An Old Friendship Renewed

Writers: Aaron, Miriah
Date Posted: 16th March 2021

Characters: Wirnan, Karhal
Description: Karhal returns to Sunstone to see Wirnan, who is � apparently � not dead.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 8, day 1 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Benani, Bryvin, Loella, Zathris

Wirnan

Karhal

He could scarcely believe it, even though Benani and Zathris had
confirmed that Wirnan was indeed at Sunstone Sea Hold. He'd thought
him dead! As Karhal climbed down from the dragon, he was looking over
the courtyard in an effort to find his former friend. The rider,
thankfully, knew where the Steward's office was, and with the aid of a
drudge, he was led to the Stewards office. Taking a breath, Karhal
rapped firmly on the office door.

Wirnan opened the door slowly and carefully as he did when he was not
expecting anyone. He lifted an eyebrow. Then saw who it was. And both
eyebrows climbed nearly to his hair.

"Karhal!" Wirnan threw the door open and looked both ways down the
corridor to make sure no one else was using his friend to get close to
him, even as he pulled the man into an embrace. "It's been... a long
time. Skies, but it's great to see you. What brings you to Sunstone?"

How did you know where I was? If I've become this visible, who else
will walk in knowing where to find me? Have I made a mistake? Am I
bringing danger to my Lord cousin's doorstep?

All of these thoughts ran through his head again. He had become too
complacent. Gotten too comfortable.

Though Karhal was not a man who often showed open affection, he
embraced Wirnan, a relieved smile on his face. He pulled away,
clasping Wirnan's shoulders in his hands. "Lord Zathris saw you at the
wedding and told me. What happened, Wirnan? We thought you dead."

"I never... I never meant to hurt you," said Wirnan as he stepped
back. "Or worry you. It's just." He sighed. "Things didn't go as I
expected when I tried to make things work with Kaya. I never should
have tried..."

He sighed and rubbed his face.

"It's all a long story. But she wasn't alone in plotting to trap me in
that marriage. And it wasn't on a whim. She might have been a victim,
too, but he was watching me. I had to get away. He was going to make
me do things that would get people hurt."

Karhal frowned and stared at Wirnan, his back stiffening with alarm at
the vague explanation. "What are you talking about? Who would hurt you
or try to get at you with Kaya? Why didn't you tell me? You know I
would have helped you with anything, Wirnan. That's my job and
Faranth, I'm your friend." His jaw set. "Who, Wirnan?"

"I... It seemed like it was never the same person twice they sent to
talk to me. It could have been anyone watching, and... Well, they said
they could make people disappear. If I told anyone. I don't know who
was behind it. Who was pulling the strings. But they wanted me to..."

Wirnan looked up. It could have been anyone watching. What if they got
to Karhal, too? He had gotten used to fancying himself safe with
Bryvin. But there were shadows at Sunstone, too.

"I don't want to get you involved," he said. "I ran away to keep you
and everyone I cared about from getting involved. Maybe... maybe if I
can be sure they don't know I'm here, it could be safe to ask for
help. But I haven't seen you in... in ages � I'm not going to start
anew by getting you disappeared for knowing too much."

Karhal's jaw set and his grey eyes hardened at the explanation. He
wasn't angry at Wirnan; it seemed the man had been through a great
deal since the last time he'd been seen, but the thought of his friend
in danger, alone, was enough to feel a rise in temper. "I'm not going
to disappear, Wirnan. If there's a threat to you or the Holds, I need
to know. Can you just tell me what you feel comfortable with? Whatever
it is, I can help you stop it. Obviously you don't feel safe. Faranth,
just let me help you."

"To the Holds..." Wirnan's eyes scanned back and forth as he
considered that he may have put Bryvin in more danger than he could
handle himself. Especially if brigands were assassinating Lords Holder
in the night. After all, such a plot was the entire reason he was
targeted to begin with.

"I accepted the position here because I thought the association with
Lord Bryvin would shield me from any overt attacks. I could hardly
stay anonymous forever in such a place," he explained. "I stayed out
of sight for so long, but they were always on my heels until I got
here. Maybe... Maybe you are safe enough to tell you."

He would have to tell Bryvin that someone else from his old life had
found him. That the plot may not have been over after all.

"There was more to Kaya than I thought, more than just a plan to use
her to twist my arm for a rival's benefit," he said. "And I ran when
they tried to make me follow through. I got away, but they kept
finding me. But the more everyone thought I was dead, the harder it
was for them. Even when someone sees you out of the corner of their
eye, if they think you're dead, they'll assume they saw someone else."
He sighed. He was rambling, talking too much. It was hard not to let
all of this out with someone he trusted. He had to trust Karhal.
Surely, he could not have been corrupted or coerced.

"Before I came here, I think even they might have begun to believe it,
but they were never going to stop until they saw my body themselves. I
was too tired to keep running."

Karhal shook his head, trying to take in the rambling before leading
Wirnan to a seat. "Wirnan. Start from the beginning. Step by step.
Tell me what happened. Give me a timeline." The information was too
disjointed, too erratic for him to fully grasp the implications. "Is
this a plot against Amber Hills?"

"It was," said Wirnan. "Or it was meant to be. I was certain that I
foiled the plot when I ran. But I can only think they did not want to
risk leaving any loose ends. They chased me until I made it safely
here," said Wirnan.

"I don't know who was behind it, but they tried to get me into a
position to make me kill Lord Zathris. They never gave me a name. Only
threats. Maybe they did what the said they would to Kaya, I don't
know. But I wasn't going to give them what they wanted."

"I... I did try to send a warning back. I sent a letter � unsigned. I
didn't include anything that would identify me. I take it that it
never reached its destination."

A plot to kill Zathris was no small thing. Karhal felt anger surge in
his gut but kept his expression even. Those involved could still be
plotting. "I'll speak to Zathris and Benani about this. It'll be
handled, Wirnan, I promise you."

"I'm sorry," Wirnan repeated. "I tried to handle it, but I've... I've
bungled this, haven't I? If anything had happened, I..." He sighed. He
had left everything to keep anyone else from getting hurt. How much of
the fact that no one had came down to sheer luck?

"I'm sorry," he repeated. "If there's anything I can do to help..."

"You've not bungled everything, Wirnan. What you can do is write down
any description of anyone involved and give it to me and me alone."
Karhal replied easily, his mind already working. "I'll need a written
timeline of what happened and when."

"I'll get you a report," said Wirnan. "As soon as I can write it. I
won't be able to give you exact dates for everything, but I think I
can manage months. Is that enough?"

"Yes. That'll give me somewhere to start." Karhal paused and laid a
hand on Wirnan's shoulder. "I'll do the best I can for you. Send it as
soon as you can." He paused. "I have a son _and_ a daughter now. Did
you know?" Karhal's eyes warmed with pride at the thought of his two
young children. "And Loella would love to see you some time."

Wirnan's eyes misted as he reached up to lay his hand onto Karhal's.

"I'm so sorry I've missed seeing them," he said. "Knowing them. I'll
have to make up for lost... wasted time."

"We can. I promise you." Karhal squeezed his friend's shoulder and
took a breath. "But for now, let's just talk. I can tell you some
stories about the past couple of turns."

"I have a lot of catching up to do," Wirnan agreed. He smiled and
relaxed a bit, too. "Would you care for some tea?"

"Tea would be good." Karhal agreed.

Last updated on the November 12th 2024

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An Old Friendship Renewed