Emma pt. 9

Want to start at the beginning? - Emma, Part 1

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All the Overseers took their seats.  Eibe sat in the far right chair. To his left was an old woman, bent with age and wearing a gray and white wrap. On the far left was a man with a long braided beard and deep red robes.

The proceedings passed so quickly Emma was amazed.  The Assembly was called to order and contract negotiations began. In the past her time watching the Assembly had felt unending, each speech and motion taking what seemed to her to be hours. But today it all rushed by, four contracts were awarded before Emma had mentally rehearsed her speech once. She did not know if the world was moving quickly, or if her own mind was dragging slowly.


Then Rorrick Hillsman stood and presented his contract, asking for petitioners. Emma’s gut clenched and she stiffened her legs to stand, holding her breath. Just as she was about to lift off the seat a call came from the other side of the seating, a nobleman from the Iralied Estates presenting a bid.

Emma shrunk down, wrapping her hands around each other. She had not known the other bidders would have Patrons of their own. She suddenly doubted if her speech would be good enough, if their offer would be acceptable.

“Pft,” her mother scoffed quietly, “I wouldn’t trust that child to carry my laundry to the river.” Emma looked up in surprise. Her mother’s eyes were still stern, still disapproving, but there was a softness in her cheeks and mouth as she looked at her daughter. “Ze’Manel might partner with a human, but at least he can get a job done.”

Emma smiled weakly, still confused.

“There is no need to jump and call out like that fool did either, Emma,” her mother continued to whisper, “simply stand and speak calmly.  It doesn’t matter when you present as long as your petition is the best.” She stopped for a moment, considering, then went on, “Being a Patron is a sacred duty. You would be the living body of The Ardent’s will. Remember that before you agree to this.”

Emma nodded and breathed steadily. The noble sat down and a merchant sprang up in the second row. Parien looked over her shoulder at him, then up to Emma, her eyebrows pulled up questioningly.

When the merchant sat down the Overseers asked if there were other petitions. Emma waited a few heartbeats in which it seemed whole hours passed, then she stood, exhaling and deep breath.

“I speak on behalf of Deem Ze’Manel.” She said, a little louder than she intended.

There was a sound like a hundred heads turning the same directing, an untold amount of fabric rustling with sudden movements, then dead silence.

Her heart beat like a fist striking her again and again in her chest. She ignored and looked directly into her brother’s eyes, suddenly so gratefully his supportive face was among the Overseers, that she thought she might cry.

She spoke directly to him, looking at eyes that were so like their father’s, except that they smiled along with his mouth and nodding very slightly at her.

The words came out just as she’d rehearsed, too quickly at first, but controlled after a moment. When she had described their resources and their contacts in Blue Coast she realized that while the Overseers would forge the contract, it would be Hillsman who decided it.

With great effort she turned first her head, then her eyes away from Eibe and found Hillsman. He was in the top row, almost in the direct center of the semicircle of seating. She explained what they expected as compensation and what kind of returns they would bring him from the merchants in Blue Coast.

When she was done she looked around quickly, not sure what to do. She bowed to Hillsman, then to the Overseers and sat back down. Her father reached his hand to hers and clasped it tightly.

There was a long silence. Though Emma was aware it was always this way as the contract holder deliberated, it seemed a painfully long time to wait. Her palms sweated making the grip on her father’s hand slippery.

“Overseers, please forge a contract between myself and Deem Ze’Manel.” Hillsman called sharply, his voice biting through the air.

Emma felt a yelp of joy in her throat, but she was able to hold it in and instead bounced her feet up and down. 

Eibe was scribbling on a parchment and the female Overseer answered Hillsman. “It is forged. Emma of Laudriel will serve as Patron on behalf of the Assembly.”

Emma’s mother dropped her hand over the two in her lap. She squeezed Emma’s hand very lightly and then pulled them apart.

“You will need to review the duties and expectations of a Patron,” she said.

“I have mother, I’ve been studying for days now.”

“Just like Eibe,” Emma’s father nodded down to the table below, “you took your lessons seriously.”

“On occasion,” her mother said.

At another time Emma would have taken the bait and argued with her mother about her study habits, but she was too elated for that now. Her stomach felt light, almost too light, like it was floating inside of her, pressing against her lungs. She pictured Rilen and Lison outside, waiting by the statue. She imagined a line of horses and carts leaving the valley, on their way to Blue Coast.

Negotiations continued around them, more contracts were offered and forged. Emma didn’t hear anything that was said, didn’t notice who was standing or speaking. She could only think of the days to follow, of what was ahead of her.

The Overseers called the Assembly to rest. All around the hall dwin stood, chatting, walking together. Emma stood to leave until she saw her parents were not moving. Below, Deem and Parien stood, looking at Emma, maybe waiting for her. She was anxious to join them. 

“I need to speak to Deem,” she said.

“Of course dear, would you like to ride back home with us when you are done?” her father asked.

“No, I think I have some plans to make, I’ll come back on my own.”

Her mother looked up at her and nodded, her expression unreadable. 

Emma walked quickly down the rows of seating, a few of the dwin smiling at her, congratulating her on the contract. She politely nodded at them and kept walking. 

Parien reached out a hand, grasped Emma’s forearm and pulled her close for a hug. 

“That was wonderful Emma, we couldn’t have done this without you.” 

“Yes,” Deem stood with his hands on his waist, nodding, his gaze not quite reaching Emma’s eyes, “you’ve done us a great service. We need to get ready,” his eyes darted to the left and Emma turned to see what he was looking at. 

Hillsman was making his way to them, holding out his hand at Emma.  She took it, grasping him on the forearm.

“Well young lady, you made a persuasive case,” he said, fixing her with a long stare, then casting his bright yellow eyes over to Deem, but still speaking to Emma “I will trust you to see this business is carried out according to the will of the Unyielding God.”

“Of course Sir,” she smiled and Hillsman let go of her arm. 

“You and I have some details to discuss,” Hillsman addressed Deem stiffly. 

“Come Emma,” Parien put an arm around Emma’s shoulder, “let’s tell the others.”

She gently guided Emma away from Deem and toward the round archway. They passed the stone table and Eibe nodded to Emma with a polite smile, then turned back to converse with the other Overseers.  

Emma cast her eyes behind her, first to Deem, who had his feet wide and his arms crossed as he talked to Hillsman, then to her parents, who still sat in the top row where her mother watched her as her father chatted with a small crowd of noble dwin. 

Parien was talking about the trip to Blue Coast and what they would need to do to prepare. Emma tried to listen, but her mind was still racing, still processing that she had won the contract. 

Sunlight stung her eyes and she lifted her hand to shade her face. It only took her eyes a moment to adjust but when she dropped her hand Rilen was directly in front of her grabbing her by the arms and asking her how it went.

“Emma was perfect. We have the contract.”

Rilen grabbed Emma, pulling her almost off her feet into a fierce hug. Before Emma could recover her footing she was engulfed in another hug.

“I knew you could do it little Lady.” Lison said in her ear as he spun her around. 

“You boys have work to do, let’s leave the ladies so they can get ready for the trip.”

Lison let Emma go, quickly running a hand down her cheek before saying goodbye and walking away with Sil. 

Still feeling off balance, Emma wrapped her arm around Rilen’s for support. Rilen squeezed her arm and started talking about the supplies they’d need for the trip. 

The sun had moved well past the middle of the sky and was nearing the other end of the valley wall. Warmed by the sunlight and still overjoyed about the contract, Emma followed Rilen to purchase supplies.

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Continue to part 10