"If you trade with Liadens, trade careful, and for the gods' love don't come sideways of honor." --- He wanted it. In that one, searing moment, he knew he had never wanted anything in his life so much. He looked to his mother.
"I found my ship, Captain," he said. --- Paper rustled, and a subtle smell wafted up. He allowed the book to fall open in his hands and found the Liaden words almost absurdly easy to read as he was at once captivated by an account of one Shan el'Thrassin, who was engaged in a matter of honor with a set of focus seemed something less than honorable. --- "Young things. All is anguish and high drama." --- So now I have a foster-granmam? Jethri thought, but decided that was taking silly too far into nonsense. --- "In short, you wish me to sculpt this pure specimen of a Terran into a counterfeit Liaden."
"Certainly not. I wish you to produce me a gentleman of the galaxy, able to treat with Liaden and Terran equally." --- "I met him when I jumped off the edge of Kailipso Station," he began, and tipped his head, recalled of a sudden to his manners. "Would you like some tea?"
"Masterful!" Meicha crowed. "You have missed your trade, Jethri! You should 'prentice to a teller of tales."
...
"And, now, sir, you will tell us about your Scout captain and how it was you came to jump off the edge of a spacestation!"
He hid the grin behind another sip of tea. "Certainly," he murmured, as dignified as could be. "It happened this way . . ." --- "Which moon did he fall onto?" he asked, mildly. --- "Ma'am, allow me to present Tan Sim pen'Akla to you as a young trader of heart, imagination and energy. His melant'i is unimpeachable. He speaks Terran, he honors guild rule, and..." He swallowed, keeping his eyes on hers. "And if he continues on that route, ma'am, it will break his heart and suck his spirit dry."
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ninetydegrees
Bits from Balance of Trade
2008-07-15 05:49 (UTC)"If you trade with Liadens, trade careful, and for the gods' love don't come sideways of honor."
---
He wanted it. In that one, searing moment, he knew he had never wanted anything in his life so much. He looked to his mother.
"I found my ship, Captain," he said.
---
Paper rustled, and a subtle smell wafted up. He allowed the book to fall open in his hands and found the Liaden words almost absurdly easy to read as he was at once captivated by an account of one Shan el'Thrassin, who was engaged in a matter of honor with a set of focus seemed something less than honorable.
---
"Young things. All is anguish and high drama."
---
So now I have a foster-granmam? Jethri thought, but decided that was taking silly too far into nonsense.
---
"In short, you wish me to sculpt this pure specimen of a Terran into a counterfeit Liaden."
"Certainly not. I wish you to produce me a gentleman of the galaxy, able to treat with Liaden and Terran equally."
---
"I met him when I jumped off the edge of Kailipso Station," he began, and tipped his head, recalled of a sudden to his manners. "Would you like some tea?"
"Masterful!" Meicha crowed. "You have missed your trade, Jethri! You should 'prentice to a teller of tales."
...
"And, now, sir, you will tell us about your Scout captain and how it was you came to jump off the edge of a spacestation!"
He hid the grin behind another sip of tea. "Certainly," he murmured, as dignified as could be. "It happened this way . . ."
---
"Which moon did he fall onto?" he asked, mildly.
---
"Ma'am, allow me to present Tan Sim pen'Akla to you as a young trader of heart, imagination and energy. His melant'i is unimpeachable. He speaks Terran, he honors guild rule, and..." He swallowed, keeping his eyes on hers. "And if he continues on that route, ma'am, it will break his heart and suck his spirit dry."