A puddle broke beneath the soles of the Director’s boots as she journeyed through the rain across the city of Boralus. Eyes swept across open streets from beneath the hood of the long coat, drops of water cascading off to the sides. The amount of rainfall here stirred up memories of her Gilnean childhood for only a minute before she shifted focus to the upcoming meeting.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you nervous,” Alyssa chimed across the telepathic link. “Anxious, sure. But nervous—”
“Are you making a point here, or?” Kat interrupted.
“No. Just curious. Why does she make you nervous and not anyone else?”
“It’s not her. It’s the topic at hand. Doing this puts an unnecessary risk on other financial ventures and our relation, should she decline. Yet, I’m left with little other options to seek funding.” Kat admitted as the office came into view across the plaza.
“There’s also the matter of what I plan to do. Pad her funding line with my own coin to avoid potential investigations into my financials. She won’t like it, I know. To keep that behind her back creates more risk while revealing the matter could turn her away.”
“Well, if she doesn’t need to know, then why risk it? What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” The dagger-bound woman practically shrugged in her tone.
“It could hurt us both. I’ll consider your point,” Kat sneered.
Drowning out the warlocks reply, she swung the office door open, the bell above the frame emitting the soft chime throughout the space, announcing Kat’s arrival to the noblewoman seated at the desk. Pulling back the soaked hood with a smile, the pair commenced with the standard pleasantries. An informal greeting, inquiring on one another’s state of wellbeing, and a brief catch-up of the recent Scourge invasion.
“My family is all well and safe, and Stormhollow did not suffer the Scourge. I would consider things well and good.” Lady Stalsworth answered as she eased back into the seat, following their courteous handshake.
“Glad t'hear,” Kat nodded, swinging one knee over the other as she dropped into the adjacent chair. “Gransonee was spared from the dead risin’ again as well. So, no effect on our current arrangements as it stands.” She paused for a moment. “Unless, of course, ya’ wish fer changes?”
“Unless there are reasons why I should wish for changes, I see no need. Do you?”
The Director shook her head slowly. “None wot-so-eva. Th’ profit flows, th’ people are happy, and the hamlet has been able t'repair and expand some infrastructure. Most importantly, it keeps Jasper out of m'ear.”
Elaianna chuckled in a breath, a faint smile touching the corner of her lips. “You did not write to me about our current business affairs, but rather, a new one if I am to understand your letter correctly?”
The pleasantries were dismissed. Both women preferred to discuss business over the former at every meeting.
“That is correct, yes. While this proposal is of another nature, it bears no effect on the current trade agreemen’.” Kat cleared her throat, ignoring a comment from Alyssa as she pulled a ledger from the coat. “I’m sure yer aware of th’ current state of the Kingdom, yes?”
“Presuming you mean things such as the King’s absence and an ill-chosen replacement on the throne in the meantime? Yes. I cannot say things are any better here, as the Lord Admiral has also gone missing.”
“I was referin’ more t'the current economic situations.” The Director clarified, collecting her hands upon the leather cover of the ledger.
“Aye,” the Lady dipped her head in a shallow nod. “Such things come with recent events.”
“More-so when on th’ tailwinds of a long and costly war,” Kat added. “Stormwind is, well t'be blunt, fractured. Th’ military cutbacks, coffers empty…surely ya’ know wot follows there. Taxes and overexertion. Th’ nobles houses are all in a tiff, vyin’ fer favors and agreements in exchange fer gold. Sharks, th’ lot of ‘em.”
“I am an affluent woman, but I cannot cease an entire kingdom from going into taxation,” Elaianna remarked, weaving her fingers together and studying the Director. “So what favor and agreement are you looking for?”
Kat quickly wet her lips, knowing her discomfort in this proposal was visible to a small degree, and while the dagger-bound woman was silent, Kat knew she was listening. Without further delay, she promptly opened the ledger to her Unit’s budget and slid it across to Elaianna.
“I do no’ have th’ time or patience t'lobby the houses while they are in congress fer fundin’, nor would I likely care for th’ things they ask in exchange. My Unit is internal affairs, we are no’ combat facin’, but many believe wot we do is of little value.”
“What -do- you do? Especially in times post-war?” Lady Stalsworth inquired, glancing over the ledger.
“Th’ same as we would durin’ war. We handle issues that extend beyond th’ capabilities of the guards; serial killin’s, drug cartels, slave rings, th’ occasional cults.” Kat picked at her nails in her lap, out of the other’s view.
“Our latest project has no’ been well received by m'peers, and I narrowly dodged havin’ the Unit axed with my proposal. With the right resources and time, we could document and categorize these dangerous people’s thought processes and mental states. Study them, if you will, and create a possible method t'detect these behaviors before they manifest into somethin’ larger. However, with no fundin’ or resources, I canno’ produce the results needed to keep my Unit from disbandment.”
“And you’re looking for…” Elaianna asked as she found no estimated total within the ledger.
“Wot eva yer willin’ t'give.” Kat answered plainly. “I hate t'even ask at all, given our current professional relationship. And I certainly do no’ expect charity either.”
The Lady nodded again, motioning toward the Director. “Would monthly increments be of use, or were you hoping for a singular lump sum?
"Monthly would be ideal, luv’. A lump sum may create too much of a surplus that others may try to pillage.”
“I can commit to supporting your Unit on a monthly basis.” Elaianna pushed the ledger back across the desk with her answer.
Inquisitively, Kat stared and collected the ledger, returning the book to her coat as she hesitantly asked, “And in return?”
With a simple shrug, the Lady answered, “I would ask what I would hope you would already do. If you happen upon any knowledge of a threat to Stormhollow or my family, you will let me know so that we might protect our people and ourselves.”
A soft hum rattled with Kat’s throat. This was something she would have done already, yes. But while Elaianna had never given her a reason to be mistrusted, Kat struggled to believe one would ask only this in return for funding. A thought that Alyssa did little to dismiss.
“That I would already do, yes. Though I will add that if ya’ have an issue within Stormhollow that falls within wot m’ Unit handles, I would be more than happy t'direct focus there until the matter is resolved.”
Kat lifted her hand, “it is I who owes ya’ thanks, twice over.”
“Then let us call it a deal.” Elaianna smiled, extending her hand over the desk to cement the agreement.
Now at the crossroad of revealing or secreting her intend, Kat’s conflicting thoughts churned again as she eyed the offered hand. Forcing her way through, she began to reach but recoiled at the last second.
“Don’t do it,” Alyssa argued to no avail.
“There is one more thing,” Kat muttered, clearing her throat.
“I will pull funds from my personal accounts, those undocumented linked to Gransonee. Doin’ so on m'own would draw attention and force m'hand into revealin’ th’ island and hamlet publicly, which would then force a pledge to the Alliance or vassalage t’ a noble house. Against the wishes of its people. I will hide th’ funds I sent in the same ledger line as yer own.” The Director admitted, letting out a heavy breath as if a weight had been lifted.
“I wanted ya’ t'know, rather than keep it hidden from ya’ and risk an auditory blowback.”
Immediately, Elaianna’s lips pursed, and a low hum vibrated behind the displeased expression as the offered hand was withdrawn. The silence which followed lingered uncomfortably between them for a solid minute as Kat held her breath and avoided the Lady’s gaze.
“I suspect such will not pose a problem,” Elaianna finally spoke, “as it is assisting the Kingdom.”
Kat’s shoulders dropped as she relaxed and let out her breath.
“I wanted t'be honest and transparent in m'intentions than lead ya’ blind and risk everythin’.”
“I appreciate that,” The Lady smiled faintly. “Thank you.”
“Th’ consequences will be mine, and only mine t'bear should anythin’ happen.” Kat offered her hand to complete the transaction with a nod, relieved when Elaianna nodded and took the hand in a firm shake.
“Let us hope such things do not come to be.”
Standing to exit, Kat fixed the position of her coat, which had shifted slightly while seated. The hood remained down, as the sound of rainfall beyond the door had ceased during their exchange.
“Light and Shadow keep ya’ and yer family, Lady Stalsworth.”
“Tides guide you and yours, Lady Hawke.”
Resisting the urge to correct and discourage using such a title, Kat resigned to dipping her head and turning towards the door. Quickly leaving the office and taking in the scent of the city after the rain. She knew Alyssa overheard every word and would likely inquire on details but cut the inquisitive warlock off before she had a chance.
“Another time,” Kat implored, “I promise. Just give me time.”
[ @elaianna, @alyssa-ward ]
[ Relevant: @tristanasneak, @jocelyn-wellson, @myzariel, @nikkithorpe, @lovelydeadlysocialite, @quinn-varden ]
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