A Lesson for Idaeus

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

2nd Week of Winter, Year Two of Queen Sabrina's Reign.[/i]

I rode up to Daenara's house. I had told her that I would come by today and with me I brought a small gift. I purposely bought something that was not of great value. I wanted her to think that I was an adept of small means. Mind you, I was not rich, but I was good at stashing away money. I found a simple ring of thin silver, on it a small red stone.

I walked up to her door, knocked, and was promptly let in. I was known in the house now and the sidelong looks had slowly been subsiding. The servants were becoming accustomed to me by now. I had shown good care of their Mistress for the last few months. I also treated them with respect and kindness, enemies only got in the way.

I had asked Daenara to show me what her family's business consisted of. I had, after all, came from a family of shipping and at times wondered what their lives were like. I had told Daenara that I had lost contact with them as soon as I entered Mandrake. We were not a close and cuddly type of family, was my excuse, but it didn't mean that I wished ill of them. I had hoped that they fair well, or so I pretended.

I waited patiently and when she arrived to greet me I did so with a hug and my meager offering.

[Daenara Kutsouris (H)]

I was in my study, going over some documents regarding the two new ships I'd recently acquired, when a servant came to tell me that Idaeus was here to see me. By now, they were accustomed to seeing him, so when I told her to see him in, she did so without comment.

I rose from my desk and moved quickly into his arms, loving the feel of him. My heart was always lighter in his presence. He had something for me, and when I took it from him, I felt my smile widen.

"What's this? You shouldn't have, honestly," I murmured, though it thrilled me beyond measure that he had thought enough of me to buy me a gift. I opened it, and smiled, it was beautiful, simple and amazing and I felt happy tears behind my lashes.

"Oh Ideaus, it's perfect!" I exclaimed, sliding it onto my finger and showing it off to him. "I'm so glad to see you, and a gift too, it's like it's my birthday," I said, laughing softly and hugging him again, more tightly this time, breathing in his scent with a soft sigh of pleasure.

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

I returned her hug and kissed her hand where she had placed the ring. "I am glad you liked it," I said," with honest in my voice. I was glad that the small token had the effect I wanted.

"I have come to learn more about you my dear," I told her. "This is a different world than where I have lived for most of my life." I smiled warmly at her and added, "I would also like to see that you really are doing well. I would hate to think of any ill befalling you."

[Daenara Kutsouris (H)]

I was flattered that he wanted to learn more about me. "Oh, don't worry," I said, "I'm doing very well. My family's shipping business is doing better than ever." I gestured toward the paperwork on my desk. "In fact, I just acquired two new ships, so that I can start sending some goods back to Hellas. That is why I came here, after all. I do believe that trade between Terre d'Ange and Hellas can be very profitable."

I was a bit embarrassed talking about money with him, like I was somehow bragging, and I hoped fervently that he did not feel that way.

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

I listened ntently to Daenara.. this iswhat I really wanted.The bedroom games were ok, but nothing I couldn't find elsewhere. Her employment titleon the otherhand was of great interest. I walked over to the ship documents that she had aquired. I was not completely oblivious to the industry but I had much to learn.

"I have found the shipping industry to be interesting for a longtime," I said. I looked at her and then said, "I think I told you that my family was in it as well."

[Daenara Kutsouris (H)]

"Yes, I believe you've mentioned it," I said cautiously, wondering if I should tell him that I had spoken with his father. There would be no harm in it, surely, though I was not sure what his relationship to his family was, he was somewhat closed mouthed about them. "Actually, I bought the ships from your father."

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

I felt my eyebrows raise in surprise, a moment of emotional control lost. I then smiled, I had thought of the possibility that she had meet my dad, but I had never thought she would have business ties that close. I glanced at the papers again, looking at the signatures that I had ignored before. Sure enough, the bold hand writing of my father lay upon it.

"I have not seen my dad in many years," I told her. Then, showing more concern than I really felt I asked, "is he well?"

[Daenara Kutsouris (H)]

"Yes, he seemed well enough," I said, remembering the meeting with Thibault well. I had discovered that he was Idaeus' father only by chance, but if I was honest it was what had decided me to buy from him over another. He did not seem much like his son, and I gleaned little about the man I loved from him, but I still felt as if I were somehow helping Idaeus by giving his father some business.

I wanted to ask him why he had not seen his father in so long, but I feared that the topic might be delicate, and so instead attempted to change the topic. "I was actually just deciding what type of goods that I wish to transport, though I suppose you must find such things rather dull."

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

I thought for a moment before answering her question. I was thinking about my father though, not her goods shipment. My mom had been well when I had last seen her, of that was no doubt. I surmised that their relationship was as usual, my father to busy for love and my mother to busy with love from others.

I snapped out of my thoughts and instead focused on her work. The more I knew the better I would be prepared to take back what was mine. Anything related would not dull me. "I would, in fact, be curious," I told her. "I was only 10 when I went to Mandrake so I learned very little about the family business. It would be of interest to me what actually went on behind the scenes."