I Don't Know What to Believe

Writers: Avery, Eimi
Date Posted: 13th September 2006

Characters: Ishek, Kiomo
Description: Ishek has recieved some disturbing news from Quartz River Hold that involves his assistant, Kiomo...
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 13, day 23 of Turn 3

"You asked to see me, Ishek," Kiomo asked peaking his head around the
Lord Holder's office door.

"Indeed I did." Ishek was standing by himself, looking out the window.
Yimas was perched up on a shelf. "Sit." He gestured at a seat. It was
clear he wasn't happy.

"Of course," the Holder said, noting his Lord Holder's foul mood. He
slipped into the chair. "Is everything all right?"

"Not exactly." Ishek turned to stare at Kiomo. "What went on at Quartz
River that you _didn't_ tell me about, Kiomo?"

"I'm sorry?" the Holder asked, a look of confusion flashing across his
face. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"After the feast, what did you do?" Ishek asked him. Yimas' eyes were
whirling faster now. Ishek controlled himself. After all, he didn't know
for sure... "Where did you go?"

Kiomo cocked his head and regarded the Lord Holder with guarded
curiosity. "My rooms. Same as you. What's this about, Ishek?"

"I have reason to believe that that was not the case. Holder Kiomo, I
need complete honesty from you. Where. were. you."

"I already told you, my Lord," the Holder replied politely but with a
hint of impatience. What was Ishek getting at? "After the feast I
retired to my apartments, just as you did."

"You wouldn't be lying, would you?" Ishek asked, staring at Kiomo.
"After all, I would hate to think you would be responsible for the
heinous accusations that have been leveled against you. I would be _very
disappointed_."

This was becoming ridiculous, and yet Kiomo was not amused. "How can I
defend myself to you if you do not tell me what these accusations _are_
that have been made against me?"

"Do you recall Peringel's daughter?" Ishek queried. "She's pregnant."

"I recall his daughter, but I don't recall her being pregnant." Kiomo's
eyes narrowed as he looked at the Lord Holder. No, it couldn't be. Not
again.

"It's said it's your fault." Ishek wasn't sure what he thought yet. He
hadn't talked to Kiomo after the feast. He didn't _know_. He didn't want
to jump to conclusions, but he didn't want to seem soft, either. "Did
you do anything with her, Holder?"

"What said it's my fault?" the Holder asked, clamping onto Ishek's first
statement. "Peringel went to _you_ directly with this accusation? I
know nothing has come to me. No one has accused me of _anything_ to my
face. Do you not even _wonder_ why Peringel would talk to you before
me?"

"He requested my help in dealing with the matter, as Lord Holder. You
are under my jurisdiction- he is under mine. So I ask you, Kiomo, what
did you do with Perina?"

"I did _not_ empregnate Peringel's daughter, if that is what you think,
Ishek, though I would hope you know me better than that," Kiomo growled
as he stood to his feet and began pacing in his annoyance. "Can you not
see what he's doing? He went to you because it doesn't _matter_ if I'm
innocent or guilty, and with an accusation like that it's almost
impossible to prove my innocence. She failed in her attempt to woo you,
and now they have set their sights on _me_, Ishek! They are using you
and your authority to make a match for their daughter!"

"I don't know what to believe." Ishek stated calmly. Calm, assured, icy
and remote...it was his refuge in crisis. "As much as I believe you are
a good man, Kiomo, I cannot be certain you did not." He paused and
stared at the other man. "Failed to woo me? Using me to make a match?"
he queried. "What do you think of Perina being pregnant, then?"

"I do not know if she is truly pregnant or not, but I can swear with
certainty on Faranth's perfect shell that it was not by me. Shards, I
thought I could escape all this," the Holder muttered, shaking his head
angrily. "This is not the first time a Holder has made accusations
against me to try to force me into a marriage. I wouldn't be surprised
if Perina was pregnant and they needed a convenient man, not to mention
a _well connected_ man to pin it on. Oh yes, it's so much easier to
stomach a hasty marriage with an honest man of high birth rather than
see her married to a man deemed below her. Scandel smells so much
sweeter when rank and connections are involved."

Ishek contemplated his words. Accusations? But what if those had been
true? "So you think they want to use you for marriage and are faking it?
Accusations such as this are _far_ too serious to be faked."

Kiomo looked his Lord straight in the eye. "I am not denying the
possibility that she is pregnant. I am just telling you, Ishek, that it
was not by _me_. And I will find a way to prove it to you."

Ishek was pleased that Kiomo met his eye- not a definite sign of
honesty, but still convincing. "I'm not saying I disbelieve you, but I
have to be suspicious. Why did they accuse you? There must be a reason
to believe that you and Perina were...close."

The Holder shook his head sadly. "Ishek, you believe too much in the
good in people. Did you not see how Perina was trying to impress you
during the feast? They had hoped she would catch your eye, that you
were not as honorable a man as you are and could be seduced into a brief
encounter, and once it was 'discovered' an arrangement of marriage could
be made between you two. It would have been a good match for Perina,
and more importantly a good match for Quartz River Hold, not to mention
the fact that if Perina truly _is_ pregnant, it would have avoided any
scandal that may come of it. But you didn't take their bait. They had
to fall back onto another plan, and the son and brother of a Lord Holder
with far reaching connections is not a bad second choice."

Ishek nodded quietly, hating to believe any of his Holders would do such
a thing. But Kiomo was more experienced, wasn't he? He knew of such
things. "I suppose you are right, Kiomo. And...I'm not saying I think
you did it, but I have to behave as if I think you do, to be fair. Maybe
you could...stay a bit low for awhile? I don't think either of us want
the talk scattered about."

"Most definitely not," Kiomo agreed. "I'll find a way to exhonerate
myself, Ishek. I promise you that."

Ishek nodded. "I'm sure you will, Kiomo."

Last updated on the September 21st 2006

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I Don't Know What to Believe