SSS Talent: From Trash to Tyrant

Darian’s expression shifted almost immediately. Trafalgar leaned back into the sofa, letting the idea sit properly before explaining it. Rejecting Maeron now would accomplish very little. Accepting him outright would be considerably worse, especially when none of them knew what he actually wanted from House Thal’zar.

”So you want me to keep talking to him,” Darian said.

”Exactly. Don’t accept anything, but don’t close the door either.” Trafalgar rested one arm against the side of the sofa. ”Let Maeron think you’re interested enough to keep listening. If he wants something from you badly enough, eventually he’ll have to explain what that something is.”

Maris considered it for a moment. ”And until then, we delay.”

”As much as you reasonably can.”

Darian gave a slow nod. ”That shouldn’t be difficult. Negotiations between Great Families aren’t exactly known for being quick.”

”Use that.” Trafalgar’s mouth curved slightly. ”Ask questions. Tell him you need time to consider the consequences. Say you need to speak with people inside your family before making commitments. Whatever makes sense.”

Cynthia understood where he was going. ”And every time Maeron thinks he’s getting closer, make him give you a little more.”

Trafalgar glanced toward her. ”Pretty much.”

Darian leaned forward, his elbows resting against his knees. ”How far do you want me to take it? There’s a difference between making him think I’m listening and making him believe I’ve already chosen his side.”

”Keep it on the first one.” Trafalgar’s answer came easily. ”I don’t want you promising soldiers, political support, resources, or anything else that could later be used against House Thal’zar. You’re interested. That’s all.”

Rhosyn spoke from her chair. ”Make him earn every step forward.”

Darian looked toward her, and she went on. ”If he asks whether you’d support him politically, ask what exactly you’re supporting. If he mentions military cooperation, ask why House Thal’zar would ever need to provide soldiers in the first place.” Her black eyes stayed calm. ”He’ll either answer, avoid the question, or disappear. All three tell us something.”

Darian nodded. ”And if he keeps avoiding everything?”

”Then you keep delaying him,” Trafalgar said. ”Maeron spending weeks trying to convince you is still useful to me. Every hour he’s worrying about House Thal’zar is an hour he’s not using somewhere else.”

That earned a faint smile from Darian. ”So you want me to waste his time.”

”Among other things.”

Cynthia shifted slightly beside Trafalgar. ”There’s also another advantage. If Maeron believes Darian might eventually agree, he has a reason to keep this whole thing quiet.”

Maris looked toward her. ”Because exposing the negotiations would make Darian less likely to cooperate.”

”Exactly.” Trafalgar nodded. ”And that gives us room to watch.”

Darian was quiet for a moment, clearly thinking through the possible responses. ”I could tell him I’m interested in the idea of cooperation, but that his offer is too vague. If he wants anything serious from House Thal’zar, I need to know what he expects from us.”

”That’s a good start.”

”And if he refuses?”

”Then tell him you can’t commit a Great Family to something you don’t understand.”

Darian gave Trafalgar an amused look. ”Which happens to be completely true.”

”Those are usually the easiest lies to maintain.”

Maris almost smiled at that, though she hid most of it behind her cup.

Darian continued. ”I can probably push him on what House Morgain would offer us in return too. If he wants an alliance, he’ll need to explain why it’s worth the risk.”

”Do it.” Trafalgar’s expression became more serious. ”But don’t get greedy. If Maeron offers something absurdly good, don’t let that tempt you into agreeing before we know what he wants.”

Darian’s ears shifted slightly. ”You still think I need that warning?”

”I think everyone needs that warning when someone starts offering them things they want.”

Darian accepted that with a slight nod. ”Fair enough.”

Rhosyn looked toward Maris. ”Did the intermediary give you any deadline for answering?”

”No. They wanted an answer reasonably soon, but there was nothing specific.” Maris placed her cup back on the table. ”At the time, I thought that was because they were trying not to appear desperate.”

”And now?” Cynthia asked.

”Now I’m wondering whether they simply don’t know how quickly their own plans will move.”

That caught Trafalgar’s attention, and he looked at Darian. ”Another thing worth testing.”

Darian understood. ”Delay longer than expected and see whether they start applying pressure.”

”Exactly.”

If Maeron became impatient, that would tell them plenty. A man planning something years away could afford to wait, and a man preparing for something much closer might not. Trafalgar kept that thought to himself.

Darian leaned back again. ”Then I’ll respond through the same channel. I’ll say I’m willing to discuss cooperation, but I need something more concrete before I bring the idea any further.”

”And if he sends another intermediary?”

”We’ll listen.”

”If he wants to meet personally?”

That made Darian pause. ”I’d tell you first.”

”Good.”

Trafalgar was satisfied with that. He hadn’t planned on turning Darian into a way of watching Maeron, but circumstances had handed him the opportunity, and ignoring it would’ve been stupid. More importantly, House Thal’zar stayed outside whatever was building inside Morgain, at least for now. Darian wasn’t choosing Maeron. He was simply letting Maeron believe there was a chance.

Maris looked between the two men before slowly rising from her chair. ”I think my part here is finished.”

Everyone’s attention turned toward her. She adjusted the front of her clothes before looking directly at Trafalgar. ”I mainly came because the approach reached me first, and because I believed you deserved to hear what happened from someone who was personally involved.”

Her voice stayed polite, though the old nervousness Trafalgar remembered around him had eased considerably. ”Whatever happens from here, I trust Darian to handle it. And for what it’s worth, Trafalgar... I appreciate that you’ve chosen to warn us instead of leaving House Thal’zar to discover this situation on its own.”

Trafalgar stood as well. ”You did the right thing bringing it to Darian instead of answering Maeron yourself. That probably saved everyone a lot of trouble.”

Maris gave him a respectful nod. ”I suppose we’ll find out.”

”We usually do.”

That earned the faintest smile from her. Maris then looked toward her brother. ”I’ll leave the rest to you.”

Darian nodded, and she turned back to Trafalgar one final time. ”It was good seeing you again, Trafalgar du Morgain.”

”You too, Maris. Take care of yourself. And give my regards to your husband.”

Her posture tightened by the smallest amount again, though this time she managed a quiet laugh. ”I will.”

With that, Maris turned toward the door. Varek opened it for her, and she stepped out into the corridor without looking back, and the door closed behind her.