It's Been a Long Road

Writers: Aaron, Estelle
Date Posted: 21st January 2020

Characters: Brina, Wirnan
Description: Wirnan visits his cousin Brina
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 13, day 11 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Yriadha, Bryvin

Brina

Wirnan

Brina had made sure she'd have an hour's respite from the task of
supervising the young ladies, in the afternoon when they were studying
the Hold's records with the Headwoman or one of her assistants. She
closed the door of her chambers with a little sigh of relief. Some of
the girls were very well brought up, with impeccable manners, but others
needed constant watching.

Well, she'd promised her brother she would look after them, and so she
must. But not until later. She went over to the writing desk, seated
herself and took some paper out of a case while she thought over the
events of the past days, her voyage to Sunstone and the warm welcome
she'd received here. Then, she carefully dipped her pen into the ink pot
and began to write.

Wirnan regretted feeling unsafe at the docks. It meant that he had to
postpone a reunion with his cousin, another that he had not seen in
Turns. Of course, he had only a short while to wait, and a short wait
was well worth the peace of mind Wirnan maintained in keeping away from
any place he might be recognized.

Tap tap t'tap. Wirnan gently knocked the head of his cane against the
door to Brina's quarters.

"Come in," Brina called, setting down her pen in its stand. A brief
moment of wondering who would want to see her at this hour was answered
when she recognised the man's knots, though they hadn't yet been introduced.

"Oh - Steward. How good of you to visit." She tried to remember if
Bryvin had mentioned his Steward's name. Noticing that the man walked
with a cane, she hurriedly rose and came over to rest her hands on the
back of an armchair. "Please, come and sit down. Shall I send for tea,
or klah?"

Wirnan smiled and shook his head. "No, I don't suppose there's any need
for that, not unless you'd like some," he said. He tilted his head and
peered at Brina for a moment before taking the seat. "I thank you for
your kindness, but please, you don't have to get up on my account."

Had it really been so long? He supposed it had, but that did nothing for
his ego! He must have looked awful, like someone's aged old uncle. Or –
Faranth forbid – a grandfather.

"I was happy to hear you'd come to stay," he said. "I take it Bryvin
didn't tell you I was here." He supposed he appreciated that. Even in a
case where one might have assumed Wirnan would not mind, Bryvin still
left it to him to make his presence known or not.

"No, he didn't." Confused and a little embarrassed by her failure to
recognize him - since he clearly knew her - she sat and studied him, her mind working furiously to work out who he might be. There was something
familiar about his features, but she couldn't quite bring to mind where
she'd seen him before. Someone from her former home? But it sounded as
though Bryvin knew him, which meant it must have been from before her
marriage. Someone from Amethyst Cliff.

"Wirnan?" she asked, tentatively. "But I thought...I heard you were..."

Wirnan smiled back at Brina, happy that she had recognized him
eventually, if not right away.

"Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated – is that how the
saying goes?" Wirnan chuckled. "Though, truth be told, I'd appreciate it
if you didn't correct anyone else who might be laboring under that
misapprehension," he added.

"It's so good to see you. I'm glad you're here. Helps make the place
feel quite like home, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it does. It's been such a long time since we were all together. We
were only children, back then." Brina covered her surprise with
politeness, though she couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him
in the last few Turns. Why didn't he want people to know he was alive?
What had happened to his leg? And hadn't she heard that he'd been
married? Resolving to ask her brother about it, she decided to keep to
safer topics for now. "So, Bryvin has made you his Steward?"

"Aye, I've been so lucky," said Wirnan. "Not to say I'm not the best man
for the job, of course." He winked. "But it's been a long road from the
last place I had such an honor to this one. Are you staying for long?
For good, I hope?"

"Yes, for good." She felt a warmth at that, as if she'd finally come
home, though it was bittersweet. "I don't know if you heard, but my
husband passed away a little over a Turn ago, and my eldest stepson
inherited the Hold. I was sad to leave, but it was time to let the next
generation take over." She smiled, a hint of amusement in her voice
lightening the mood. "And it seems poor Bryvin has been inundated with
hopeful young lady fosterlings. Someone was needed to look after them,
so here I am."

"I am sorry for your loss, Brina, and sorry I wasn't there to say so
sooner," said Wirnan. "Things have been... hectic for me for more than a
little while."

Wirnan did not hesitate, though – once he had expressed his sympathy –
to take Brina's offer to change the subject.

"Have you got a favorite, then?" he wondered, grinning. "From among the
young ladies, I mean."

"Some of them are less trouble than others, but I couldn't possibly
admit to favorites," Brina said, diplomatically. Her smile turned sly.
"Why - is there one you're interested in?"

"Oh," said Wirnan, a grin tugging at one corner of his mouth. "I could
never ask one of the lasses to give up and settle for second best, could
I?" he asked. He would be happy for a time with nothing more than a good
friend to warm his bed at night with no more expectations and most
importantly, no more tricks. He could hardly ask any woman to promise to
stay with him until he knew he was safe for good.

"It would be a good match. You're the Lord Holder's cousin and his
Steward, and the young ladies are well connected and have large
dowries." Brina smiled and left off teasing him. She doubted that any
other man was going to get much attention from the girls until her
brother made a choice. "I'm glad you're here. Though we'll both be busy,
I hope we'll find time to talk over the coming months." She was sure he
had more to say about where he'd been these last Turns, but she didn't
push the subject for now.

"I think I can make time for you," said Wirnan, smiling. He certainly
wanted very little to do with large dowries and connections, but he
suspected Brina knew that. Knowing a person made it all the easier to
tease them properly. "Have you eaten?" he wondered.

"I had noon meal with the other ladies. Are you hungry?" Brina asked. "I
could send for something. I hope Bryvin hasn't been working you so hard
that you forget to eat."

"Well. 'Forget' is such a strong word," said Wirnan. "And I'd never
blame Bryvin. He's more likely to pop in to insist I have a break than
to work me so hard I forget." He smiled and shrugged.

"But I wouldn't say no to a bit of something if it's no trouble."

"All right. I'll send for some light snacks from the kitchens." Brina
rose and crossed the room to the door to summon her maid. Before she did
so, she turned and smiled warmly. "I'm glad you're here, Steward Wirnan."

"I'm glad to be here, Madam Brina," Wirna answered, returning the smile.
"And thank you. I'm glad you're here, too."

Last updated on the February 1st 2020

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It's Been a Long Road