Taking Liberties

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

Characters: Brina, Bryvin
Description: Brina tells Bryvin her suspicions about Riadem
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 13, day 27 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Noriya, Asaile, Riadem, Yriadha

Brina

Bryvin

Brina had always believed that one of the most important duties of a
Lady - or any holder's wife - was to provide a place for her husband to
relax after the hard work of the day. That was true whether it was
simply a mug of klah and a comfortable chair by the hearth fire, or tea
in a tastefully furnished sitting room like the one she'd directed the
drudges to prepare. Since her brother had no wife, this duty was hers.

She also wanted to speak to him about the conversation she'd overheard,
and what she'd found out since, so she was relieved when her maid
announced his name.

"Brother." She stood, welcoming him with a smile. "I'm glad you could
find time. Please, come and sit."

"Brina," he smiled and cast an appreciative look around the room.
"This is cozy," he said. He walked toward her and settled where she
indicated. the comfortable chair enfolded him in an almost sinful hug.
"Oh I like this chair," he smiled at her again He snapped his fingers
and Captain trotted over to drop down beside his chair. "So what do
you think of the young ladies," he asked with his head laid back and
eyes closed.

"They are quite a variety," Brina said, a note of warm amusement in her
voice as she sat down to pour the tea. "Some of them are young and still
learning to behave in a manner befitting to their rank, but after all,
that is what they were sent here for, and it keeps me busy." She handed
him a cup. "Lady Noriya is a lovely girl, very well brought up and
accomplished, and Lady Asaile, too, though she is a little shy. Have you
met either of them yet?"

He'd opened his eyes as she talked and took the tea she'd poured. "I
don't think I've met either of those," he shook his head slowly. "Of
course I've probably seen them," he added. "It's hard to go anywhere
these days without stumbling over a gaggle of young women making eyes
at me." He winked at Brina.

She laughed, unable to help herself. It felt good to do so after so many
Turns, for even with her friends at her husband's hold she'd never been
to relax quite as she could with her brother. Not even with her husband
himself. "Bryvin, I would sympathize, but I suspect you're enjoying
every minute of it."

"Shhhh," he said putting a finger to his lips. "Don't tell anyone."

"Your secret is safe with me." For a moment Brina was tempted to forget
about the matter she'd wanted to speak to him about and let him rest.
Her upbringing had taught her that this was not the time for troubling
news. But she'd also learned, as they all had, to put the good of the
Hold first. The situation was delicate, and this was one of the few
places where they wouldn't be overheard.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about a matter touching on the young
ladies." Her concern, and reluctance to speak, was evident in her voice.
"It's nothing they have done, there's no suggestion that any of them
have behaved improperly. It has to do with the healer assigned to look
after their health. Journeyman Riadem."

"Oh?" Bryvin knew Riadem and thought him a fine healer. So her
statement puzzled him. "What concerns you?"

"I met him escorting three of them on an evening walk outside the Hold,"
Brina explained. "At the time I wasn't too concerned, although I made
sure they understood they ought to have asked my permission first. But
then, more recently, I heard a conversation about him which troubled
me." She was reluctant to name the Headwoman, and chose her words
carefully. "It sounded as though he had got one of the drudges - in
trouble, and further investigation has confirmed it to be true. I
believe the girl is leaving the Hold, but..." She sighed. "He holds a
position of considerable trust with the young ladies, and it worries me.
Even the slightest hint of an improper association could damage their
reputations."

"Indeed," he said it as both a question and an agreement. Though
privately he smiled at the thought that the uptight and upright
healer's double standard. He'd been so enraged by Bryvin's behavior
with his own mother yet done exactly the same thing with a drudge. "I
would trust him under normal circumstances but, as you say, perhaps
not with the young blooded ladies."

"Yes. I think it best if he only sees them as part of his duties as a
healer, and only then with a chaperone present." Brina wished she didn't
have to say so, but she could imagine how she would have felt if her own
daughter had been allowed to associate with such a man. "If he was
older, and had his Master's knots... but even so, I don't think it's
what the girls' parents would want for them. They have trusted me to
ensure that any attachments they make are suitable to their rank."

"Is his behavior widely known? Or do just you and the head woman know
of it?" Bryvin certainly didn't want Riadem's reputation ruined over a
drudge.

"I asked my maid to find out about the drudge, but she's completely
trustworthy. She won't say anything without my leave." Brina hesitated.
"I understand you don't want to shame him, given how much his mother has
done for the Hold, but I don't want to see any other girls hurt by his
indiscretions either, Blooded or not. Perhaps you could have a word with
him? You could speak man to man..."

Bryvin looked a bit strained but then nodded as if coerced. Though he
was far from it. "Very well Brina," he said with an inclination of his
head. "But if this does get out, your maid will be on the next boat."
There was steel behind his eyes. "I will not have the man's career
spoiled because a drudge couldn't keep her legs closed. Are we clear?"
His tone was firm but not overbearing. Privately he couldn't wait to
spit the facts back into the man's face after his tirade.

"Yes, of course. I'll tell her." She could well imagine he wouldn't want
to risk upsetting the Headwoman, or losing a good healer. "It might be
better all round if he found a girl of his own rank to settle down
with." Not a drudge, but not one of her young ladies, either.

"Not a bad idea either," he nodded. "I hear he's well on his way to
becoming a Master and that would be a good match for just about any
young woman of good family. Besides well brought up young men don't
take the same liberties with a Lady they might with a drudge. You know
that Brina." He sighed and made a pushing gesture. "But I can't fault
you for doing your job for the young women."

"I just don't want them...to do anything they'd regret. They're very
young." Lady Noriya in particular, she thought, could do much better
than a healer journeyman who couldn't be trusted with the servants.
"Besides, brother, I do believe a really well brought up young man
wouldn't take liberties with any woman, drudge or Lady." She smiled, a
hint of mischief in her voice. "Sadly, they are few and far between."

"Indeed," he smiled back at her. "Like me, you mean right?" He shook
his head. "We can't afford to turn a blind eye but we also know I've
done the same thing in the past. Though never to a Lady," he amended
after a moment, even if he knew he was lying through his teeth.

Brina tried to look disapproving, but she couldn't help returning that
smile. "Well, we all have mistakes in our past, but hopefully we grow
wiser with the Turns. If you speak to him, that can be the end of the
matter." She leaned over to pour some more tea. "Let's not talk about it
any more. Why don't you tell me about your day?"

"Oh," he smiled. "I went and looked at some runners today and found
one that looked almost like the pony you had as a child. You
remember... what was her name?" He looked at the ceiling trying to
pull it up and finally shook his head. "Anyway, I bought her for you."

Her eyes went wide in delight and she nearly spilled the tea. "Bryvin!
You remembered Moonflower?" Brina felt her chest tighten as she
remembered the day she'd had to leave her beloved pony behind in the
stables of Amethyst Cliff, to travel to her new husband's hold. "You
shouldn't have, but...oh, thank you!" She set the teapot down and
half-stood. "I know it's late, but can we go and see her?"

"Sure," he grinned. "I told the beast crafters to give her a good look
and give her some grain. She seemed a sweet natured filly."

Mischief danced in her eyes and for a moment, she looked just like the
young girl she'd been back at the Hold when they'd been growing up. She
stood and offered him a hand. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Last updated on the February 1st 2020

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Taking Liberties