Peter sighed as he entered the tent where the nobles of the East were being held captive. He crossed the room, the guards moving aside for their King and bowing their heads respectfully. He dragged a crate which had no doubt been used for storage towards the back of the tent and sat down before his two Caramort captives who were tied back to back.

"We'd bow your Majesty, but it's awfully straining on our wrists," Isaac broke the silence wittily.

Some of the nearby nobles smirked, and Peter joined them, letting out a small laugh which seemed to surprise Isaac and the Eastern nobles, though they hid it quickly. An enemy who laughed with his captives was no doubt someone to be cautious of.

"You seem more outspoken than your brother," Peter said, "I admit I haven't met him, but at least I know that you could have made a decision without the council of your sister".

Isaac froze, and Nathan turned to look at Peter.

"My daughter came?"

Peter looked right back at the older Caramort, "She's quite impressive. She united at least 80 nobles and kept them that way for three weeks before I arrived today, then decisively delivered their desire for negotiation over the river and right into the ground before my feet. Not that she really had any other choice".

There was silence between them before Isaac scoffed, still trying to keep up a bravado no doubt, "Then what was your reply?"

Peter smirked, "I delivered my reply in the same fashion. I found it quite…stimulating when she didn't even flinch when the arrow embedded into the flag pole beside her head".

Isaac gritted his teeth at the implication, but was clearly silenced by a touch from his father before Nathan took over the exchange.

"I'm assuming we won't be released for the negotiations?"

Peter smiled, "I wouldn't be a very apt negotiator if I let the other side have what they wanted without getting anything in return".

"I suppose not, but then, Saorise likely won't ask for our freedom," Nathan sighed, "The only nobles she'll ask for the immediate release of are those from families that are not represented among those she has already gathered. She won't make a decision without the entire East being united".

"You're rather bold to discuss your predictions of what your daughter will propose right in front of me," Peter stated, tilting his head in thought, "It makes me wonder what you hope to gain through it".

Nathan shook his head, "I'm not asking for anything, I'm making sure that persona you've shown off since you walked in isn't for show. That the first King to ever bring the East to negotiations is a smart one. After all, my daughter is not like the court ladies you interact with on a daily basis. Or, if the rumours were to be believed, the whores".

Peter refused to react to that jab. After all, it was true. He did enjoy the company of women no matter their social standing. His Harem already had several Concubines within it, and it would no doubt grow the more countries he conquered.

Nathan continued with a grave expression, "The only advice I can and will offer you, fledgling King, is to treat these negotiations as the most important decision of your life. The East will settle for nothing less if they are to bow".

Peter frowned, "You do not know my goals".

"No, but I know your ambition," Nathan replied, "You cannot hide that look in your eyes, and it is clear you are only just getting started. The less you treat the East as a stepping stone to that ambition, the more successful you'll become".

"It seems I'm not the only one who thinks highly of myself," Peter sighed as he stood, "Please cooperate with my soldiers as they make lists of those present, it seems your daughter is fond of them".

***

Two days later, Peter waited on the northern bank of the River Arnoc opposite the Port town of Dathow Han. The two scouts he'd sent over had just returned. They'd reported that the only thing on the ship was the food that the scouts from the southern bank had brought over, which they'd promptly tasted to ensure there was no poison. Peter nodded, then the party he'd assembled loaded onto the emissary ship and made their way over to the Amarn that was anchored in the middle of the river.

He could see the other emissary vessel was already halfway over, so they'd arrive before him and his party.

There was a palpable tension among his group. Everyone was in silence as they waited to reach their destination. Even Lucas seemed somewhat uneasy.

"Are you sure about this?" asked Isiah.

Peter smiled over at his younger brother, "I'm sure".

He'd discussed his plan with those he was bringing along the night before. Unless negotiations went sour or they were otherwise called upon, Peter would be doing all of the talking. After all, unlike the other side, Peter outranked everyone else in his party, whereas the Easterners considered themselves equals. They held the Caramorts in high regard and afforded them great respect, but that was when the Caramort House was still standing strong. It was currently being held together by a young woman and a man barely in adulthood. Saorise may have gotten them to work together to ask for the negotiation, but whether or not she'd be able to maintain that equilibrium when at the table was another question entirely.

When they arrived alongside the Amarn, Lucas and Isiah were the first two to climb up, then Peter followed them onto the deck. As he stepped onto the deck, he glanced over at the opposing side where three individuals waited, the rest of the party had no doubt already moved to the meeting room as there was a stiff breeze over the river.

It was the same three that had waited below the flag for negotiations, though Peter could now see them with much more detail.

The larger man was clearly older, and he flanked the woman closely to her right. He had a wild mane of dark hair that adorned his face and made him look quite intimidating, as if the muscles he had hadn't done that already. He didn't have a sword on him – a stipulation of the negotiations – but Peter could see that the man was used to holding one from the way he stood with one foot further forward than the other.

The other man was little more than a boy, with crystalline green eyes and brown hair that fell to cover his ears. He was adorned with nicer clothes, though still held the stance of a warrior, albeit a fledgling one. His gaze was harsh, but he said nothing as he stood slightly behind the woman, clearly waiting for her approval.

The woman…she was far prettier and more feminine than Peter had ascertained from a distance.

She was only short, coming up to just below the young man's shoulders, but her aura seemed larger than both the men behind her. She held herself proudly, and her green eyes were so bright and fierce they were almost glowing. Peter had never seen eyes as vibrant as hers.

Unlike her brothers and father, Saorise Caramort had blonde hair. It was a feature of the southerners, so while Peter had seen it from a distance he hadn't really expected it up close. Her hair was done in a singular braid that fell down her back to her waist. And it was as he appraised her that he realised how revealing the Easterners' clothing was compared to the other countries on the continent.

She bore no bare skin apart from that of her hands and face, yet her clothing was mostly skin tight. She was wearing a black shirt that hugged her arms and neck as well as her torso, leaving little to the imagination. Even with the green, short sleeve vest that was worn over it, it still revealed her figure quite spectacularly and she didn't seem in the least bit ashamed by it.

Her bottom half was at least slightly more conservative, though barely. Peter had honestly seen women where nightgowns less revealing. She wore a green skirt that fell straight to her ankles, revealing her black leather boots. At first he'd been slightly relieved she wasn't revealing more leg, especially considering that he could hear the disapproval (or at least disapproval at her wearing such an outfit to a formal occasion) being voiced behind him. However, when she stepped forward to greet him and his party, he noticed that there were slits in both sides of the skirt that went all the way to her upper thigh, just below her hips. The slits revealed her long and muscular legs that were adorned in the same skin tight black material as her arms and torso.

It was all Peter could do not to cough at the awkwardness.

As she approached however, with a barely-there smile on her lips, Peter realised that she knew exactly what she was doing. It perked his interest more than her clothing ever could, and that alone had perked another part of him. Oh, in another time and another place...

"Welcome aboard the Amarn, Your Majesty," Saorise spoke with a bow of her head, "My name is Saorise Caramort, this is my brother Lyle and the Eastern General Roderick Lowan. The rest of my party consists of some of the Eastern Nobles with greater influence and territories, they have already moved inside due to the chill off the water. Perhaps we ought to join them?"

Peter grinned, bowing his head in return, "An honour, Lady Saorise. The rumours of your beauty did not do you justice".

Lyle frowned at his words, but a quick touch of Saorise's hand to his arm was enough to silence his protest as she nodded to the compliment then extended her hand towards the door that would no doubt lead into the meeting room, "Please".

Peter stepped forward without a second thought, raising an eyebrow at the brother. If Peter had to bet, the only reason he was a part of their party was that his last name was Caramort. His impulsiveness was only controlled by his sister, and it was likely that if Peter pushed, he could find a bottom line and cross it. Now he only had to decide if that was something he wanted to do or not.