Meeting at the light

[Corwin]

Seira shakes his hand! And while this didn't go as hoped for, they did get their parallel negotiations to influence the Sultan further.

[Nephrite]

Moore does the same!

[Anastasia]

Vigorous handshakes are given all around. His grip is strong, a long look into each of your eyes as he does. No pressure, just a good, honest look.

"Then until we return," The Great Khan says, turning to go with his entourage, still silent and masked even now.

[Corwin]

There is little to do now but follow suit.

I'd like to spend this day on more Prophecy decyphering, and then go see Alicia on the next.

[Anastasia]

Sure, one thing first.

As you all head out, Valar asks, "Did you get what you wanted? What of you, Moore?"

[Corwin]

While under the shroud of privacy, Seira shrugs. "I know what they're willing to give right now. If things fall through, it'll be the starting point for fresh negotiations in the future. And if we end up signing, there are enough loopholes to continue our goals through means other than war. So yes, overall I'm happy we came."

[Nephrite]

"I'm curious what their angle is with Crystalle and Mineral." Moore says. "Either they want better relations with him, or they don't like that we have good relations. We'll see what they ultimately want."

[Anastasia]

"It could be a feint," Valar says, "Lathander's light, the dao paying their victim's families like that? It sounds good and is utterly meaningless, and it's difficult to challenge that."

[Corwin]

"They consider the value of their slain to be far beyond that of their enemies or any bystanders. That is my take."

[Anastasia]

And thus you all return and Barachiel awaits. He meets Seira and Moore in Hope's Landing and asks a simple question.

"How did the talks progress?" Barachiel asks.

[Corwin]

"They're unwilling to give the bare minimum we want, but I feel there's leeway, especially if the Sultan goes for it. In the meantime, we have an eight day long ceasefire with the dao, so even if the Sultan decides to go all in into the other direction, we'll have our grace period of dealing with the efreet and Brass."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "They brought up my relationship with Crystalle, so it may be something that we need to negotiate after the fact, but nothing was objectionable."

[Anastasia]

A mere nod to that, "What was the best offer they made? Moore, what did you think of his motives?"

[Corwin]

"Freeing the xorn and mutual reparations, peace for a century. Turns out the xorn only account for half their slaves, and they refused to discuss banning slavery though I think that's negotiable."

[Nephrite]

"I think they want to get out of this was as quickly as possible." Moore says. "He seemed like he was willing to give more than he received in order to do so, at least on the surface."