A Lack of Understanding

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 10th September 2005

Characters: Fielton, Daigoro
Description: Fielton and Daigoro have a disagreement over how they should deal with Jhonnel and Miryene.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 7, day 24 of Turn 3

Fielton

Fielton was waiting in his office with very little patience for Daigoro. The minute he heard the Hallsecond outside the door he lept to his feet and practicly yanked the door open. "Well?"

"It was worse than we have feared." Daigoro said gravely as sank into a chair across from the Hallmaster.

Sighing, Fielton rubbed at the side of his face. "So it was true. Jhonnel has been..." He couldn't even bring himself to say it. There was more than a little guilt there for Fielton--knowing that he might have ignored the rumors if Badia hadn't thrown something at him was not something he wanted to think about. "You mean, you knew about Jhonnel?" The Hallsecond asked, astonished that Fielton had mentioned nothing to him on this score. **He would worry about her adultary but not the fact that she was being beaten?** The Hallmaster plunged even lower in Daigoro's estimation at that moment.

Fielton blinked at Daigoro in confusion. "What do you mean, did I know about Jhonnel? Why do you think I sent you over there?"

"But, wasn't that about her and her affair with Jio?" Daigoro asked without thinking.

"What?" Fielton's voice had risen somewhat sharply. "Miryene is having an affair with Jio?" How much scandal could one woman get herself into inside of a few months? "No!" Daigoro quickly protested. "No, of course not! Miryene would never betray her husband! But those where the rumors. People were saying that Jio and Miryene were having improper relations. Which they are not!" He quickly added.

"They're not?" Fielton repeated, a little unsure. Shards, was _that_ why Daigoro had seemed so unconcerned earlier? It made sense... if there was one thing Fielton had _never_ expected from his Hallsecond, it was an amused attitude towards the sort of man who would beat his wife. The fact that they'd managed to hold an entire conversation without realizing they were speaking of two different subjects was something he'd have to remember for the future... apparently when it came to this sort of thing, being tactful and vague was asking for trouble.

"Of course they are not!" Whereas the Hallmaster was starting to understand their situation, Daigoro felt a bit more confused. "But that is what I went to talk to Miryene about. I went to ask her if she was having improper relations with Jio, which I confirmed she is _not_. It was then that I noticed the bruises on her arm and face and confronted her on it. She admitted the truth to me and is now safe from that odorous beast of a husband of hers."

Fielton sighed and nodded. "I hadn't heard the... rumors... about Journeyman Jio. Badia spends time with Miryene, and it came to her attention that there might be some sort of trouble going on. As soon as she told me, I came to you." He tactfully left out the fact that his wife had been seconds away from leaving _him_ with a few bruises. Considering the fact that he was nearly twice Badia's size, he had a feeling very few people would be feeling pity for him. "Well, his children are safely at his parents, and Miryene is here in the Hall. But now we have to deal with Jhonnel." Daigoro developed a bad taste in his mouth at the mention of the man's name. "Yes. Now we have to deal with Jhonnel." Fielton's voice was dangerously quiet. He couldn't help but think back to the morning Jhonnel had come into his office with his tale of Miryene's disgrace. It made him feel sick to think that he'd married Miryene off to a man who would disgrace her and then hit her--and it made him wonder just how willing Miryene had been that first night. "As far as I can tell the man does not know where Miryene or his children are at this moment. Nothing would suggest that he is not going to return to their cot this evening. Perhaps it is better to confront him there than in the Hall where it would make an even larger scene for the gossip mongers."
The Hallsecond spit out those last two words with a bit of vehemence. He could already guess at the great fuel this will add to their fire.

"I think that's an excellent idea," Fielton replied. "The only question is what we're going to do with him. If he didn't have a wife and children, I'd send him packing..." Daigoro had always prided himself as being a calm and laid back sort of man.
He rarely lost his temper at _anyone_, let alone the Hallmaster. But Fielton's words brought the Hallsecond to his feet. With both fists planted on the Master's desk he leaned closer and asked in growl, "Are you honestly proposing that we send a small children and a pregnant woman back to an abusive man with just a slap on the wrist? I'm telling you now, sir, if that man stays at this Hall withing striking distance of Miryene one more day, I swear by the first egg, I'll personally send him packing... if he can still walk!"

Fielton looked up at his second with one arched eyebrow, his voice still soft and menacing. "I believe you misunderstand me, Daigoro. I don't doubt we disagree on any number of issues, but you can be assured that I have nothing but contempt for a man who would lay violent hands on his wife, and I have no intention of sending her anywhere near him. But have you considered that perhaps we should discuss the situation with her before we send her husband away? Do you expect her to stay here married to a man who can't return? Or am I supposed to request that her marriage be disolved and leave a pregnant woman alone with no husband to care for her?" "Ah, so _now_ Miryene has a choice?" Daigoro asked softly.

"Miryene has always had a choice." Fielton rose to his feet and walked away from his desk, looking out the window at the snow that covered the ground.
"She made the choice to drink too much. She made the choice to act inappropriately. She made the choice to take responsibility for her choices." Turning, Fielton faced Daigoro. "But this time... this time Miryene _doesn't_ have a choice. She may not chose to return to her husband until I have reason to believe this won't happen again. But I won't throw him out of the Hall until someone has talked to her."

Daigoro bit back the remarks that threatened to fly out of his mouth.
**Choice. What choice did she have! How dare you act like the rescuer when it was your threats that forced her into this position in the first place!**
He crossed his arms across his chest and in a very controlled voice he said, "Then may I suggest that we get to talking to Miryene, sir?"

Oblivious as he could be to other's emotions, Fielton couldn't miss the anger in his Hallsecond. "Do you have something you wish to say to me, Daigoro?" "I believe you should not have been so hasty marrying her to Jhonnel in the first place, sir," the Hallsecond said, trying to keep his tone as even as possible. "It's not as if she were a blushing virgin or a proddy slut.
Jhonnel's character and her side of the story should have been known before threatening her into a marriage that obviously was not the best match."

Fielton frowned as he studied Daigoro. He'd never much cared what people said about him, but surely they didn't consider him to be _that_ much of a monster! "This is obviously a waste of time. You don't know what happened, and I'm not in the mood to justify my past actions to you. When we've taken care of this, we'll sit down and have a nice long talk about where, exactly, you're getting your information from. But for the time being, I suggest we speak to Miryene." "Good idea," Daigoro said as he turned to open the door. "After you, sir."

Last updated on the September 11th 2005

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A Lack of Understanding