(Note: This post is a collaboration between LordZell and Katabasis)
(Note #2: This post takes place on the previous day, before the start of the Summit)

As James left the office of Shamgar he noticed the arrival of Alister Suttbary. While he may not like Alister all that well his younger brother definently left an impression on James and his sister being part of both house now sealed there alliance. He waved a guard over with a wooden create and headed towards Alister. "Greeting Lord Alister, I do hope Augustus is Treating Carmine well and I do hope you had a good ride here."

Alistair Suttbray remained in close proximity to the chamber's entry for a few moments, recieving a few polite nods and dishing them out in return. The lords of the Realm which were arrayed before him continued to go about their business, milling about and engaging in polite conversation. Meanwhile, the Smiling Fox scanned the room in it's entirety, looking for an appropriate lord to exchange greetings and perhaps even engage in more serious conversation with. Before too long, one such man presented himself, James Conrad, King of the Sea Born- those who sat astride the island across the so-called 'Sharktooth Bay' from the wide, soft coast of WIlharne. The King was a pleasant enough man, though he seemed to be a bit too blunt for Alistair's liking, and oftentimes abandoned pleasantries in favour of getting to the heart of a subject. Still though, he greeted the man with a wide white smile which reached even his eyes, a skill which was hard to master, and took a step back to accomodate for him. His response, as always, was delivered in drawl which brought to mind a slowly meandering river or something akin to it.

"Ah, greetings to you as well, Lord Conrad, it has been much too long since we have last met. Your sister is doing wonderful, and seems to be in good health, and Augustus is treating her as he always has, with no small amount of love and affection. As for the ride, I must admit that it wasn't the most pleasant which I have embarked on, but nonetheless I have made it here safely, and that is all which truly matters in the end, I suppose. I hope your trip was enjoyable as well, and pray to the sun and stars alike that you were not harried by the same storm which followed us all the way up the coast, a dreaded afair indeed. Tell me, most honorable peer, what do you think of the grave business which has called us to this fabled city today?"

James smiled and nodded hearing Augustus had been treating her well like he thought he would be then said "It is in deed sad a mere boy losing his father at such an age much be horrifing. However I can't say it is a surprise while his father may not have been the worst king he was very absent and let his council lead." He then turned and pulled out another jewel incrusted sword along with some jewels of the southern land. James turned and hand them to Alistair. "Some gifts for you my friend the swords were made in the lands of the south and the jewels were added in at the isles. As for these jewels and diamond rings I was told they have some sort of magical properties while they wouldn't tell me what exactly, I did think of you or at least perhaps a gift for young will when you return." James then sent his guard away and said "Well as you know this Kingdom is in need of a new Lord Regent. I was hoping to get your vote to become the new Lord Regent." James stood there taking a sip from a glass with wine while waiting for a reply.

As James spoke, Alistair reached into one of his trouser pockets to retrieve a small wooden object, a pipe of fine Wilharnese wood which was black as pitch and etched on with fashionable swirls and similar designs. He then went about preparing his pipe, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on James in a polite manner, nodding and smiling when necessary. From a pouch of supple leather which he had produced from the breat-pocket of his black silk jerkin he retrived two generous pinches of southron tobacco, gently stuffing it into the bowl of the wooden pipe. Still listening to James Conrad intently, he reached into another trouser pocket and withrew from it an expensive fire-stick tipped with a dry, foul-smelling sulfur compound from the Black Continent, scraping it on his belt of fine black leather and setting it afire. With this done, he stuck the match into the wooden bowl of his pipe, finally lighting it and nursing it to life with his very own lips and breath, shallowly inhaling the calming, soft smoke. By this time, James had completed his bout of speech, and Alistair seperated from his pipe to speak.

"Yes, it is certainly a grim affair, and both the boy and the greater Realm are surely still mourning High King Taramyth of House Paragon. I know that I myself miss him sorely, as he was a good man with a high heart. While he may have left many of his tasks to the Council of Lords, he was a fair ruler nonetheless, and was also kind to me whilst I took succor in the Phoenix Palace." 

The Smiling Fox changed his smile slightly to express a solemn sort of mourning, and lowered his head towards the earth in respect for their late High King. After a moment, he looked back up, donned his overtly cheerful smile once more, and took two small puffs of his pipe, seemingly over the grim issue in the space of a few heartbeats. At this point, James paused in his speach for a time and gestured a gift-bearing guard forward, first taking the gifts into his own hands and then handing them to Alistair himself. They were fine item, without a doubt, among them many jewels of fine make which shone on rings of silver and gold, or on chains of similar material. The most notable gift which the Conrad lord present was a sword whose make and style suggested birthplace somewhere among the glimmering isles of the far south. The blade was exquisite for a certainty, and was encrusted in shiny, multicolored jewels. The Smiling Fox took them in hand, nodding in approval politely, and widening his smile before responding to the words which had accompanied the gifts.

"What exquisite gifts these are, James. I thank you dearly, and will make sure to give young Will the sword, which he will surely be greatful for. In exchange, I have a much more mundane gift to bestow upon you, though it is a historied object, I assure you." With these words, Alistair reached out a hand towards one of his attendent guards, Thaddeus to be specific, and the guard produced and item which shone brightly in the room's light. It was a smoking pipe of southron make, carved of brilliant jade and laced with odd ribbons the color of onyx. All respectable men in the South smoked fine pipes, a tradition which was lost on the Northerners and Sea Born alike, though he hoped to introduce the cultured pastime to James with this gift. He handed it to the man, speaking as he did so. "This pipe is carved of fine jade, and supposedly soaked through with the blood of the great Wyrm Sirrij, who shorn Everfield of it's trees with many an inferno up until the great Wyrm Wars. The pipe has been in Suttbray possession for centuries, if not millennia, and has been used by many great men of yore. You seem to be one such man James, and so I urged you to accept this humble gift."

The southron King then deemed it appropriate to finally speak to King James of his vote for Lord Regent. The Sea Born man had addressed the matter bluntly, even rudely if Alistair was to be honest, but his smile did not falter nonetheless, and he responded with his signature way of speach. "Ah, I see. You know that I am a man of honesty and moral fortitude James, so know that I am telling you true when I say that I will pick only the most capable man to serve as the High King's Lord Regent. Tell me, Sir James of the sea, do you believe that you can lead the Realm with a clear mind, a firm hand and a stalwart heart?"

James apprectiated the beauty of the pipe and nodded at what Alister has said of it "I will accept this fine craftmanship pipe. While I may not be able to use it that often the very token of this shall pass on to my son." Then after listening to Alister's concerns James smiled and began to answer the Lord's question. "Why of course I could King Alister. I've ran the royal navy for most of my kingship. I have always been a man to look at both sides of the story before making a final judgement and try to look into the kindness of men and women alike whenever possible." James then moved closer and spoke softer "Should I be made the Lord Regent a man must fill his council and with you view and vast knowledge of the realm I would think makes and excellent Seeker of Secrets wouldn't you agree?" James then stepped back and smiled. "So what say you King Alister can I count on your vote?" James stood somewhat tired at the days events. Hoping to go to bed after this talk.

Alistair smiled politely at James as he spoke of his personal merits, and why he would be a man capable of managing the Realm in it's entirety as the boy King matured and grew into his Throne. He kept the talk of himself brief, a respectable action, and spoke only of the feats and abilities which qualified him the most. He knew of Jame's merits and feats well enough, as the man had been allied to his House for years now, but it was always good to hear a man speak of himself, providing the perfect opportunity for someone to judge another's character justly. James certainly wouldn't be a terrible choice for Lord Regent, and on the contrary would likely manage the Realm better than many of the past Paragons, but still, there were others in the room who held the same qualities. None were as close to House Suttbray in terms of a current relationship though, and it was certainly a tempting prospect to raise James up to be Lord Regent simply because they had an alliance sealed by marriage. He thought on it for a moment long, taking a puff from his pipe, which subsequently lead to a bout of violent coughing. The Smiling Fox was quick to hide the blood which resulted with his kerchief of fine black silk, but it was still readily apparant that the man was hurting. After he regained his composure and stowed away the bloody kerchief, he then spoke to James, his voice now slightly damaged from the episode.

"I will take all which you have spoken of into consideration, peer of mine, and think deeply on your words, for a certainty. You are a capable man, no doubt, and your feats are known well enough in the South. I cannot assure you a southron Vote, but I can assure you that your words have made me consider very seriously as a candidate." The King of brine and sharks then leaned closer, as if to tell Alistair something confidential and exclusive to the two of them, going on to suggest that if he were made Lord Regent, a certain Smiling Fox would seem to be a perfect fit to him for the position of Seeker of Secrets. It sounded too much like bribery to Alistair's ears, delivered in a none-too-subtle package and wrapped up hastily. He did not fancy bribes, nor did he fancy the men who dealt them, so he simply smiled at the man and spoke in a more level fashion than he had spoke in before. "I would hope a capable minister of the Realm would choose only the most deserving and appropriate men to sit upon his Council, and if I am one of those men then so be it, lord James. I would hope that I would attain the seat through merit rather than... other means, however. Still, I will serious consider your words"

James looked shocked at Alister claiming that it was a bribe and simply waved it away "While of course you are the most fit men envoy you and I'm sure they tell things to your men if not you. That is the only reason I would offer you it just as the sovanid would make the best Master of Coin and the Kreshvi as the First Sword and Lord Marshall. Now I'm glad to at least put the though in your head. Now if there is nothing more I am rather tired I've talked to a lot of Lords today and it was a long ride." James put his hand out to shake before he left, and Alistair accepted it, shaking it firmly in return and smilling all the while. The Smiling Fox then spoke his goodbye.

"I am glad that you would consider me for the office nonetheless. Now, I will let you retire to your chambers or wherever else you are wont to go to rest you weary self. Farewell for the moment, James Conrad, I am glad we had the opportunity to speak before the Summit, as it was certainly a pleasure."