Nulled

Writers: Avery, Paula
Date Posted: 29th October 2007

Characters: Corowal, Ishek
Description: Corowal goes to meet Ishek about an old marriage-agreement he had found.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 6, day 10 of Turn 4

Corowal sent the dragonrider away, since he had no idea how long his business with Lord Ishek would take. He was sure he could get a new ride back home from Garnet Valley. He looked around. The place looked very much same as he remembered. Some twenty, eighteen turns ago, he had spent several months in Garnet Valley.

Lord Corowal of Emerald Falls was coming, and Ishek was ready to meet him.
As the dragonrider lifted off, and Corowal was revealed, Ishek stepped forward. "Welcome to Garnet Valley, Lord Corowal." he said politely.

"Thank you, Lord Ishek. It's a pleasure to be here," Corowal replied with a warm smile.

"Have you been here before?" Ishek queried. He didn't know Corowal all that well, but he hoped to. After all, Corowal was a new Lord, and Ishek felt a certain kinship with him. Because he had been Lord for a few months didn't mean that he knew how to job as well as those with more training for and experience with it did.

"Few months long time ago. I was Coral Bay's assitant steward back then,"
Corowal replied. "I have fond memories of the time." Especially about the ladies of Garnet Valley.

"I hope you don't find it different in a bad way, then." Ishek said, showing the other Lord the way to his office.

"Basic things don't change, I've noticed. The mountains are ever same, the hold looks same, just the faces of people are different," Corowal replied.

Ishek nodded. "That's the case." He held the door open for Corowal and stood by the seats in front of his desk. He wouldn't go behind it; they were equals in rank.

"I'm glad we could arrange this meeting. We are both new member in the brotherhood of Lord Holders," Corowal said.

"I hear that you were taking care of the job for several months before your confirmation?"

"Some one had to. It takes time to arrange things, when Lord holder is no longer capable to do his duties. It was rather nasty situation," Corowal replied.

"It seems like it was. Still, the Hold has a good leader now in you. I hope Emerald Falls prospers." Ishek told the other man, meaning every word.

"Thank you. I inted to make it as prosperous as Garnet Valley," Corowal said. He pulled a hide record out. "I found this document when I was going thru Enrizial's personal records. Seems he had rather interesting deal with late Lord Aswic." He straighted the hide to the table.

Ishek looked at the hide. "Are we going to honor this?"

"It is basically an engagement agreement between Enrizial's daughter and Aswic's son. I doupt if either Lady-mother's know about it."

"If the mothers didn't know and consent, then it doesn't seem right."
Ishek said thoughtfully. "The children- I know Aslian is young, and isn't Enrizial's daughter young as well? Is it fair to hold them to such a contract?"

"No, it isn't," Corowal replied. "I know some Blood-families do infant-engagaments. But that's always felt silly to me. What if one of them died or something. Or the children grew up to hate each other."

Ishek nodded. "Children aren't meat, either. We can't just trade them like animals, especially since no one can know the future." it seemed like Corowal had similar opinions to his.

"I have two little daughters. I couldn't imagine tying them to some unkown boy for rest of their future at this time of their life. Let children be children and enjoy the freedom they now have. Aslian, Corolia and Enrizial's little daughter will have time to face their duty to marry for the well-being of the hold, _after_ they reach that age", Corowal spoke with a passion and conviction. After all, he had banned forced marriages in his hold. There were better ways than force.

Ishek smiled. Corowal's opinions were very like to his own. He appreciated that. "I agree with you." he said. "Then this agreement is nulled. I don't think I'm going to tell Thalia about it, either. I'm sure she doesn't know. Would Enrizial's lady have known?"

"I don't know, but I rather doupt she did. I never met the Lady, but from what I've heard, she was sprited one and wouldn't let it happen,"
Corowal replied. He took the paper and tore it to half. "And that takes care of that rubbish."

Ishek felt better knowing that a fellow Lord Holder disagreed with the marriage policies. He'd heard that Corowal also had some other, interesting policies. "I hear you shook up your Hold some with your announcements." he said.

"Yes, I did. The place really needed a good shook up. Seems like the good people of Emerald Falls had hard time accepting that they are not allowed to beat their wives or grant them any other freedoms," Corowal said with rather sarcastic tone.

"There's been unrest over the new decisions, then?" Ishek asked. "What about allowing females to craft? Have there been any protests?"

"Oh, plenty. I expected it to happen. What they do not realize that women and runners have something in common: if you keep a too tight rein, they will bolt and run away. Give them freedom and choice, treat them right and they stay with you," Corowal replied.

"You are very wise." Ishek remarked. He supposed he could understand Corowal's decisions. Women were capable of crafting- Shama would probably have made a great crafter. But the risks were so great...
Still, the other parts of the policy meant protection for the women, and less treatment as chattal. "Hopefully your holders will come to understand that wisdom."

"Well, it migh take a generation or two, but eventually they do realize that women have brains too," Corowal said wryly.

"Have you been hoping that your Hold's policies towards women would change for a long time?" Ishek wondered. He had to admit to curiosity as to whether Corowal had always held these beliefs, if he originally hadn't but someone had changed his mind, or if it was a more recent decision.

Corowal nodded. "I grew up in busy port-hold and got exposed to the Northern ideas during my tender turns, " he said.

"It sounds like an interesting way of growing up." Ishek said. He wished that he could have spent more time at the sea- it was always beautiful.
"I wish you and your Hold the best of luck at adapting to the new ideas."

"Thank you, Ishek, this has been a pleasure, " Corowal replied.

Last updated on the November 3rd 2007

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Nulled