plunny phones!
So the one-shot got a follow-up drabble and now there's another story too /facepalm
Declaring War - Negotiations -
Title: Clashing Cultures
Wordcount: 783
Jaron left the meeting room in serious flounder. His king was well thought of for his tact and peaceable negotiations. He’d become the royal emissary by reason of skill, his royal blood lending weight to his pretty words. Things in this kingdom were considerably out of the ordinary. The ruler being married to another king had been minor point, that second royal person falling of his chair in laughter as the ruling monarch slapped the visiting kings face in outrage was somewhat an issue. It involved a lot of kings!
Crashing into one of the royal guardsmen outside the room Jaron regained his feet with a strong supporting hand. Looking up he met an easy smile from a man capable of battle. ’Problems?’ the knight didn’t sound surprised. Problems? Jaron could still see the jarring hand print livid on his lieges’ handsome cheek ‘The kings…I need the library’ gushed Jaron desperate to improve the situation. He’d expected at best to be passed to a servant there were a number in the corridor, at worst to be locked in chains. What he got was a delighted smile and the knight standing to attention, an assertion of the knights own need for negotiation in that direction and eager guide.
The whole kingdom was barmy!
On entering the library, a pleasant book filled room, the knight had promptly forgotten Jaron to greet what appeared a harried looking secretary. ‘Quinn’ was said in tones of deep satisfaction.
‘Nadim?’ papers went astray and were placed in careful order ‘Whatever are you doing here?’
‘I showed the emissaries aid the way’ the knight, Nadim, told him eyes never leaving his. He got a slow smile for his trouble ‘You’re all heart Nadim’
‘mmm’ the knight dissented ‘there’s a good bit of cock in the equation too’
Jaron spluttered shocked as their heads got closer and a good bit of tongue got involved in the negotiations. They left the papers behind as they sneaked out of the library chuckling. It took several attempts to be understood as he stammered out his need for a dictionary to a resigned librarian.
War. The waging of armed conflict against an enemy. Thousands die in war.
The meaning appeared unchanged. His lieges comment nothing to cause such offence and amusements. A polite cough from the librarian had his head bounce up in query.
‘Kings warring again?’ was asked with good humoured affection.
‘King Gerald slapped King Carden’s face’ Jaron confided in a hushed shocked tone. The librarian started slightly looking interested ‘King Carden? The visiting royal? Did he say something remiss?’
‘King Carden is a noted negotiator, a boon to our kingdom, he does not speak carelessly or out of turn’
‘I see. Of course, of course’ soothed the librarian who Jaron feared saw the situation all too clearly.
‘But War?’ prompted the librarian gently.
‘King Carden told King Lauren that failure to bridge the current disputes would evolve to war between them.’
‘Oh dear!’
‘King Lauren appeared shocked, then King Gerald slapped King Carden and King Lauren fell of his chair laughing’
‘Oh deary me, so many kings’
‘It was all most odd. King Gerald muttered ‘war’ scowling most fierce and left the room with King Lauren sweeping out behind him still giggling’
‘And you hurried here to seek translations?’
‘Well, yes’
‘You should try the Castle dictionary’ the librarian decided, moving off to collect a narrow hand written volume from behind his desk. He winked at Jaron as he handed it over ‘It’s not to leave the library. You should look up negotiations, treaties and peace talks too’
Jaron took the little book to the alcove, examining the text. Several hands had inked in definitions, the artistic adding sketches to the margin. Fine taught hands marred with a basic script, the words they spelled causing Jaron’s eyes to widen. He thumbed through the book including the librarians suggestions.
This kingdom was decidedly different!
‘So when I mentioned war between us King Gerald thought I was propositioning his husband?’ King Carden asked calmly once Jaron had relayed his finds.
‘Yes?’ Jaron wasn’t quite convinced, from his reading and the librarians hints negotiations and war were popular pastimes.
King Carden looked thoughtful, an expression that suited him well. ‘You know something Jaron?’ he pondered after much deliberation ‘I think as we’re in their lands we should sample their local customs, it could well prove a great improvement to our lives’
‘My liege?’
‘I feel we should hold private negotiations Jaron. You and I’ he stepped forward to cup a hand on Jaron’s chin, lifting it to gaze into his eyes before lowering his head in a questioning kiss. Jaron melted. He loved this kingdom!
and the dictionary is written!
x
Declaring War - Negotiations -
Title: Clashing Cultures
Wordcount: 783
Jaron left the meeting room in serious flounder. His king was well thought of for his tact and peaceable negotiations. He’d become the royal emissary by reason of skill, his royal blood lending weight to his pretty words. Things in this kingdom were considerably out of the ordinary. The ruler being married to another king had been minor point, that second royal person falling of his chair in laughter as the ruling monarch slapped the visiting kings face in outrage was somewhat an issue. It involved a lot of kings!
Crashing into one of the royal guardsmen outside the room Jaron regained his feet with a strong supporting hand. Looking up he met an easy smile from a man capable of battle. ’Problems?’ the knight didn’t sound surprised. Problems? Jaron could still see the jarring hand print livid on his lieges’ handsome cheek ‘The kings…I need the library’ gushed Jaron desperate to improve the situation. He’d expected at best to be passed to a servant there were a number in the corridor, at worst to be locked in chains. What he got was a delighted smile and the knight standing to attention, an assertion of the knights own need for negotiation in that direction and eager guide.
The whole kingdom was barmy!
On entering the library, a pleasant book filled room, the knight had promptly forgotten Jaron to greet what appeared a harried looking secretary. ‘Quinn’ was said in tones of deep satisfaction.
‘Nadim?’ papers went astray and were placed in careful order ‘Whatever are you doing here?’
‘I showed the emissaries aid the way’ the knight, Nadim, told him eyes never leaving his. He got a slow smile for his trouble ‘You’re all heart Nadim’
‘mmm’ the knight dissented ‘there’s a good bit of cock in the equation too’
Jaron spluttered shocked as their heads got closer and a good bit of tongue got involved in the negotiations. They left the papers behind as they sneaked out of the library chuckling. It took several attempts to be understood as he stammered out his need for a dictionary to a resigned librarian.
War. The waging of armed conflict against an enemy. Thousands die in war.
The meaning appeared unchanged. His lieges comment nothing to cause such offence and amusements. A polite cough from the librarian had his head bounce up in query.
‘Kings warring again?’ was asked with good humoured affection.
‘King Gerald slapped King Carden’s face’ Jaron confided in a hushed shocked tone. The librarian started slightly looking interested ‘King Carden? The visiting royal? Did he say something remiss?’
‘King Carden is a noted negotiator, a boon to our kingdom, he does not speak carelessly or out of turn’
‘I see. Of course, of course’ soothed the librarian who Jaron feared saw the situation all too clearly.
‘But War?’ prompted the librarian gently.
‘King Carden told King Lauren that failure to bridge the current disputes would evolve to war between them.’
‘Oh dear!’
‘King Lauren appeared shocked, then King Gerald slapped King Carden and King Lauren fell of his chair laughing’
‘Oh deary me, so many kings’
‘It was all most odd. King Gerald muttered ‘war’ scowling most fierce and left the room with King Lauren sweeping out behind him still giggling’
‘And you hurried here to seek translations?’
‘Well, yes’
‘You should try the Castle dictionary’ the librarian decided, moving off to collect a narrow hand written volume from behind his desk. He winked at Jaron as he handed it over ‘It’s not to leave the library. You should look up negotiations, treaties and peace talks too’
Jaron took the little book to the alcove, examining the text. Several hands had inked in definitions, the artistic adding sketches to the margin. Fine taught hands marred with a basic script, the words they spelled causing Jaron’s eyes to widen. He thumbed through the book including the librarians suggestions.
This kingdom was decidedly different!
‘So when I mentioned war between us King Gerald thought I was propositioning his husband?’ King Carden asked calmly once Jaron had relayed his finds.
‘Yes?’ Jaron wasn’t quite convinced, from his reading and the librarians hints negotiations and war were popular pastimes.
King Carden looked thoughtful, an expression that suited him well. ‘You know something Jaron?’ he pondered after much deliberation ‘I think as we’re in their lands we should sample their local customs, it could well prove a great improvement to our lives’
‘My liege?’
‘I feel we should hold private negotiations Jaron. You and I’ he stepped forward to cup a hand on Jaron’s chin, lifting it to gaze into his eyes before lowering his head in a questioning kiss. Jaron melted. He loved this kingdom!
and the dictionary is written!
x