No Sign of Him
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: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 28th September 2005
Characters: Fielton, Daigoro
Description: Fielton and Daigoro go to escort Jhonnel away from the Hall, only to find something amiss...
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 6, day 28 of Turn 3
Fielton sighed and glanced at Daigoro, not sure how he felt about what they were about to do, but knowing he had no better options. "So we're agreed, then? You haven't had second thoughts?"
His Hallsecond shook his head. "No, this is the best for Miryene and the children. And hopefully Jhonnel too."
Nodding, Fielton glanced out the window at the snow on the ground. "And you're willing to escort him to the Hold and make sure a rider takes him to the Healer Hall?" Daigoro nodded as he pushed his arm through the sleeve of his heavy winter coat. "Dikero and I have it all worked out. Just leave it to me."
Fielton set a hand on Daigoro's shoulder briefly before moving to get his own coat. "Thank you. This is not the sort of situation I do well with, and I appreciate your assistance. Let's just get it over with so we can get back to making wine and beer." "Agreed," Daigoro replied as he helped the Hallmaster on with his coat. The sooner they got this done, the sooner Miryene would be rid of the man, at least for the time being. And when he _did_ come back, hopefully he would be a changed man."
They trudged through the snow in silence for a few moments before Fielton broke it by coughing nervously. "I don't know what is the proper way to deal with the situation of Jhonnel and Miryene's marriage. There is no indication that he will be back in any reasonable period of time.
She should have someone to take care of her." "Yes, I think so. But she is determined to stand by Jhonnel, to work things out. Poor woman." Daigoro wished there was something that could be done for her. She had made her choice, but he would have had her taken care of, not only for her physical needs. The Hall could take care of those, and she could go back to her previous role as a foster mother. But it was her heart he worried for. "Of all the women for this to happen to, why her."
"She's cared for him for a long time," Fielton replied, sounding very uncomfortable. "I just don't know what I'm to..." Fielton's words trailed off as they reached the cot that had been given to Jhonnel and Miryene. The front door was hanging open. "Daigoro?" "Stay put Fielton. Wort and I will check this out." Daigoro didn't like the looks of things. No one left their door open in this weather. His bronze flit appeared with a rush of cold air, landing on his lifemates shoulder with eyes whirling alertly with hues of aggitation. "If there's mischief afoot, Wort and I will flush it out."
Fielton managed to wait outside for perhaps the space of three heartbeats before he gave a frustrated growl and stomped into the cot after his Hallsecond. "Is he in here?" "Not a sign of him. In fact, it seems as though some of his things have been taken," the Hallsecond called from upstairs.
Looking around the small cot, Fielton frowned. "Was it this messy when you left here with Miryene? Surely Jhonnel didn't spend his days in here knocking things over." Daigoro glanced up at Fielton, wondering what he might be suspecting. "He didn't have Miryene here to take the brunt of his drunken anger. I doubt cleanliness and care was foremost on his mind."
Fielton walked over to the closet. "Are his clothes gone?" The brewer nodded. "Yes, just his clothes. It looks like he's gone."
"Shardit all," Fielton cursed, something he almost never did. "Where could he have gone to?" "I haven't the first clue," Daigoro admitted with a frown. "The falling snow would have covered any tracks he might have made."
The Hallmaster nudged an overturned chair with one toe, frowning thoughtfully. "The harder question is, what are we going to tell Miryene? If he's run off, it's unlikely he'll be getting help. I won't let him return here, and she's in no state to leave." The thought of Miryene following Jhonnel in any state made Daigoro frown. Without help for his drinking, his violence towards the woman could only get worse. And then there was the child to think about. "Perhaps we should wait a bit. It might be that he wondered off drunk, but will think better of it with the snow and cold. Or he might find somewhere safe and try to contact her. If we knew where to find him we can get help. If he doesn't contact her," he shrugged, "so much the better for her."
Fielton sighed. "So much the better," he echoed, leaning down and catching the back of the overturned chair, setting it to rights. He was looking past Daigoro, obviously seeing nothing. "For the next few days, I don't want to take any chances. The cooks quarters have spare bedrooms, don't they? Cinale is the first person who has lived alone in those quarters for a long time..." Fielton blinked, turning his attention to Daigoro. "I want Cinale and Miryene protected, just in case. They're isolated on the first floor, and Jhonnel will know it."
"I agree," the Hallsecond said. His eyes flashed at the possibility that either of them could be in danger. "Perhaps I can move into one of the spare rooms. Whether he tries anything or not, it's not right to leave the woman alone in vulnerable there."
"Agreed. Speak to Cinale about it first, but if she has no objections, I'd like you to do that. It might not be terribly proper, but I think that it is more important to make sure he can't get in to see them."
Fielton sighed and moved back to the door. "Have it spread among the journeymen quietly... if Jhonnel is found, you and I are to be notified at once." "Of course." Daigoro looked at Fielton out of the corner of his eye as he began picking up shards of a broken wineglass from the floor. "And who shall tell Miryene?"
It was cowardly, but Fielton had no intention of shouldering the job just to prove he wasn't a coward. He continued towards the door, pausing only briefly to glance back over his shoulder. "You can. I need to contact Amethyst Cliff and let them know we have a problem." Daigoro fought down a sarcastic laugh. **I _can_? How generous of him.** "Yes, sir."
Last updated on the September 28th 2005