[Marileangorifurnimaluim]

**** Harad/Umbar ****

It was the first feast day after the new moon, and Gramil stirred at dawn, disturbed by the sounds of children singing in the street below. The song he knew well, the history of the Great Flood which covered Harad and Umbar nearly 500 years ago. He let the music filter into his dream, snuggling under the sheets.

And then the gods saaaaaaay:
*clap-clap. Clap.*
Let the water wash away..

It was a children's song, teaching them the evils of not listening to their parents, the evils of their parents not listening to their king, and so on, until the priests did not listen to the gods but spoke words to their own profit. It was deceptively simple, but Gramil appreciated the subtle warning that the system could break down at any stage. Including above.

Sweet scents wafted up from the avenue below, incense... cooking food.. As his idle mind started identifying them, Gramil finally admitted to himself he was awake, like it or no. He sat up rubbing his eyes.

The counting house below his suite would start stirring in an hour or so, but he was excused from his duties today. The servants had thoughtfully placed King Fuinur's invitation on his bedside table so he wouldn't forget. Not that that was likely. Since Fuinur's father stepped down, Fuinur and Gramil saw eachother rarely, and only on business. This invitation was no exception. Friends had warned him weeks ago that his semi-retirement was coming to an end.

Fuinur wanted the man who opened the trade routes to Nurn to accompany the man of Dale - who better? - and knew of no reason Gramil should not return. Gramil's throat dried. There was a place he hoped to never see again. Given the events of his last visit, he wasn't sure it was wise for him to return. Events it was best the king knew nothing about. He was not sure how this fit in the breakdown of the system, but he knew better than to call the wrath of the king upon himself.

Gramil wasn't worried. Much. He knew the king as a boy, when they had filched sweets from the feast tables together. Fuinur was masterful, but, like the dragon his namesake, he could be swayed to a different venture. So long as he felt it was his own idea.

Several hours later, Gramil loped up the long winding steps to the king's palace, readying his excuses in his mind. Oddly, the ornate great doors to the main hall were closed, though a page came quickly to his knock. As he was lead through the familiar arched passageways, he glanced about and realized he didn't recognize any of the guards. Strange. Fuinur kept his personal guard with him at all time. He couldn't have this many new recruits.

"Where are we going?" he asked his guide in a mild voice, hiding his concern as they missed the turn to the king's audience chamber. "Has the king moved his quarters?"

But they had already arrived at a back chamber, and he was welcomed politely by... a speech.

"King Fuinur gives his greetings, and apologizes he could not be here today, of these most auspicious days." The retainer had official orders. Stacks of them. Gramil's appeared to be about halfway down. "He is detained elsewhere, but gratefully accepts your homage and obeisance - glory to the realm." The efficient man took a breath and scanned the parchment in front of him. "One Jarl of Dale, representative of King Brand of Dale, has come to negotiate trade agreements with our King. Our King Fuinur, the Dragon, the lord of this realm and all it tributaries bestows upon you, Gramil, trusted counselor and tradesmaster, the honor and all necessary powers to conduct such agreements in the manner you see fit for the benefit of our land. Glory to the realm." The clerk finally looked up, pointing to the parchment. "Affix your seal here."

Fuinur had assumed his acceptance. There was no honorable way out at this point. Gramil puzzled over one line of the document.

"What is meant by 'all necessary powers'?"

The clerk blinked. "It just says 'all necessary powers.'"

"Recruitment of guards? Transportation? Access to the treasury?"

The clerk looked helpless. "I.. I don't know."

Gramil smiled and shook his head. Fuinur must have been in a hurry to be this sloppy. If he had given this to anyone else.. Still, Gramil thanked his luck for this much. He may just need all of those powers.

He affixed his seal and nodded, "I accept in the light of the sun."

[ September 26, 2002: Message edited by: Marileangorifurnimaluim ]

[ September 26, 2002: Message edited by: Marileangorifurnimaluim ]

[ October 06, 2002: Message edited by: Marileangorifurnimaluim ]