do not carry the Barrith madness I am positive our child will be immune and we will certainly grow in power and wealth."
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:26 pm
Trielnolu was gratified by the gratitude in Mas' eyes when he finally took them from the floor. She had acted appropriately, and if this relationship turned sour, it would not be her fault. At least, not at this juncture. There was always the possibility she would be so impossible to deal with while pregnant that she would manage to commit some sort of unforgivable offense. But she doubted it. If she turned out to be as unpleasant when pregnant as her aunt Halynda, she would simply seclude herself and refuse to see people. It would be better than finding her welcome worn out. Not that Mas would be able to do a great deal about it, once their contract was finalized and sealed. He would still be in a position to make her life uncomfortable, though.
"Wouldn't it prove an excellent irritation to your brother to find himself with an unwanted daughter who would be first in line? Before his own offspring, I mean? I can understand that you do not wish me to rule Barrith, and I will try to confine my ambitions to magecraft." Here she smirked. She would succeed more easily in that goal than in any other, she suspected. "And, yes. It would be very strange if I bore my adopted father's daughter. I think it would be more acceptable if I was Micarreth's daughter. Besides, it would be fun to put myself in the way of any ambitions he might have."
It would also put her in danger, but that was why she had hired Ilythara. And, once she was made a daughter of House Barrith, her position would be high enough that Micarreth would really have to think twice before he took up arms against her. Thwarting him was an unlooked-for bonus. She had not met him, but she shared Mas' prejudices against his brother, just as he shared hers against her cousin. She marveled momentarily at how a chance meeting on a shopping trip had led to this.
"I am certain that Barrith will grow in rank and power under level-headed leadership, and I am relieved to hear that you do not carry this madness you speak of. I am not familiar, however, with the condition you refer to. Is it something I ought to worry about in the cases of your brother or mother?"
Madness was not something she had factored into the equations of her considerations, and considering her own recent experiences, she was not comfortable with the idea. It made her uneasy and though she knew whatever madness Mas spoke of was clealy borne in the blood of House Barrith, which she did not truly share, and would not truly share even after she was adopted. Nevertheless, it concerned her. She did not really want to be associated with any taint of madness.
"What can I expect if you are mistaken? If our child is not immune? You have spoken to me of some of your mother's eccentricities, but they seem mostly to be harmless, except for some of the obvious damage a person's psyche would sustain from the shocks she seems to occasionally bring down on people. Also, do you plan to tell your mother any of this?"
Trielnolu had never met Matron Barrith, but she suspected that she could not be adopted into her House without doing so, and she wasn't particularly enthusiastic about that, either.
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:05 pm
"I agree that it would effectively put any kinks in his plans. I know that I have fallen out of touch with my brother over the years, and he has become more crafty then I had anticipated." Mas brought his hands around so that he could steeple his fingers together in a pose of consideration. "I am pursueing a course of study concerning my brother and I hope to uncover whatever it is he is upto. In the meantime, andy difficulty that I can throw in his way will buy me more time I am sure."
As it seemed Tri-no accepted this route as her means of adoption, Mas allowed himself a small smile. Thigoing smoothly despite the unexpected conditions. He honestly was uncertain what he had been prepared to face when he entered this room, but it hardly mattered as this surely appealed to him!
"I greatly appreciate your understanding when it comes to rule of my House. I knew you would be the best choice when I considered this option. Concering your own ambitions, I will be more then happy to help you achive your own ends. As you will be, in a manner of speaking, my Niece. I am certain magecraft will suit you very well and I have high hopes that our child will follow that path too."
The unsavory topic of the Madness was brought up, and Mas felt it really was only fair to give Tri-No a full education in their History. "In accordance to the Madness...it has long been a blight on the Barrith family. I can't quite tell you when the first Barrith became touched by it. As far as I understand we've always carried it. My mother is completely afflicted with one of the worst cases, though I have to take into consideration she has lived the longest out of any of the other Matrons. My brother suffers from a form of Blood madness. I've seen him become enthralled watching the practice sessions of the raiders. He gets very...excited by it, if you understand what I mean. I hope it is just a mild case of madness. My grandmother was afflicted by some unsavory delusions herself. From what I was told she insisted that all of her female children were male until the day they became a priestess."
Mas fell silent a moment afterwards as he considered the very important question posed to him. "The Barrith madness is never the same. It come sin varying degrees, sometimes it is intense from childhood. Sometimes it grows. With both my mother and brother it was a affliction that grew over time. If I am a carrier then I believe our child would be struck in the same manner. In which case there is no way to really prepare for it."
His lips quirked once more into a smile, though this time it was not pleasent or good natured in the least. "Matron Barrith has suffered a sever...upset...in the past few days. A guest seems to have sent the fragil matron into a fit, which has left her bedridden. I've visited her once and seen for myself the state poor mother is in..." Mas pulled the silver tips from his hair, and began to gently run the tip of his index finger over his bottom lip gently."I do not think she will be recovering...in fact the poor creature may suffer a unexpected and sudden death. Who knows?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:07 pm
"Thank you for telling me. My own experiences being what they have been, I am a trifle uneasy with the subject of madness, but I believe I can live with whatever your family chooses to throw at me. As for Mica...I've already secured the services of a bodyguard, and I was born into a House which is noted for dealing with pain. If he somehow gets past Ilythara, he'll then have me to contend with, and we shall see how his blood madness works when he is the one bleeding. I do not think I have much reason for concern."
She was silent for a moment before saying without a touch of sympathy, "I'm sorry to hear about your mother. It's always so difficult for the children of great leaders to carry on in their parents' footprints in the tragic event of their death. I don't think I will ever get to meet the great lady."
Her tone changed completely as she mused, "It would be nice to have a magically gifted child. It was the only area in which I ever excelled in my youth. I do hope that she does not turn out to be fat, though."
She couldn't believe that she was speaking about this child as though it was definitely going to happen. None of the terms of their contract had yet been met, nor had the child even been conceived. She would need some time before that to conduct some research into what magical methods she might employ to ensure that her offspring would be female, if there were any. It seemed to her that Baen'duis' profusion of females and Barrith's dearth of females might lead to even odds of producing a female, and she would like the odds to be better than that, if it could be managed.
"I don't think I've ever had an uncle before. Not one to which I was considered related, anyway. I hope uncles are more pleasant than aunts." She smiled. This conversation both unnerved her and excited her, while at the same time she felt relieved that the matter had been settled, at least in theory. There remained still the matters of the sealing of the contract and the conception of the child, but she had no doubt that those would come shortly.
"So. About this contract. How shall we seal it? You are my superior in matters of arcane lore, after all, and I hope that means you are more knowledgable. I am eager to begin this enterprise."
It took her about two beats to realize how Mas might interpret what she'd just said to him, and she added quickly, "I mean, you know. Er..."
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:54 pm
So then perhaps it was time to put these thoughts to paper? Mas pushed himself up from the chair and looked about the room for a moment in consideration. Oh! It felt wonderful to feel -useful- in some manner! Mas stepped over towards a small writing desk and lifted the lid to select from within a sheet of prepared parchment. Nudging the accompanying chair back, he re-seteated himself at the desk and began to write while he carried on their conversation.
"I must admitt I am surprised you've already taken such measures. But I am also very pleased! I personally have taken measures for your protection. Reguardless of your acceptance I intended to remove Micarreth from the House for a term. I do not want you to vanish the same way the previous female did."
Mas tilted his head to flash a faint smile at Tri-no. "Your condoleances are so very appreciated Tri-No. I am sure with the promiseing birth of our child though, I am certain it will make the eventual death of my mother easier to bare."
He paused for a moment, and could not help the grin as she deferred to him in the matters of magical skill. "It would work in our best interests to write the contract out now with all of the named conditions." Mas could not possibly refrain from holding his head at a proud and slightly vain angle. "I believe my current knowledge of enchanting will prove very useful in this. You are quite right in that assumtion dear Tri-no."
His attention returned to the paper as he wrote carefully upon the parchment. "I am certain our child will become a very beautiful young female. Reguardless of her physical state I will be fond of her if only because she is your child too Tri-No... Hmmmmm" Mas tilted his head for a moment at the paper and asked. "Should I institute a tilte change in the agreement? Since you are joining Barrith should I leave out your current House's name or include it as a middle name?"
Mas lowered his voice as he waited for Tri-no's response on his question. His blue eyes slipping partly closed as he mulled over her comment of Uncles and such. "In truth Tri-No... Just having you become part of my family is... I can not explain to you how grateful I am. Now that I consider it... It is...welcome...to have someone here that I can be myself with and not expect chastisement or outright hostility. Thank you."
he gave his head a small shake in an attempt to dislodge the sentiment that was currently making it difficult to word the contract they were attempting to create. Such words that led to Tri-no feeling slightly embaressed were amuseing to him, and he could not resist slipping a blue eye towards the lounging female.
"Now Tri-No. I am certain I understand your interest in the contract properly. But I really do think we need time to prepare ourselves properly don't you? You have matters of the conception to ensure and I must make myself agreeable for you."
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:11 pm
Tri-no nodded, agreeing silently with what Mas said in reference to their contract. She was content to let him do the majority of the work, and merely affix her name, or whatever was required, at the foot of the finished document. After reading through it, of course. It wasn't that she didn't trust Mas, but he may have accidentally made a mistake in writing which she would not like to be bound to by magic. She'd heard horror stories about people who found themselves bound into impossible contracts by committing such errors, and the results of reneging on the deal were incredibly unpleasant, and the mental images they conjured were usually quite visceral.
"I hope to be some consolation to you, should that unfortunate event come to pass," she replied primly, schooling her expression to one of a more servile, demure person. It didn't suit her very well.
"That's nice of you to say, Mas, but it would be better all around if she turned out to be attractive. I assume you plan to rule through her for as long as you can? It's a good plan, you know, if you raise her to defer to you in all matters." Her tone and demeanor returned to its usual state as she said this. She was not very good at acting, and it was not a role which came naturally.
"I would like to keep Baen'duis as a middle name, if that doesn't give offense. There is the possibility it could be useful to still be associated with Baen'duis in a very distant way. It would, at least, explain why I have such an extensive collection of whips and lashes in the wardrobe behind you." She smirked. No matter how he reacted to that, she would be amused. She did not make use of her collection as frequently or as thoroughly as others in her House - her former House - did, but she was proficient with all the variations she had brought with her.
"By the way, will it bother you if I continue to practice Baen'duis' form of worship? I can do so without attracting unwanted attention." She did not relish pain, but it was how she had been raised, and nothing short of the sensation of a lash tearing her flesh following a purgative confession of her misdeeds could give her spiritual comfort.
"Yes. Time," she squeaked, still embarrassed by her unschooled, poorly-planned words. "I do have matters to attend to on that...matter."
Inwardly she cursed herself. Usually it seemed to be Mas who had difficulty discussing uncomfortable topics, but their positions had reversed. She didn't like it. To counter her discomfort, she told him more than he probably needed to know, but it was for her sake, and not his, that she brought the uncomfortable topics to light.
"I'll need to have some sort of timetable for when we plan to do this, though, so that I can ask for Lloth's particular favor during that time, though I'm sure I can be vague to within a week, if I do something to please her before I ask. Also, there are certain times when conception will simply be impossible, and we ought to try to avoid those."
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:07 pm
It was sort of strange talking so coldly concerning his mother. Until recently he never would have exhibited such a coldness towards her. Pity and shame maybe...but never before had he felt such cold anger. Mas's pretty features took on a rather ugly mask as he focused on the document he was writing.
"All polietness aside, I will be relieved when she can no longer meddle in my affairs. She attempted to... find another to properly introduce me to the place of a male." Mas glanced out of the side of his eye over at where Tri-no currently lounged.
"You are quite correct. It is my every intention to rule this House for as long as I can. I hope to instill in our daughter a loyalty and a dependancy upon me in matters concerning the House. I do not want some female...any female...assuming power over me. I hope this is acceptable to you Tri-No?" Mas set the pen down so he cloud let his eyes slide over the print slowly. "Given the change in my initial plans this was the best I could come up with. As I refuse to lose Taliesin...even for the sake of claiming power in my House. I have just...I'm afraid I've grown weak for him Tri-No. I am ashamed to think of it much less admitt it. If it were not for Taliesin we would be having a completely different conversation right now."
He shifted in his seat and hung one arm over the back of his chair. Lifting the parchment from the table he glanced over it again. "All right. I have kept your previous House's name as part of your new title..." He paused and lifted his eyes in slight surprise at her next question. Her House's form of practice? Ah! He should have...well..this is going to be something else he would have to...oh dear...
Mas D'aun's face held a troubled gaze for a moment, then he shook his head. "No. Of course not Tri-No. I would never expect you to give up your worship of the Goddess. Though this now makes me think...You see, obviously with matron Barrith in no mindset to lead. I am afraid it has been years since any form of worship has been carried out in this House. The House Temple is nigh well locked up. I doubt anyone but a slave has been in there for years, and only to keep it cleaned. The only form of worship I believe Barrith has carried out is the Dinner setting. Matron Barrith, though she has not been to dinner since the Guest, still has the head seat set for..ah..well.." Mas rubbed the back of his neck as a slight flush of embaressment crept into his cheeks. "The head of the table is set in invintation for Lloth to come and dine with us. A Elf heart is ritualisticlly provided each night. It's supposed to be a surface elf heart, but since the raiders have not journied to the surface in a time I suspect there has been subsitutions. Would it un-nerve you if we kept with this tradition? I find it rather... appeasing?"
His embaressment was growing now. As Tri-no would speak of time tables and the like. His face grew hotter and he dropped his gaze to the parchment. "Simply tell me when Tri-No and I shall come as is needed. I have preparations of my own to make, but it will take scant minutes to cast the spell. Then I can do anything you will need of me."
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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:06 pm
Trielnolu's eyes widened when Mas mentioned that his mother had tried to find someone to put him in his place, as it were. She'd briefly entertained thoughts about somehow putting Mas' brother in his place, though she had quickly abandoned it. Despite this, somehow it had not occurred to her that Mas might be in danger of similar meddling from his mother. It seemed an unenviable position to be in. Not that being ignored or made fun of was so wonderful, but no one had ever tried to change who she was or how she perceived the world. She couldn't help thinking that one huge shock was enough for Mas - the whole matter of him being female for the first portion of his life. Surely his Matron didn't feel the need to make his life more difficult?
"I don't care how you manipulate the child," Trielnolu said honestly. "I can't appreciate how your affection for Tal could influence you so, but I am not as...enamored of anyone as you are of Tal. Speaking of, how does he feel about this? You have told him, haven't you?"
From what she had heard from Mas about Tal, he was not someone she wanted to have mad at her, or misconstruing her purpose in Gallidurth. She had taken Mas' effusive compliments for his lover with a healthy dose of cynicism, but there was still much that was difficult to argue with or dismiss with cynicism. Tal was good at what he did, and very clever.
"I appreciate your understanding, regarding my practices. I will not inflict them on any member of your House. As for your practices...I find nothing wrong with them, and I would be particularly interested in observing that ritual. It seems a very sensible approach to worship, particularly when the Matron is not in a position to minister to her House."
As they came to the more embarrassing subject of the day, Tri-no just nodded tightly. "Right. That's...good."
She'd have to make a visit to a temple soon, and she only knew of the one in Gallidurth - the main one, where Shri was training. That would be awkward. But there was a reason that temple was considered the main temple: it was the best. She needed the best.
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