Having it Out

Writers: Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 3rd June 2008

Characters: Cyrek, Shadux, Mariss
Description: Shadux confronts Cyrek about his suspicions
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 9, day 4 of Turn 4
Notes: This is late due to Eimi and Yvonne's respective LIAs... Don't hate us!!!

Shadux ignored the curious looks as he strode across the understewards shared office to his desk, stitches, black-eye and all. "Right, I have a lot of catching up to do now, lads. Why doesn't someone fill me in?"

There were a few surreptitious coughs and glances at the desk-- where Mariss sat. She ignored them all and flipped her braid over her shoulder with inky fingers. "You're still on leave for another two days, Shadux.
Your ribs need to heal."

"I appreciate your concern, Mariss, but my ribs will heal just as well at my desk as they would on my sofa, and as you pointed out yesterday, we are terribly understaffed. So I've come back a couple days early."
He turned his attention back to the _real_ understewards. "Now, where are we?"

One of the older men cleared his throat and gave Mariss a pointed look.
"Cyrek's in his office. You might as well go and let him know you're back." His tone said quite clearly what he did not - that it wasn't a moment too soon, either.

Shadux gave him an understanding nod. It seemed the other Amber Hills men shared his suspicions.

"Come in." Cyrek was going over backdated hides, and there was a scrawl in black ink on the hide at his elbow. Somewhere in there, there had to be a way to turn the missing tithe into a profit, or at least somehow negate its loss... he looked up as the door swung open. "Hello Shadux.
I'm surprised to see you up and about so soon - cracked ribs don't make that easy. What can I do for you?"

"I understand that you are understaffed. There's no real reason for me to sit on my arse in my apartments all day when I can sit at my desk and be of some use just as easily. I'm back." It was not an offer, it was a statement.

"You're still on leave, and will be for another two days," Cyrek replied. "We are not so understaffed that I'll jeopardize your health."
And Shadux did look rough - his black eye looked worse than Mariss' and he moved as stiffly as an old uncle.

Shadux was not going to be dismissed. "My health is not in jeopardy and you're are understaffed enough that you are borrowing from the Headwoman's staff. I'm back today and I am ready to start work."

Cyrek suppressed an irritated sigh. So that was what it was all about.
"You're on leave for two more days, Shadux, as per Journeyman Chupsin's recommendation. And until that time is up, you will not be returning to your duties."

So he thought he could pass blame off on the healers? "I was there, sir. Chupsin never said that I should be away from my desk for five days. _You_ said that. He said 'a couple' days. A couple days have past. I have the healer's clearance to return to work, and so I am returning to work. I was merely informing you."

The Steward raised his eyebrows and sat back in his chair. "Are you, now?" His voice was dangerously soft. "Last I checked, I wear the knots, not you. You will not be returning to work for another two days. Is that clear?"

Shadux could feel his jaw tighten and his fists clench. That arrogant son of a bitch. "You only wear those knots because of a lie. You did nothing to deserve them. Those are my _father's_ knots and that is my father's desk. And when you are gone, they will be rightfully mine. Stewardship of Amber Hills belongs to _my_ line, not to yours. I will not be replaced by your daughter now or ever!"

"If you have a problem with my position then you may speak to Lord Benaroy about it, but Mariss has nothing to do with whatever grudge you hold so I'll ask you to kindly leave her out of it," Cyrek grit out. The accusation that he'd somehow stolen Stewardship was so off base, it wasn't even laughable. Shadux's father had heart problems even before the earthquake had forced him into Amber Hills. "And right now you are wasting my time. Come back in two days and I'll assign you work then, and only then." The missing tithe was enough of a headache already.

Shadux couldn't help a smirk filled with bitter amusement. "I was not asking for an assignment from you. I know my work and I will do it. I will do it with or without your permission. I have been serving this Hold my whole life, and you will not dictate to me when I can or cannot do my duty to it. Until now I have shoved down my personal feelings on the matter, quietly accepted your stewardship and set an example for our men to do the same for the good of the Hold, and yet you have shown your gratitude to me by shoving me in a corner to advance your own family. Well, perhaps I will not be so accepting of your authority from now on. It's up to you, Steward. But you have crossed my family once. I advise you to think twice before crossing us again." Trouble, who had been sitting in the corner, hissed angrily at the young man before blinking /between/ at his master's command. Cyrek was silent a moment as he studied the boy, and abruptly came to a decision.
"Sit down, Shadux. You're right. You _have_ bitten your tongue too long.
I'm not going anywhere and neither are you, so we had better have this out now." Shadux stood silently for a moment, eyeing the Steward suspiciously as he considered his options. Finally he pulled back a chair and took a wary seat. If Cyrek wanted to talk, fine. But if this was just going to be a lecture, he would not sit through it.

Cyrek laced his hands together on the top of his desk and looked Shadux in the eye. "The only one being groomed for Stewardship here is _you_.
Lord Benaroy wants _you_ to assume the knots, but he felt that a little more time and experience would benefit Amber Hills Hold and ensure that you would not burn out shortly after assuming the position. In a few turns, once Amethyst Cliff has been rebuilt, I _will_ be returning as Steward there. Lord Benaroy saw this as an ideal situation: you would have the time and space to gain experience under someone who would not challenge your claim to the position. I never intended to stay here, Shadux. I'm not coveting your bloodline's claim, and I'm certainly not trying to replace you with my _daughter_. I have _no_ idea where you picked up a ridiculous notion like that. And when I go, you'll still be younger than I was when I gained my Stewardship under Lord Alalir."

"I never expected to be a young Steward. But I did expect to be following my father." A man who actually understood and respected Amber Hills traditions. "It seems rather suspicious that you would insist on my staying on sick-leave when its obvious that you are understaffed and I am ready and willing. Just what kind of agenda are you trying to push here, insisting on putting your daughter into a man's job? I can tell you now, I'm not the only one who does not appreciate your tactics."

Amber Hills had produced a number of very narrow minded individuals, it seemed. "Sitting for candlemarks in a wooden chair is painful with cracked ribs, and pain breaks concentration. _Everyone's_. I've cracked ribs in my day - I know. I'd rather be understaffed for two short days than have you trying to be a martyr, and then have you return to work able and hale. If you're truly insistent on working I'll have someone bring you the cot tithes for you to update in your rooms, where you can lie in your bed if you wish. As for Mariss," Cyrek's tone hardened. "She does her work thoroughly and accurately, and she enjoys it. Why should I waste a resource like that simply because it comes in an unconventional package?"

"Talent has nothing to do with it. It's about a fair distribution of labor. You may not like it, and it may not be the way it was done where you come from, but that's the way it's been done here for longer than I've been alive. By bringing her here, you not only are taking her away from her rightful job, but you are denying a young man who could actually benefit from the experience a chance to learn a career and develop his own talents. And for what? To bend to the whim of your daughter? I may play a good fiddle now and then, but I don't teach Harper classes just because I have a mind to. It's just not my place. She may feel that women's work is beneath her, but it's her _place_."

_This_ was the boy they wanted to make Steward?! Rigidity of thought hadn't benefitted Amber Hills Hold up until this point, and it wouldn't in the future. No wonder the Hold hadn't prospered the way Amythest Cliff Hold had. "It's likely your father did see women working in other areas of the Hold, and your grandfather worked alongside female Understewards and Crafters quite happily, I'd imagine. As long as the work is done, and done well..." He tapped a finger against his lip. "You want to return to work, and Zathris' work has been mostly neglected since the barge was hijacked. If you're fit for it, you can take over his workload. As well as your own. Can you manage that?"

_Two_ men's workload? That was going to be rough. But if that was what it took... "I will certainly try," Shadux agreed.

Oh, she was going to _hate_ him... they both would. "I have no one else to spare to assist you... aside from Mariss," Cyrek said blandly. Being Steward had never guaranteed friends.

Shards, being stuck with Mariss all day was just that much worse. But having someone write up all the reports for him would certainly be useful. Besides, this way he could keep her out of the other men's way.
"It's fine if you want her to assist me." "Zathris won't have time to bring you up to date on what needs to be done, but I'm sure that you'll know, anyway. I'll inform Mariss that she'll be working with you. Will you be at your desk?" Shadux might know his Hold as intimately as his father did, but his ribs wouldn't let him stay at his desk long. Cyrek wouldn't be surprised if that was where he wanted to be, though.

At his desk where was Shadux knew he should be, but even after so short a time his ribs were already sore. "Perhaps I can split my time between my office and my quarters. If you would rather your daughter not assist me alone there, I would understand. I can make do without her for that time."

"The work needs to be completed, and so I'm sure that you'll work out something appropriate," Cyrek said. At least Shadux was respectful of his daughter in _that_ manner, and Mariss... he trusted her completely.
Although it might be good idea to have Trouble keep an eye on things while he himself was otherwise occupied.

Last updated on the June 7th 2008

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Having it Out