The Look Of Our Family

Writers: Estelle, Suzee
Date Posted: 14th May 2020

Characters: Bryvin, Brina
Description: Bryvin talks to Brina after she notices the resemblance between him and Yavin
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 10
Notes: Follows SSH: Returning to a Revealed Secret (Sorry for the late posting)

Bryvin

Brina

His mind spun as they walked into the Hold and toward their tea. He
patted Brina's hand on his sleeve. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about
this sooner Brina," he sighed. He'd always been so transparent and
earnestly honest as a child that he was counting on his sister's
memory of that to help her swallow the lie he was going to tell her
now.

Brina turned to look at him, confusion and distress evident in her gaze.
So many thoughts and possible explanations for what she'd seen filled
her head that she hardly knew what to think. She trusted her brother
absolutely, but Yavin had looked so like him in that moment, and she
couldn't help remembering what Lioran had told her about the rumors.

"I know you had your reasons, brother," she said softly, but said
nothing more until they were safely in the sitting room and she had
dismissed the maid.

"Bryvin..." She started to lift the teacup, then set it down, not sure
she trusted her hands to remain steady. "Please tell me. That little boy
- is he related to us?"

Bryvin closed his eyes and hung his head with a sigh. "Yes Brina, he's
my son." The look he turned on her none of his holders had ever seen.
He was feigning remorse and shame. He took a deep breath. "I made a
very big mistake," he said softly. He almost got to tears but not
quite. He shook his head. "I just couldn't let him pay the price for
my failure. I'm sorry Brina." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees,
covering his face with his hands.

She came at once to his side, rested a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Oh, Bryvin. I'm sorry too. It must have been so hard! Even if you
didn't look so alike, I could tell from the way you looked at him that
you love him." Kneeling down beside his chair, she bit her lip.
"And...his mother?"

"Died in childbirth," he sighed misery in his eyes. Then he closed
them and thought quickly. "She was dark haired and lovely," he shook
his head. "I was weak. I shouldn't have but by the time I tried to
break off she was already carrying."

"How terrible. I'm so very sorry." She looked up into his eyes, her
voice faltering a little. "Then, was she a relative of the Headwoman's?
The boy really is her cousin?" Though she was ashamed to admit it, she
felt relief, an easing of the tension in her body. She ought to have
known that Bryvin would never have carried on an affair with one of his
staff, while his own wife lived in the Hold.

"Yes," he said with a sigh. "Yriadha wanted to deal with the issue by
giving her cousin the appropriate herbs. But I wouldn't allow it." He
closed his eyes and this drew a deep breath. "But I sent her away to a
small cot hold with some drudges to take care of her. We had regular
reports and when she neared term Yriadha went herself to assure the
child was delivered and Mar..." He broke off so he didn't say a full
name. "But she didn't survive."

Brina took his hand in hers. Her heart went out to her brother, who must
have endured this pain in silence for so long, and to the poor child
who'd been left without a mother or a father who could acknowledge him.

"I understand everything now," she said quietly. "Please forgive me
for...for what I might have thought when I saw the two of you. I should
have known you would never have acted dishonorably. And Yriadha, too. It
has been so good of her to care for the child."

One aspect of the story did trouble her, however. "Is it - well, is it
common for herbs to be offered like that, here?" She felt somewhat
shocked that the Headwoman would do such a thing, though she'd known
from her upbringing in a large Hold that it was possible to end an
unwanted pregnancy that way. Perhaps it was understandable, to save her
cousin's reputation, but she was glad he'd not allowed it.

"No," he said immediately. "But her son is a healer and wanted to help
their cousin as much as she did." He closed his eyes for a moment and
smiled weakly. "You must see that she practically mothers Yavin," he
said opening his eyes and tilting his head to look at Brina. "I can
only ever thank her for that," he looked down at his hands.

"I know." Some of the usual warmth returned to her voice. "You've done
the best you could, brother. And it hasn't turned out so badly, has it?
He's clearly happy with Yriadha, and she loves him." She thought back.
"I see now why you were both so angry with Lady Oufelle! I'd better try
harder to find a good match for her, out of the Hold."

Bryvin squeezed her hand lightly then lifted her fingers to his lips.
"Thank you for understanding Brina," he said sitting up a little
straighter. "She does love him, I think," he smiled. "And she's very
devoted to her children and now Yavin. I'd appreciate anything you can
do for Lady Oufelle."

"Of course." Her eyes glinted with the mischief she rarely showed to
anyone but her brother. "Between you and me, Bryvin, I'm as anxious to
see that young lady settled away from the Hold as you are. She really is
exasperating. But with one of her rank, one must be...diplomatic."

"Indeed," he agreed with her. "And please say nothing about Yavin. It
would put the boy in danger as a lever on me if nothing else." He
closed his eyes for a moment then opened them again. "I trust you to
find the right Lady for me to marry. But I cannot promise to love her,
dear sister."

Brina looked up at him, thinking how lonely he sounded, and her heart
went out to him. "Love can grow, brother. Or - if not love like in the
harpers' tales, then respect, and affection." She knew that well enough.
"And of course, I won't repeat any of what you've told me. I wish I
could get to know him better. He is my nephew...but I suppose
it's too much of a risk."

He sighed then nodded slowly. "My experience with Xeledrie taught me
otherwise, I'm sorry to say. But I'll try. And you can spend time with
Yavin and the other children in the creche. Take Brylex and Little
with you to visit and play with all the children there. I do it all
the time. But maybe that isn't as good an idea as I'd thought if you
could pick up on it..."

"Well, I do know the look of our family," Brina said, trying not to
sound doubtful. She thought that perhaps he was right, the resemblance
was striking and would only get stronger as the boy grew, but she'd seen
how happy the two of them had been together. She couldn't take that away
from him. "And if you stop seeing him now, people will notice." She rose
and returned to her chair, trying to put aside her concerns. "I'm sure
all will be well."

This time his smile was completely genuine. He might have felt a tiny
twinge of guilt at his bald faced lies but that was more to do with
his own memories of their shared youth and the person he'd been before
the world twisted him into his current nature. "Thank you Brina," he
said with genuine affection and placed a hand on hers. "I am so very
glad you came to Sunstone. If there is ever anything I can do for you,
please ask."

"You've given me a home here. That's all I need," she replied warmly,
and reached for her tea. "Let's talk about something else. I want to
tell you all about how the new runner you bought me is getting on. She
and I are getting along splendidly. If only the young ladies were as
well behaved as she..."

Last updated on the May 31st 2020

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The Look Of Our Family