True Colors

Writers: Avery, Len, Suzee
Date Posted: 29th December 2014

Characters: L'fael, Bryvin, Zelah
Description: Lafael makes a mistake, spilling hot food on the Lord of the Hold and showing Xeladrie a real glimpse of the man she's married
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 10, day 27 of Turn 7

Bryvin

Zelah

Maybe it was the weather and the way it had gone from sunshine to rain
in only a few hours. Maybe it was because there had been a lot of his
friends in his head, talking and talking, and talking some more about
the 'Fall that had happened this morning. Either way, all Lafael knew
was his head felt like it was going to split open it hurt so badly. He
really should have never been assigned to food duty in the main Hall
for dinner. He certainly should never have found himself holding the
tray of hot slices of meat to give to the Lord of the Hold.

Worst of all, he never should have leaned forward like he did and let
all the slices fall across the table and onto Bryvin's lap.

Chair legs scraped on stone as the Lord Holder flung it back and stood
with a bellow. "Sharding fool," he backhanded the offending drudge and
shook the food from his lap onto the floor.

The hard blow to his cheek and then his head rebounding on the floor
meant poor Lafel's head hurt even worse. So bad, in fact, that his
sight went black and everything seemed to stop, except for a buzzing
in his ears. When he came to, Lafael saw the planted feet of his Lord
before him. Slowly, he looked up, only stopping then his eyes meet
Bryvin's. It was too late to say he was sorry. All the boy could do
was try to pick himself up. He got to his hands and knees when he
noticed the entire hall was silent.

Bryvin swung around and planted his boot in the drudge's side and pushed
him over. "Get him _out_ of here," he growled at no one in particular.
"Send me someone who won't spill hot food on me."

Lafael knew better than to protest when the man's foot pushed him over
again. He lay there, breathing heavy, listening to the sounds of the Hall.
There was only the whispering of the residents and a few nervous coughs.
And the sound of someone else breathing heavily, someone feminine. Lafael
dared not look to his Lady.

It all happened so fast. There was Lafael, serving them - then there was
food flying - and then Bryvin's hand, snapping out fast like a tunnelsnake
and the drudge hit the ground.

Anger grew inside her. She'd thought maybe Bryvin was better than she'd
feared, maybe he had been the man that _she_ had spoken of - but if he was
going to hit a drudge like this, then maybe she'd been right all along.

Another two drudges had scurried up. The male one was carrying more food
and dithered anxiously. The woman went towards the fallen boy.

What could she say to still Bryvin's anger? Xeladrie reached her hand out
to rest her fingers on his arm, hoping it would distract him.

Bryvin's head turned slowly and his eyes moved a moment later
refocusing on Xeladrie's fingers then her face. The anger in them
cooled slightly. "Madam," he said and lifted her fingers from his arm
with a slight nod. His jaw clenched and unclenched with controlled
anger that still boiled beneath the surface but he turned away from
the downed drudge while another one placed his chair behind him.
"Please," he waved at his guests. "Return to your conversation," he
added with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Grateful that Bryvin's attention was diverted, Lafael limped out with
the hep of his fellow drudge.

Bryvin looked at his wife with the selfsame smile. "Sit," he said and
did the same himself.

She settled back into her chair at his command, keeping a wary eye on
Bryvin. She thought rapidly of words to try to soothe this over. "I'll
draw you a bath and make sure your clothes are
clean as soon as the meal is over."

Bryvin reached for his goblet and slowly lifted it to his lips while
he gathered his thoughts and his composure. He nodded slowly without
looking at Xeladrie. "That would be appreciated," he said in an
icy tone. It had been a long time since his control had snapped
like that and it bothered him to have it happen in such a public
setting. Finally he lowered the glass to the table. "Where's the
Harper," he called.

"We will dance and you will smile," he said in a frozen tone.

"Yes, my lord," Xeladrie said with a submissive bow of her head. She would
make sure to please him as best she could this evening.

Last updated on the February 10th 2015

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True Colors