Preparing [5/22, Afternoon, Hakim/Cyrus, Closed]

[Hakim Linnet]

Hakim was preparing for a important meeting he was about to have. He had asked a friend to come over, someone he could trust, because the ways things were going in his house, he needed somebody on the outside. Still upset over how his brother had treated him, he decided that it was time to make a move.

Making sure the servants thought that just a friend was coming over, which in ways Cyrus was, he had invited Cyrus over to speak with him. In order to keep up appearances he had ordered the kitchen staff to make a lavish meal with which he and his friend would feast.

He was currently sitting in one of the more private dining rooms, waiting. Fruits of all kind, spicy meats and cheeses, and delicacies that were only available to those who could afford them were spread on the table. The servants had instructions that as soon as cyrus arrived, he was to be brought directly to this room. Hakim sat back, wondering how this meeting would go.

[Cyrus SanJar]

Cyrus slipped into the room and took his seat at the table. He was pleased to finally be off the damn ship, and Hakim had wasted no time in calling on him for a private meeting. He reached for the cheese and took a bite, his stomach happy to have something besides salted fish and stale bread.

“Your brother would not be pleased to find out that we are meeting. I do hope you have servants here you trust. If not, then we must keep our words short and brief.

He took a sip of the dark ale that was on the table. “Your plan will not work. The lady is betrothed to the King’s brother now. I wasn’t sure you’d heard that news yet. It was announced just before sailed from the capital.”

[Hakim Linnet]

"The servants I have asked here I trust as much as a servant can be trusted. Many of them think I meeting an old friend. And if my brother finds out, I'll tell him the same." Hakim replied. Hakim thought back to the time when his father had shipped him off to House SanJar like so much baggage. It made him grimmaced.

"I did hear about that bit of news, but we still need to talk." Hakim looked at the man he had grown up with, who he had come to see as a foster brother. "Cyrus, I fear my brother may break tradition simply out of spite. He will find a way to deny me my right as Heir to Linnet. He has already shown me what he thinks of me." Hakim stopped to take a bit out of a pastry on the table.

"I know our two houses have a long history, and I would never ask you to do something that would compromise your honor. I just ask that if my brother were to do something as foolish as destroy the traditions that we honor, that you will help me to put it right?" He was choosing his words carefully, in part to make sure if any spies are around they would not fully understand his meaning and another part as too allowing Cyrus to show support without incriminating himself.

[Cyrus SanJar]

Cyrus had no intentions of accepting Aashiq’s plan if what Hakim said was true. He pulled a parchment from his tunic, his copy of the announcement the king had made concerning the betrothal of Bertram and Aesha, and handed it to Hakim to read.

“It seems the Lord is also wedding his daughter to the crown. If what you suspect is true, the influence of House Fontenot spreads beyond their little island. It is not just your birthright we must worry about Hakim, but whether or not we want the boy to control our province as well.”

He lifted his glass of wine and took a sip. His eyes scanned the servants. “I do hope you are right. This conversation is more than just old friends and they aren’t not like to be fooled.” He could have switched to Hazirm - Hakim knew some of the language from his visit - but the servants might well know the words. Hazirm was not only spoken in Susa, but up and down the coast as well, reminants of the invadors who had come six hundred years past.

[Hakim Linnet]

Hakim took the offered parchment and read it. "Of course, just like my dear brother. Bred and raised to be diplomatic and not to care about his people." This was truly what Hakim thought of Aashiq.

Hakim sighed, he knew what Cyrus said was true about the servants. He looked up at them all. "Leave us." He barked at them as they scurried to leave. He looked at Cyrus once more as they continued their conversation in a bit more privacy. "I wouldn't worry too much, I do have a reputation as a brute in this house, those who were here would not be likely to talk too much, but in any case we should talk fast."

"I can see this has become more than Aashiq trying to rob me of what is mine. I do not know what his final plan is, but the main question is how the other houses would react. I was never good at being the politician, but I suspect that if we are to keep whatever autonomy this province still has, then the other houses are needed for support." This was turning out to be more than what Hakim had thought. He raised a hand to his head and wiped his brow. He took a sip of wine. "This may get tricky."

[Cyrus SanJar]

Cyrus waited silently while every servant left the room. He gave a few his own hard stare. They might be Hakim’s men, but their words could see both hanged and Cyrus wouldn’t hesitate to kill any of them if it meant the safety of himself, Hakim, and their children.

“You must walk a fine line on this, Hakim. If House Fleurant knows you side with me, then they will not concede to join you. You’ll have to play politician with them and fast, before they decide to act on their own or to back your brother in this. I have no respect for Renate. He is less than a dog. But his house has many swords and some good knights and they are close to Lismore. Much closer than I am.”

He sipped his wine again. What they spoke of was treason by all rights, but Cyrus saw the value in it. Their province was different than the rest and needed to remain that way. The crown was weak and now was the time to increase their influence.

“Too bad your brother did not wed Aesha to the king. That would have been a better alliance for us both.”

[Hakim Linnet]

Hakim's head came up as he heard the talk of swords and horses. He hoped that it wouldn't devolve into extreme violence. As much as he knew the use of violence, it was still his family and it would be tricky.

He shook his head and looked at Cyrus. "This would be a tricky situation to be sure, but I don't see why House Fleurant wouldn't put aside issues to confront this. We have always been mostly independent of the Crown and any thing that looks like a power play would be an insult to us as well as them, right?" Hakim hadn't had a lot of dealings with the Fleurants, so he did not know how their sympathies lay.

[Cyrus SanJar]

“House Fleurant has always been proud, even as supporters of Linnet. I think you might be able to play to that. But I do not think Renate and I will ever agree. I would not tell them of our friendship and talks until after you’ve seen to whatever it is Renate might demand. He is... a different man. ANd I will not, I do not like him at all, and advise that no matter how we go about this, Renate and I are kept apart. I would not hesitate to kill him if I could and see one of his siblings as lord.”

And Cyrus did not care if that treason. Their hatred for each other was no secret across the province and Cyrus wasn’t about to hide critical information from Hakim. At least, information that would be critical to the success of the man’s plans. His own plans....

Perhaps he would keep some of those a secret.

[Hakim Linnet]

Hakim noticed the hate the man had for the Fleurant's. "Ok, I understand. I can talk to them and convince them." He looked at Cyrus, about to ask something important. "My brother is surely making his own plans and alliances to make sure whatever he wants to do will go through smoothly. In the event that something goes wrong and I have to leave, would I be able to find safe haven for me and my family with you?"

This was important because if his brother found out about anything that was talked about here and if he tipped his hand to early, he would be in a dangerous situation. His brothers temper could be easily stroked and he would have to flee.

[Cyrus SanJar]

Cyrus nodded, “You are always welcome in Susa, and in Hazirm beyond if you feel you need to leave the province entirely. My mother’s brother is on the throne of Hazirm; any friends of mine are more than welcome in my uncle’s court. And if needed, I’m sure my family there will send us fighters. I hope that your brother will simply be reasonable about this, send Aesha to Forsilvra, and let his own brother take back the power, but unless that happens...”

He didn’t see it happening. Everyone knew Aashiq was the type of man to make a decision and stick with it. He listened to council, but he didn’t change his mind, once made.

“What about Narbaris?” he asked. “The city is controlled by the girl right now, leaving it also in your brother’s hands.”

[Hakim Linnet]

Hakim nodded at Cyrus. "Thank you for that. Things will surely heat up here fast...but that is to be discussed when it happens."

He thought about everything that was happening. "Well I wouldn't worry too much about Nabaris. They are more of a merchant and trade city, besides with all but one of the ruling family dead, how much trouble could they be?" He asked.

"My main problem is House Fleurant. They have always been reluctant to use their military, I question if it comes down to it, will they? And besides, I'm....reluctant..." he said choosing his word carefully "to bring military force down upon my own house." It was his family, not all of them hated him, and his sons and daughter were still part of it. "But if it is needed, I will, if only to restore order to this house." He looked off into the distance thinking.

[Cyrus SanJar]

“If Aashiq does this thing...” Cyrus trailed off. He might well take Narabis with his own military. The city was right in the middle of the river and controlled what flowed from east to west and visa versa. But he needed to keep that part under his own plans. Hakim wanted to rule Ahestere, not share it with Cyrus, and Cyrus wasn’t sure if the east should ever be part of the west after this turmoil. Perhaps being too close the Hazir over the last few generations had changed their mindset, but their own peoples were so different than the rest of Forsilvra.

“We will do what is needed, and House Fleurant may well join you. You can’t know until you speak with them, but even that must be done discreetly. Either way, this is a traitorous path we walk and we must do so very carefully. Aashiq will not have help outside of Ahestere though. The king is too worried about Arbrecht, and the Caelish left Forsilvra speaking of some troubles in their own lands. We just have to worry about our own lords.”

[Hakim Linnet]

"Whatever happens, this is a internal issue. I refuse to allow outside forces to exert there influence on us." Hakim did not hate the king, but those in Ahestere thought of themselves as independent from the crown.

He looked at Cyrus. "I will send a message to Renate to speak to him. I will make sure it looks innocent. But if I fail to persuade him, there is no stopping him from alerting my brother, so I will have to be careful and figure out who he would support before letting him now of the plan."

He took a last sip of wine. "We must be ready for all consequences, this will surely split the province heavily."

[Cyrus SanJar]

“And on that much, you and I agree completely,” Cyrus raised his glass just slightly before sipping as well. The king needed to keep himself and his feet in his capital, and leave well enough alone. “Besides, if I am honest, the boy brother did not impress me as a man capable to rule anything, much less a people as strong willed as we are. Whatever happens, we need to change the tides and keep Bertram from ruling. He would not succeed.”

Renate was a gamble. “Are you positive that Renate is worth involving in this? You’re right, if he’s loyal to a fault, and there is no reason to think him otherwise, he’ll march straight to Aashiq and turn us in. Especially me. Do not mention me until you know, because he may choose his alliance because of House SanJar. I’d rather you played both sides right now, even tell him you’re just using me, if that accomplish the goal.”

He paused and then added, “The boy came home with us.”

[Hakim Linnet]

Hakim nodded with Cyrus' words. But when he heard the Lords final words, he cursed a loud.

"This is going to make everything difficult. It could seem like an attack on the crown. It could seem like treachery more than a simple provincial dispute. That could bring down the entire Crowns forces on us." Hakim rubbed his face. "This keeps getting more complicated and more complicated. Whatever happens that boy will need to be safe. And I have no problem with the marriage, simply the power transfer."

[Cyrus SanJar]

“I have no problems with the marriage as long as it is Aesha who becomes a Fontenot, not the boy who becomes a Linnet. We are not Lacharn, where such ways are honored. We must keep the old ways of Ahestere and Hazirm. And your brother must understand that. Susa will not bow to the will of Aesha Linnet and her little foreign husband. As much as Aashiq might like to see that, we cannot abide. It is one thing when he brings home a foreign wife - Lady Lorelei is a sweet woman and she had done well to try to learn our ways - but a foreign lord? I think not.”

Cyrus lifted his cup and took another sip. “The crown must know we bear them no ill will, and that we wish to sort the mess of Ahestere in peace. The question is, how to do ensure that without upsetting our young king, or forcing our hand too early so that your brother finds out.”

[Hakim Linnet]

"We will have to be careful, that is for sure. The only way I can see, which I am loathe to use, would be a diplomatic way. Since we have the boy here, we must not instigate the fighting. If...no, when my brother declares his change, we must protest as one. If he still does not give in, we leave." He took a swig of wine. "After we leave, Statements should be circulated with the lords saying that they recognize me as lord of ahestere." He chuckled a little. "I guess I have learned a little something about diplomacy."

He took a breath. "If that does not work, we may have to take it by force. But....if it comes to that, then we will have to make sure that the boy is never hurt, nor his betrothed. The couple will be given the ability to leave and go back to the capital and not be drawn into this mess."

He looked down and thought a little. "This is one of the strangest meetings I've had." He looked back up at Cyrus. "Which reminds me. I had a strange meeting right before I was sent home. A man, Micah Hughes, Lord of Albain, a banker and a merchant, has offered me his help in the form of ships and men, should I ever need it to gain my succession. He only wants access to trade here, which apparently my brother denied him, so he came to me. I figured I would let you know before I did anything. What do you think?"

[Cyrus SanJar]

Cyrus nodded. “Your brother will never accept that. And it would only work if every lord were to do so. What of Basica? And you have no guarantee for Enos.”

They may well have to fight first and if so, that would be what they did. Cyrus was not afraid to use force if needed. “Nabaris is in the hands of your niece and she will never declare against Aashiq. Nabaris will have to be taken by force.”

Micah Hughes. “I have heard of him, and his money. But we did not meet during the trip. Did you feel he was honest with you? That you could trust him? Trade is vital - why would Aashiq deny him? That is folly for any reason.”