A Family Discussion

[Aramis Shahrizai]

At eight o'clock sharp, I knocked on Anacrasia's door. My encounter with the Baron D'Lantier weighed heavily on my mind, and I felt assured that Anacrasia would listen to my concerns.

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

I had finished dinner and was waiting for Aramis' arrival in the sitting room. A knock sounded against the door, and I heard him being ushered in through the front hall. I rose when he entered, and gave him a kiss of greeting. "Cousin, it is good to see you again."

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I returned her kiss. "My lady," I said. "I hope you are well."

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

"Things could be worse." I said with a smile, taking a polite step back from my young cousin. "Please, have a seat. Would you care for a drink?"

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"Yes, thank you," I said, taking a seat opposite her chair. "Red wine, or brandy if you have it."

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

I went over to the side table, chose a brandy, and poured measures into two tumblers. I returned, handing him the glass before settling back down. "What can I do for you, Aramis?" I asked, watching him closely. He truly was unsettled.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

Raising the glass to her, I took a sip before gathering my thoughts together.

"About a week or so ago," I began, "I was at Le Poulet Gauche for a drink. There was a man at the bar; he recognized me as Shahrizai and purchased me an ale for that reason. I had never seen him before, and I wondered how he knew our family. When I questioned him, he avoided direct answers, preferring to cast himself in a mysterious light. He insinuated..." I stopped, and collected my thoughts again. "He made many disrespectful comments about me, and you, my lady, though he made like he was reverent."

There was more, of course, but I would let her have her say.

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

So it seemed some of my family was going to discuss problems with me. Amazing. I of course already knew of the incident. Le Poulet Gauche wasn't exactly sealed tight against people willing to pass on events for a few extra coin. "Please, continue," I replied, interested in how his account differed than the other one I had received.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"The one member of our family he spoke most respectfully about was Sirena," I said. "It was as though he worshiped her, though how that came to be, he would not say. I expressed concern for Sirena, and he used it as an excuse to insult me and my worries. He then insulted the work I have done to rebuild the business. The whole time we talked, he acted as though I were a child, patronizing me again and again. I am young, my lady, but I am not a child."

I leaned forward. "My lady, this man had the most cracked, twisted soul I have felt in a long time. Sirena is nearly mad over Talenon, to add this madman to the mix would push her over the edge, I fear. He is cruel and disrespectful. At one point, he tried to seduce me, and when I rebuffed him, he taunted me, threatening to tell me of him and Sirena. This is not a man I want a relationship with, not a man I wish ever to see again."

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

My eyes narrowed. This didn't sound like Yvan at all. He had his secrets, but I would not have missed such a soul as Aramis described.

"Yvan-Etienne d'Lantier, yes?"

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"Yes, my lady," I said. I hid my surprise at her knowledge.

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

I saw his eyes flicker, but he hid it well. "Come now cousin, you can't almost come to blows with anther noble in a tavern, and not expect tongues to wag. The breeze is caused by gossip, not by any actual wind." I took a sip of my brandy. "What do you know of Sirena and Tal's relationship?"

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"The same as most else, my lady" I said. "They are...very close. I like everyone else have had my suspicions of how close, but they have not been proven yet. Regardless, when he disappeared, Sirena acted as though he hadn't been gone at all."

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

"She knows he's gone." I told Aramis calmly. "Somewhere inside, she knows. Or else, I'm suspicious, she never would have gotten engaged." I said it casually, but I had a feeling my cousin was just a little to interested in Rena.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"Engaged?" The word exploded from my lips in a fury. "She's engaged to...him?"

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

Well now, this was interesting. "Aye." I confirmed, just as calm as a moment ago. Unlike the man (boy?) pulsing with fury in my sitting room.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"Forgive me, my lady," I said, leaning back and breathing hard. "But this cannot bode well, not for House Shahrizai, and not for Sirena."

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

He was vulnerable right now, fearful. Fearful? Was he truly afraid of Yvan? But there was something else as well... How much do you want to bet that he's gone after her?

"Why?"

[Aramis Shahrizai]

For what seemed like the umpteenth time, I gathered my thoughts into a list, before speaking:

"He speaks of our family members as delicacies on a plate to be sampled; I think he will not be sated until he has had us all. A man like that cannot be faithful to Sirena.

"Suppose this wedding does come to pass. The family will split over whether they like him or not. Some, like me, may feel more strongly about it than other ways. I feel his presence will bring more unhappiness than pleasure.

"And suppose, just suppose, that Talenon does return. The consequences will be dire; you know this as well as I do. I know I cannot necessarily convince you to stop this marriage altogether, but perhaps I can convince you to wait on it. A year, or a word from Talenon, whichever happens first. Many people can make Sirena happy for a time, an evening, a week, a month. But Sirena was always happiest when Tal was there, and I don't want to see her make a decision that may backfire."

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

He was. He really was jealous. Oh, this was rich. He wasn’t dominant enough to trigger Yvan’s submissive side, and now felt threatened. I hid my amusement with a drink of brandy.

But at the same time, there was more than just a spurned lover in front of me. He was completely earnest. Even so, his arguments just didn’t weigh up to my reasoning. Sirena needed an heir before she went off the deep end. The docteur had also suggested Rena needed attention and affection. And Yvan worshipped her. It seemed ideal.

“Aramis, if you truly wish to help your cousin, have your contacts let you know when Talenon returns. But Sirena is in no danger from her finance. Go and try to talk her out of it, if you chose. But don’t be surprised if she becomes… touchy when you try to tell her who to love.” I took another calm sip of brandy, waiting for his reaction.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"I was not worried that Sirena was in danger of the Baron Lantier," I said. "I think there are other more dangerous factors at play here." Like Sirena's sanity. And that Talenon may be the most dangerous of them all. "If Sirena is truly happy with this...sycophant, I will not stop her. But it is my belief that he cannot fully give her what she needs."

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

My mouth thinned. What Sirena needed was to do her duty. She understood – how could this lad not?

“At a certain point, the cousins have to stop kissing and new blood must be brought in. This is the case with every bloodline for every family across the realm and beyond. Millefleurs is a strategic estate, I can’t have it falling into the hands of someone who can’t be controlled.” I explained, watching him through narrowed eyes. “That means that – preferably Sirena – needs to bear a child to a man outside the family. Which excludes both Talenon and you.”

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I listened to her; she was deadly serious. Clearly, Sirena's duty was more important than her happiness. Sirena loved Tal; let someone else bear the necessarily child, for whom there would not be such dire consequences. At least, that's what I wished. But in the back of my mind, I knew Anacrasia was right. "I understand, my lady," I said quietly. "I will keep my qualms to myself, for now. But I assure you, if I see him treat anyone else the way he has treated me, or if he repeats his behavior to me, you will hear about it."

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

Now right here, this was the downside of having my finger in the metaphorical pie. I got blamed if it was eaten.

“Of course Aramis. I appreciate you bringing your concerns to me.” I forced the irritation from my voice. That he dared threaten me like that was quite the indication of how strongly he felt. My family didn’t just lay idle threats at my feet. They had learned in the few months it had taken me to secure my seat. “I do value your opinion and would hate if our disagreement on this matter caused a rift between us.”

Gods, I was too good of a courtier sometimes. It wasn’t that I didn’t mean or believe what I was saying, it was just that if I could get away with it, my tongue wouldn’t be nearly so smooth. It made me wonder how Jareth would have dealt with the situation.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"I appreciate your listening to me, my lady," I said. "If nothing else, I am glad to have made you aware of my feelings, and am grateful for your time and patience." I was still frustrated by her refusal to put the kaibosh on this wedding, but at least she would know the kind of person this Yvan could be. "You need not fear a split, for you will always have my utmost loyalty and respect."

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

"That is most pleasant to hear," I told him with a smile. I finished off my drink with a last sip, so rose. "More brandy?"

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I peered into my glass, then tossed back the last sip. "Just a little, my lady," I said. "Work day tomorrow, you know."

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

“Yes, how have you been? We took little time for pleasantries earlier.” I asked as I poured two finger-widths into his tumbler. Wouldn’t do to appear ungenerous, after all.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"Well enough, my lady," I said, sipping the brandy. "Business is well, I am receiving a shipment of spices from the east on the morrow. Other than that, I have been reading, and keeping to myself. How are things with you?"

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

I smiled secretively as I only could after having spent a night in a lover's arms recently. "Improving. I just received the happy news that a friend of mine is expecting. I'm very happy for her."