Thoughts of Home

Writers: Avery, Yvonne
Date Posted: 24th July 2006

Characters: Corran, Cyrek, Mariss
Description: Corran visits Cyrek for a little reminiscing.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 12, day 20 of Turn 3

Corran knocked on Cyrek's door, carrying a skin of wine in his hand.
It was a good Vintner Hall vintage, one he'd managed to salvage from his quarters, what was left, and the way he was feeling tonight, he sure needed it. He had a feeling Cyrek might appreciate it too.
Besides, when would they next get a skin like this? He felt obligated to give it to _his_ Steward- it might be Amber Hills where he was staying, but his loyalty was not there. "May I come in?" he called.

"The door's open," Cyrek called, then grinned in relief when he saw who it was. One of Amethyst Cliff's holders, and someone he wouldn't have to see the silent resentment reflected in their eyes. "Corran, welcome!"

Mariss looked up from the book she was reading and smiled as well.
"Good evening, Guardsman Corran."

"Good evening, Mariss." Corran said with a warm smile for her. He imagined it couldn't be easy for her to adjust- the people here seemed standoffish to him sometimes, to a free-spirited girl like Mariss? "Are you well?"

"Very fine, thank you."

He smiled back at Cyrek. "Glad it's me and not one of them, eh?" he asked jokingly. An 'us versus them' mode could be so dangerous- he'd learned that- but somehow it was _natural_ to feel that here. This wasn't home, just a place to stay, and the people certainly weren't treating them like fellows.

"Let's just say that the inhabitants of Amber Hills haven't always been the easiest to get along with lately, shall we?" Cyrek said dryly. "Come in, sit down."

Corran did. "It's a nice set of rooms, but not the same as home, right?" he asked. "And no, they're not easy- though I've heard them say the same about us!" Not that Corran had noticed that- his people were well-behaved and doing the best they could, it wasn't like the Amber Hills folk had lost as much.

"They did assign us a nice set of rooms," Cyrek said, glancing around.
It had probably been given to them before anyone had known he'd be the new Steward.

"Well." Mariss eyed the skin of wine, then stood and went to kiss her father on his forehead. "I'm exhausted. Goodnight, Da. Goodnight, Corran."

Cyrek smiled. "Goodnight, love."

"Good night, Mariss." Corran said politely to her. "Sleep well."

She smiled at them both before retreating to her room and quietly closing the door. Men sometimes needed a little 'alone' time, and her father was no exception. Besides, with those electric lights, she could read just as well in here as in there... even if she _did_ wish for glows instead...

Corran flopped into a chair and looked over at Cyrek. "So, how are you doing, other than being frustrated by some of out new hosts?"

The Steward suppressed a sigh, agreeing yet being reluctant to do so verbally. "Sounds like you're having a few difficulties here."

Corran nodded slightly. "I guess...it's not home, Cyrek!" he said unhappily. "I want it to be home. Instead it's a strange place, and they act like it's their land and we should do everything they say because they're letting us stay here." He sighed. "Are you doing any better?"

Cyrek ran a hand through his hair. "It's been... difficult. Lord Benaroy.. well, I can hardly fault him for it, but he sees our loss as his gain, and its hard not to resent that. And... I know that having me assume Stewardship here hasn't met with a lot of approval."
Shadux looked green every time they met, and clashed more than once for no reason that he could see save that the young man resented his position. Understandable, but no less palatable.

"I suppose we'd have viewed it the same way." Corran allowed. "I'm glad you did, though, since it makes it easier for us to adapt with someone we know. But it can be hard for them too. I guess I just wish they'd realize it's _hard_ for us to settle in here, and it feels like they don't know that."

"They're not Holdless. They... can't know what its like." He, Mariss, Corran... everyone from Amethyst Cliff had lost _everything_.
Friends, loved ones, history, a home... it would be hard for another Holder to empathize, but Cyrek wished a few would at least _try_.
"Are you going to uncork that wine or do you wish to stare at it all night?"

Corran laughed slightly and reached for the wine, uncorking it.
"Staring at it's probably better for my morning health," he remarked, "but I'd much rather drink it right now. I can regret it in the morning."

"So can I." He hoped. "Where are you staying now? In the Hold, or a cot?"

"In the Hold with the other refugees, though I hope I can maybe move into the Guard barracks. I doubt I'll get a cot, they'll be needed for families and I...I don't have one yet."

The Steward frowned. "I'll see what I can do, although that is technically the Headwoman's area of expertise." Or the Captain of the Guards'. Still... "It won't hurt to talk with them. You wish to stay on as a guard here, then? You're not going to move to one of the smaller Holdings?"

"I'd rather stay on here. It's more of a challenge in a bigger location. And, of course, there's more people I know here." Corran sighed and took another drink. "There's no chance of going back home, is there? Not any time soon."

Cyrek was silent for a long, long moment. Home... what a funny concept, 'home'. What exactly made a place home, as opposed to somewhere that you stayed? He glanced at the door that his daughter had disappeared through. And why didn't they think about things like 'home' until it was too late? Finally, he shook his head. "No, Corran."

Last updated on the July 26th 2006

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