The Yarmel Problem

Writers: Suzee, Yvonne
Date Posted: 23rd November 2014

Characters: Taril, Bryvin
Description: Taril demands action
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 9, day 9 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Yriadha, Yarmel, Humari, Xeladrie

Bryvin

Dodger finally returned with a reply to brief note Taril had scrawled
to Bryvin, and Taril was at Bryvin's door almost before the flit had
come out from /between/. It was only the day after the Lord's return,
but a full day letting that piece of scum walk free in his Hold was
infuriating. If it wasn't for his respect for their new arrangement,
Taril would have let Yarmel's body wash up on the tide and Bryvin
could sort it out afterward.

But he did, and it rankled.

The merchant knocked on the office door but was too impatient to wait
for Bryvin to invite him in. Instead he limped inside after, his
expression grim and resolute. "We have a problem."

Bryvin put down the document he'd been reading and lifted a brow. He'd
rarely seen Taril move so fast so it had to be urgent. "What kind of
problem?"

Taril banged the door shut with the bottom of his crutch. "The kind
where my _pregnant_wife_ is beaten and threatened by her own
slackjawed stain of a brother," he snarled. "Yesterday, by the docks.
I've waited long enough. He's gone by your hand or dead by mine."

Bryvin's demeanor belied his inner thoughts. **Or dead at mine,** also
rang in his mind, but he needed to weigh his options and make certain
other projects wouldn't be harmed by the loss of the guard. Any man
who struck a pregnant woman was not to be tolerated in his hold.
Yarmel appeared to be muscle that had outlived it's usefulness. But
he was also quite certain Yriadha wouldn't see it quite the same way.

In the grander scheme of things Yarmel wasn't worth the clothing on
his back and Bryvin didn't plan on protecting him. His eyes narrowed
and he made a placating gesture. "Calmly Taril, we don't want the
whole world to hear your demands. Is she alright?"

He glowered at the Lord Holder. "No. She's got a black eye and was
slapped around. I want to know what you are going to do about it."

"First, sit down. Second, he's not going to get away with it. Third,
is your wife safe?"

Taril grit his teeth, debating the merits of leaving and dealing with
the issue on his own versus working with Bryvin. He'd been forced to
wait nearly a whole day already, and his patience was stretched to
tatters. Humari endured her injuries without complaint but her
stoicism was just as bad. She was _used_ to it. "She's at my home, but
clearly _not_ safe if she can't walk down to the docks without being
slapped around by her family." The merchant's eyes narrowed. "And I
mean her _family_."

"_Sit Down_" Bryvin bellowed and pointed at the chair. "Don't make me
raise my voice again Taril." HIs eyes were steel. Whether his
'merchant' guest realized it or not there were ears everywhere and to
handle the matter they had to be circumspect.

A small brown firelizard squawked from the rafters and Bryvin's eyes
turned upward, "It's alright Treek," he sent a reassuring thought
toward the whirling red eyes.

There was a long moment where Taril did nothing but suppress the urge
to smack Bryvin around the head with his crutch until he saw results.
Lord Holder or not, he was walking a very fine line. Finally, though,
he sat, but the action did nothing to soothe his temper. "I'm still
waiting."

Bryvin set his jaw for a moment then smiled. "I see you're a man of
direct action but in this case I think indirect action is the better
course. You _and_ your wife should be having dinner in a very public
place when something happens to her brother. Do you follow me Taril?
Or would you rather watch?"

"And what would I be watching, or not?"

"His end," he said succinctly. "But there are arrangements that must
be made and that cannot be done where the walls have ears." Bryvin
leveled a serious gaze at Taril. "And there is the matter of a widow
and her children to handle. I must think of the good of the Hold after
all," he spread his hands. "But we can talk of their future at a later
date."

Taril felt a brief pang of guilt over having forgotten Yarmel's wife,
but it quickly passed. Yarmel deserved what he got, and if Bryvin was
going to take the lead, so much better. He let himself be mollified,
but it was hard to reign in his temper. "And when might we need to
have dinner."

"After he leaves to take charge of the mine he will never reach," the
Lord said in a low tone. Then in a louder voice for those interested
ears, "I would like to arrange dinner with our wives next sevenday,
once she's settled in."

The merchant let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. Bryvin's
plan was sound, but it lacked the immediacy of dumping Yarmel in the
bay. It could take weeks for Yarmel to actually move out to the
mines... and it made him wonder who on Bryvin's staff would be doing
the deed. **Something to find out.** "I'm sure that Humari could use
the company."

"Good," Bryvin nodded with a faint smile. "Then it's settled. I hope
your wife will be delivered of a fine son in a few months my friend.
In the meantime she will be safe from harm. Please assure her of that."

**She'd better be.** The merchant tapped his finger against the chair
arm, wondering if he could say that to Humari without lying. Until
Yarmel was gone nothing was assured. He could still deal with the
problem on his own... "I hope that we can get together _sooner_ rather
than later. Humari is anxious to meet Lady Xeladrie."

"I'm sure we can arrange more than one meeting," he smiled. Having
Taril fall in line with his plans was good progress. "We'll arrange
something for the beginning of next sevenday."

Last updated on the December 9th 2014

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

The Yarmel Problem