Tehr couldn't manage to muster a blush as the raven haired woman embarassed her lighter sister.  He was considering his responses, but thankfully he was spared the need too by the third sister.  Tehr stood and bowed to the woman, introduced himself.  "Greetings Mlady d'Saari, My name is Tehr ir'Wynt, but please just call me Tehr."   He would have taken her hand and kissed it, but he made a point in his life not to reach towards anyone who was armed, and he wasn't willing to bet injury against the fact that the rapier was blunted for practice.<br/><br/>Then smiling to Jesanie he reached down to the game table and tipped over his own king, surrendering the match.  "Sometimes," he said, "Surrendering your pride to a friend is advantageous to all of us.  Good game my lady.  Now, let us get down to business."<br/><br/>He turned to the third sister and waiting for her to settle into a seat, retook his own.  "As I was telling your sisters, I wish to secure an alliance between house Saari and house Wynt.  Both of our homes are old, respected, and not exactly the most powerful.  We've been pushed out of favor due to circumstance and the machinations of younger more hungry houses like Dale."  He paused waiting for a beat to let the name sink in, he guessed that there was no love between Saari and Dale.  "Anyways, I have recently gained a small amount of favor with the Queen as you may or may not be aware.  In addition, I don't agree with some of the policies that house Dale has taken up."<br/><br/>He felt that they were far too cozy with the Church, and that the Church has interests counter to our kingdom's.  The last thing he would like to see is another age of difficulty like the kingdom experienced two hundred years ago when the Church made it's first serious push to try to take over rule of the kingdom.  But he didn't want to spill all of that information right away.  Instead he continued, "Now, I know that for many years now Dale has held the contracts for the shipping lanes in and out of Londinium.  Contracts that have made them quite rich.   What I'm proposing is that we ally houses, with an alliance in place, even if it were an informal one.  Because I would be willing to use my influence with the queen to have her hold off on granting the contracts with Dale again this year.  Now I can't promise that you'll get the contracts, that's your job to make your own case.  But I can make sure you have an opportunity to present the case at least, and, if we are friendly, I could even maybe lend my support to your cause."<br/><br/>Tehr shrugged, "I know it's not the most concrete of offers, but having met your windfinder recently, I beleive it is one that would benefit your house greatly.  There is only one Caveat, as you know there is a grand ball coming in two days * and I have it on good authority that no ir'Saari are on the guest list.  I also have it on good authority that this is when Dale will make their presentation to the Queen.  I have however an invitation, and with Emily d'Ravos on my arm, will be in attendance.  I shall however be in the position to stop ir'Dale or his sister from making a proposal to the Queen, nevermind how.  So time is of the essence, but what I'd need to know from you is if you're interested, if you'd like an alliance of this sort, and what you would be willing to offer for such an opportunity."<br/><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">* OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">I can't recall if the Ball is in two days or what.  Insomnia is a hell of a thing it makes your brain all fuzzy.  So I just said 2 days, if you can recall when, in game, it is, go ahead and let me know and I'll edit this post.</div></div>