Manipulation

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 15th March 2021

Characters: Bryvin, Asaile
Description: Bryvin lies shamelessly about his past
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 9, day 10 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Xeladrie; Yriadha (not by name)

Bryvin

Asaile

Asaile waited for her maid to leave for the evening as she sat in
front of the fire in her quarters, a light hand resting on her belly.
There was a little bit of roundness there now; not much, but enough
that she could feel it. But that wasn't what she was really thinking
about. No, it was what she'd seen today in the creche with Bryvin's
son and the little boy that the Headwoman cared for.

She barely heard the maid as she left, her gaze remaining in the fire.
There had been rumors since she'd arrived of course, plenty of them,
but she'd always brushed them aside. But when the boys smiled at a bit
of mischief, their smiles and the way their eyes glinted were the
same. Even the noses were the same. Could it be true? They were so
close in age as well. It couldn't be. It just couldn't be!

Bryvin smiled as he came into the room and closed the door. "How are
you feeling this evening sweet?"

Asaile looked up at Bryvin and quickly rose to dip into a curtsey as
she always did on his arrival to her rooms. She hesitated only a
moment before answering. "I'm feeling well, mostly." As she rose, her
hand fell on her belly as her brow knit. How was she to broach this
sensitive subject? She knew that men, especially Lord Holders, often
had by-blows, but she hadn't expected that of her husband. Not the
good man that he was. Perhaps the child was only a relative of some
sort.

He walked to the side table the Headwoman kept stocked with his
favorite beverages and poured himself a strong drink. Then he smiled
and took her hand and drew her toward his chair. "Mostly?"

She shifted from foot to foot nervously as he drew close to his chair,
her fingers tightening on his for just a moment. "My Lord...I..."
Asaile struggled to get the words right. "I know I haven't been here
for long and I know there was...difficulties between you and your
former wife. But...today in the creche, I noticed something that
disturbed me and I don't know how to ask about it."

"No need to beat around the bush, dear," he said as he sat. "If
something is disturbing you, you have a right to answers." He smiled
and sipped his wine.

"The child that the Headwoman looks after, Yavin." Her voice was soft.
"I couldn't help but notice that he looks like Brylex. And you."
Asaile swallowed. "Is he...is he related to you?"

Bryvin froze for a moment in a calculated move to give her a slight
pause. Then he met her eyes with a serious look of his own. "He is,"
he said and set down his wine.

She shouldn't have said anything, Asaile thought with a twist of
nausea in her stomach. But she had to know. Brylex and Yavin were so
close in age... "How is he related to you?"

Bryvin had known that however innocent and young his wife was, she
wasn't unintelligent. He'd expected the questions from her in the same
way he had from his sister. He found he was more fond of her than he
had ever been of his first wife. So, he reached gently for her hand
and drew her into his lap. "Asaile," he said as he put his arm around
her. "Yavin is my son. I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

Asaile immediately paled and stared at Bryvin even as he maneuvered
her to sit on his lap. If Yavin was his son and he was so close in age
to Brylex, it meant that... She couldn't hide the distress on her face
at the realization. Would he do the same with her? How many bastards
did he have? What did that mean for the child she now carried? "Oh."

His normally pleasant expression turned sad. "I'm sure you've heard
rumors of my relationship with my first wife," he asked. "But most
people don't know half of it. Unpleasant was an understatement. She
didn't want me, or any man for that matter, to touch her." He shook
his head and closed his eyes in mock pain. "Xeladrie fought me,
always." His arm tightened around Asaile. "So once she was pregnant I
left her alone." He looked up into Asaile's eyes with his pain plain
for her to see there. "I thank the stars you're so very different." He
closed his eyes and lay his forehead against her shoulder.

Hesitating only a moment, Asaile wrapped her arms around his
shoulders, feeling immediate sympathy. How could any woman, especially
a wife, refuse him? A good wife was supposed to submit to her husband
in all things. "I'm sorry, Bryvin, that you endured that. I could
never refuse you." She paused and spoke softly. "The boy's mother...is
she still here? Do you still...uhm..."

"I know, sweetheart," he said after a moment without lifting his head.
"You are sweeter than I could ever have hoped for. And no,I wouldn't
do that to you." He hugged her waist a moment longer and then looked
up. "She's gone. She didn't survive Yavin's birth. I'm very thankful
to the Headwoman for caring for him."

"I'm sorry." And she was, if only for the little boy. She wondered if
Bryvin had cared for the boy's mother. Did she want to know? No, she
decided. She didn't want to know. He loved her now, she thought
selfishly. She was his wife. But he was also doing the right thing; so
many men left behind bastards without a thought for their care. That
he was not doing so, was a kindness to the little boy, who was
actually a very sweet, if mischievous child. "So, it's a secret. About
Yavin, I mean. I won't say anything, Bryvin. I promise."

"Thank you," he said feelingly. "Yes," he nodded. "I'm not proud of my
actions and he shouldn't have to pay any more than necessary. I hope
someday he can be Brylex' Steward or go into any craft he might like.
But I realize his prospects are limited." He placed a hand on her
stomach "Unlike our little guy here."

The touch of his warm palm on her belly soothed her and the
reaffirmation that her child, their child, was not going to be limited
by the presence of another unknown sibling eased some of the tension
in her shoulders. But nothing could stop the words that came from her
next. "I do hope, Bryvin, that I please you enough to not..." Asaile
flushed at her presumption. What he did outside of her presence she
couldn't control, but the thought of sharing him pained her.

"You are as different from Xeladrie as night and day, love." He said
feelingly. "There is no comparison in my feelings for you or the lack
of them for her." He looked directly into her eyes and caressed the
side of her face."I wouldn't hurt you for the world."

She leaned against his touch, nuzzling the palm of his hand gently.
"You're a good husband, my Lord." She sighed with a sudden feeling of
contentment as she leaned against him and snuggled, resting her head
against his shoulder. "Will you stay with me tonight?"

"I promise to always try sweetheart," he said softly. "And yes, I'd
love to stay with you."

"Good." She said with relief. Sometimes he didn't stay and sometimes
he was just too busy. She tried to understand, but often wished he
could stay more often. She enjoyed his warmth and the other things
that they shared in the privacy of her bedchambers. She hadn't written
to her mother to tell her how much she enjoyed it, for the idea
brought a flush to her cheeks, but now she could understand why some
women had so many children, especially if they enjoyed their husbands
as much as she enjoyed hers. She hoped to give him many.

Bryvin smiled in satisfaction at his successful manipulation of his
wife. As long as she stayed compliant and gullible they would get
along well and she'd been trained to do just that. So, he saw no
reason to make her uncomfortable by parading minor details, like the
truth, in front of her. Perhaps he should give her one of his
recently acquired clutch of firelizard eggs. She'd probably like that.
In the meantime he resolved to reward her in the way she loved.

Last updated on the July 21st 2021

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Manipulation