Digging for Information

Writers: Estelle, Miriah
Date Posted: 18th January 2020

Characters: Lioran, Rimmelle
Description: Brina's maid investigates a drudge and discovers valuable information
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 13, day 25 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Riadem, Yriadha, Brina
Notes: Takes place after "Getting Rid of a Problem"

Rimmelle laid on the infirmary bed, softly weeping as the last of the
spasms she was told to expect shuddered through her abdomen. How could
this have happened? The loss of the babe the previous night that she'd
carried had destroyed all of her hopes. Riadem had been kind, helping
her as a Healer ought, but there had been no affection in his manner
and hardly any comfort in his touch. Instead he'd seemed...relieved.
It was clear to the young woman that there was no longer any intention
from him to wed her. There was no reason now.

Her heart crackled a little more at the thought, but the worst was
what the Headwoman's assistant had brought to her. A dismissal. She
could read enough of the hide to know that she was being sent back
home in utter disgrace. Her father, she knew, would beat her at the
least and at most, cast her out. In her little corner of the infirmary,
no one seemed to notice her weeping, nor did they care.

No one, that was, except for the woman who stepped softly into the ward
and looked down the line of beds with careful, calculating eyes. She was
in her middle years, her neatly braided hair now almost entirely silver,
and her dark grey dress was plain but of good quality, befitting a
higher-ranking servant.

She didn't know the drudge, but it wasn't too hard to guess which was
the one she sought from the quiet sobs that came from the end of the
row. Her face softened into an expression of sympathy as she approached
the girl's bed.

"Are you Rimmelle, dear?" She spoke in a low voice, as befitted a
visitor to the infirmary, but with warmth and compassion. "I'm Lioran,
Lady Brina's personal maid. She was sorry to hear you were ill, and sent
me to find out how you were."

Rimmelle jerked at the sound of the voice and opened her puffy eyes.
"She did?" Her lip trembled. "Tell your lady thank you, but I'm
horrible and the so is every Healer here. And the Headwoman!" She
covered her eyes and began to weep again, shoulders shaking.

"Oh, you poor child!" Lioran's eyes flickered at the mention of the
Headwoman, but she hid her surprise and sank into the chair beside the
bed and laid a soothing hand on the girl's shoulder. "There, there.
You're not horrible. You're far too young to be any such thing."

"I lost my baby. Riadem didn't stop it and it was his own. " The young
woman sobbed softly. "He was going to wed me, but the baby's gone now
and the Headwoman dismissed me! She knew I love him and she's sending me
away!" She held out the hide in shaking fingers. "My father, he's going
to..."

"Hush now," Lioran murmured, embracing the girl's trembling shoulders as
she gently slid the hide from her hand and glanced at it. "I'm so sorry
for your loss. It must be dreadful. I'm sure the Headwoman didn't
realise, or she'd never have been so cruel as to turn you out, not in
this state. No-one could." She paused, as if considering something. "But
perhaps my lady can help? Lady Brina knows many people of quality. If
she were to write a reference for you...however, honesty is important to
her. She would want to understand what happened."

She let that sink in. "You said that the baby was Riadem's own?"

"The Headwoman knew about the baby and what Riadem promised." Rimmelle
leaned against the maid, taking comfort as she sniffled and sloppily
wiped her nose on the sleeve of her night dress. At the offer,
however, she looked up, her face suddenly hopeful through her tears.
"She could? She would do that?" She gave little hiccuping breaths and
nodded in answer. "Yes. Riadem can be very sweet and kind." her face
began to crumple. "and...treated me really good. I was only with him
when I got with child. He promised that..." Her eyes filled with tears
again. "He promised he would take care of me, but...now..."

The older woman's brow rose - so it was true, the Headwoman had known,
and the letter of dismissal meant she wanted to keep this quiet. How
fortunate for them both, that the child had been lost... "There, now.
You've learned a hard lesson; you can't trust a man until he's spoken
his marriage vows, and sometimes not after that, either. But you're
young and pretty, you have all your life ahead of you and it needn't be
ruined. One day he'll regret breaking his promise."

"I love him. I love him so much." Rimmelle wiped her eyes. "He was so
good to me." She repeated mournfully. "He didn't care that I'd been
with others before him. I thought he'd keep his promise. He seemed
so...honorable and good." Her shoulders slumped as she looked at the
maid. "Will your lady truly help me? I can't bear the thought of being
Holdless. My father would turn me away once he hears. I'll have
nothing."

"I'm sure she'll do what she can." Lioran took care to hide her disdain.
No wonder the Headwoman hadn't wanted her son to wed this girl; she was
clearly a common little slut, and Lioran had no intention of allowing
Lady Brina to involve herself on behalf of such a person. Although...
She smiled as a delicious idea occurred to her. "Perhaps she might write
to her daughter-in-law, back at the Hold where we used to live." It
would serve that vain, entitled wherry-hen right to be sent a drudge who
was no better than she ought to be.

Rimmelle wiped her eyes again and took Lioran's hands. "Thank you.
Thank you and thank your Lady too. I work hard and I'll do whatever
they need me to. I swear it. I just don't want to be cast out." She
swallowed. "When will I know? The Headwoman said I had until I was
healed before I was expected to leave."

"I'll go and speak to Lady Brina at once." Lioran pressed her hands
tightly for a moment, then gently pulled them free. "Don't worry any
more. Rest now. Your body needs to heal, and so does your heart."

"Thank you." Rimmelle laid back down, her face a little more hopeful
despite her grief. "And if you see Riadem..." Her voice trailed off
and she shook her head, her expression pained. "Never mind. He doesn't
love me. Thank you."

Lioran gave her a sympathetic look and stood. "Rest, dear. Everything
will feel better when you've had some sleep. I'll be back, soon."

Leaving the girl to her sniffling, she slipped out of the infirmary and
walked slowly back towards Lady Brina's quarters. She'd learned a great
deal from that little conversation. Now the question was, how should she
use it?

Last updated on the February 1st 2020

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Digging for Information