Turn Over Troubles

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 17th September 2006

Characters: Corowal, Baruton
Description: Corowal has to take action when Enrizial refuses to attend the Turn Over Gather and angry holder comes to complain.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 13, day 28 of Turn 3

"I bounded his door for half candlemark and shouted at him, but he just refuses to come out from his room," the assistant steward told Corowal with low but urgent voice.

"Shardit!" Corowal cursed. "And the Turn Over Gather is about to start!"

"What to do we do now?" the assistant was actually wringing his hands.

Corowal noted it and found it amusing. The situation was bad. The Lord Holder refused to show his face while whole hold was gathered to celebrate the Turn's Over. They expected to see Enrizial, hosting the gather, holding the opening speech. Corowal saw one of the minor holders approaching. He looked like he had something to say to him and it wasn't good.
"Go and try to get him out again," he sent the assistant steward away.

"Corowal, I've been waiting for my audience with Enrizial for two candlemarks. I was _promised_ a meeting with him before the festivities were to start. Is it my imagination or are those harpers setting up on the stage?" the large holder asked, pointing a thick finger out the window towards the Gather square. "I will not be put off a _third_ time!"

"I'm so sorry, holder Baruton. His lordship hasn't been able received anybody today," Corowal said. Or the day before that or the sevendays, months before that. "He's not feeling well."

"Twice before he canceled our meetings last minute. Three times is unexceptable," the Holder said with a frustrated growl. "I have important matters to discuss with him! His brother may have been a bastard and a schemer, but shardit, at least he knew how to manage a Hold!"

"Well, yes, I wouldn't know about that," Corowal said with dry tone. But deep down he agreed with the holder.
Enrizial's behaviour was unacceptable. Even he had difficulties to get to see him and he was hold's steward! The pressures of last turns events, loss of his family members and the general stress of Lord Holdership has become too much for Enrizial.

"I'm not saying there's any plots in the works I know of, but the Holders are getting anxious, Corowal. I think its only fair to tell you that the seeds are being planted each time he puts us off. He will not be our Lord Holder, there are some that feel we should find someone who _will_ lead us."

Corowal took a suitably shocked expression to his face. "He does not seem to be doing his duty," he said carefully. "Poor cousin Enrizial was probably too young and too inexperienced when he became the Lord holder." He was planting seed of his own.

"Yes," Baruton nodded. "Yes, much too young. But the man wasn't even able to control his own wife. How could he be expected to maintain a Hold when can't even maintain a marriage." The Holder suddenly looked a bit guilty. "I'm sorry, Corowal. I had heard the news about your wife. I was sad to hear of your loss."

"Thank you, Baruton. I miss her deeply. We had such a happy, harmonious marriage and she gave me five beautiful children. The fate robbed her from me too early," Corowal said and he didn't have to fake the grief in his voice, it was genuine.

"That it did." But Baruton was never one to be distracted for long.
"And yet you know your duty to the Hold. What is Enrizial's excuse?"

"I don't know. He doesn't confide with me," Corowal said. The assistant steward hurried to him, looking even more distressed than before.

"Pardon me, sir," he said to Baruton and turned to Corowal. "He told me to go sharding between and take the hold with me," he told with low voice.

Corowal's eyes narrowed. Oh, that was just so... If Enrizial was stupid enough...or crazy enough, to let the power slip from his fingers, _he_ was quite ready snatch it up. He was an ambitious man. "Well, then," he said briskly, "there's no other option than that _I_ must host the Gather. Excuse me, holder Baruton, but I must go to give a speech. After it, why don't you tell your problems to me and I see what can be done?" He put all his quite formidable charm behind those words.

"Well, all right then, Corowal," Baruton said with an approving nod. "I'll meet you next to the stage after you're finished." At least! _Someone_ was taking charge!

Last updated on the September 26th 2006

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Turn Over Troubles