Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle library

Anna kept her eyes fixed on the floor tiles, nodding along to everything the Wisdom said. It was of no use to say anything else, giving up was easier and safer, the only way she could ensure everything would go right.

"No questions on my part either, thank you Wisdom" She bowed her head in a sign of respect and await until Serafina exited the room to let herself fall on the nearest chair, covering her face with her hands.

Anna took a deep breath and took a moment to recompose herself and look up to her fiance, a faint smile on her face.

"I'm sorry you got dragged into this"
John
**Lord Kirk Pinewood
Grunewald Castle Library**

Kirk turned his head toward Anna. "You chose me over the mystery ward, so maybe I should feel flattered," He said with calm sarcasm, knowing that Lucrezia's offer had been far more tempting than his personal appeal. The expression of terror on his face for the latter part of of the council meeting had not felt particularly seductive. "You did what you thought was right, and I can respect that despite the role that was assigned to me in it." He sighed and leaned back against his chair, turning his head up toward the ceiling. "I hope you like antiques."
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle library

She snorted a laugh at his words. Lucrezia had been so eager and Anna was so desperate that she barely had time to think about the other offer, who even did it? She was getting ready to run away to seek help when the offers where made.

"Antiques?" Her face got sparked by curiosity "What kind of antiques? You collect them?"
John
**Lord Kirk Pinewood
Grunewald Castle Library**

"Collect, restore, sell. It's a wide variety. I have a shop near the castle in Hexrakes. Pineworks. It's where I put most of my time when I'm home." Kirk looked back at his wife-to-be. "How about you? How does a lady of the Iron Plaines pass the time most days?"
Lawrence
Kallophon
Castle Grunewald throneroom, Vallen, Taemar

Kallophon eyed the door, thinking of Lady Anna. Her heart was likely in the hands of that scheming Wisdom now. "I think I'd choose ... The beckoning, wave-blasted rocks over a political marriage" He enunciated. "Marriage should start with the purest erotic love." Even his own parents, despite the contention they'd often had during his youth regarding himself, had married out of Auryn's own true enamoration. "That's my opinion, at least. What would I do if thousands of lives depended on my choice?" He gestured down the stairs. "I don't know. I'll say this much, however: it's wrong that they're going to make her give up her old spirits, and I know that they will. Embracing the plan that Saris has for one's soul should happen *Willingly*. Enthusiastically. Not as a consequence of something else, something so bleak and cruel."

His gaze fell to the table and was caught on the dark mouth of an inkwell. "If there's any truth to my people's stories, then I can say with certainty that terrible, terrible things tend to follow when a man or woman of power turns away from their gods." He withdrew his hand from Retto's shoulder and held his lyre like a babe to his breast, as if to warm away the sudden, ominous chill that had fallen upon him. "Hmph. Well, anyway. I for one think the alcohol here is fine, but I'm a poor critic," He chuckled weakly. He threw a glance at Spitza, swallowing. "Anything exotic is pleasant to me. So I definitely *Will* Be interested in that rum when we get the chance for it.

"And anyway again, let's think about this wedding. I know a hymn to Auryn that I can perform. I'm sure the Wisdom will appreciate it. What do you have to offer, friend? And do you know anyone else who could perform for the couple?"
Edith
**Admiral Retto Elbaroda**
**The Council Room**

Retto nodded as Kallophon expressed his thoughts on the marriage. "Aye, I woul' sooner drag my own knife across my throat than denounce th' Tides Bearer." He stood silent with Kallophon for a moment, and looked towards the stairwell himself. "I admire th' girl's heart. She'd willingly cast herself in t' a marriage with a man she doesn' know in th' hopes she can save her people." He paused again, and absentmindedly tapped the keys of his instrument. 

Kallophon asking him about the plans for the marriage brought him back to reality. "Aye, I know a few islander shanties t' play durin' weddin's. Bu'..." He paused. "..Islander weddin' songs are all happy an' energetic pieces fer merrimen'. I thin' tha' this one will no' be so, a' leas' fer th' bride an' groom.