She sat enjoying a glass of port as she looked over the manifests from this most recent trip. She smiled to herself as she thought about the meeting that had just occurred. Most Fruitful indeed.
*******
31 Blathe
Alain was seated at a table in Teas 'n Tomes, junior cigar clenched between his teeth, reading what appeared to be a newspaper; a teacup sat on a saucer in front of him, largely untouched.
It was a bit of a walk from the docks, not that she minded. Few had the gonads to bother the Lady captain of the Elven ship that has just put in for trade and supplies.
He curled his fingers around the edge of the page, folding a corner back to look at the bloodied dancer that shared the teahouse with him. Smoke rose from his cigar. He folded the newspaper in half over his left thigh and checked his watch.
She pushed the door of the shop open at the appointed time and stepped on in. She adjusted her cutlass and looked around for the moment.
The Baron looked up and smiled gently, certain by her bearing that this is the woman he was looking for. He rose from his seat and approached, bowing his head to her. "Lady Uruloki, I presume?"
The smile was a welcoming one upon her lips. "You must be Baron DeMuer."
He extended his right hand for hers, head bowed further. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."
She gave a regal tilt of her head, very formal given the nature of the meeting. "The pleasure is mine."
He kissed her hand gently and released it, then gestured to one of the seats at the table. "Thank you for making it on such short notice... I'm afraid I'm in something of a bind."
She moved to settle into a chair, departing from the rigid formality. "You must be though my man wasn't able to get too many details."
He shook his head as he reclaimed his seat. "My Barony's still a fledgling settlement, and we haven't had much time for our infrastructure. I've learned we'll be taking on quite a few new residents soon -- I'm hoping to at least get basic housing up and a few roads improved by the time they arrive."
She nodded in thought, "That is understandable. My clan... is known for taking on such ... humanitarian efforts."
He itched at his jaw for a moment. Ash scattered from his cigar. "Then we're of a similar mind... I'm sure I can arrange to support your own efforts in the future... And to be clear, I'm not asking for charity. We would provide food and shelter for any workers you could provide to help us, and they would be paid very fair wages."
She steeples her hands before her face, "Basic housing and road improvements, Any other trades?"
There was a smile in his eyes as they alight upon hers. "...There are always other trades. In addition to our shipping holdings in Rhydin, we are beginning negotiations to build shipyards in the Barony and expand our docks there. My House has always sustained itself on the coffee trade, among others. ...So if trade deals are what it takes to incentivize you to supply me with labor, I'm sure we can come to an agreement."
"I'm sure we can, as well as maybe have some of my people help you with the setup of those ship yards."
"I'll have to discuss that with others, but at present, I can't see why not." He put his cigar out. "If you'd like, you can send one of your people to Greyshott Place in the West End, and we'll leave it to the lawyers and accountants to hammer out the details?" He smiled.
She nodded, "Agreed. I will have my manager meet with your people."
He rose slowly, extending his hand again, this time for a shake. "It's been a pleasure doing business with you, Lady Uruloki. I hope we'll have more time our next meeting."
She stood and shook his hand, "I do hope so. Here is to a fruitful relationship." She grinned wryly.
"I'll be sure to drink to it, once I get home to my scotch," ::he said with a breathed laugh as he left the table, moving for the door. "You take care."
"You as well."
*******
Most fruitful indeed...
*******
31 Blathe
Alain was seated at a table in Teas 'n Tomes, junior cigar clenched between his teeth, reading what appeared to be a newspaper; a teacup sat on a saucer in front of him, largely untouched.
It was a bit of a walk from the docks, not that she minded. Few had the gonads to bother the Lady captain of the Elven ship that has just put in for trade and supplies.
He curled his fingers around the edge of the page, folding a corner back to look at the bloodied dancer that shared the teahouse with him. Smoke rose from his cigar. He folded the newspaper in half over his left thigh and checked his watch.
She pushed the door of the shop open at the appointed time and stepped on in. She adjusted her cutlass and looked around for the moment.
The Baron looked up and smiled gently, certain by her bearing that this is the woman he was looking for. He rose from his seat and approached, bowing his head to her. "Lady Uruloki, I presume?"
The smile was a welcoming one upon her lips. "You must be Baron DeMuer."
He extended his right hand for hers, head bowed further. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."
She gave a regal tilt of her head, very formal given the nature of the meeting. "The pleasure is mine."
He kissed her hand gently and released it, then gestured to one of the seats at the table. "Thank you for making it on such short notice... I'm afraid I'm in something of a bind."
She moved to settle into a chair, departing from the rigid formality. "You must be though my man wasn't able to get too many details."
He shook his head as he reclaimed his seat. "My Barony's still a fledgling settlement, and we haven't had much time for our infrastructure. I've learned we'll be taking on quite a few new residents soon -- I'm hoping to at least get basic housing up and a few roads improved by the time they arrive."
She nodded in thought, "That is understandable. My clan... is known for taking on such ... humanitarian efforts."
He itched at his jaw for a moment. Ash scattered from his cigar. "Then we're of a similar mind... I'm sure I can arrange to support your own efforts in the future... And to be clear, I'm not asking for charity. We would provide food and shelter for any workers you could provide to help us, and they would be paid very fair wages."
She steeples her hands before her face, "Basic housing and road improvements, Any other trades?"
There was a smile in his eyes as they alight upon hers. "...There are always other trades. In addition to our shipping holdings in Rhydin, we are beginning negotiations to build shipyards in the Barony and expand our docks there. My House has always sustained itself on the coffee trade, among others. ...So if trade deals are what it takes to incentivize you to supply me with labor, I'm sure we can come to an agreement."
"I'm sure we can, as well as maybe have some of my people help you with the setup of those ship yards."
"I'll have to discuss that with others, but at present, I can't see why not." He put his cigar out. "If you'd like, you can send one of your people to Greyshott Place in the West End, and we'll leave it to the lawyers and accountants to hammer out the details?" He smiled.
She nodded, "Agreed. I will have my manager meet with your people."
He rose slowly, extending his hand again, this time for a shake. "It's been a pleasure doing business with you, Lady Uruloki. I hope we'll have more time our next meeting."
She stood and shook his hand, "I do hope so. Here is to a fruitful relationship." She grinned wryly.
"I'll be sure to drink to it, once I get home to my scotch," ::he said with a breathed laugh as he left the table, moving for the door. "You take care."
"You as well."
*******
Most fruitful indeed...