Privacy At Last

Writers: Estelle, Miriah
Date Posted: 23rd October 2021

Characters: Lorican, Lusilk
Description: Lorican brings back something to interest Lusilk during her pregnancy
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 10, day 15 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Dunrik, Bryvin

Lusilk

Lorican had spent a great deal of time thinking, while he worked in the
forge turning out nails and kitchen pots and runner shoes, about what
else he could make to interest Lusilk during her pregnancy. His first
thought was a knife, but he wanted to get some more of that good steel
from Master Dunrik first and that would take time. He'd never seen her
wear jewelry so he couldn't say whether she'd like a piece, but he
doubted it would occupy her for long. There was his bell-alarm, but
she'd seen that before.

It was only when the letter arrived from his brother that the answer
came to him. A runner had brought it to the smithy, and Lorican had been
wondering half-resignedly if he should read it to her when he got back
to save her the trouble of stealing it from his box, when he suddenly
broke into a grin. He knew what he could do.

While the apprentices worked at the anvil, he fetched down some of the
craft records and looked through them for a design. There was a
surprising variety. In a big hold like Sunstone with sailors and traders
coming and going, merchants with contracts and documents to protect, and
the taverns down near the docks attracting a few doubtful types, he
supposed there'd be a market for security. After studying the records,
copying a few designs he thought promising and making some small
modifications, he set to work.

The piece was done with a little time to spare before the evening meal.
Satisfied with his work, Lorican tucked it into his satchel, carefully
shelved his drawings away with the other Records, and set off back to
their rooms in the Hold.

Silgan was playing quietly in the middle of the floor, fiddling with a
puzzle toy that he'd been allowed to take from the creche. His brow
knitted as he shifted the rings, studying them carefully. Reclining on
a chair, Lusilk watched with a smile of amusement, not directing her
son into the solution; it was important that he learned to use his own
reasoning skills.

When the door opened, Lusilk lifted her head to see Lorican entering.
"I had dinner brought." She waved at the table, where the meal sat,
carefully covered, but untouched. Silgan didn't even look up, seemingly
determined to solve the little puzzle.

"Oh, good. I was hoping for a family dinner. Hello, Silgan." Lorican
smiled at the boy's obliviousness as he focused on his toy. He crossed
over to Lusilk's chair and bent to kiss her lightly on the forehead. "We
could let him finish his puzzle, if you're not too hungry. I've got a
little job that I could do before we eat."

Lusilk snorted. "Are you kidding? I'm always hungry now. I'm going to
look like an absolute porcine soon. " Her nose wrinkled as she rose from
her chair. Bryvin's suggestion that she relax hadn't been easy on her,
but at least their home was completely spotless. "What job?" Her brow
arched, "Still working on the sword?"

He shook his head. "I made those adjustments that you suggested, and I'd
like it if you could try it out again one evening, but this is something
else." Rising, he went to the bedroom and fetched the box where he kept
his letters and papers. He set it on the work table, then took a few
small hand tools from his bag and placed them alongside it. Finally, he
brought out the piece he'd been working on: a new lock, the right size
to replace the one currently fitted to the box. "A little upgrade to my
security."

Her brows shot immediately upwards and there was a surge in suspicion.
What was he trying to hide? Then looking at the glint in his eyes, her
own narrowed minutely as she studied the lock, then glanced at him
again. Her lips lifted just a little, faintly smug as she examined her
nails. "A challenge, hm?"

"If you like," Lorican replied innocently. He unlocked the box and
opened it, then ostentatiously took a letter from his pocket and placed
it on top of the papers inside before setting to work on removing the
old lock. "Oh, I heard from my brother today. Did I tell you he's got a
job?"

Her eyes briefly followed his hands, curiosity immediately settling
in. What else did the brother say? Her eyes flicked to the lock and
her lips trembled with another little smile. That lock had been a fun
little break; she didn't know why he bothered keeping it. "Did he? So
I assume he hasn't asked you for more marks? What spurred his sudden
need for worthwhile activities?"

"He doesn't say. I got a letter from him out of the blue - it must have
been while you were away - saying that he was working in a tavern in
Garnet Valley, up near the mines," Lorican explained as he undid the
screws holding the lock in place. "In fact, he's been sending _me_
marks, saying he wants to pay back his debts. I told him that wasn't
necessary, but he seems most insistent." He paused and looked up. She
was right, it was an unexpected change for the better in Selrin's
character. "Perhaps he's met a good woman."

It was so difficult not to smirk with satisfaction. "I'm sure that's
exactly what happened." Lusilk remembered the blows she had given his
brother and the lesson that was carried with it. "Perhaps he's finally
grown up." **And he'll remember not to grab random women's
backsides.** "I'm sure that's a relief for you." She tilted her head
and couldn't help but add a malicious suggestion. "Perhaps you should
invite him for a visit, now that he's matured."

"That's a good idea. I'll mention it when I write back to him. It's been
too long since we were last together." He'd not seen his brother since
leaving for the sea hold. "I can't deny it's a relief that he's settled
down and found honest work. I was afraid he was getting in with a bad
crowd. It was my father's last wish that I look out for him, and
sometimes I wonder if I neglected my duty, being away so often to pursue
my craft." Carefully, he lifted the old lock away from the box and set
it down. "Now that he can support himself, though, we can put the extra
marks aside for the baby."

**And it's not draining you anymore.** She honestly didn't need a lot
of marks; but she supposed that it was a comfort to Lorican to have
that extra. "Perhaps he'll understand now why it's so important for
you." **He'd better.** Her eyes followed the lock and watched as he
set it down. "Who knows, perhaps he'll start a family of his own and
you'll no longer carry that duty.." She hid an internal snort at the
thought. "What are you going to do with that old one?"

"I thought I could give it to Silgan." He often saved scraps of metal
from the forge for the boy to play with, and it was too well used to
fetch much if he sold it - not to mention that it clearly wasn't proof
against at least one inhabitant of the Hold. "He might like to learn how
it works. We could take it apart together." The corner of his mouth
lifted. "Maybe you could demonstrate your skills on it, too."

Her eyes gleamed with amusement. "Why do you think I gave him that
puzzle? It exercises his hands. I'm already working on teaching him
some skills." She picked up the lock and examined it. "It may be too
complex for him for a while, but I'll start him out on simple locks."
Her brow lifted as she gave him a sweet smile. "Like the first one you
had ."

Lorican gave her a long look, then took the new lock and began to fit it
to the box before she got her hands on it. "That was made in the days
where no one could possibly have had any interest in poking through my
personal papers. Things have changed since then. I hope I'll have a few
Turns at least before Silgan starts doing it as well."

Her lashes fluttered at her husband as he gave her 'the look' and she
attempted a sweet, innocent tone. "Shouldn't I be concerned about my
husband's business?" She pressed a hand to her chest. "A poor wife has
to use whatever she can to _help_ make her husband's life better,
doesn't she?" There was more fluttering of lashes as she played up her
acting, tilting her head and giving evidence of just how absolutely
charming she was capable of being. "I'm only trying to help you after
all. I'd never tell Silgan to meddle. Not at his age."

"I'm glad to hear it." The 'helpful wife' act might be more convincing,
Lorican thought, if he hadn't seen her slash a man's throat. Still, it
softened his skeptical look a little. He tightened the last screw on the
new lock, then closed the lid of the box and turned the key with a
satisfying metallic click. "Ah, privacy at last. Break into that if you
can."

A slow grin, full of mischief, filled Lusilk's face. "You should've
known better than to say that." She bent to kiss Lorican's brow, a
surprising show of affection before turning to the table. "Let's eat,
shall we?"

"Yes, let's." Satisfied that he'd presented her with a tempting problem
of her own, Lorican got to his feet, leaving the box on the table in
clear view. "Silgan! Dinner time."

The young boy grudgingly looked up from his puzzle, but obeyed,
hurrying over to the table to take his seat. Eager to now fill Lorican
in on his day playing with Brylex and Yavin, he chattered as his plate
was filled.

Last updated on the February 6th 2022

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