Need To Know

Writers: AL, Vix
Date Posted: 26th August 2008

Characters: Tanas, Marida
Description: Tanas finally goes to get a better look at the book he got a glimpse of in Marida's trunk.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 11, day 22 of Turn 4

"I need to know," the young man muttered to himself as he headed back to his
cot, far earlier in the day than usual. "She's my wife and I need to know
what she's doing." He paused within sight of his home, yet hanging back
where he would not be easily seen. Marida had asked for a few marks that
morning, mentioning that she needed to restock their larder. If he waited
until she left, perhaps he could find the answer to the question that had
been bothering him.

He didn't have to wait very long. The young woman appeared, not even
looking in Tanas' direction, then hurried off. She hoped she wouldn't take
long. An accident had kept her from leaving earlier and she wanted to be
sure to get dinner on the table in time for Tanas' arrival. Her mother had
always urged her that dinner should be ready when the man gets home. That
was one of the ways to be a proper wife.

Tanas waited for her to disappear from sight and then made his way to their
door. He let himself in and closed the door behind himself.

His goal was their sleeping room, and specifically the large trunk that
Marida had brought with her when they married. It was there that he had seen
it, that he had seen the item that puzzled him so, that had him entering
their home so stealthily for another look.

He stood in front of the trunk, feeling as if he were intruding. It was her
trunk, not his. But she was his wife and she should have no secrets from
him. He unlatched the trunk and swung the top to open it.

He did not see the object of his search at first, but reached for it,
feeling along the edges of the items piled within until he found it, the
book that he had noted during the one other time he had opened the trunk. He
removed the book and opened it to study the contents.

The book contained sketches of various subjects. There were animals,
bovines, runners, ovines along with various flowers. There was a sketch of
a tree in full bloom with a herd of animals beyond it. A long haired canine in
various positions graced a couple of pages and there were also a couple of
sketches of her mother and father and other people that, perhaps, were
family members. On the last two pages were two sketches of Tanas himself.

He backed up, still staring at the final page, and sat on the bed. He paged
through the book again, studying each picture carefully, his lips pursed in
concentration. When he came to the final sketch, he closed the book, stood,
and walked the few steps back to the trunk. He replaced the book, trying to
remember how the clothing had been tucked around it, and closed the trunk.

Tanas made his way back to the kitchen slowly, thinking on those sketches.
They were well-done – at least to his unpracticed eye – far better than the
sketches he had been required to produce while training for his craft. He
had to admit that he was a bit jealous, since his lack of skill in drawing
and reproducing what was in his mind had led him to choose dyes rather than
other aspects of the weaver craft.

And was it proper that she was doing this?

He frowned at that thought. His mother had never done sketching and she had
certainly never kept secrets from his father.

Or had she? If she had kept secrets, how would he have known?

He started as he realized that she would probably be returning soon. He had
no explanation for being here at this time of day and did not know what to
say to her when she did arrive. He moved to the door quickly, slipped
outside and around the cot to return to his workshop.

He had much to think about, particularly those sketches of him. He had never
really looked at her, not in the way it would have taken to capture the
detail that was included in those drawings.

Last updated on the August 26th 2008

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