[G] [C] 740.01.03 | Brother Knows Best

Azrin was bored. It wasn't that he was lacking in things to do. His days were spent with his wife, putting in fatherly time with the children not yet fostered off, playing with his herbs and potions, playing with a goldrider, or just simply mingling about Ista Hold. But it was routine and nothing exciting was going on. He also wanted to scope out potentials for new contacts within the Weyrs. Casa mentioned names here and there of people that were fun in bed or might like the non-sexual lessons he gave her but he wanted to know more about those that he could use and align with when time called for it.

While he could get Aldra to host a party for dragonriders, Azrin wasn't sure he wanted it in his own backyard, so to speak. There were too many people already under his roof that he had alliances with and he didn't want some seeing him with others. Naturally that meant going to one of his little brothers and since Gabrin played his own games and used his own rules, Jalazmar with his shiny new, albeit technically second hand and small, Hold of his own was once more in his sights.

It was why he currently sat in the lounge with the Lord and Lady of Hidden View Hold--such a quaint name-- sharing drinks and idle chit chat after the dinner he stopped in for unexpectedly. He was sprawled rather comfortably on the couch opposite the one Jalazmar and Xyliah snuggled on. He had to admit, it was still adorable how much they cared for each other. Azrin himself loved his wife, which he was certain would shock most of his family and all of his lovers, so he did genuinely like seeing the Little Lamb happy with his last second arranged wife. Although if he was ever asked, he'd admit that he didn't think the match would work and they'd never interact outside of public obligations.

"I must apologise again for the surprise visit but compliments to your kitchen staff for whipping together such a fine meal for us." Azrin lifted his glass in slight salute and sipped the brandy within. "Now that the dining and pleasantries are done with, I did have a purpose for coming. None of us can forget the great fires this past summer and the sacrifices and heroics. It's those heroics I want to reward. Well, for you to reward. The dragonriders saved lives and property at great risk to themselves, including a goldrider. Ista already hosted a function to celebrate them but it was also rather sombre given the timing. Now, however, I feel is the right time to give them another chance to be celebrated, especially since the wounded should be well healed."

Azrin had had a lot of time to think through all the angles of his proposition since having the idea and Casa had filled him in on a lot of the details from the dragonrider side of things. He knew for a fact that all those that had been in the makeshift infirmary had been released and the ones that still lived in Ista seemed to be recovered and in high spirits once more. He doubted they would have been able to attend Ista's party so they could be used as a reason for the late timing of this gather.

"It is also a strong political move for your Hold, Little Lambs," Azrin included Xyliah in his nickname for Jalazmar, somewhat to see if she noticed and what her reaction would be but also because she was adorable and innocent like a lamb. She also had curly hair which was what originally earned his brother the name. "You may say you support the dragonriders and attend functions they are at, but it is not a true alliance until you do something yourself. You need to show them and your other allies and even your own people that you are with the dragonriders and accept their being here and that you are willing to aid them when needed."

Jalazmar was suspicious of his brother's unannounced arrival from the get go, especially since they had just seen each other for the end of turn celebrations, but he had been civil and kind to Xyliah like he always was that by the time they retired to the parlour, he had forgotten his suspicions. They all came back to him once Azrin brought about his reason for the visit and Jalazmar mentally chided himself for thinking anything any of his brothers did lacked ulterior motives. This one seemed rather benign, even if it was suddenly turning into a responsibility he was going to have to take on. But everything Azrin said made sense, which of course it did. Azrin was too careful for anything less. His brother plotted and waited until the right time to strike and presented his case perfectly so no one could have any doubts or question him.

Jalazmar had some doubts about putting it all together and he did question what was actually hiding beneath the well laid out idea, but he didn't voice them. Azrin wouldn't tell him anything he didn't want to be known no matter how many times he was asked or who asked it and Xyliah would just think him rude and mean to his older brother for no reason. He wasn't going to win this no matter what so he didn't even try.

Besides, Azrin's points were good ones and Jalazmar knew he did have to make his stance known on the dragonriders and everything that came with them from tithes to Searches. He was fine with it all but it was good for those in his region to know that, especially since Lord Fort favoured the riders. The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea and he saw the arrogant smirk behind the glass Azrin wore when he knew Jalazmar had been won over. How had he survived so long with scheming and bored brothers?

"Your points are sound, especially that the dragonriders deserve further celebration for what they did for Ista. We have yet to throw such a large scale event but I think we can do it. If my wife agrees to it as well." He knew he could over rule her if she didn't want to but Jalazmar had quickly learned that they worked well as a team and they needed each other to figure out all the ins and outs of running a Hold and typically being responsible adults.

Xyliah genuinely enjoyed Azrin’s company, so his surprise visit was hardly a chore for her and she was rather amused by the way Yanzi had perked up when Jalazmar’s brother decided to drop in. Xyliah had long since stopped being surprised by the bedrooms Yanzi would slip into, and she’d learned early that her maid was both delicate and subtle about her affairs. Xyliah honestly didn’t mind who Yanzi slept with, so long as she didn’t cause trouble, which Yanzi knew.

Wide eyes considered Azrin when he suggested they host a party or celebration or some-such for the dragonriders. Her look of terror switched to Jalazmar when he spoke, and Xyliah felt her heart fluttering at the idea of all those people – and dragons – that would be popping into their little Hold to celebrate surviving the fires and the weight of the responsibility felt like it was crushing her already! Somehow, though, she managed to take a deep breath and school her features so that when Jalazmar looked to her, she wore just a small smile tugging up one corner of her lips.

“Of course,” Xyliah said mildly, somehow managing not to let the terror she felt at hosting such a large-scale event seep into her voice. She had a feeling Azrin would definitely see through her, if he hadn’t seen her face, but she hoped to at least hide her worries from Jalazmar – not because she didn’t think he’d care, but for the opposite. She didn’t want to ruin their chances at securing alliances with the dragonriders and other Holdings, just because the thought of the party was enough to make her stomach churn anxiously!

Of course Azrin had seen Xyliah's reaction to the idea. Not only was he sitting across from the couple but he was in the business of studying people, learning their weaknesses and how best to use them to his advantage. In this case, he was actually somewhat fond of Xyliah and while he wasn't necessarily someone that had a desire to rescue every damsel in distress--unless it benefited him, of course--he did want to help this particular girl out. Doing so did mean it helped his overall plan go through, but even if he didn't have a stake in things, Azrin believed he would have done it anyway. Besides, Jalazmar hadn't seemed to notice his wife's distress at the idea so playing it right could lead to a little secret and leave Xyliah very grateful to her brother-in-law.

"I know you've hosted a few smaller engagements but nothing to the scale I'm suggesting, so of course I won't leave you on your own with this. Candristra and I will offer our help. I'll go over necessary arrangements with you tonight, like sending off the invites right away and having it at month end to give you time to prepare, and we can come a few days early and help with the final preparations." Azrin saw the relief in Xyliah's face at his words and almost laughed at Jalazmar still trying to believe everything was on the up and up but doubting it. The kid was clever--he had to be in their family--but he always ended up going along with the scheme--perhaps also out of self-preservation.

Either way, Azrin was getting his party to mingle at and his brother was getting a reputation and alliances of his own. It was a good night's work.