The Tiniest Bit Dangerous

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 31st July 2006

Characters: Miralani, Kiomo
Description: Miralani finds someone who appreciates her special talents when she goes to Kiomo to discuss her future marriage.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 12, day 28 of Turn 3

"Well, Kiomo." Miralani stood when Kiomo entered, giving him a slow smile as she gestured to the chairs. "It seems that I have a situation that you might be able to assist me with." "Oh? How can I be of assistance, Miralani?" Kiomo asked as he took the offered seat.

Miralani sat and smoothed her skirts down absently as she considered Kiomo, trying to decide the best angle to approach him from. Though she usually considered herself to be fairly intelligent, there was something about Kiomo that made her wonder if she might not find herself outmatched if she tried to manipulate him. Of course, that just made it more fun. And there was always the chance she was overestimating him. So she smiled at him in a way that was just a tiny bit more than friendly and leaned toward him. "I need you to use your expertise to assist my brother in some delicate arrangements."

"Delicate arrangements?" he asked, leaning right back. "What kind of delicate arrangements? This wouldn't happen to involve a certain Hallmaster, would it?"

Miralani lifted one brow, impressed in spite of herself. It was far too soon for that sort of information to be common knowledge, which meant he had been paying _very_ close attention. "You seem delightfully well informed on the subject. Dare I hope your knowledge extends to the negotiation of marriage contracts?"

"Not my own," he shrugged, "but I did assist my father with a few. I know the importance of political alliances through marriage."

"Then you and I might be the only ones here who do," she replied, her slight annoyance with Penryn and Ishek making its way into her voice. She'd done the work of luring Daynar in, and hadn't expected that she'd have to make sure the Hold profited from it, too. "Master Daynar is in a mood to be generous. Someone needs to be ready to take advantage of that."

Daynar? Generous? Well, he thought with an appreciative smile, she must be very good at handling her future husband. That would come in handy for Ishek in the future. It was obvious she wasn't a silly romantic either.
This was purely a political arrangement and she orchestrated it. Kiomo would have to keep an eye on this future Lady of the Hall. "Is there anything in particular you would like to see done? Its obvious you've put a lot of thought into this... arrangement."

Miralani withdrew a thin scrap of parchment that had been tucked into the neckline of her gown. "They may seem a little ambitious at first glance, but Daynar isn't going to like the thought of leaving here without me. I made sure of that." She held out the parchment and smiled. "Besides, if he gets stubborn, you can offer to help him search the cotholds for likely apprentices. It's a vague enough promise that we don't have to be beholden to him any more than we want to."

Kiomo perused the list. "I think you forgot one detail that I would insist on myself."

"Oh? What would you suggest?" she asked curiously. "I must admit I've never arranged my own marriage contract before. I wasn't even seventeen the first time."

"I would formally request that he resume trade with Iron Lake Hold," Kiomo said as he folded the paper back up and stuck it in his pocket. "Its best for everyone involved. It is a close and ready source for the Hall, it is steady income for Alrog, and since both of them tithe to the Hold, it is nothing but good news for us as well."

Miralani's eyes showed her appreciation of this suggestion. "Mention that to Penryn when he discusses the situation with you. He and my brother need to have the advantages pointed out to them. They don't realize what I'm worth in marriage."

A slow smile spread across Kiomo's face. "I'm getting the feeling that not many men have yet realized just how much you're worth."

"They tend to find it threatening," Miralani replied lightly. "Do _you_ find it threatening, Kiomo?"

"My position is secure, Miralani. You pose no more danger to my place in the Hold than I pose to your future place in the Hall." Gender did have its limitations, after all.

Miralani thought she could do significant damage to his place in the Hold with a few whispered words in her brother's ear, but there was no reason to put Kiomo on guard. "How refreshing. Though I think I shall be disappointed if you don't think I'm even the tiniest bit dangerous."

He reached down and pulled out the scrap of paper from his pocket, reading it once more. "Oh, Miralani, you are dangerous," Kiomo smiled, waving the paper in his hands. "But not to me." Not unless she wanted to have the most pitiful bride price on Pern. Kiomo was not one to be intimidated.

"Not right now," she admitted with an answering smile. "Unless _you_ have a Craft Hall hidden away somewhere that I don't know about." "A Craft Hall or a _Main_ Craft Hall?" Kiomo asked with a smile. "I have connections that would make even your Hallmaster salivate. I rarely call on them since I don't like to abuse my friends. But make no mistake, I _can_."

Miralani's eyebrow went up again, but her smile turned smug. "My Hallmaster is already salivating, Kiomo. I know what I'm doing." "Oh, I know," Kiomo chuckled. "Although I shall be disappointed if you didn't completely understand that I know what _I'm_ doing too."

"And _I'll_ be disappointed if you actually doubt me." So he was exactly what she'd suspected. Miralani hadn't expected to be so, well, _pleased_ to discover just how devious Kiomo could be. She should see him as a danger to her brother's interests, but there was something dangerously seductive about a man who not only understood her, but appreciated her. She was going to have to watch her step, as entertaining as he might be.

"Well, then," Kiomo grinned as he rose to his feet, "I will do my best to never disappoint you." The holder would certainly be watching this one very carefully. He had been playing the political game far too long to think he could relax his guard around a woman like Miralani. Nor would she find him easily manipulated. Poor Daynar didn't even realize what was coming.

Last updated on the August 3rd 2006

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The Tiniest Bit Dangerous