Satisfying Matches

Writers: Avery, Eimi
Date Posted: 10th June 2006

Characters: Kiomo, Ishek
Description: Kiomo decides its time to get to know his Lord Holder better
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 11, day 12 of Turn 3

Kiomo smiled as he walked into the room holding a bottle of wine in the crook of his arm and two glasses dangling from his fingers. "Excuse me, milord. I noticed your office light was still on and I thought perhaps I might interrupt you and share a drink."

Ishek had been paying attention to his work, and that was about it. He was slightly surprised to hear a voice, and rather surprised to see Kiomo and with the drink. He resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow at the use of milord. "That would be fine." he replied evenly, gesturing to a seat. "Feel free to take a seat." He pushed aside his work. No one had interrupted him this late for something not work before. Ishek automatically assumed that there would be interesting events that night.

"I hope red wine is all right. I hear its better for the heart," the Holder said as he set the glasses down on the desk and pulled a bottle opener out from his pocket.

"It's absolutely fine." Ishek answered. "I prefer red anyways. Of course, I don't know that much about wine." he admitted. "I just know that there are a few reds I prefer." Simple enough as a statement, an invitation to talk about casual things like wine if Kiomo desired, or not. It was testing, as well- Kiomo always seemed to inspire Ishek to behave as if he was in a negotiating dance. He was polished, it was something about his manner...Ishek didn't know. He didn't feel the comfort with Kiomo he did with Penryn. He wondered if Kiomo noticed it and felt treated unfairly, and perhaps Ishek was treating him unfairly.
But it did give him practice at negotiating, diplomacy, a way of using words Ishek wasn't used to. Eventually he would likely relax around Kiomo- it took time to get to know people after all.

"Where I come from, we mostly had wines made from other kinds of fruit.
And grain. There was a lovely wine made out of rice, if you could believe that. I know its not well known down here, but there was nothing lovelier." With a slight grunt he popped the top of the bottle.
"There we go. Not too sweet, not too dry."

"Rice wine? No, it's not known here around here- but then again, the area around here isn't good for raising many things. I'm sure you may have heard that from someone while you were here, I know of a few people who complain. The price of living here, I suppose."

"Well, you have plenty of other grains here," Kiomo said as he poured them each a glass. "But rice is most prevelant where I come from.
Wheat rots in the humidity."

"I see why it would be used then." Ishek accepted the glass and took a grateful sip. "Very nice." he said. "You seem to know a lot about wines." he said casually.

"Ah, well, a Lord Holder's son needs to know a little about everything."
He swirled the wine around in the glass and breathed in a bit of its scent with an appreciative sigh. "If we're entertaining the Vintner Hallmaster, for example, I would have to be able to talk intelligently about his craft, or the conversation might die rather quickly."

Ishek nodded. "A good idea to learn such things." he admitted. "I wouldn't have guessed your reasoning, though; it sounded as if you had a Vintner's interest in them for a bit there." He paused. "Did you ever desire to apprentice to a craft?"

"No, I was a Holder born and bred. I never dreamed anything other than that, except perhaps I turned an envious eye once or twice on the boys found on Search. I have to admit I did dream of Impressing a bronze when I was young. But what boy doesn't?"

"I'd like to meet one who actually didn't, if any exist." Ishek said with a laugh. "I think we all went through that phase. Since you didn't dream of a craft, you're happy where you are, then?"

Kiomo nodded as he swallowed his sip of wine. "Most definitely. I think I would have become bored with a crafter's life rather easily.
And yourself?"

"I turned about the age to apprentice around the time our parents died."
Ishek explained. "I never got a chance to consider apprenticing, not that I really minded. If I did craft, I'd have been a beastmaster, I think." He looked off to the side for a moment. "Life has funny ways."

"Doesn't it? You know, people always talk about life like it's a journey. That we're all walking a path and there are mountains and valleys and rivers to ford. But I don't agree." The holder looked into his glass of wine thoughtfully. "I think its more an ocean voyage. You have a destination you are trying to reach, you have a course all plotted out, but storms come up, waves toss you around, you tack and trim the sails and do everything you can to keep going, but sometimes, life just... blows you off the map. But you have to find a way to sail on and get home." He shrugged and smiled apologetically. "Sorry. It's just one man's observation."

"Ah, but it's an interesting observation." Ishek said. "And it's accurate as well. We all have that destination we seek." He looked over at Kiomo. "To sail on and get home... What would you consider yourself sailing towards?"

"I'm not really sure," Kiomo shrugged. "I guess that is what I came to Garnet Valley to find - something to sail towards. A family maybe. A home for sure."

"I wasn't sure when I came here either." Ishek said. "It's still a bit shaky here, but things are settling down. I think everyone will soon have a home here. As for family...well, there are plenty of ladies." He smiled at Kiomo. "You're planning to stay for a good long while, then?"

"I hope so," the Holder said, his voice twinged with a hint of weariness. "I'm tired of wandering around."

Ishek nodded, understanding the feeling. "This is a good place to settle into. I must admit, I'm grateful that you're here." So Kiomo was a man too, with his own hopes and dreams. Ishek felt slightly more comfortable with him now; comfortable enough to open up a bit. "So you're seeking a family? Did you never meet the right person before now?"

Kiomo shrugged slightly. "What young man hasn't been tossed around in love a bit."

Ishek nodded slightly. In actuality he hadn't- his first love had been his only- but he didn't want to mention it; no one believed him. And, anyways, it didn't matter that Ishek had had good experiences. He'd heard enough from friends on the subject. It was part of the reason he wanted to marry for love rather than convenience. "I hope you have better luck here, then." he said with a smile.

"Well, that is the hope," the young man nodded. "And you? Do you have plans to remarry?"

"Eventually." Ishek replied. "I thought of waiting for love, but..." He sighed. "As others more wise have reminded me, my job is to marry for the benefits of the Hold, not my own benefits." He looked at Kiomo. "I envy you your freedom in choosing a family, at the least."

"Freedom? What freedom do I have?" Kiomo asked with another shrug. "I am still tied to Ancient Stones Hold, no matter how far away from it I might travel, so any marriage I make allies that family to mine. I can't marry just _anyone_, no matter how I feel on the subject. In that, I am the same as you."

"Hmm, I hadn't thought of it that way." Ishek answered. "I had to give up my prior affiliations when coming here, so I didn't think that you might still have ties to your home." He shook his head. "Would that life were different, and politics less important."

"Ah well," the holder sighed a sipped at his drink. "I can't complain, really. My ties to Ancient Stones has opened many doors of opportunity for me. The least I can do is make a good match for my family. If love can be a part of, that would be wonderful. But in truth, its all a game of chance. People change over the turns, and even a marriage for love can turn as strained as a marriage for convenience. And a marriage of convenience can turn into true love. It's just another wave to be ridden out."

"Family is a wonderful thing." Ishek said, thinking of his sister and his nieces. "I suppose I just don't like the thought of using people as strategy pieces." He shook his head slightly and drank some more. "We can always hope for a positive outcome."

"Well, I take comfort in the knowledge that the idea of using my spouse for political gain would be a mutual feeling." After all, her family would be benefiting just as much as his. "And she will have the same fears and reservations as you do. Don't you think the woman you will be marrying would hope to find love in the pairing? No, I think you are a good man, Lord Ishek. Any woman who married you could not deny that. I think you are destined to love and be loved. You just have to take that first step."

Ishek smiled slightly. "I hope you're right, Kiomo." he said. "And please, you can drop the title for tonight." He thought for a moment about what the other man said. "I didn't think that she might be doing the same, although I shouldn't be surprised. I think that's what my sister Miralani plans, to find a good alliance. She's more practical than me, I must admit." When it came to that, at least. "I hope you find a match that satisfies you, politically and otherwise."

"Thank you, Ishek. I truly hope so." He re-filled both their glasses, emptying the bottle and raised his in a toast. "To finding our satisfying match, eh?"

"Indeed." Ishek agreed, raising his glass in toast. "And may it be soon." he added.

Kiomo nodded with a smile. "Soon..."

Last updated on the June 11th 2006

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Satisfying Matches