Sanctuary

Writers: Estelle, Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 10th December 2020
Series: The Assassin's Husband

Characters: Lorican, Yriadha, Bryvin, Silgan
Description: Lorican arrives at Sunstone Seahold and meets Bryvin, and some secrets are revealed
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 7, day 28 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Jayzine, Lusilk

Yriadha

Bryvin

Lorican stood before their new home, Silgan's small hand in his and
their bags surrounding them. As he watched, the brown dragon who'd
brought them here winged upwards into the sky and then vanished
/between/, returning to Barrier Lake. He swallowed hard, then turned to
look up at the towering shape of the main Hold building. It seemed even
more vast than it had from the air, and busy with drudges and workers
hurrying back and forth, everyone seeming to know exactly where they
were supposed to be. It had been Turns since he'd lived in a major Hold,
and Garnet Valley had been mostly hollowed out of the rock. He couldn't
imagine the building work that must have gone into this.

Looking down towards the harbor, he saw a bustling port and many sails,
the tiny figures of dock workers heaving crates and sacks from a newly
arrived trading vessel to one of the warehouses. There'd be plenty of
work for a smith there, and he wondered with a pang of nerves whether
he'd be able to cope.

"Well, here we are." He gave the boy's hand a squeeze. "Let's go and
find out where we're staying, shall we?" He slung the tool bag over his
shoulder, followed by another, and picked up the remaining bags in his
free hand.

Nervous, Silgan clung to Lorican's hand tightly and fell back on his
accustomed silence as he stared around with wide eyes. He hung back a
little behind Lorican, almost hiding himself from the hustle and bustle
that surrounded them. One thumb was thrust into his mouth as he lightly
chewed upon it; when a tall, stern woman with dark hair approached
them, he then _did_ hide behind Lorican.

"Journeyman Lorican, welcome to Sunstone Sea Hold. I am Yriadha, the
Head Woman. You've been expected and will be reporting to myself and the
Steward. I have arranged you a dwelling for you and your family. I'll
take you there shortly. However, the Lord Holder requested your
presence immediately upon your arrival." She looked down at the peeking
Silgan and her stern expression eased a fraction. "I can take the child
to the creche and introduce him to the other children while you meet
with Lord Bryvin."

Silgan looked up at Lorican and clutched his hand tighter, shaking his
head.

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you." He felt the small fingers tightening around his
and hesitated. "Sorry. May I have a moment?"

Crouching down, he let the bags rest on the floor, so that he was on a
level with Silgan, and spoke gently. "It's all right, son. This lady is
the Headwoman. Like Jayzine, remember? You can go with her, and meet
your new friends while Da sees the Lord Holder. I won't be long. Then we
can go and see the smithy together."

The young boy's eyes went from Lorican to the tall Headwoman and then
back once again. He trusted his Da, but the woman didn't look near as
nice as Jayzine had been. Slowly, he relaxed his grip on Lorican's
hand, but still lightly held on.

Yriadha's expression never changed as she considered the boy. Knowing
what she'd been informed of, Bryvin might want to look at the boy
before he spoke privately to the new smith. "Come with me and I'll
take you both to meet the Lord Holder." She gestured for Lorican to
rise as he did so, led them into the main building. Her steps were
quick and even, trusting that they would keep pace as they wound their
way through the Hold proper.

She stopped before a heavy door that was partially open. Giving three
sharp raps to announce herself, Yriadha stepped in. "My Lord Bryvin,
the Journeyman Smith Lorican, has arrived." She stepped to the side
and allowed Lorican and Silgan to enter. As Silgan followed Lorican
in, small dark eyes locked on the Lord Holder, widened and he went
still. His mother had taught him something. Something important that
he had to do if he ever saw a Lord Bryvin. Something she made him say,
over and over again for as long as he could remember and until he
could say then without a mistake. He released Lorican's hand and went
to a knee and bowed his head. With a brow furrowed in concentration,
he finally spoke; the words were hesitant as if he struggled to say
them properly from memory. "My..Lord Bryvin. I..uh..am the...last hair
to Berry Pink Hold. And...and...I ask...for
sank...no...um...sanktooary. Please."

Bryvin had started around his desk but at the boy's words he stopped.
His eyes flicked to Yriadha and the door for her to close it. Then he
sank down on one knee himself. He licked his lips and then held out
his hand to the young man. "Welcome to Sunstone young Lord," he said
before he glanced up at the smith. He wondered briefly if Lorican had
known any of this before the boy blurted out the bit of information.
His eyes danced as they returned to the boy, "I will gladly give you
sanctuary here."

Silgan briefly touched Lord Bryvin's hand. "Thank you." The thanks
were again hesitant, then Silgan quickly rose and immediately grabbed
Lorican's hand once again, holding it tightly. He looked up at him,
seeking approval. "I said the words right, Da. Like Mama said to do."
He clearly had no idea what he had said, nor of their import.

"You did very well," Bryvin nodded in agreement to the child. The
corner of Bryvin's mouth twitched and he rose to his full height. He
held his hand out to Lorican. "Welcome," he said. "I've heard very
good things about you. The boy and you have my protection as long as
you live here. We've prepared a suite for you here in the main hold
and this young man can go to the creche with my children."

Lorican had watched Silgan's speech open-mouthed, though not with the
confusion he might have shown had the boy's lineage been unknown to him.
He'd started to wonder, in the days since he'd found the empty box,
whether it was real, or somehow all a delusion. But it seemed the Lord
Holder believed it, and that it had been no surprise to him.

"Thank you, my Lord. That's very generous." He gave Silgan a quick nod,
to reassure him, though his own thoughts were far from tranquil. What
did it all mean? Would Silgan be acknowledged as the heir to his
grandfather's Hold? Who else knew? Clearly the Headwoman did. He wanted
to ask, but felt that what control he'd had over their fate was slipping
away. "I hope you'll be pleased with my work, and...I'm sure my son and
I will be happy here."

Yriadha quickly closed the door and stood by it, watching the two men
and the child with a carefully neutral expression on her face. The
boy's rehearsed speech made her lips quirk for only a moment before
she looked at Lorican with interest. **His _son_, hmm? Obviously not.
** "My Lord, would you like me to escort your young guest to the play
room? It has toys that might amuse. " She emphasized the words play
and toys to catch Silgan's attention. "So that you may discuss the
matter at hand without young ears?"

Bryvin watched the boy. "Would you like that young man? It's right
down the hall and your da will come get you in a few minutes."

With Lorican's approval fresh in his mind and knowing that he'd done
right, Silgan relaxed. His Da wasn't scared, so he wasn't either,
besides, the prospect of new toys caught his attention easily. "Yes,
sir." He let go of Lorican's hand and took the tall woman's.

"I'll watch over him, my Lord, until you're finished. He will be fine
with me. " Yriadha nodded to Lorican and ushered Silgan out, closing
the door behind her.

Bryvin nodded as she led the boy from the room and indicated that
Lorican should take a seat across from him. Then he sat, crossed his
legs and placed his hands in his lap. "I can imagine you might have
some questions?"

"Yes, my Lord." So many, but he also knew he'd have to be careful. He
began with the most important. "I've heard what happened at Beryl Peak
Hold, what I could make out from the rumors." Though he tried to keep
his composure, the pain in his voice was obvious. "Is Silgan in any danger?"

Bryvin shook his head. "Not any longer, at least not from Lord
Rorigraf. He's dead, and all I can say is good riddance. The man was a
porcine." Bryvin took a moment and then said, "I have something of
Lusilks. She sent me a message telling me where these were. He opened
a drawer and pulled out several envelopes and handed them to Lorican.

"Lusilk's?" Bewildered, Lorican took the letters from him and glanced
over the first one. Written in the cultured and confident manner of a
man of high birth, it bore the signature and seal of Lord Rorrigraf,
and demanded the return of his grandson to the family Hold. There was
another in a similar vein, but in the third he immediately recognized
Lusilk's hand. It looked like a testimony of her capture and what had
followed, and he put it down hastily, his hand shaking, unable to
look.

"Were these...uh, found...in a box, in our rooms at Barrier Lake?" He
couldn't tell whether he was relieved or dismayed to see them. At
least now he knew who'd taken them, but whether they were now in safe
hands was uncertain. Clearly the secret of Silgan's birth could no
longer be concealed; he expected the Lord Holder would have had copies
made.

"Yes," Bryvin nodded. "Lusilk told me where to find them. I saw her at
Beryl Peak before the fire and she told me where they were. I did what
I could for her." **And I should know pretty soon if it worked.**

Lorican closed his eyes, his face drawn with unbearable pain and grief
as the facade of calm he'd maintained ever since he'd heard the news
from Rorrigraf's Hold slipped away. So she had been there. It had been a
slim hope that it hadn't been her, and now it was gone. He looked
utterly crushed. "Thank you, my Lord. I appreciate all you did, even if
there wasn't anything..." His voice shook. "Will Silgan have to go to
Beryl Peak?"

"No," Bryvin shook his head. "Not for the foreseeable future. The
conclave has work to do before even a Lord Warder can be elected to
manage the Hold until an heir search can be completed. I'm sure we can
spin this out for Turns. That boy deserves some stability and
education. Which is why I suggest he be educated with my children.
You can bring him to this creche during the day and take him home with
you at night." He gave Lorican a questioning look. "Do you think
that's a good idea?'

Relief filled the smith's voice. "Yes, thank you, my Lord. I promised I
wouldn't leave him, you see." He made an effort to calm himself. Stars,
he hoped this was what Lusilk would have wanted. "You've been more than
generous to both of us, and if I can repay you by my work then you'll
have the very best I can offer."

Bryvin nodded and held out his hand to the smith. "Your work will
suffice for your time here," he said. "If you decided to throw in a
nice trinket for my wife now and then, I'd be appreciative." Bryvin
smiled. "I can provide any materials."

"Of course. I'd be honored to see the Lady Holder wearing one of my
pieces." Lorican returned the smile, though his was a sad one, and took
Lord Bryvin's hand. "One more question. Should I keep quiet on the
subject of Silgan's ancestry for now? Or do you plan for it to be made
known?"

Bryvin nodded at Lorican. "I think it's probably better not to make it
public until after some time has passed." Bryvin tilted his head and
looked concerned. "Lord Ishek at Garnet Valley is doing a good job
with their Heir, but his Lady mother is still living and providing her
parental support." He shook his head. "I don't want to see them take
Silgan from you to place him with a Warder the boy doesn't know. That
boy needs you right now. More than he needs his inheritance. He'll get
there, I'll make sure of it. But when the time is right for Silgan."

"Thank you, Lord Bryvin. I do care for him, as if he was my son by
blood." Lorican bowed, grateful that Silgan would stay with him for a
while longer. He hadn't given up hope that he might one day teach the
boy his Craft, but he kept that wish unspoken. He knew, too, that he'd
have to explain what had happened to his mother...but not yet. Let him
settle in first.

"Of course," Bryvin nodded as he walked the smith toward the door.
"I'm sure the headwoman has your rooms all arranged," he added as he
saw her waiting outside the door. He chuckled and shook his head.
"Berry Pink Hold," he could be heard still laughing as he went back to
his desk.

Last updated on the December 14th 2020

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Sanctuary