Not Yet

Writers: Ames, Avery, Heather, Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 10th February 2014

Characters: Demir, Kwiksol, Kobias, Mirdella, Koldelo, Mirdelo, Vashan
Description: Dying holder Koldelo reveals his successor, with conditions attached.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 5, day 3 of Turn 7
Notes: -Hidden Meadows Hold
Mentioned: Zathris

Demir

Koldelo knew his time was finally drawing to an end. He'd had his wife
summon the boys and his dear daughter to him. Even the healers had
been whispering that there wasn't much time left.

He knew he had to announce his plans lest there be even further
dissension among his family after his passing. It was hard to admit
that he wouldn't make a recovery. That life was finally coming to an
end for him. At least, if nothing else, he would make sure his dying
wishes were seen to. He'd already sent the necessary letters to
Zathris regarding his plans. He knew from their friendship over the
years that the Lord Holder would be fair and honor his wishes as best
he could.

Shifting in the bed he lay in, Koldelo coughed. It was a hacking,
wheezing sound that left him rather spent and breathless when it
finally passed. He drew in a gasping breath. He had to hold on until
they came. Hold on until he could put his plans in motion.

"Father," Demir said has he came through the door. His brows drawn
together with worry over the situation. He knelt by the side of the
bed. "How do you feel?" He knew his father had been in much pain and
kept out of it only with massive doses of fellis. For him to have
regained consciousness meant he must be in incredible pain and have a
very good reason.

Mirdelo had immediately set down the tithe record and bolted for the
door when he learned his father was summoning them. He didn't want his
father to die. For one, he loathed change and disorder, and the death
would throw the place into upheaval. For another, he did idolize his
father.

He slowed his steps, straightened his shoulders, and looked as
professional as he could as he entered the infirmary. He nodded at his
older brother and came to stand by the bed.

"Is there anything we can do?"

It was the healer in the room that spoke, "It is just a matter of
trying to keep him as comfortable as possible." Vashan stood back in
the corner, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched the sons
gather around their dying sire. He and Koldelo had discussed his
options at length, and it was Vashan who carefully oversaw his
treatments to keep him alive and in as little pain as possible until
nature took control. As it were, Vashan had brewed a strong tea and it
was laced with enough pain killers to keep Koldelo awake but hopefully
not in unbearable pain.

The pain was tolerable, as Vashan had seen to. Koldelo accepted what
pain there was to remind him he _was_ still alive, at least for now.
He looked to his two sons that had arrived. Taking in a gasping breath
which lead to a slight fit of coughs, Koldelo tried to address them.
He waved off further treatment for now. He _had_ to have this
discussion with them and _soon_. It was almost as though he could feel
the life within him seeping away.

"Where are the others?" He asked, his voice raspy from the coughs.

Even as he spoke, Kobias entered the room. He had had further to come.
The small building he used for his tanning craft was kept a safe
distance from the main hold due to the intensity of the smell of the
braining solution and smokehouse at times. He had tried to wash it
off, but he had been in a hurry and he knew he still reeked of the
solution he had just been working with all day.

"Father," he said immediately upon entering the room. Being the
eldest, he had been dreading this moment for some time. He had never
wanted to run the hold, and had even expressed this to his father at
times. Yet, Koldelo had never given him a clear answer, always stating
that _any_ of the brothers could be good leaders to follow him
someday. Kobias just hadn't realized that day would come so soon. He
had struggled enough with the loss of his mother, and to now lose his
father as well? Koldelo should have lived many, many more Turns. He
chided himself for not being here more, not having spent enough time
with his father. It would be a regret he would carry now the rest of
his life.

Mirdella came in with almost same door opening as her eldest brother.
Smoothing her skirts, she kneeled at their father's bed. "Father dear,
I'm here," she took his hand. She gave her brothers a brief nod for a
greeting.

Koldelo gave an extra special smile to Mirdella when she entered. His
only daughter. His special girl. Life had not been easy for her with
her mother having passed away just giving birth to her. He gave her
hand a slight squeeze, it was all he could manage for now.

He looked about the room. Everyone he needed was now gathered. He
glanced to his wife. He wished they would have more time together, but
alas, time was not on his side.

His eyes now scanned his family. His sons and daughter. It would be
hard to leave them, but it wasn't his choice.

He cleared his throat and shifted on the bed enough to make speaking
more comfortable.

"I've called you all here because I know my time runs short." He
looked towards Vashan who had been kind and helpful during his
illness. He raised a hand to stop any protesting they might make. He
needed to speak his mind before he couldn't any longer.

"Life isn't always fair. My time is ending, but that leaves the hold
without a rightful leader," Koldelo took the time to look each and
every one of them in the eye, allowing them the chance to consider
whether he might choose them.

Kobias caught his father's eye when he looked his way. He felt as
though his heart could stop in his chest. Koldelo knew Kobias's
wishes, but that might not matter to the man. Kobias was the eldest,
and often the right of holding was passed down in that way. He could
only wait and see what his father would say next.

"Father no," Demir gasped. "Please don't say that." He gave the
weakened hand a strong squeeze and looked beseachingly at his
siblings.

Vashan stood back in the corner, leaning against the wall lightly, his
arms still crossed over his chest as he watched the children with
their father. He knew the grief was hard for them to grasp, but
Koldelo was doing his rightful duty as a father trying to set his
affairs in order before he passed. The healer idly wondered which one
of these men in the room would be his new holder.

"Papa, no!" Mirdella gasped with horrified voice.

Mirdelo curled his hands into balls as his father spoke. The pressure
of the nails into his palms. Protesting as his siblings were wouldn't
change the facts. "You were a good father to us," he said.

He only nodded and faintly waved off their protests. There was nothing
he could do to change the current situation, but what he could do was
make sure everything else was ready.

"Thank you all for your love and concern. I didn't bring you all here
for that. I've made my decision," Koldelo paused and coughed before
continuing. "I know you may not all like it, but it is _my_ decision
to make while I still have breath in my body." He glanced around the
room, noting the silence and intensity of each of their gazes.

"My choice to follow me is," he paused again, "Demir. However there is
more," yet Koldelo had to pause again as though to catch his breath.

"I'm giving Demir time, but nothing is definite unless he completes
the rest of my stipulations. If he doesn't then the Hold will be open
to _any_ of you, or your husband," here he looked at Mirdella. "To
keep, his rightful place as holder, Demir must marry within the Turn.
If he doesn't then there will be an opportunity for all of you to win
the seat instead of him." Here Koldelo paused, "I've given those
instructions to my own liege, Lord Zathris, and if the time comes, he
will follow through on the rest of my directions." Koldelo collapsed
back against the bed, exhausted from having spoken so much.

His wife came forward to rest a hand on him as a sign of support.

Demir leaned forward when his father called his name. "You can't go,
not yet," he whispered. This was too soon and he didn't feel at all
ready. But then his fathers ultimatum hit him and he closed his eyes.
**How can you do this to me father. You know how I feel.** But he also
knew that didn't matter his father always got his way in the end and
this time would be no different.

His eyes went to his other brothers then back to his father. Perhaps
he didn't realize he'd handed them a recipe for disaster but Demir
did, and for now it would be his concern to keep things together.

His eyes showed his anger and he knew it but he also knew his father's
ultimatum had been for exactly that reason and to provide heirs he'd
never see.

Mirdella gave a furtive glance around to his brothers faces. Her
thoughts were running furiously. What an opportunity! Unlike her
brothers, she has done her duty to the hold and produced heir. Two
healthy sons and sweet little girl. Her husband was a farmcrafter,
perhaps not best material for holder, no matter. She had an idea. She
tried to catch Midelo's eyes. The two of them needed to talk, in
private. Closer in age than the rest of them, the two of them had
always been close, natural allies.

Kobias couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when his father _did
not_ name him the new holder. He preferred being able to focus solely
on his craft. He would support his brother. He saw the looks going
around and knew this little ultimatum could cause problems. He would
do what he could to help the situation and back Demir as the new
holder.

Moving closer he to his father's bedside he reiterated what was said,
"There's much we have left to learn from you, father. You cannot leave
us yet."

Koldelo looked at them all with love in his eyes, even as a cough
wracked through his body. "I know not when my exact candlemark might
be, but you will be prepared now," he finally manged then added, "I
must rest."

Mirdelo nodded at his sister once. He would catch her later. The
choice of Demir was interesting - more sensible than Kobias, who
didn't want it. But wasn't training as a steward proper training for
managing a hold? What had Demir done to deserve it?

His father's cough made him feel guilty about the trend of his
thoughts. "Do rest," he said gently.

Vashan looked about at the family, "I'll look after him." He assured them.

Kwiksol, the Journeyman Harper had been summoned earlier to bear
witness to the Holder's final wishes. He made careful notes in his
records and observed the family. Orderly transfer of the Hold could
commence once his report had been delivered.

Last updated on the March 15th 2014

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