[Child of the 7th Age]

Harad/Umbar

As the sun rose high over the fabled towers of Minas Anor, the small band of travelers settled in at 'The Mischievous Merman'. The men had their retainers retrieve their belongings from the dock and secure beds at the inn. Fuinur, Herumir, and al-Gareth had spent long hours engaged in discussion on the fate of their respective countries. Then they had gone on to more immediate matters, including the steps that would need to be taken to guarantee Al-Gareth's claim to the throne of Nurn. There was much talk of military assistance, troop deployments, the use of oliphaunt warriors and other related issues.

But, just as they prepared to go to lunch and think on the affairs of the day, Bram and Jarl had returned to the inn, with the welcome news of what was planned for the evening. Urken cast him a shrewd glance. The man was indeed no fool. He had promised much, but he apparently had the connections to produce results.

Urken made a mental note to go speak with the pair later that night to begin discussing the future direction of the coffee and spice trade. He was no trader himself, but he knew a few of the measures which must be carried out before envoys could be formally recognized or trading posts established.

That afternoon, each of the men had gone their own path, enjoying the multitide of pleasures and pastimes available in the city. Fuinur and Herumir had solemnly promised that they would restrain themselves from overindulgece. As Fuinur so aptly put it, "Women are women, and business is business, and, where the two conflict, the women must go." All had agreed to meet back together in the antechamber of Elessar's audience room later that evening.

Each spent the day in the activity of their choice. Gramil and Jarl had meetings with potential clients. Fuinur and Herumir visited a number of friendly inns and managed to make conections with several well connected men of Gondor. They even wrangled an invitation to visit and inspect a garrison of troops on the outskirts of the city. Urken found his way into the archives of the city, both for the materials he could review and to meet with a number of scholars whom he had not seen in many a long year.

As evening approached, each made their way to the agreed upon meeting place. As they waited in the antechamber, Fuinur and Herumir paced back and forth. Urken and the other trading representatives looked oddly intense, as each went over in his head the points they intended to make. Only Al-Gareth, with his cool and relaxed manner, looked to be truly comfortable with the situation.

A guardsman came into the room and bowed low, flourishing his hand towards the beckoning door, "Lord Elessar is ready to see you. Please step forward into the audience chamber."

With those words, the guardsman turned his back and walked briskly forward. The party followed behind him, emerging into a spacious and pleasant chamber of enormous size. It was simply but tastefully adorned. The furnishings and flavour of the room gav some hint of the Elvish background of the king and his consort. The men strode in and, seeing the king, dropped respectfully to the ground.

[ November 07, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]