Throne Room

"As is per usual. Trade agreements in my city amount to my permission for my merchants to seek these opportunities themselves. I quite expect many of them to flock to Kiyonai once the announcement is made at the next Merchant's Council. I highly recommend our Market Street, there are numerous goods there that cannot be found elsewhere in Tawakoshi."

Of course, merchants operating under his house would find out first, giving them the advantage. His grandfather use to set the tarriff rates based on House, but Akagi thought that was a tad unsportsmanlike and gave the same rates to everyone based off of the goods they were carrying.

"Of course, my merchants hate to be told what they can and cannot buy, and would most likely ignore my instructions anyway. This way they do it legitimately and you and I can tax them."

He said this calmly. It was one of the first things his father had taught him when he was younger.

"I would concur." He says as he gets up and bows once more, intending to walk her out of the Throne Room. "By all means, I highly recommend the Market Street, our newly discovered island seems to have attracted a few foreign traders." Akagi gestured for a servant to clean up the remains of the sake behind him as he escorted her out of the palace.

A full day had passed since the last meeting between the young samurai and the daimyo. Sora had stayed at a rather modest inn in the meantime. The rooms were cramped and a bit worn but the price for the night was also quite reasonable. 

It had begun to rain in the city of Quying early that morning and did not show any signs of letting up, so when there seemed to be a lull in the weather - a drizzle instead of a downpour, Sora made his way to the Daiymo's palace once again. He was able to only get a little wet on the walk, though it was nothing too bad. He arrived just in time as well, as it began to rain harder once again as soon as he reached the palace. 

The guards seemed to remember him, as he was let in without too much trouble and would soon be out of the gloomy and grey-cast city-scape of Quying and into the warm and dry interior. They seemed to know why he was there already as well, as he could hear one of them sending a page after the Daiymo.

Upon entering, the throne room did not seem as busy as it had upon his first visit, and was just quiet enough to let the sound of raindrops pattering on the roof above to be heard. The sound was one that Sora found soothing, even with his past unfortunate experiences with storms. 

He would stand in the middle of the throne room quietly waiting for the Daiymo to appear. 

Sora would do as customs expected of him, bowing slightly, and greeting the Daiymo using the appropriate honorifics that his rank demanded. However, the young samurai was quick to get to business. 

Sora folded his hands behind his back as he stood in front of the Daiymo, "I have decided to take up your offer and join your retinue," he said simply. 

It was the next morning after the intruder had entered the Daiymo's Palace and stolen Sora's swords. Sora hadn't slept after the event, simply waiting for dawn to arrive. The entire time he wondered how he would explain himself to the Daiymo, that a woman had snuck into his rooms and stole from right under his nose. His pride was ruined, the last remnants of his family he lost foolishly. No doubt old wounds were re-opened with the loss, and he felt facing the daiymo would only make matters worse. 

Sora had realized some time in the night, though, that he really wasn't worried about what the Daiymo's reaction would be, the damage was done already.

Sora would walk into the throne room, where the Daiymo would presumably be during this time of day. The warrior seemed to be quite gloomy and exhausted. 

"My swords were stolen last night by the intruder, it seems that was the only thing they'd stolen," he said flatly. 

The Ryoichi family arrived at the palace with enough pomp to show their worth, but not enough to make them seem too obvious or grasping. Yuudai commanded his family with the same austere class as she showed the world. They arrived dressed in their best, and a two chests carried by clean and well-maintained servants.

Among their party was Yuudai, the patriarch, and all three of his daughters, Kayako -- and her husband --, Masami, blind and being led by a pretty hand-maiden, his wife, and the daughter he had brought in hopes that she might catch the Daimyo's attention; Miyuri.



She was dressed in beautiful robes, priceless, truly, with ornaments and flowers in her long, black hair, as glossy and healthy that it shined subtly like the silks and satins she wore. Her skin was flawless and the color of cream, her dark eyes long-lashed and slightly tilted at their corners to give her a constant innocent look. Her brows were elegant, and her lips as lush and pink as peonies in blossom.

She was graceful, and she was blushing, and she was nervous, as evident by the way her gaze was constantly on the floor. The family presented themselves to Daimyo Akagi Zuikaku, and they all bowed deeply, waiting to be acknowledged.

The Rondi entourage made their way into the throne room, organized into neat lines, the Rondi flag held high by two heralds. Lord Manuel and Lady Mireia were still dressed in their traveling clothes, sea-weary and a bit rumpled and tired from being at sea, for all that they both tried to prepare themselves as best they could in their gently-rocking cabins.

Lady Mireia was dressed in a style popular in Rondi -- a blouse off her shoulders, ruffled over her breasts and giving glimpses of the cleavage there (Mireia was pleasingly formed, after all). The sleeves were tight to her slender arms but ended in ruffles at her wrists. A fashionable corset was around her waist, cinching it to be small, with full skirts (no hoop, just long) down to the ground, a bold pattern on the skirt.

Her dark hair was left long and unbound down her back, pulled away from her temples so the Daimyo could see the Rondi beauty of her face. Her eyes were large and brown, and could no doubt melt hearts if they weren't so full of open and obvious curiosity. She looked right at the Daimyo, even as she curtsied as her father bowed.

Her gaze, then trailed to the other family nearby. There were four women there, and Mireia wondered which one of them were going for the Daimyo, too. Or if, perhaps, he intended to take them all?

The Daimyo sat on his throne, contemplating each of the candidates and their families in detail. The three Samurai that had brought the "candidates" here took their appropriate places alongside the throne, amongst the remainder of the Daimyo's Personal Guard.

The Head of the Daimyo's Guard was now known as The Chosen of the Wavewarden. Blessed by the Guardian of the Sea herself, he bore no personal banner save for the Rune of the Wavewarden, which pulsated dimly on his chest. Such magic, for magic it was, was allowed as it had been bestowed on him by a Kami, and they were not bound by the laws of mortal man. He was the right hand of the Daimyo, a cousin who lost his father in the same fight the Daimyo lost his, saving the Daimyo's life and fighting shoulder to shoulder with him to gain their vengeance.

The Samurai to the Daimyo's left bore the symbol of the Great White Whale that had terrorized the Bay of Quying for a whole Winter. His legend may be the most popular among the Daimyo's Guard, for he embodies the reckless but lucky hero so popular amongst the common folk. Or perhaps it is because he is of the common folk, a Wave Warrior who took command of his ship when the Captain fell, and led them to victory against the Great Whale, killing it with the Famed Harpoon Melvinata .

The Samurai to the right of the Chosen bore the sign of the Witch Slayer. Alone amongst his unit he had resisted the witchery of the Sea Hag Charybdis, granting each one of his turned brethren an honorable death, a feat great enough on its own to earn him his spot. But the Slayer was not done, tracking the Hag down and driving his blade through her black, icy heart. He, more than any other, hates magic and is often tasked with dealing with magical threats to the City.

The remainder were known as The Six, sextuplets born in a city that considered twins to be a blessing of luck. They fought as one, each having an innate understanding of how his brothers would react to a situation, their bonds of trust stronger than the steel in their blades. They were Wave Warriors aboard the Daimyo's father's ship when he was slain, and they alone survived, defending the body of his father from dishonorable desecration and giving the Daimyo time to avenge him.

Such were their legends, and many were their deeds since then. It was from them that the Daimyo would receive advice on his choice of wife, for once betrothed, she would enter into their protection as well.

The Daimyo was aware of each advantage and disadvantage politically that each candidate possessed should he choose them. The Ryoichi Family were natives of Quying, and no Daimyo in Quying had ever taken a foreign wife. They knew all the customs and traditions of the nation, and the marriage would solidify their loyalty. However, it would also increase their prestige and power, and provide his own House with greater competition.

The Rondian's advantage lay in their aplearance and presentation. In spite of his presently well-groomed appearance, the Daimyo would oft attend meetings in a similarly sea-stained state. The curiosity of the woman was plain to see, and it matched him well for he was also a curious man, possessed of a love for learning nearly as strong as his love for the Sea. An alliance with the City of Rondon was less desirable than the political benefits of the other choices.

The Sakandi had already impressed with their willingness to properly observe the customs of his court. Their city was on the sea, just as Quying was, and he had already met Fairuz, indeed the pair had gotten along well at the Isran Festival. An Alliance with the City would be most lucrative for Quying, but they were under the yoke of Isra, which could create problems in the future, or assist in his own ambitions...

The Daimyo greeted each of them in turn, waiting until all had arrived but greeting them in order of arrival.

"Yuudai Ryoichi, an honor to have you before me for such an event. Your House has always been amongst the most loyal, and my father considered you to be a friend. Upon the conclusion of this, I wish to discuss with you recent events, including the results of my visit to Isra, prior to presenting them to the Council as a whole." An honor for certain, to be confided in before others.

"Lord Cordoba, I welcome you to my City, and trust that the journey was not too harsh. I desire to explore further relations between the two cities regardless of my choice, and hope that you feel the same." An earnest request, for the Daimyo knew little of Rondon.

"Emissary Jemil, I welcome you to my City as well, and hope the journey was not overly arduous. When last I met with Emira Fairuz, I promised her several examples of literature and art, those are in the process of being gathered now, and will be sent home with you." A discussion of trade could wait until his upcoming visit to Sakand, something the Emissary was no doubt aware of.

With the greetings completed, he addressed the matter at hand. Or rather, The Chosen did, stepping forward to deliver the first set of instructions.

"The Daimyo desires for each candidate, and only the candidate, to make their case. They are to focus on personal reasons, for the Daimyo is already aware of the political and social ones. He desires to hear each candidate describe herself as a part of their argument."