Role

Chapter 2

His father folded his enormous hands upon his desk. "Just the small matter of
House Qadir. Their eldest son and heir - Nasir? - seems to have taken ill
with a rapidly advancing wasting sickness. Lord Qadir's clerics are beside
themselves trying to treat him, yet every prayer uttered slides off the poor
bastard like oil on eel skin."

Merigan looked up lazily and met his father's eyes. "And?"

His father puffed out his cheeks and snorted. "You thought it wise to make a
move against House Qadir when we have three contracts set to expire with the
Empire? Our three largest, in fact? Chaos breeds mistakes, Merigan. Like
leaving the bastard alive, for example."

Merigan waved the criticism away. "The anemone that produces the poison I used
lives in the Underdark Sea, father. He will be dead soon, and there is little
House Qadir can do about it." He leaned back in his chair, tracing circles on
its satin arms slowly with his finger. "Nasir had secretly been negotiating
slave transport contracts with the Empire on behalf of House Qadir. Lord Qadir
is notoriously hard to work with, and relied on his son's considerable
diplomatic skills. As you say, our contracts are almost up. House Qadir saw an
opening - I closed it."

Lord Najjar nodded and leaned back. "I had figured as much. You are a clever
one, Merigan, and the little spies you have employed since childhood have paid
dividends for the family."

Merigan smiled and splayed his hands out. "So... why am I here? A blue ribbon,
perhaps?"

His father returned the smile. "You could say that. You were very careful.
House Qadir doesn't suspect a thing, so far as I can tell. But the Empire is
an entirely different matter."

Merigan's face drained of color and his finger shuddered to a stop on the arm
of the chair.

"After one of the Council's sorcerers deduced the poison, and the... poisoner,
they sent their congratulations on a successful renegotiation. With a
stipulation."

Merigan breathed out slowly, sinking further into the chair.

His father flashed a rare grin. "That's right, son. You're taking the
Bloodoath."