It's All Business [5/29, afternoon, Ian & Desmond, DONE]

[Desmond Redwald]

It had been a lugubrious trip to Fyrsbruck simply because the weather decided it did not want to be kind to those traveling during this particular season. Desmond knew that they would soon be going into their summer storm weather, but this year it seemed a little early to be dealing with. Nevertheless, this wasn’t about to stop him from going forward with his intentions in this business venture. When they docked the Stalwart, Desmond found himself well received by Ian’s servants. Indeed, the man kept word on his intentions to welcome his guests with warm regard. Desmond traveled light with his company. Only the sailors and two of his personal guard came with him on this trip. The Harcourts were only known to be hostile to the Fitzwulfs, and even then the grace that the family displayed under tension never warranted Desmond to be too concerned of his safety.

Desmond and his retainers were shown to their respective rooms and then attended to as needed before he would meet Ian. He packed light, not intending to stay very long considering the fact that this business discussion was not intended to take more than a day. Also, given the circumstances of what happened in Belleile, it was best not to overstay his welcome given the fact that the Harcourts would likely be receiving the King in due time.

Eventually Desmond was led to a chamber that seemed to be a study of sorts. A place where Ian could conduct business and this made the Redwald lord intrigued at the amount of books that were readily at hand. He continued to admire the topics as he awaited Ian’s arrival.

[Ian Harcourt]

Ian burst into the room with a smile and a cup of wine in either hand. He offered them both out to Desmond, intending for him to pick whether he wanted the left cup or the right cup.

"Desmond Redwald, I'm glad you made it. Are you hungry, perchance?" He questioned. Ian was busy, very busy, and the sooner he met with Desmond and discussed their ships the sooner he could get back to what really mattered to him right now. He did not want a man from the Vandermaark here when the storm of war erupted in Arbrecht.

[Desmond Redwald]

Taking the cup in Ian’s left hand, Desmond lifted it in a gestured toast to the head of the Harcourt family and took a quick drink before responding to Ian’s question. “That’s quite all right, your tenants made sure I was well-fed before coming over.”

Desmond wasn’t one of many facial expressions, but the tone of his voice did reflect a sense of gratitude. He did note that the man seemed a bit rushed, which would make this conversation go quickly and very to-the-point. He gave a gesture for Ian to take a seat with him before he would discuss plans.

“I’ll be to the point of things so that this doesn’t take long. I know things have been turbulent for everyone and you likely have a great deal to address. I thank you for seeing me nevertheless.”

He took one more drink before setting down his cup and getting down to business, “I have been in the process of designing new ships, my latest one is an envoy designed to cut travel speed by nearly half the time. The Redwald family is well known for guarding its estates well enough, and although we are a seafaring family, our ships tend to see less mileage in comparison to yours.

Seeing that the political climate has intensified with a lot of recent events, perhaps you might favor expanding your fleet with some new ships that are likely to out-perform those whom you might consider a threat?”

Desmond knew that with Jon murdered, the Harcourts would likely be scrutinized for having a hand in it. Whispers of war in Arbrecht had already gone muttering about in places they didn’t belong.

“Truth be told, I’m looking for a change of scenery. Worst case scenario, you have an upgraded fleet that will be able to hold its own and then-some. Best case scenario…you have new ships to play with. All I need is someone willing to invest in the project, and they are rewarded with the fruits of my labor.”

[Ian Harcourt]

"It's not in my nature to turn down a good willed man, seeking friendship and a way to release his artistic instinct." Ian spoke, watching him very carefully. Desmond Redwald was a difficult man for him to read, and that troubled him. In another time Ian might of been very trusting, but as it stood he had to assume every fresh face was a spy. And why wouldn't he? He said he wanted to see these ships put to good use, but then why not give them to Lord Redwald first?

Was he planning to sabotage his navy? Steal his money? No, a Noble House not prepared to go to war would never try such a thing. Ian stroked his beard as he spoke. "Tell me, Desmond, Why me? Why now? Why not your own flesh and blood? Why do you desire a change of scenery?" From the sounds of it, Desmond Redwald wanted to be housed, fed, and paid for his services. And if his skills as a shipwright were as good as he would have Ian believe, they could have a great business relationship.

But it surely can't all be business. Ian wasn't getting the vibes of a cutthroat, greedy shipwright from him.

[Desmond Redwald]

Why indeed. It was something he couldn’t even really say to his own family. The Redwalds had not really done a lot of business with the Harcourts, now or in the past. Why would Ian have the desire to trust him with his most prized military possession? Especially at a time like this.

Desmond had to take pause to consider his answer. Only the truth would suffice for Ian, but in the same breath Desmond really wasn’t comfortable relinquishing such a reason to someone he barely knew on a personal level.

“My brother will be granted a gift that I have been working on for quite some time,” is how he started his response. Desmond had no intention of leaving the Redwald family with nothing to show for it.

“In regards to why…”

A bit of pain finally showed through on his features before he managed to get a reign on them and hide them away behind a steeled face. “The Redwalds have a secure future in both their banner lord and its heirs. However, my personal history has not been nearly as blessed. My home has become a personal hell, which I do not wish to be in its presence any longer. If we are to strike an agreement, it must be on the condition that I am not called by the name Desmond Redwald during my time here. I do not wish to let my personal affairs become the burden of my family. This is my choice.”

Without even realizing it, Desmond was twisting the marriage band on his finger. It was something he never took off even after all this time that Tearney had been gone. Perhaps there was some sort of salvation that could be found in a different environment. Desmond had to find this out on his own, and was not something that he could confide in his brother anymore. It was time to cut his own path to test fate and finally defy it.

“Like I stated before: I am an engineer of ships. You have one of the biggest fleets in Forsilvra. The tides of war are turning in Arbrecht.” With a bit of a passive nod, he gave Ian a stern look, “I believe we could both be of mutual benefit to each other at this juncture.”

[Ian Harcourt]

Ian nodded solemnly. He had heard the tale of a man who lost his entire family to the plague... it touched his heart, because where as his brother had lost his wife and another had lost his daughter... this man had lost both. Two children, even. He could understand why he would want to get away from everything that held him down to those memories.

Even his name. "Then if that's what you want... But what should I call you?" He said, ignoring the comments about an impending war. He hoped that their preparations for battle were not so transparent when the King was here. Hell, the man would be here within the week. It just further reminded him of the pain in the ass this was really going to be.

"And how much is this going to cost me?" Lodging and food would be simple, but the wage... How much did Desmond want to be paid to forget his name an allegiances and have an opportunity to forge himself a new path like he seemed so damn determined to do?

[Desmond Redwald]

Desmond pondered it for a moment, again playing with the ring on his finger. Eventually he replied with, “Gilchrist….Philip Gilchrist.”

The name bore a certain weight to it, but he felt that if this cause was justified, the name wouldn’t be such a burden later on. This would be his new penance and his solace at the same time.

The next question was something Desmond had already expected, since any man of business knows that the price had to be worth the end results. This was something that he already knew the answer to, but given the circumstances of everything involved, he decided to go with Plan B. Desmond knew that the cost of his freedom was going to be high. It was something he had thought on long and hard all year, and had come to terms with the fact that the price needed to be paid in order to find some modicum of release from his personal afflictions of the heart and soul.

“The houses of the Vandermark want to increase their trade production. This can secure materials for a good price, and I’ll utilize what influences I have to guarantee their values. It’s been a while since I’ve looked at the mechanics of your ships, but it is likely that the materials I will require might be new to the arsenal. There are resources in Lehasi that will give your ships the ability to be lighter and faster, and I have developed some new drafts that have been tested on a smaller scale that will make the fleet more responsive to maneuvering.”

“For now, I will take care of the appearance of payment to Baldwin. This way he can justify to the other houses that it is, in fact, a business transaction and he’ll have the coin to show for it. There are coffers he is not aware of that I own. Those will be granted to him under the guise of the Harcourt treasury. After I have completed my services, we can sit down and discuss forms of recompense based on the outcome of the results. All I want is to work.”

He realized that Ian was probably going to wonder what all was going on. But that was the offer. Taking his cup again, he put it forward to Ian and asked, “Do we have an accord?”

[Ian Harcourt]

Ian took the name in easily. A Younger, more astute man might of tried to read into it, to try and dissect the reason he chose that name -- but an older, wiser man like Ian realized that he did know the man well enough to begin to guess, nor did he have anything to gain from it.

"You are a very trusting man, Phillip. A very strange one, too." Ian said, already using the mans new name. He would lie to his brother, spend his own money to acquire the materials -- all of it seemed very off to Ian. Any other man he would of shot down the moment he mentioned acquiring his own materials, but something made him want to... 'help'? Phillip Gilchrist help himself and Ian.

"You would decieve your brother and acquire your own materials to build ships for a competing house, improve their navy and change your name to escape a place called 'home'..." Ian said, eyeing him carefully. Suddenly, he struck forward with his cup hand and knocked them together, as if to toast. "Then if that is what you wish, I won't deny it to you. Do what you must and get what you need; my servants will show you to your room." Ian said with a smile.

He still didn't trust him entirely. It was very possible that Desmond was here to decieve and entrap him, but if you lived your whole life refusing to trust other men then you were doomed to fail from the start. "I have to go. My Commandant will want to know who his new Chief Shipwright is."

[Desmond Redwald]

The way Ian stated things so bluntly, it felt like Desmond was defecting families. That wasn’t the case, at least not in his eyes. All of his actions were designed to protect his family, not abandon them. But he needed to escape the endless cycle of pain and suffering that the Vale taunted him with. Desmond was ready to pay any cost in order to find solace whether it was through accomplishment or death.

When they clinked glasses, he said in response, “Pray you never have to understand my reasons by experiencing them for yourself.”

With that, he took one last heavy drink before standing back up and finalizing his thoughts before being led to where he would now live for the next several months.

“I must return home one last time to inform my brother that negotiations here have been solidified and that I will be unable to tend to any delegations until my contract is completed. I also need to present the payment to him as well. I’m sure you can understand the process of needing to settle assets. I shall return within the month with some of the starting supplies. And…I’ll be sure to keep a low profile when His Majesty comes calling.”

Desmond then headed out of the room and followed the servant who was to show him a place to sleep.

My dearest wife…is this what you want of me?