A Conversation Between Men

So I asked Ayguili .. the Ubar ... if I could have a word with him. The kind of word one man has with another aside from the Main Fires. The idea amused me .. people used to pull me aside constantly .. I felt like a child's yo yo at times ... so doing it to someone else left me chuckling.

He asked me if he could bring his blackwine. I asked him if it was still hot .. figured weapons were going to be a ... bad idea. To his credit he appeared nervous. Which only amused me more considering what I really intended speaking to him about.

Once aside from the fires we each took our respective positions .. leaning against the wagon wheels. Appearing uninterested in the conversation .. when in fact both of us were very invested in the content.

In games of strategy the first move is often the most important. It sets the stage for the rest of the game. So I asked Ayguili how things were with Mezoo. My strategy paid off.

He told me it was up to her at this point .. but he had met some of the family. I chuckled and replied that I had gotten the idea from his earlier conversation at the Fires that he had spent some time with Oren. To my credit .. I did warn him that meeting Oren was one of those fate sealing events.

He said he was not sure how Oren felt about him .. yet. He had not meant to meet her in the way he had ... bringing Mezoo home passed out like a dead fish.

Well here he had my full attention. "You brought her ... what?" He explained and the crease to my brow eased .. though my thoughts were tangled up in what Mezoo had done and I was going to have to speak to her about it soon. But that was not a conversation for Ayguili .. nor on the subject at hand.

Strategy having paid off for me .. I told Ayguili that I could forgive him for bringing Mezoo home passed out like a dead fish. And then I made my intended move having earned myself some leeway. I asked Ayguili when Seveya was intended to be ringed. That we had been talking. Talking about things that were more serious than .. "so how is your day Fonce". And though at this point it meant nothing more than learning if this woman was going to be my friend .. or something else ... it was still my way to speak of it with Ayguili. Just as he had done for me.

The Ubar raised his brow at me and asked me what my intentions were with his ward. Now here I had to chuckle .. I told him I would give him my word not to bring her home passed out like a "dead fish" ... at least more than once.

We both laughed. I told Ayguili with more seriousness that I had no intentions .. other than getting to know her as I got to know many other women .. however considering she was not ringed I wanted to be honest with him about the conversation the two of us had. He told me it was much the same with Mezoo .. getting to know her ... giving her the chance to get to know him.

There was more talk .. mostly things that would have gotten us swatted upside the head with a pot ... if we had been overheard. Which we were not .. being wise and experienced Tuchuk men. And besides Ayguili did not look as if he needed any more bruises. Oren had done a number on him all ready.

Ayguili then asked me for a favor. Strategy indeed. I told him it would cost him. No freebies for the Ubar. He agreed to give me one favor in return. Whatever I asked for .. within the realm of honor of course ... whenever I happened to ask for it.

I tucked that one away .. feeling a very rich man indeed.

We then spoke of Oren .. and I gave him the information he needed in his own game of strategy. It was valuable .. very valuable.

We also spoke of Leonette and the recent abduction. I gave him some of my opinions .. leaving my feelings and emotions out of it. I was getting very good at that.

Then he had another favor to ask of me. Damned if I was not racking up the points. And just like any other Tuchuk man

... I intend on spending them wisely.