Kaleeth crossed one arm over the other, looking down at the ground. "He didn't [i]have[/i] to do it. We [i]did[/i] tell him about it, and if he didn't want the marks, he should have said something beforehand. It wouldn't have been a problem, then. Hopefully we can convince him to agree like you say, but...he already made the commitment. He was told everything, and still made his choice. I think he...he should have to learn to deal with the consequences of his choices, even if he doesn't like them." 

[hr]

"Oh, I would say it is running better than well." Gwindir began. Ahnasha could see a familiar and genuine smile across his face, likely out of pride. If there was one thing she knew about both of her parents, it was that they took great pride in their business accomplishments, particularly since neither had any significant inheritance to  build from when they started. Their accomplishments were their own. "One of the reasons we are up here in Cheydinhal is to make [i]possibly[/i] the most lucrative deal we've yet made."

While Gwindir paused to allow Rhazii to pour his drink, Ahnasha spoke up, finding it a safe topic for them to stay on. "I read about that in your last letter, but you never hared any details. Is that something you can talk about now?"

Gwindir briefly thanked Rhazii, then nodded. "Hmm, at this point, I think so. Yesterday, we had a productive meeting with Count Indarys' steward. We just have a few more details to agree upon. All goes well, and we'll be sending fine goods from Summerset to the Cheydinhal castle, at a good price. The count used to have deals to trade directly with merchants in the Dominion for such goods, since they could hire their own ships and caravans for transport, but that has been disrupted in the last year or two. Political nonsense, mostly; arguments over tariffs and that sort of thing. At any rate, the Counts are currently barred from trading directly with Dominion merchants, but they can still buy from private merchants in the Empire. And we already trade regularly with merchants at most major Dominion ports. We wrote back and came up here as fast as we could once we learned about it. There are plenty of other merchants in Leyawiin who would bite into that deal like ravenous slaughterfish if they caught wind of it."