Royal Tea Service by Casey Blair

Author:Casey Blair [Casey Blair]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Casey Blair
Published: 2022-12-16T00:00:00+00:00

The day’s negotiations are grueling. We don’t make any progress on the main issue.

But by the end of the day, everyone has conceded to the new restrictions. It’s a victory, and I will take it.

It’s forward movement, but at the same time it sets my immediate goals for the negotiations back several steps. I’d intended to start with clear boundaries and then lighten my touch. Instead I’ve cemented an impression that I am immoveable, which is not entirely to my advantage.

It will be harder for me to see what they’re up to, if everyone feels they must commit to underhanded tactics. They may not try to take advantage in the same way, but there are others that can be more troublesome. Saiyana’s warning from the day before haunts me, but I can’t regret it now.

I have demonstrated thoroughly that I mean business, and that isn’t nothing: a long-term strength even if the short-term is more complicated.

And my covert preparations are well in hand.

Still, when Tea Master Karekin comes through the tea shop door, I can practically feel myself droop.

“Oh dear,” he says sympathetically. “One of those?”

“Long day, yes,” I say. “I was looking forward to getting home. Can whatever this is wait?”

“Perhaps, but I can’t guarantee it.”

I sigh. “Let’s take tea in the ceremony room, then.”

“Allow me,” he says once again, waving me away. “Take your time finishing up; I know you weren’t expecting me.”

Thoughtful of him, considering there was no way he could have alerted me during the negotiations without distracting me. I take a few minutes to check in with those who remain at the shop preparing it for its afternoon opening to the public—Taseino and Meristo, not even Lorwyn since she’s rushing back to the Cataclysm to work with Sa Nikuran—and ushering the rest away.

“Busy, even outside the negotiations,” Karekin notes when I finally enter the ceremony room, closing the sliding door behind me.

“Always,” I agree.

He nods. “The work doesn’t stop just because the scheduled times for action do. The surrounding preparation is just as important.”

“I know,” I say. “I fear my preparations are inadequate across the board, however.”

“Always,” he agrees wryly, and I manage a tired laugh. “You don’t mean the summit itself, though.”

“Right at the moment I mean the tea shop. We established a system for the shop to run in my absence, but it may not be sustainable after all. Everyone involved besides Meristo, our most experienced tea specialist, has taken on too much outside the shop responsibilities, and skilled as he is, Meristo is only one person.”

I don’t count Iskielo and Talmeri, who are as likely to help as hurt.

Karekin pours hot water over the cups and tea pet, then adds it to the pot. “Perhaps you might make use of my assistance, then.”

My brain screeches to a halt.

Then the dratted thing starts moving again, in a different direction.

Karekin brought up the busyness of the shop in the first place—was he angling for this? Of course he was, but—

“Why?” I ask.

“Because I’m here to assist you,” Karekin says.

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