A Child Returned

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 21st September 2019

Characters: Bryvin, Lusilk
Description: Bryvin's meets his daughter
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 13, day 9 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Kiomo, Vreena

Bryvin

Lusilk

Lusilk softly crooned to the child as she swayed side to side. Sitting
on the edge of Bryvin's desk, she tilted her head to look down at the
baby in her arms. "You have your father's eyes, little one. " A
gentle smile, one that was rarely seen except by her own son, spread
on her lips, but just as quickly vanished as she heard steps approach
the door. She barely looked up as the door to the office opened.
"Didn't I talk to you about locks? Really, Bryvin. I'm hurt that you
don't take my advice."

Bryvin smiled as he came in the door and shut it behind him. He turned
to stand next to her at the desk and look down into the small face. He
drank in the first look at his daughter like a thirsty man looking at
a pool of water. Her serious eyes look back up at him and reflecting
the evaluation. He grinned. "So serious little one," he said and
reached to unwrap the swaddling. "Oh she's so big," he said. "Do you
know if she's crawling yet?"

"She is." Lusilk watched him with interest. "And pulling up."
Carefully she handed the baby to Bryvin. " The woman who was her
foster mother at the Weyr is from Sunstone. Her name's Vreena." Her
lips thinned. "She was...neglectful. " Briefly, she relayed what
she'd seen before giving a brief smile. "I've brought you a gift.
She's in the infirmary. "

"Really," he said. "Then Kiomo's information was correct and you found
her exactly where his notes said they would be. That is excellent," he
mused and took his daughter in his arms for the first time. Gently he
smoothed her dark hair while she looked around the room. Then she
began to explore his face and hair with her hands. "Hello Little," he
said. He didn't want to call her Xelbry. That name seemed polluted by
his ex-wife's actions. But he didn't have an alternative at this
point. "She seems a sweet thing," he said to Lusilk. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Bryvin." She inclined her head. "Now, if you'll
excuse me, I have to go tend to my own responsibilities. Have fun
with your gift. She's a coward."

"Wait," he said and opened the drawer again to pull out the small
purse. "Look this time," he said and tossed it to her.

She caught the pouch and with a curious glance at him, opened it,
looked inside and took a quick, sharp breath. Gold. Gold marks. Enough
to settle her where ever she pleased and to ensure that Silgan would
never lack for anything. Her eyes lifted to Bryvin. "You're lucky I
didn't look before." Her voice was soft, and this time, she didn't
toss the purse back at him, but pocketed it swiftly. "Thank you." She
inclined her head in farewell, turned, then paused. She didn't look at
him. "Have you heard anything? Is he anywhere near this area yet?"

"No," Bryvin said. "No news is good news," he said looking directly at
her. "So, go. Disappear. I won't be calling on you again. You have my
sincere thanks."

"Thank you." Her even voice hid her relief. "Hopefully I'll not be
calling on you either. And you are welcome. Enjoy your time with your
daughter. And Bryvin, change your sharding locks. That information
about those mines of yours is far too interesting to the right
parties." She looked over her shoulder at his desk drawer, winked,
then slipped out, disappearing.

Bryvin smiled and went behind the desk for a moment. He checked to
make sure the files were still in place then flipped a switch under
his desk and the compartment, she was intended to find, locked back
down to appear as only the side panel to the lower drawer of his desk.
The records inside had been decoys. If she hadn't found something
easily, she'd have kept looking until she found something possibly
damaging. He trusted her, but only so far. She'd always kept her word
and therefore he would keep his.

The little girl reached out to tug at his hair with a serious look.
She didn't know him and he was certain it would take some time before
she knew him well enough to relax around him. He went to the sideboard
where there was always something to eat and found her some small
tidbits of crackers and a piece of fruit to cut up.

He carried her back to his desk, all the time talking to her about
nothing at all. He sat with her in his lap and put the crackers within
her reach. Then he cut the soft fruit into small pieces and began
feeding that to her as well. "I'm very sorry I didn't find you sooner
little one. But now you'll have everything you've ever wanted or
needed. I promise you that."

He kissed the little girl's dark curls so much like his own.

Last updated on the October 26th 2019

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A Child Returned