The 3rd Age, Arad Doman.
“Promise me you’ll sleep on it one more night,” Daryen told Trista, hands on her shoulders with the urgency of a plea. She agreed. Daryen finally retired to his own quarters afterward but only to pour over the details himself one final time.
The sun rose on the day that Daryen promised High Lord Sivikawa to have a response on their treaty. Daryen dwelled long into the night, toiling upon the stakes but again no new insight presented itself. He knew the Dragon and White Tower supported his decision either way. Neighboring Falme and Tarabon were already under Seanchan control. Altara was the seat of their power on the continent. In any other life, Daryen would want to see their homeland, if only to explore someplace that he didn’t know existed until their arrival. But this was not another life. It was his life, and he had to do the best he could. Ultimately, the decision, and the risk, was his.
There was no trace of Trista when he woke. He hadn’t anticipated any different, but he scanned the room anyway. Inevitably, his gaze was drawn to the work from the previous night, and that chasm of indecision began to yawn once more until someone literally yawned. A hand lazily tugged him back to the pillows. Trust Jai to pull him from the quicksand of his own mind.
But he resisted the pull, no matter how much he didn't want to. “Unlike you, brother. I cannot sleep all day,” he said only to get a kick on the shin in return. It was enough to make him laugh.
“Promise me you’ll sleep on it one more night,” Daryen told Trista, hands on her shoulders with the urgency of a plea. She agreed. Daryen finally retired to his own quarters afterward but only to pour over the details himself one final time.
The sun rose on the day that Daryen promised High Lord Sivikawa to have a response on their treaty. Daryen dwelled long into the night, toiling upon the stakes but again no new insight presented itself. He knew the Dragon and White Tower supported his decision either way. Neighboring Falme and Tarabon were already under Seanchan control. Altara was the seat of their power on the continent. In any other life, Daryen would want to see their homeland, if only to explore someplace that he didn’t know existed until their arrival. But this was not another life. It was his life, and he had to do the best he could. Ultimately, the decision, and the risk, was his.
There was no trace of Trista when he woke. He hadn’t anticipated any different, but he scanned the room anyway. Inevitably, his gaze was drawn to the work from the previous night, and that chasm of indecision began to yawn once more until someone literally yawned. A hand lazily tugged him back to the pillows. Trust Jai to pull him from the quicksand of his own mind.
But he resisted the pull, no matter how much he didn't want to. “Unlike you, brother. I cannot sleep all day,” he said only to get a kick on the shin in return. It was enough to make him laugh.
***
By midmorning, Daryen was satisfied that all parties had slept on their decision and, undeterred, would move forward. He called for a very public ceremony at sunset, inviting the people of Bandar Eban as witness. They would convene in the city’s largest square. The treaty would be signed by both himself and the High Lord on behalf of the Empress. The Council of Merchants would attend in support of both, and finally, in honor of the momentous occasion, gifts would be exchanged between the two kingdoms. As soon as Daryen’s decision was final, all tension flowed away. Maybe this was a mistake, but he could not afford to doubt himself now. He was all in.