Chapter 24 #3
“There is also the issue of water.”
“Water is my problem and not yours,” my father replied in a cool tone.
“We will not be making use of your resources. What is not found as part of the land will be shipped in. We will be establishing our own airport, which will be protected by private security. Iraq will not be expected to shoulder any of the burdens, and per the proposal, enforcement of the resort’s rules will also be my problem.
Upon agreement, the land will be fully transferred into my name, and I will be filing the appropriate exemptions to run a lucrative secular property.
As I mentioned in my first proposal, while nobody will be barred from practicing their religion, religion will be treated as a private matter among guests, with appropriate places established for the various faiths.
The museum will be a place to celebrate the traditions, culture, and people of Uruk, and the resort will become an oasis welcoming to everyone.
We will utilize a rather high percentage of dragons to preserve the city site and provide security for the resort. ”
The four men leaned towards each other and spoke in hushed tones. Once finished, they rose. “We will discuss this and return shortly.”
I questioned why they’d made that announcement in English, but my father nodded.
Once they left, he smiled, and I worried for the Iraqi men and what my father planned for them—or worse, that my mother might become involved.
“Your thoughts?” my father asked my mother.
She dug her phone out of her purse and sent a text.
“They will waste your time and then imply you cannot afford the site and the extra land. I have no patience for this nonsense, so our friends will arrive soon enough to hear all about our wonderful proposal for increasing tourism in a way that brings prestige without risk to visitors. I suggest you buy up some land for us surrounding our daughter’s land, that way we can get our hands extra dirty. ”
I considered my parents, and I realized that we lived in different worlds despite having shared the same household. “Dad, what type of resort are you planning?”
“The kind that brings billions of tourism dollars to the region every year,” he admitted.
“And if your hope for the land works, you will return life to the desert as the Sumerian girl wished in more ways than she could have ever imagined possible. There will technically be several resorts, although all will be of the highest quality. The rooms for the rich will be larger and may have better views; I haven’t gotten to that stage of planning yet.
Erik, I’m expecting to have a lively discussion with you regarding resort planning, especially for your family suite, which will be dedicated to you, my daughter, and your eventual children.
No one will be able to reserve your suite, although you may invite people to stay in it at your whim. ”
I scowled. “You really are a broker of souls, aren’t you?”
He laughed. “I’ve been handling deals like this for others for longer than you have been alive, my little princess. I’m just doing it for you for a change. Your mother’s being more vicious than I anticipated, though.”
“The one rolled in the dirt like some uncouth fool before attempting to insult our little girl. I have zero desire to drag things out. Pay attention, Kinsley. You’re about to watch magic, and it’s the kind created by hard work and friendship.
There’s a reason your father’s Arabic is so good—and if they decide to switch to Kurdish, he’s even better at Kurdish.
Also, now that you’re growing up, have your father start teaching you new languages.
You’re his daughter, and you’ll pick it up with ease.
Me? I spend an hour or two a night trying to be passable at the languages I know I need. ”
“Do you speak Arabic?”
“I have a basic understanding of Arabic, but I’m awful at speaking it.
I’m decent at Kurdish, though. My Italian, Latin, German, and Spanish are good.
My French is excellent, but we did a stint in France a long time ago.
I also speak more than a few dead languages, as does your father.
We spend an evening every week just talking in dead languages to keep their memory alive. ”
“If you speak them, why don’t you teach others so the languages aren’t dead anymore?”
“Humanity made its choices,” my mother informed me in a gentle tone.
“And sometimes, that choice means that we dragons—and the other aged species of the world—need to allow humanity to face the consequences of their actions. I think we might start offering nudges to some archaeologists, though. We can be a living Rosetta Stone in certain situations, although we’ll have to be subtle about it. Darling?”
“We can discuss that later,” my father promised. “Put your game faces on, children. And Kinsley, our friends know how much you love animals, so do not be surprised if you are given a new pet. The same applies to you, Erik. They have been waiting to meet Kinsley for thousands of years.”
Erik eyed the room. “What if they’re recording this meeting?”
“Oh, I’m counting on them recording it. It’s more satisfying for me when they realize the errors of their ways before I crush my opponents without mercy.”
* * *
Monday, June 8, 2167
Samawah
Al Muthanna Governorate, Iraq
Someone, a servant if I were to guess from garb and demeanor, came into the conference room and bowed. “Please come with me, good sirs, good ladies.”
Unlike the four men, while his English bore a light hint of an accent, he spoke with confidence, his words crisp while his tone remained friendly.
I found it interesting he addressed me and my mother, and something about my mother’s expression warned me she found being addressed to be odd as well. My father rose and pulled the seat out for my mother, and Erik followed his lead, lagging only a few moments behind.
I regretted needing to walk in the heels which, like my gown, were encrusted with shimmering gemstones.
“Please forgive the poor behavior of your hosts. They are being corrected, and they will join us as soon as they are dressed appropriately for the occasion. My master requested I beg your forgiveness, and he will offer his in person soon enough, as he prepares a gift for your lovely daughter and her betrothed. May I address the lady, sir?”
“Of course,” my father replied, and he inclined his head in a bow.
The man bowed to my father before bowing to my mother.
“I was honored with permission to wed one of your sisters many a year ago, and she begged that we have the honor of hosting your household before you depart for Europe. She would also be honored if we might accompany you on your next and most important task.”
I stared at him with wide eyes, and it sank in I had aunts and uncles, I was in the room with one, and I had zero idea of how to handle the situation.
“Sarissa?” my mother asked.
My uncle nodded before bowing again. “Yes, I am honored to have Sarissa as my bride. I am Ayman, and I am truly fortunate to be so blessed.”
My mother burst into laughter. “Did my sister warn you I might eat you alive?”
“She warned my master that you are the true threat of this gathering, and if the weak men of our nation were wise, they would bow and grovel at your feet.”
Somehow, I kept from bursting into laughter, but my mother failed to contain her chortling.
After a storm of giggles, she recovered and said, “Well, you can relax. It’d be rude to devour one of my brothers-in-law, and if Sarissa wants to buck the family tradition of spiting me for daring to bed the enemy, I’d love to see her.
She’s the sweetest of the Scarettis. Did she take your name or did you take hers? ”
“I joined the Scaretti clan. I am an orange and red dragon-kin, and we will be journeying to Dragon Heights sooner than later.”
My mother glanced my way. “Kinsley, darling, there’s no better time than the present to learn, so when your uncle comes visiting with my sister, you can host them. We’ll start teaching you Arabic and Kurdish along with their customs. That art museum of yours is a perfect hosting place.”
With a little repair work, the place would be habitable and pleasant for guests—and offer plenty of space for visiting family. “Sure, I don’t mind hosting them if Erik doesn’t mind.”
“I’d love it. The kittens will adore having extra people around to cater to their needs.”
“Then it’s settled,” my mother announced.
“Please tell Sarissa we’d love to visit and to have you both join us for the next part of our expedition.
I have no idea what we will find in the schools, but she is the most nurturing of my sisters, and she should have good advice for how to handle the situation. Is your master aware of our relation?”
“I was honored to join him because of it.”
“Good, then we won’t have to dance around it much.
Thank you for the warning. It’s appreciated.
” My mother rubbed her hands together. “Kinsley, pay attention. Sarissa is older than me, and unless something has changed, her favorite hobby is beating on irritating Scaretti dragons. She’s the one who taught me most of my bad habits.
In good news for you, she is kinder than I am; I will start beating on irritating Scaretti dragons for breathing.
She’ll at least wait for a ‘tolerable excuse’ before she dives in.
Erik, she might hug you to death, but you’ll be fine.
She likes yellows, probably because yellow is needed to make orange, and while she has no use for other red dragons, orange ones appeal to her.
Unless you want to get beaten, don’t question it.
It didn’t make sense when she started that up thousands of years ago, and it doesn’t make sense now. She’s a weird one.”
I stared at my mother. “Who in our family isn’t a weird one?”
“You, alas.”
I scowled. “Have you forgotten what my favorite activity is on Fridays?”
“That makes you disgustingly compassionate rather than weird.”
My father eyed us both. “Ladies, if we want to escape today, please focus on the negotiations. If you two start fighting, you might not leave the building standing.”
“We’ll continue this later,” my mother swore.
As there was nothing I could say without earning someone’s wrath, I sighed.