Morning all. I woke before my alarm this morning, which is always a slightly odd feeling for me. It wasn’t by much, just eight minutes. I somehow felt cheated out of eight minutes of sleep. But as I did it to myself and there is nothing external I can blame, I guess I really just had enough sleep. Still feels like a cheat. Timers ready and off we go into the morning prompt.
I think I would have to spend some time with this to decide the story. I like the having to pick sides and the trade issues. I would need to sketch out a map and decide on a bit of the politics before I move forward with the story though. It is one that could be fun, but requires a bit of thought and planning before writing begins.
Tuesday, January 9th: He lifted the decanter.
He lifted the decanter. The light shone through the amber liquid. It shimmered softly behind the faceted glass. He sighed and shook his head as he pulled the stopper from the top and poured a small measure into a waiting glass. He poured less than he might have otherwise and resolved to sip it slowly.
‘I don’t know when we will be able to get it again.’ He set the decanter down and carefully stoppered the decanter. He picked up his glass and made his way to his favorite reading chair by the fire. The leather sighed softly as he settled. The fire crackled merrily in the grate. Outside the winter winds howled down from the mountain, carrying with them a mix of rain and ice. It tapped against the window pains like fingernails.
It was a pleasant way to spend a wretched evening, settled by the fire with a glass of his favorite Devorian whiskey. He should have been content. Instead with each delicate sip he was reminded if his problems instead of using the time to set them aside and ready himself for sleep.
The trade routes were blocked. While at this time of year that was not a terribly unusual circumstance, winter usually closing the pass and cutting off trade, trade was restricted earlier than the weather called for it. War was brewing in the south and despite having no interest in the politics of the southern kingdoms, the trade that sent items like the Devorian whisky was disrupted.
While he could easily do without the luxury of his whiskey, there were other items that he and his kingdom needed sent from the southern lands. In theory they could do with out those supplies as well, but it would be rough. Once it was noted that trade was becoming more intermittent, he ordered changes. Luckily the interruptions were noted early and they still had time to make a back up plan should they not receive the necessary items to get them through winter. It was meant as a back up. Fields that were only suitable for growing the ancient style of grains they once depended on had lain fallow since importation of wheat was cheaper. It let more of hiss people focus their time and talents on crafting the luxury goods they sent south.
He thought of the new plantings as a just in case measure and was pleased to have it. However with the last series of skirmishes the pass south was closed more often than it was open and instead of their ancient grains being a supplement, this winter they were more of a staple than he liked.
‘And the problem won’t go away in the spring.’
He didn’t like the southern politics or meddling in them, but he paid attention. This was not an issue that would go away soon. And he suspected that while they had always been able to stand by the side and still trade with all parties equally, that would be changing in the spring as well. He listened to the rhetoric and saw the pattern of the attacks on the trade caravan. Each attacked the supplies ordered from the other side.
He suspected that in the spring they would be asked to pick a side. The fact that he found neither side worth backing was somewhat problematic.
Ten til Midnight 