A Little Cushion Now and Then

Writers: Aaron, Suzee
Date Posted: 25th October 2019

Characters: Bryvin, Wirnan
Description: Bryvin speaks with his cousin
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 12, day 20 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Fymer, Yriadha

Bryvin

Wirnan

Bryvin smiled as Wirnan came in the door. "How are you feeling," he
asked as he watched his cousin leaning heavily on a cane.

"Well," said Wirnan with a bit of a half-shrug, "I have it on good
authority that if I ever leave a wound untreated so long again, I'm
liable to lose my head along with the limb." He chuckled. "So quite
nervous for my neck, I suppose. It's still a bit sore, of course – the
leg, that is. My neck is fine for now." At least he could look forward
to it healing up to something resembling good as new now.

"How are you?"

"Fine," Bryvin said with a bit of an edge. "Don't particularly care
for the bevy of females who've descended on the Hold intending to be
my new wife." He smiled wryly. "Perhaps _I_ should be in fear for my
neck," he asked with a quirk of his brow.

"But," he reached for a long package and stood to take it to Wirnan.
"I had this made for you."

Wirnan quirked a brow in return. He could not begin to guess what was
in the package. He leaned his cane against Bryvin's desk and accepted
it.

"A gift for me?" he asked as he examined the box. "Seems I've already
imposed quite heavily on your hospitality, haven't I?"

"Not at all," Bryvin chuckled. "You're family."

Wirnan opened the box and set it on the desk before him. He carefully
removed the well made cane from within and turned it over in his hand.
It seemed far fancier than anything he could have hoped to deserve,
but it was also impressively well balanced.

"Bryvin, from the look of things, I'd say you're not holding out much
hope that my leg is ever going to be quite right." He smiled and
added, "Thank you. It's more than I deserve, isn't it?"

He ran his fingers over the metal of the handle until he noticed some
sort of button.

"Hm? What's this, then?" He pressed the button, which released a catch,
and carefully pulled the handle free. Along with it came the sword
which had been hidden within. "A little bit of protection, eh? Not a
bad idea..." Just knowing he had the thing on hand already made him
feel safer.

"Are you going to teach me fencing?" he asked with a grin.

"I think you can use this as a sort of illusion for others to think
you my be weaker than you actually are if you continue to carry it
after you've healed. He shook his head. I can," he said with a smile.
"But the Captain of the Guard is better than I am. I think you should
keep this for just in case you're somewhere unprotected. Because..."
he leaned forward. "I want you to become my Steward." He held up a
hand before before Wirnan could protest. "Pifer isn't up to it and the
real issue is that I can't trust him."

Wirnan's eyes lit up with excitement for the briefest moment before he
schooled his expression. It almost seemed too good to be true. Like
life was settling back toward something like it always should have
been. Like it might have been if... if none of all that had ever
happened.

"I could hardly say no, then, could I?" he said. It might come with a
few complications, but it was nothing he could not handle. "Are you
expecting Pifer to challenge me to a duel, then?"

"Oh I doubt it, deep inside he's ambitious but a coward and you can
easily manage him. I think the worst he'd try is sabotage. But I'm
aware of it so don't worry on my account. There are some things I
need to do or have done by someone I can completely trust." He sat on
the edge of his desk. "Fymer is one you can trust to do whatever we
require given enough notice. He has certain... vices. We cushion them
and he is malleable to our ends."

"Well, I think I've seen my fair share of sabotage – attempted or
successful – since the last time I did this job," said Wirnan. "I'll
know what to look for. And, of course, you can count on me to do
whatever you require even if my vices go uncushioned."

"Though, I won't say it isn't nice to have a little cushion now and
again, eh?" Wirnan joked, but considering how much trouble he had
gotten himself in over the mere appearance of 'a little cushion', he
had no intention of getting caught in the same way again. He nudged
Bryvin and then said in a more serious tone, "Truly, you won't have to
worry one bit about me bringing any judging eyes down on the hold."

"Good," Bryvin stood with a smile. "So that's a yes then?"

"Well, of course, it's a yes!" Wirnan laughed. "When do you need me to start?"

"As soon as you feel up to it," he said and reached out to clasp
forearms. "I'll have Yriadha move you to the Stewards quarters right
away." He grinned and we'll see what we can do about getting you some
cushion without strings." He was well aware of Wirnan's terrible
history, trapped into a loveless and unhappy marriage and then
discovered by a jealous husband and pursued across half of the
continent. "You'll be taken care of here Wirnan, and woe to anyone who
tries anything against you on my watch."

Last updated on the October 26th 2019

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

A Little Cushion Now and Then