We Have to Talk
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Estelle, Miriah
Date Posted: 5th November 2024
Characters: Lorican, Lusilk
Description: Lorican and Lusilk have to talk about what happened before Carani's birth
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 12, day 16 of Turn 10
Notes: Backdated due to LOA
The first days of his daughter's life were filled with indelible moments, separated by a haze of exhaustion. Lorican had left the forge in the hands of the senior journeyman to help his wife with the new arrival. Most of that assistance consisted of distracting a very excited Silgan, as well as the endless cleaning, changing, soothing and dazedly watching Carani while Lusilk snatched a few hours' sleep. Thoughts of anything external to their little family barely crossed his mind.
But an evening came when he remembered the guard, and what had happened before their child was born, and he knew they couldn't simply ignore the problem forever. He'd just finished telling Silgan a bedtime story and turned down the light in the boy's room before returning to their living area, where his wife was sitting with Carani in her arms.
"Lusilk?" He sat down beside her, keeping his voice low so as not to wake the baby. "We have to talk."
"About what?" For once, Lusilk wasn't really paying attention to Lorican's tone or his body language. She was rocking their daughter, humming softly, if a bit off tune. She felt the fierce surge of love for this little babe in her arms; she looked so much like Lorican, she could scarcely see herself in the child's features. There was no doubt whom she belonged to. She smiled at the little girl, brushing her fingertips lightly against the baby's cheek before she glanced up at her husband and arched a brow.
He gazed at Carani, almost losing his resolve to speak as he looked down at his daughter. The way her small fingers curled into fists, the delicate line of her eyelashes as she slept...it seemed wrong to even think about that dark, vengeful man in her presence. But he was a threat, not just to Lusilk but to the whole family.
"That man. The one who was in our rooms," he said quietly. "The guard."
Lusilk's face immediately hardened. "I can take care of him, Lorican. He won't be a problem." She looked back down at their daughter and spoke softly. "He's a loose end. That's all."
A chill shivered down Lorican's spine at those words. "Lusilk, no. You don't have to do that any more. Not now, not with Carani." He tried to think, to find a way to convince her. "What if it goes wrong? He'll be on his guard, you might be caught, or..." His throat tightened, unable to say what he feared the most. "Your children need you. _I_ need you. There has to be another way."
Lips turned down in a frown as she caught the catch in his throat, then turned back to look at him. "I have to protect us too, Lorican. Silgan, Carani, and you." Her jaw set in a hard line. "You can't ask me not to do that." Studying his face, she caught the alarm and the concern and eased off the harshness of her words. "I know I don't _have_ to do that, Lorican. I know you don't want me to. But...it's what I can do." She lifted a hand to touch his face, a gentle stroke of affection that didn't lack the tinge of manipulation she excelled at. "You're right. I need to be here for them. I can't do that if he gets his way."
"I know we have to do something." Lorican felt, for a moment, the temptation to do as she suggested. The guard had threatened their family for the sake of justice for Lord Rorigraff, a vile man who Pern was surely better off without. What would it matter if he let Lusilk deal with the problem? He could forget it had ever happened.
Almost as quickly, he regretted it, horrified at the direction his thoughts were taking. They were talking about ending a man's life - how could he ever consider that as a possibility?
He lowered his voice. "We could leave. Change our names, go to the North." They'd be giving up a great deal - his Master's rank, Silgan's inheritance - but if it kept them safe and they could put Lusilk's past behind them, it would be worth it. "We could find somewhere they want a smith and won't ask too many questions."
"No." The response was swift. "I'm not running anymore, Lorican." She stroked his face again and studied his expression. "You're not giving up anything else. You've done enough." Lusilk pursed her mouth in thought. "Let me speak to Lord Bryvin. Silgan is under his protection, not just mine. You've brought value and status to the Hold as well. He takes that seriously."
Lorican looked doubtful. He wasn't sure he trusted Lord Bryvin not to sacrifice her, or both of them, if it was to his advantage. "But what if he orders you to - to deal with this man, or has someone else do it? I don't want you to be involved in anything like that. Not any more." He rested a hand over hers. "You don't have to put yourself at risk for him. We'll think of something."
Her lips quirked at the doubt in his face. "He will likely not ask me to do that, Lorican. He wants me to..." Her nose wrinkled at the concept, "relax. What he decides himself won't be up to me." She held his hand and Lusilk studied his face. "If I promise not to risk myself or our family, will that help ease your mind?"
"A little." Lorican's expression softened as he looked down on their sleeping daughter. "I'd feel easier if you promised not to harm that guard. He's got no proof of his claims, he can't hurt us. I don't want his death on your conscience, or mine."
At the mention of conscience, she turned and raised her eyebrows. It would be on his far more than on hers. She would feel little guilt, if any, if she had to finish the man. "I can't promise that, Lorican. You know that. Don't ask me to." Her voice was straightforward but gentle. "I won't do anything unless I feel like I absolutely have no other choice. Will that satisfy you?" .
Lorican sighed. "I suppose it will have to." He'd have to hope the man didn't threaten her again. "Maybe we could make it worth his while to go away. I've got enough marks saved from my work, and I can't believe anyone's that devoted to Lord Rorigraff."
"He's not." She replied as she pulled away from the small crib. "It's personal for him." She brushed her hands against each other and walked away from the crib, pulling her braid over her shoulder. "So buying him off won't work. I think he knew the girl that died with Rorigraff. No one gets that angry unless it's family." Her lips quirked upwards. "Especially since he's not from Beryl Peak."
"Oh, yes. Garnet Valley, wasn't it?" Lorican wondered briefly what the man's connection to Beryl Peak was. It must be the girl, and he was trying not to think of her. He didn't want to know. "Well, perhaps Lord Bryvin can tell him to go back there."
"Perhaps." She sighed in frustration. It would have been so much easier if she could handle it her own way, but Lorican was right, she could not risk herself, especially since their daughter was still nursing. She was confident in her abilities, but she _was_ out of practice. She'd not been able to spar for several months and it was telling in her reaction time. Her lips pursed as she turned to look back at her husband, eyeing him. "What are you doing this rest day?"
"I'd thought we could go for a short walk, if you're feeling up to it. Perhaps as far as the smithy." He rested a hand lightly on the side of the crib, watching his daughter's sleeping face. "But if you think he might cause trouble, we can stay here."
Widening her eyes, she deliberately offered a sweet, alluring smile, running her hand up his arm. "I was thinking we could do something else fun. Something that we haven't done for a while." She tilted her head and scooted between him and the crib to ensure that all of his attention was on her. Playfully, she tugged on his collar, and tapped his chin. "A bit of exercise."
"Exercise?" Lorican looked up in immediate interest. He'd known his wife long enough now to recognize a distraction, but he was quite willing to be distracted in the manner he assumed she was suggesting. His arms slipped around her waist. "I like that idea. What did you have in mind...?"
Last updated on the November 23rd 2024