Hold and Hall

Writers: Miriah, Yvonne
Date Posted: 20th March 2015

Characters: Taril, Humari
Description: Humari and Taril talk over a game of backgammon, and Taril asks a very important question
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 10, day 22 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Xeladrie, Bryvin

Humari

"Hmm." Taril squinted down at the backgammon board. Humari was trouncing him-- again. The girl had uncanny luck with dice, and he thanked his lucky stars that he hadn't taught her how to play for marks. He sighed, and after a moment moved two of his black checkers. "Have you had the chance to speak with the Lady Holder yet?"

Humari eyed his pieces and then picked up the dice. "Yes, I have. I like her. She's not stuffy in the slightest." She tossed the dice and beamed as it landed on double sixes. With a grin, she moved her pieces, sending several of his back. "I think she's smarter than people think." She mused, her attention on the board. "I warned her about Mother."

"Good. I'm glad you did." The sooner the seeds of mistrust were sown, the better for everyone. "Do you like her?"

That brought a little flush. She did like Xeladrie, but surely not in the way Taril meant. "Oh, yes. I do. She seems very smart." She glanced up at her. "Have you met her yet?"

He shook his head. "We don't have much occasion to cross paths. Bryvin mentioned that we might have a dinner together, but I haven't heard anything from him since." An empty promise, or more likely, the Lord forgot. "Perhaps that's something you could follow up on. A discrete inquiry to the Lady?"

"She is very lovely." Her voice trailed off and she shook her head. "I will ask her tomorrow." She handed him the dice and then sipped her tea. "She seems a little lonely too. I'm not surprised, though, she doesn't know hardly anyone here."

"All the more reason for you to cultivate a friendship." He frowned at the board, then rolled a one and a five. The five spot was free on her side of the board, so he put that piece down and handed her the dice. "Does she like Bryvin?"

"I don't know." She examined the board. "I'm not sure if she does or not. They don't appear to be close, but it _was_ an arranged marriage. That could take time." She rolled the dice and was able to take one more of her pieces off of the board. The situation was a bit similar to her own; she was still getting to know her husband. Honestly, she could say that she liked him and he was good company.

Taril rolled the dice and smiled briefly when he came up with another five. That put both his 'out' pieces back on the board, although he was still losing rather badly. "True. What does she like?"

Humari held her dice as she answered his question. "She's a little shorter than I, with beautiful blond hair and large green eyes. She's not an inside lady, I think, because her skin has been tanned. It's much darker than my own. " Humari was pale, perhaps due to both her heritage and the fact that she hadn't been allowed outside often before her marriage. "But it's very pretty. She's beautiful really." Her voice trailed off. "Very lovely."

Taril paused, something about Humari's tone not sitting well with him. "She's been trained to be," he said, perhaps a little sharper than he'd intended. "Ladies of the Blood spend most of their time learning the fine art of swaying a man's mind, and that includes using their appearance as a blind to get what they want." Much the same as he did. He paused before he added, "Let me know when you speak with her. And tell me what she says, no matter how inconsequential it might seem."

Humari blinked at the sharp tone and immediately looked down, feeling chastened. "Yes, Taril."

There was a small, awkward pause in the conversation. Taril cleared his throat. "Have you heard about the Seahall's opening?"

Humari nodded slowly. "Yes. I'm helping Lady Xeladrie prepare for it."

"Would you like to go as well?" He searched her face, strangely anxious for her to say yes.

That surprised her and she blinked, brows twitching upwards. "You'd let me go? Out of the Hold?" She'd never really been allowed to leave the Hold. True, she'd been riding, but that had only been close to the buildings and in fenced pastures; she'd never left sight of the Hold's numerous buildings. Surprise made her blink again and a hopeful look dawned in her eyes. "Yes. Yes I would. If you'd let me. I've never been anywhere."

"Of course. We'll go together," Taril said with a grin. The things he could show her...! "My brother is sailing Lord Bryvin and his entourage to the Seacraft Hall, and we can sail with them. I suppose you've never been on a ship before either?"

That brought a wide, happy smile to her face, her previous feeling of chastisement fading. Like a little girl, she bounced and clapped in glee. "A real boat? Not just a dinghy in the harbor, but a real boat? I've never been on one at all!"

Her excitement was infectious, and he laughed. "A _ship_, not a boat. My brother would be horrified to hear the Sea Wife referred to as a boat! But yes - a real voyage, just a short one. And then the next three days at the Seacraft Hall, sailing back the day after Threadfall. That would please you?"

"Oh yes." She breathed and forgetting the previous awkwardness, rose and hurried around the table to kiss his cheek and bounce on her toes. "A real trip! On a ship!" Her excitement made her face sparkle. "Thank you, Taril!"

"Of course." The short trip around to the Seacraft Hall was suddenly seeming much more appealing now that he had someone to share it with.

Last updated on the April 8th 2015

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Hold and Hall