The king nodded, barely glancing over at the door when Eloran entered. "It's good that Goldspar sent women," he was saying. "It would provide some diversion for my daughter. Have you had a chance to meet Diane? Wouldn't surprise me if Gavin has her locked in the tower, he's extremely overprotective of her."<br/><br/>He sighed. "When their mother died, I wasn't much of a father for a few years. Concentrated too much on the war with Loidi to see that my children needed me. Gavin and Diane grew close. Of course they would, they're twins. However, Gavin seems to think that Diane will break and Diane thinks the sun rises and sets on her brother's command." He grinned for a moment, "I must be boring you, all this babbling about the past." Struggling to sit up once more, he said seriously, "How well do you think these talks are going to go? I normally don't care for a woman's opinion, but I do know that the women of Goldspar are very politically savvy. You wouldn't have survived this long if you weren't. Nearly married a woman from Goldspar after my wife died, and she was the most shrewdest woman I've ever known. It didn't work out, though. Sad story, never mind."<br/><br/>************<br/><br/>Diane stood up and went back over to the door. She closed it without seeing Deston outside. Taking her seat again, she said, "As lovely as that little story was, I wish to know more about Lord Martinez. If I'm to be his wife, I should know how he expects me to be. I was hoping you could give me some insight in his character?"<br/><br/>She wondered if the heat had boiled the old woman's mind. It was just too hot in that room, making Diane feel a little light-headed. She just hoped that she got her answers fast.<br/><br/>************<br/><br/>Gavin looked relieved. "Wonderful. It's so sad, seeing my father like that. He was such a strong man all my life. I'm sure you'd feel the same if our roles were reversed." He tapped his fingers on the table for a few moments. "It was the oddest thing," he muttered, mostly to himself. "Healthy one day, sick the next."<br/><br/>He looked up when Martinez entered the room. "Good, you're here. Take a seat and we can begin. These are the current trade agreements between our lands. I know we tried to straighten this out yesterday, but got no where. Today, while we are fresh, let's try again. Currently, Anstaria only imports some baubles and clothes from Loidi, and I know we export certain farming machines and spiced meat."