A Dangerous Man (1/2)

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 30th April 2007

Characters: Miralani, Kiomo
Description: Miralani and Kiomo have no illusions about each other, and rather seem to like it that way.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 2, day 20 of Turn 4

"A message for you, madam," Kiomo said with a flourishing bow, "from Lord Benaroy of Amber Hills Hold."

Miralani smiled and accepted the letter graciously. "How kind of you to deliver it with your own two hands, Kiomo. I'm truly honored."

"Well, it does seem to be of the _utmost_ importance and I'm terribly curious what it says," he grinned as he flopped down on the chair across from her.

"Aren't we inquisitive?" Opening the letter, she let her eyes skim over the writing before smiling. "I suppose I could be persuaded to tell you what it says. It would depend on how persuasive you can be."

"Please, Miralani," Kiomo said with an expression filled with amused shock, "you're going to be a married woman!"

She met his shocked look with one of her own. "Shame on you, Kiomo.
Why ever would you jump to such a... lurid conclusion. I would think a man of your talents might have more than one method of persuasion to rely upon."

"I suppose asking nicely isn't considered one of those methods of persuasion you're referring to." Miralani laughed and folded the letter back up. "You could try it, I suppose."

"I don't think I have to ask, though." This was a challenge, he knew. Miralani loved to challenge him, and he certainly didn't mind the chance to keep his negotiation skills sharp. "So you have an inkling as to what might be in here?" She dangled the note from her fingers. "Come, Kiomo. Impress me with your knowledge.
Nothing is so persuasive as a devious mind, after all."

"_Devious_?" he asked innocently. "Perceptive, my dear woman, would be more accurate. Now, it is from the Lord of Amber Hills. His name is Benaroy. He's getting along in his turns, but he is still well respected. His Hold suffered after the Plague, but they have had a bit of luck as late. In fact, it seems that their fortunes have completely reversed."

Miralani fanned the letter idly back and forth as she watched Kiomo, enjoying the way it stirred the air around her face and caused tendrils of hair to tickle at her neck. "It would not take a very perceptive person to notice that."

"True," he nodded. "Now, why would you be so interested in inviting the Lord Holder of Amber Hills? Well, he does offer plenty of trade opportunities for both the Hold and the Hall. His livestock is highly valued, and considering their sudden peak in population and need for food, there is opportunity to be had. Amber Hills is also home to a rather particular blue agate that I'm sure the Smith Hall would like to see more of. But he is desperate enough, you could have just sent an envoy and gotten all you wanted from that. So why would an invitation to Amber Hills be so interesting?"

"A fascinating question indeed," Miralani mused. "Well I know he has a few eligible sons that might be interesting to the Smith Hallmaster if he is looking for a match for his daughter, but if that were the case, that's man's business and he would have invited them directly with full knowledge of why they would be coming. We're not as subtle as you ladies are. And so I would say that this is more about Lord Benaroy's daughter, who is now of marriageable age and would be a good match for a Lord Warder."

Miralani's lips curled up into a smile. "Have I ever told you how persuasive you are when you're being... perceptive?" Shards, it was almost a pity Kiomo hadn't suited her current ambitions. He would have been a husband who could appreciate her skills. Though he also would have been a husband who would recognize her manipulations for what they were--which meant she was probably _much_ better off with poor, clueless Daynar.

Kiomo grinned triumphantly. This was the kind of politics he had grown up learning to read. It was the kind of politics he wondered if Ishek would ever understand. Sometimes he didn't wonder if the man was a little too honest minded for his own good. Honest men were to be admired, but if they didn't have someone who could point out danger when it came in a pleasing shape... Well, it was a good thing for Ishek Kiomo was around. "And I take it your brother knows nothing of your intentions?"

"My brother knows what he needs to know," Miralani replied, her lips curling up in a smile. "So, Kiomo... what is your reward for being so...
insightful." His eyebrows raised curiously. "I don't know, Miralani, what do you have to offer?"

"Before long, I won't have anything to offer but a friendly nod," she replied, dropping the cloying voice. She sighed and sank back into her chair. "I may have consolidated my own future from a material standpoint, but I am afraid I'm going to have quite a time training Daynar how to treat a wife properly. I've heard how he treated his first wife. Appalling."

"So," Kiomo leaned forward a little more, "I take it you are offering me something a little more than a friendly nod?" Interesting...

"Of course not." She gave him a knowing look. "What lady of breeding would _offer_ such a thing? She can simply wish her duty wasn't to enter into a marriage that will give her little pleasure." "I could see how that could be frustrating," he nodded, a smile curving his lips. "So you're simply telling me that if it were entirely proper to do so, you would like to experience a little bit of pleasure before you bind yourself to a boring lover for the rest of your life?"

"It's a shame that a woman's life is so hindered by impropriety. But what a man can get away with, we never can." "But of course you can," Kiomo smiled. He stood and leaned down to whisper in her ear, "You just have to know how to keep a secret." Plucking the letter from her hands he moved over to the sofa and flopped back on its cushions. "Mind if I open this?"

Miralani glanced at the door to her sitting room, which was safely closed. Then she followed Kiomo to the couch and sat down with a good deal more grace than he had managed. "Are you doubting your brilliant deductions already, or just wondering if you might have missed a detail?"

"I'm just curious what the Lord Holder of Amber Hills has to say. After all, he has a lifetime of experience in these matters. I'm pretty sure he knows _exactly_ why his daughter has been invited, unless that last stroke _really_ went to his brain." And Kiomo had heard no rumors to say Benaroy was becoming dotty in his old age.

"He doesn't seem to have lost his edge," Miralani replied, leaning her shoulder against his and craning her head to read the letter again as he did. "I've no doubts we'll all be under close inspection."

"But not by him. Apparently his son, Royah, will be acting as her chaperon. And what is this?" Kiomo turned to look at her, very much aware, and liking the fact, that their faces where very close to touching. "Master Fielton's daughter as well? A back-up plan? Or a cover?"

Miralani smiled as her hand came to rest lightly on his leg. "Maybe a little of both. And it can't hurt to make Fielton feel special... he _has_ two daughters, after all, and Daynar has quite a few sons."

"Perhaps you should have thought of the fact that Lord Benaroy also has some unmarried sons that might have been good matches for Daynar's daughter. I don't see any of them on this list." He looked down at the hand resting on his leg and made quite a show as his eyes traveled slowly back up to meet hers. "I'm not sure that hand being there is entirely proper for a lady of breeding."

"You _are_ perceptive," she replied, not moving her hand away, but not moving closer, either. "How fortunate I am to have your advice on these things."

"Yes, you are," he smiled, looking down at that hand. "I am always at your service. And speaking of service," Kiomo gently lifted her hand from his leg and placed it in her own lap, letting his own fingers caress her thigh as he stood to his feet, "I have to get back to my duties. I have a meeting with Penryn that I may already be late for." He carefully refolded the letter and stuck it in his pocket.

"And Penryn requires my personal correspondence?" she asked tartly, following him. "That letter was addressed to me, Kiomo. Don't make me do something _really_ shocking and fish it out of your pocket myself."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Miralani. Do I have your letter?" he asked, his lips curling into a wicked grin. "Well, then, I suppose that just means I will have to come by your rooms tonight and return it."

Miralani's eyes found his and her lips curved up into a smile every bit as wicked as his. "You are a dangerous man, my lord."

He bowed and reached for her hand, bringing it so close to his lips she could feel his breath as he looked up at her with his dark, dark eyes. "You have no idea." Turning her hand over he kissed her palm, her wrist, making a trail of kisses along the kind of her underarm until fabric stopped his progress. "M'lady."

As she watched him leave, Miralani found herself wishing she really didn't know just how dangerous Kiomo was. Those pretty eyes may have fooled her brother, but she knew better than to let herself get taken in by them.

Even if it _would_ be terribly, terribly fun.

Last updated on the April 30th 2007

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A Dangerous Man (1/2)