Play the Long Game

Writers: Miriah, Suzee, Yvonne
Date Posted: 2nd January 2021

Characters: Olov, Yriadha, Lusilk, Bryvin
Description: Olov and Lusilk arrive at Sunstone Sea Hold
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 8, day 10 of Turn 10

Yriadha

Lusilk

Bryvin

Rukbat was beginning to set as the tired runners drew up along an
outcropping. The scent of the sea, which had permeated the air since
morning, wafted along her face with a chill breeze that made her
shiver. There was the sight of glows in the windows and the sound of
raucous voices floated from the local tavern. Sunstone Sea Hold.
Tired, thinner from her travels, and aching from a harder ride, she
looked over at her traveling companion. "Well, we made it. You're
home."

Olov stared impassively at the Seahold twinkling beneath them. She
expected him to feel-- something, he realized. But all he felt was
hungry and a vague sense of fatigue at having to put his guardsman's
knots and persona back on. "I could take you to the Hold to see Bryvin
right away, or I could take you to the tavern for a bite to eat first.
Or maybe to the Headwoman so that you can clean yourself up before
talking to Bryvin." He turned to Silk. "What do you want to do?"

Her stomach growled with hunger, but as she shifted in her seat, she
felt the pain of her shoulder and side once again. "We better report
to him first. I need to see a healer about this arm and he probably
already knows we're close. I can eat later." Her hands twitched on the
reins. "He'll likely want a report from you too." Despite her hunger,
Lusilk also felt exhaustion creep up on her as she looked down at
their goal. She needed to rest; her body had borne up under the strain
of the past sevendays, but the thought of a bed with thick blankets
almost made her giddy. "Lets get it over with."

Olov kneed his runner into a walk, and together they descended toward
the Seahold. Although it was after dark, the streets and paths between
the port and the Seahold itself were never quiet. "Don't forget, I'm
Polson here," Olov said quietly.

She turned to look at him, then nodded briefly. "Alright." She didn't
question it or the change in his name. "If I stay here for any length
of time, depending on what our friend needs of me, I may call on you
from time to time." It was a murmur as she watched their surroundings;
she'd not come here in full view of others very often as she usually
needed to be more discrete. "I'll need a training partner and I think
you'd fit well."

That would be interesting. He nodded. "Sure. You should come down to
the tavern one night for fight nights, too. You might enjoy it."

Approaching the main Hold building, Lusilk carefully dismounted,
catching the stirrup with her good hand as her knees attempted to
buckle under her. It was as though all of her strength had been shored
up by sheer stubbornness and now that they'd arrived, her body decided
that it had had enough. Steeling her jaw, she straightened, refusing
to look weak. "I'll do that. How often do they happen?"

"About once a month." Olov dismounted and began undoing his saddlebags.

As they stood there, a groom came running from the path that led to
the stables. He stopped when he saw Olov's knots, then saluted
smartly. "For the stables then, Guardsman?"

Olov nodded. "And the lady's too. Take her bags off for her before you
take the runners. And give them some extra grain. They did us good."

Lusilk waited quietly as the groom took her bags and handed them to
her; the weight of them wasn't heavy, thankfully, so she was able to
lay them over her good arm as the runners were led away. How were they
to approach the Lord Holder? Going right to his office seemed a little
bold in the light of everything that had happened.

A slim woman appeared in the main doorway and looked down at them with
a carefully neutral expression before walking down the steps. Yriadha
approached with light feet and spoke firmly. "I see that you've
arrived with our guest, Polson. Lord Bryvin is expecting you. Please
take our guest to his office."

He nodded once, then gestured for Lusilk to precede him up the steps
into the Hold. "After you."

She looked over at him and without batting an eyelash, completely lied
in front of the Headwoman. "I'm afraid you'll have to show me where
his office is. I've never been here."

Yriadha turned to look at Lusilk, brow arched, but inclined her head.
"Very well. Come with me, both of you please." Without pause, she
turned and led them into the Main hold, towards Bryvin's office, but
kept to the back passageways away from prying eyes. As they approached
the office, she gestured to the doorway, then knocked, opening it at
the murmur from inside. "My Lord, your guests have arrived."

"Thank you Yriadha," he said as he rose from his chair and then he
really saw Silk. "Have a room prepared for her and please call your
son. I believe her injuries will need some attending." He'd seen this
condition before, "Also can you please send up some food?"

He looked at Polson and nodded. "Well done," he reached into his
drawer and pulled out a fat purse and tossed it to the big man.
"Please have a seat," he nodded towards the chairs across from him.

Olov caught the bag and weighed it consideringly in one hand. It felt
fat and heavy, and he tucked it away into a pocket as he claimed one
of the seats.

Yriadha nodded and stepped out, closing the door behind her, her
expression revealing nothing.

Lusilk sat with relief; exhaustion creeping in behind her eyes, though
she tried not to show it. "Food and the healer is welcome, my Lord.
Thank you."

"You're welcome," He smiled. "A certain Journeyman Smith arrived the
other day. I'd asked for one and he was transferred here from the Weyr
where he'd been helping with the construction. I thought you'd
probably know him."

"What?" The words exploded out of her, her exhaustion having sapped
her ability to be cautious. "He's here? Did he bring Silgan?" Then she
glanced at Olov and bit her own tongue, before nodding and taking a
quick breath. "Alright." She was quick to change the subject. "Polson
and I arrived as quickly as we could with...minimal issues on the way.
Your runners may need a bit of extra feed. But now that I'm here, I
need to know what will be expected of me."

Bryvin looked at Olov for a moment. "Thank you for bringing her here
safely, " He said nodding at the door. "Why don't you go to the
kitchen and grab a meal, then as much rest as you need."

Olov nodded to Bryvin, then to Lusilk, and left them to their talk.

Bryvin folded his arms on the desk. "First you must heal and rest.
Then you will need to decide your son's future." He tilted his head.
"You've spent so much time protecting him. I don't know if you've
thought beyond this moment. I don't know that you've thought you might
survive." He tilted his head as he looked at her. "He has my
protection as you taught him to ask. Do you think you can remake
yourself into the mother of a Lord Holder?"

Lusilk looked across the desk at him and sat up slowly, forcing
herself to think. She hadn't expected to survive, in that he was
correct, and she hadn't thought much about what would happen beyond
this moment. There was more to be considered, especially now that the
Lord Holder was married to Rorigraff's granddaughter. A male child from
his wife could potentially be a rival heir to her son, setting up
opposition between her son and the powerful Lord Holder, but he had
Bryvin's protection as well. It was a sticky position for them both.
She was, however, thankful that the drilling of the request with
Silgan had been successful. "I could. But how long would he have your
protection if your new wife bears a son to you?" She was blunt; she
had to be.

"One Lord One hold," Bryvin said succinctly. "I may only control one
Hold and Sunstone is my choice. However, an alliance with Beryl Peak
would be of greater value. Your son has my protection as long as he's
under my roof. and I have no doubt that you can still protect him once
he claims his birthright. But we can arrange this however would make
you feel most confident. Any child of my wife would be younger than
your son and therefore less desirable an heir in the eyes of the
conclave."

Lusilk rubbed her temple, then her eyes. "I'm going to have to think
about what's best, but honestly right now, I'm too exhausted and I
need a clear mind to make any decisions." She sighed and looked at
Bryvin blearily, with a tired smile. "But I'm sure that you've thought
of how I'm going to repay my debt to you."

"Yes," he nodded with something like compassion in his eyes. That was
an emotion he rarely experienced. "You need to rest and heal Lusilk. I
promised I would provide a way out for you if it could be managed.
That promise didn't come with strings." He'd known his most capable
opponent had been Rorigraff and he'd despised the man's methods,
**Pot,** he chuckled to himself. He sat back and half smiled. Taking
advantage of her revenge had simply been good business for them both.
"You've proven your worth and given the opportunity to raise your son,
I believe you will make him into a strong ally for Sunstone. That is
what I wish for Brylex. It is time to play the _long_ game. We will
discuss specifics once you've seen the Healers and reunited with your
husband and son. Yes?"

Considering him, Lusilk nodded. "Alright." Rest sounded perfect and
she had to confirm if she was indeed with child. "If you might give me
a couple of days to settle, then we can make the necessary decisions
and discuss it. " She paused and then spoke again, saying words she
rarely spoke to anyone. "We've known each other a long time and I
don't think I've ever said thank you for all of the aid you've
provided me over the turns." Her lips quirked. "Of course, I've
thanked you in other ways before, but let's not tell Lorican about
that, alright?"

"Never," he smiled.

Last updated on the February 19th 2021

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