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 Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:13 pm
Mas feel quiet and kept a fixed gaze upon the parchment he held. There was more in connection to the event he had surprised Tri-no with. However, such things were not meant for discussion with Tri-no. Inwardly he wished to speak with Taliesin about it. Or at least to vent his frustration. Tri-no was a fina comrade and ally. However...she was a female and he feared that this difference was a great dividing factor.
Then again, he had spoken to her once before with the curious notion of eradicating whole Houses and restructuring the society of a city under the rule or one House. Or at least a smaller amount. Well..that was a idea he'd need to cast aside now he was certain. Perhaps he would write his therioes in his journal in the hopes some other drow in his line would pick it up and put it to the test.
Mas did nod his head though, when Tri-no mentioned the child they would be having. So long as she was agreeable to his plans then he would not have to worry about upsetting her. He honestly had no clue how she intended to view the child. He really was the only one interested in it, and that was for the sake of power... "Should I arrange for a Nurse to take over with the child after the birthing? There is no reason you should be bothered by it until it's actually intelligent enough to be handled."
Ah...
Mas turned his head away at the question that quickly followed. Tell Tal? Well...
"Tal is...aware I have plans to assume power in House barrith..." He replied as a flush started to burn at his cheeks. He had not brought up the matter to Taliesin yet, out of concern over how his lover may respond to the knowledge he was going to perform with a female. In truth, Mas feared a lack of a reaction more then anything. What would he do if Tal merely shrugged it off? What if he didn't care if Mas had relations with a female? What is Taliesin didn't care if Mas had relations with anyone at all?? Mas felt a familar knot in his stomach forming.
"So then..if...things are settled and agreed to..." Mas cleared his throat and looked at the parchment. "How does this sound?
'It is agreed between Mas D'aun Barrith; First son of Matron Barrith, of House Barrith, Fifthteenth House of Gulliduarth; And Triel Nolu Baen'duis, of the House Baen'duis. That they shall enter into contract under the following terms.
Upon successful conception by the fore mentioned pairing, Triel Nolu Baen'duis will become entitled to claim Rights of Adoption into the House Barrith. By means of leagel association, Triel Nolu Baen'duis will become the daughter of Micarreth Barrith, second son of Matron Barrith, of the House Barrith, Fifthteenth House of Gulliadurth. Henceforth, she will be named Treil Nolu Baen'duis Barrith and be awarded all rights in accordance of a Blood Daughter of Barrith.
In terms of agreeance, a allotment of 200 platinum shall be paid on a weekly basis to Treil Nolu Baen'duis Barrith until the day of her death. Natural or otherwise. ' "
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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:43 pm
Tri-no's eyebrows shot toward her hairline. Tal didn't know the details of Mas' plans for ascendency, then. She definitely did not want to be around when Mas gave his lover the news. From what Mas had told her in letters, in between effusive praise, she gathered that Tal was a clever being, and he would understand, logically, what Mas intended to do, but that didn't mean he would be able to completely accept it emotionally, because despite Mas' concerns that Tal was cold to him, she doubted that was the case. From a fairly objective standpoint, Mas would make the perfect lover: he was attractive, relatively compliant, wealthy and inclined toward generosity, and insecure. She couldn't imagine that Tal wouldn't eventually come around, even if he was initially opposed to the idea. She was more concerned, however, that Mas would take any initial reaction on Tal's part and overreact to it, cancelling their deal. That would leave her in an unenviable situation, to be sure.
She listened to what Mas read, evaluating every word for connotative variations which could later allow him to renege on his part, or (if necessary) allow her to do the same. However, the contract was written in very clear, plain language, and it would be difficult to dispute nuances, which was for the best, she decided. Everything seemed to be in order.
"That sounds fine," she said. "What do we do now?"
What she really meant by that question was what do we do to make it official?, and she hoped Mas would interpret it that way. Not that there were too many other ways he could interpret it. It didn't really require a stroke of genius to guess what she would be referring to. Once they had both done whatever was required to make the contract binding, the only thing that remained was the Act itself. She was already nervous, just thinking about it, but too proud to let it show.
"There is one thing, and it has nothing to do with what we're discussing at the moment, but I think I will pursue an illusionist's course of study. I'm not going to let my past cripple me. I'm going to use this as a new beginning, and try very hard not to let my past influence me more than it has to."
This may have sounded silly coming from someone who had just ascertained that she would be allowed to worship the Goddess after her family's customs, but she really meant that she wasn't going to allow her own mental constructs to limit her potential. She was in a new city, soon to be adopted into a new House. No longer was she the under-appreciated mage of House Baen'duis. She was going to be the mother of the future matron of House Barrith. That was a distinction she was proud of, even though it had come about in an odd manner.
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:58 pm
Mas cleared his throat following the reading, and carefully set therough draft on the writing desk. So that he might avoid looking at Tri-no as she contemplated the wording of the contract. He felt unease with the fact she had brought up Taliesin, and he was concerned that she may not wish to follow through with their agreement if Taliesin was left uninformed. However, as she did nottopic back up...Mas D'aun released a breath he had been unaware he had been holding.
"Well..next..." He spoke slowly and rose from his seat. Reaching down he slipped the paper from the table and began to roll it into a tube. " Next I will re-write the contract on an enchanted parchment. There is little more for us to do until it is signed of course. it will take me a few days to make the parchment I'm afraid. I had not been thinking ahead or else I'd have come to this sort of conclusion while waiting for your answer. Reguardless..."
Mas tapped the rolled up parchment to his lips while he smiled weakly. "I will support you reguardless of the class you choose Tri-No. There is basic knowledge that I can share with you. I believe I will soon be in a position to make arrangements with the small magic school I have been attending, so if you wish I could coax the Illusion teacher into giving you private lessons. Or if you wish I can attempt to use what few connections I have to get you into the school itself? Whatever you wish, I will strive my utmost to ensure that it is provided to you Tri-No. I wish to see you succeed and be happy here."
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 8:09 am
"Actually, it speaks well for you that you didn't assume I'd agree to your proposal, even if it means you're not currently as prepared as you'd like to be. I think so, anyway."
Tri-no realized that her ideas of what constituted good traits in a male were still based on societal norms which would have made it impossible to be correct in this situation and bit back a giggle. Had Mas been dealing with someone else, he would have been in trouble for being unprepared, but had he been prepared he would have been in trouble for being presumptuous. Sometimes the rules of their society were impossible.
"I didn't expect you'd be displeased or unsupportive, I just thought I ought to tell you, in case I...slip during my studies. I have a fairly thorough knowledge of the area, actually, but I need practical experience. Lots of it. When I think I'm ready, I suppose I'll contact one of the schools here and ask to be tested."
She was already happier here than she'd been at home. She would never have to hear her mother screech her outrage as Aunt Umraevyll heaped more honors upon Halynda and Shrisin, or try to be as impressively magical as she could without looking like a would-be assassin in a House with an instinctive mistrust of magic-users. There were some small downsides, she recognized, to giving up her old House, but none which thinking of her allowance couldn't console. She could become independent if she put aside a small portion of her allotments and saved it. It was something to consider. As was a possible money-earning application for her illusionist skills. Perhaps she would create illusions for wealthy Houses who wished to impress guests, or make decorative illusions. That was a pleasant thought.
"I'm happy here, Mas. You have no idea how liberating it is to determine your own future."
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 12:00 pm
Tri-no's approval meant...a great deal to Mas. Though he knew he really ought not let it mean too much. If he did then he would risk loseing some of the power of independance he was gaining from this arrangement.
"I understand. I personally believe magic is easier to understand when you are actually putting it into practice. There is only so much you can learn from books and parchment." His eyes slipped over to glance at his staff as he considered his own words. He never would have been able to make his staff if he had only used the knowledge he had gained in his books. It had taken him practice and some xpirementation to unlock the answer.
Well...Mas mused to himself as he returned his gaze ba to Tri-no. He had to admitt that there was little push or need for Tri-no to succeed at anything she attmepted. Aside from for her own pleasure. mas would have to be very keen to ensure that he kept her happy. not because he needed to..but honestly? Mas D'aun wanted to. Simply hearing her admitt that she was already happy made him smile all the more broadly.
"Oh ah! You'd be quite surprised!" He replied with a light hearted laugh. With her help he now could determin -his- own future after all! Mas turned to the door that was set between their rooms. His smile rather bright as he swept himself towards it. "I shall go and tend to the contract Tri-No. If there is anything that you wish or desire simply let one of the servants know. I shall not announce your position in the House until the contract is signed of course, so as not to tip Micarreth off, but I will ensure that they know that you are to be denied nothing."
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 5:11 am
Tri-no nodded her agreement. Magic was definitely an art better practiced with implementation and experimentation. The school of magic she had attended had always placed a heavier emphasis on the theoretical aspects of magecraft, rather than its practical aspects, and greater emphasis still on the importance of control and discipline. With that grounding, Tri-no wondered how she had ever been driven to the point where she would turn her magic against herself.
She knew, of course, that it had been a carefully crafted plot from someone outside, and she was almost certain that it had been her cousin Shrisin's form of revenge, but she had no proof of that, and by entering into Mas' contract, she was essentially agreeing to give up the pursuit of justified vengeance in this matter. It had not been stipulated, of course, but she knew Mas would be unhappy if she did anything to put herself at risk, and he would be furious if she did anything to put their eventual child at risk. And she could afford to wait. It might even make her revenge all the sweeter if she lulled her cousin into a false sense of security, and then found a way to use her new position in Barrith to seek revenge.
So that Mas would not guess what she was thinking, she smiled at him, and though it was not exactly sincere there was enough genuine pleasure in her mood that it would be believable.
"Maybe I would," she said. "Be surprised. I have no idea what it feels like to be subject to the kind of discrimination and oppression males in our society deal with on a daily basis. I have some idea what you'll be up against, though, when your poor, ill mother finally goes to Lloth."
She let her mind wander as Mas reiterated his oft-stated generosity. She had quite gotten the idea that he was extending to her the resources of House Barrith, provided she didn't abuse them, and was willing to aid her in any pursuit that caught her fancy. She also knew that they were both aware her study of magecraft was, at this point, a diversion with no real purpose, as she hardly needed to have any useful or marketable skills now except to bear female children.
She watched him make to depart, and just before he passed through the door between their rooms she said, "Thank you, Mas. I will be circumspect, and make no mention of our agreement myself until you say it is appropriate that I do so."
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