Post by Niccolo Montefiore on Nov 22, 2014 13:22:55 GMT -5
Anzio was not the most thrilling town Niccolo had ever visited. The town barely deserved to be called a spit on the map. However, he had to concede that the Deliambres were correct; the sleepy fishing village was the most neutral location they could have selected. The most notable feature of the area was the river that separated both duchies. The terrain was flat upon both approaches, thus any armies or nasty surprises would be easily spotted for miles. So while it may have been a sleepy town, they were safe here for the time being.
Granted, safe was such a relative concept. Safe from armies, certainly, but not safe from their centuries old enemies sitting in their inn on the other side of the town. The initial meeting had been cool, but civil. The pleasantries exchanges were exactly what Niccolo expected to be and very little business was discussed. They had seen the whites of each other's eyes. Their mutual presences were assured. The meeting was adjourned with promises of the real work beginning on the morrow.
That left Niccolo alone to do to a great deal of walking, thinking, walking, and more thinking. The market places had a few lovely trinkets, but they paled in comparison to what lay before him. The future of two families could easily be decided here. Elena had given him some quiet advice on the matter, but so had his sisters, but in the end, it would be up to him. Such a burden threatened to become overbearing. Yet, Niccolo was determined to stand strong.
The afternoon turned into the evening. The Duke drew closer to the inn, a faint smile thanking the guard assigned to him for his patience. However, when he reached the doorway, he sighed. The man had no stomach for food or tongue for drink. "Go on and get Dem. Let him take over for the night, and get yourself fed, si?" And thus, Niccolo went inside but remained by the door while waiting for his friend and cousin to show.
@demetriomontefiore
Granted, safe was such a relative concept. Safe from armies, certainly, but not safe from their centuries old enemies sitting in their inn on the other side of the town. The initial meeting had been cool, but civil. The pleasantries exchanges were exactly what Niccolo expected to be and very little business was discussed. They had seen the whites of each other's eyes. Their mutual presences were assured. The meeting was adjourned with promises of the real work beginning on the morrow.
That left Niccolo alone to do to a great deal of walking, thinking, walking, and more thinking. The market places had a few lovely trinkets, but they paled in comparison to what lay before him. The future of two families could easily be decided here. Elena had given him some quiet advice on the matter, but so had his sisters, but in the end, it would be up to him. Such a burden threatened to become overbearing. Yet, Niccolo was determined to stand strong.
The afternoon turned into the evening. The Duke drew closer to the inn, a faint smile thanking the guard assigned to him for his patience. However, when he reached the doorway, he sighed. The man had no stomach for food or tongue for drink. "Go on and get Dem. Let him take over for the night, and get yourself fed, si?" And thus, Niccolo went inside but remained by the door while waiting for his friend and cousin to show.
@demetriomontefiore