(D3, LM) Slippng through the cracks

[Soshi Eiji]

Come on Eiji, she's your delegaton head. It's perfectly reasonable for you in the course of your duties to seek her out so you can complete negotiations. You'd be neglecting your duties if you didn't do it.


Stll seeking someone out who was in a tenous position of power, surrounded by those who wanted her to fail, after an earthquake....Eiji really didn't want to get stung in confusion, but it was a risk he'd have to take.

And so he presented himself outside her quarters, hoping to catch her before she departed for court.

[Cearnach]

Kaguya was seated behind her desk, flipping through a briefing paper. Unabara Asakaze, as ever, was standing just behind her and to the left.

As Eiji entered, they both looked up.

And it was Asakaze that spoke. "Soshi-san, to what do we owe the pleasure?"

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji bowed deeply out of respect to Kaguya. It was Asakaze that spoke, but if Kaguya wished him to be her voice so be it.

"Good morning, great ones. It pleases me greatly to see you both well and unharmed after the events of this morning. With court rapidly approaching, I will try not to take up too much of your time."

A brief pause.

"As if often the case with courtly negotiations, a pair of opportunities have come up that I cannot pursue without the blessing of the delegation head.

The first, the Master of Air seeks permission for they and some of their students for access to the Yogo libaries for research purposes. I realize that many details will need to be worked out; the Yogo value their secrecy and having such a sharp mind loose in their libraries would be dangerous. But I believe that the terms can be worked out to be quite a net gain for the Scorpion, where we benefit from the Master of Air's knowledge while also benefitting from trade for the favor of allowing them in.

The second, the Phoenix are offering to bless the rice fields of a clan. My instinct is that such a blessing, while valuable, will come too late to allow us to truly benefit our ambitions for the Shinomen Mori. However, as I do not know more about the workings of our rice trade and shinomen mori ambitions, than I need to know to negotiate, I wanted to check to make sure my instinct was correct." he offered.

He bowed again, awaiting a response.

[Bayushi Kaguya]

Kaguya stared at Eiji for a moment, then pulled out another file. "Ah, the rice harvest is over for this year, so it would appear that you are correct. As for the Master of Air...I...would hesitate to...permit him such access to Yogo Shiro without a better understanding of what he is looking for."

That she did not outright mention exposing him to Lord Yogo came down to her essentially cautious nature. She was not sure whether either of these two men would not simply write a letter to Lord Yogo and make the inevitable come that much sooner.

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji inclined his head at the faint praise of his instinct being correct on the blessing.

As for the second, well it wasn't an outright NO, sooooo....

"A most excellent point, Bayushi-ue. These are matters that really should only be discussed by the fewest number of relevant people. The Master of Air and his students, the master of the Yogo Library and an equal number of students to act as fellow resarchers/watchers, and of course to you, Bayushi-ue, to whom all secrets are known."

He nodded vigrously.

"I can request a sealed proposal for your review alone, Bayushi-ue. I certainly do not need to know more details of the project. Doubtless as a non-shugenja I wouldn't understand much of the research anyways, but still, why risk a slip when you need not?" he said with enthusiam.

He did pause a moment.

"Assuming that is your will, of course, Bayushi-ue." he added. He certanly did not want to overstep himself in front of her.

[Bayushi Kaguya]

"Um..." A pause. "Um, yes, I believe that will do."

Behind her, you see Asakaze's face freeze--a telltale sign of inner eye-rolling.

"We will review their proposal," Kaguya continued, "and consider the matter carefully."

[Soshi Eiji]

Whether Asakaze was mentally mocking his champion or the junior courtier, or probably both didn't matter. Eiji had the words he needed. As in warfare, one did not give one's opponent a chance to respond if it could be avoided.

Eiji bowed deeply.

"Your will be done, Bayushi-ue." he said, awaiting dismissal.

[Bayushi Kaguya]

Kaguya nods in reply, as eloquent a dismissal as could be asked for.

[Soshi Eiji]

Off like a prom dress!

/exit with haste