quantaich's Journal

I will let Alberico and Brandin send me all the...
I will let Alberico and Brandin send me all the gifts and goods and envoys they wantI'll let their trade make me truly a King, a King who brings new prosperity to his peopleAnd I need to start doing it soonImmediately, I now suspectI have to put Quileia so firmly on a new path that the old one recedes as fast as I can make itOtherwise I'll die having done nothing but live somewhat longer than most Year Kings, and the priestesses will be in power again before my bones are picked clean underground
Alessan closed his eyesDevin became aware of the rustling of leaves all around them and the sporadic calling of birdsThen Alessan looked up at Marius again, the grey eyes wide and calm, and he miu miu clutch said, bluntly:
"My request: that you give me six months before deciding on tradeAnd something else, in that interval
"The time alone is a great deal," Marius said very softly"But tell me the rest, Pigeon
"Three letters, BearI need three letters sent northFirst letter: you say yes to Brandin, conditionallyYou ask for time to consolidate your own position before exposing Quileia to outside influencesYou make it clear that your inclination toward him is based on his appearing stronger than Alberico, more likely to endureSecond letter: you reject, sorrowfully, all overtures from AstibarYou write Alberico that you are intimidated by Brandin's threatsThat you would dearly love to trade with the black chanel quilted bag Empire of Barbadior, need to trade with them, but the Ygrathen seems too strong in the Palm for you to risk offending himYou wish Alberico all good fortuneYou ask him to keep in contact with you, discreetlyYou say you will be watching events in the north with close interestYou have not yet given Brandin a final decision, and will delay as long as you canYou send your warmest regards to the EmperorHe reverted to his trick of the winter: listen, remember, think about it laterMarius's eyes were bright though, and the cold, unsettling smile was back
"And my third letter?" he asked
"Is to the Governor of the Province of SenzioOffering immediate trade, no tariffs, first choice of prime goods, secure white chloe bag anchorage in your harbors for their shipsExpressing deep admiration for Senzio's brave independence and enterprise in the face of adversity"And this third letter, naturally
"Will be intercepted by Alberico of BarbadiorPigeon, do you know what you would be setting in motion? How incredibly dangerous a game this is?"
"Wait a minute!" Erlein di Senzio suddenly interjected, starting to rise
"You be silent!" Alessan literally snarled the command in a voice Devin had never heard him use
Erlein's mouth snapped shutHe subsided, breathing harshly, his eyes coals of anger and burgeoning understandingAlessan didn't even look at himThe two of them sat on a golden carpet high in the mountains, omega quartz seemingly oblivious to the existence of anything in the world but each other
"You do know, don't you?" Marius said finally There was a certain wonder in his voice"I've had enough time to think about it, Triad knowsOnce the trade routes open I think my province and its name are lostWith what you can offer him, Brandin will be a hero in the west, not a TyrantHe will be so secure that there will be nothing I can do, BearYour Kingship may be my undoing
"Are you sorry you helped me to it?"
Devin watched Alessan wrestle with thatThere were currents of emotion running here, far beneath the surface of what he could see and understandHe listened, and remembered
"I should be sorry," Alessan murmured at chanel logo necklace lengt