The Cuckold
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 24th May 2007
Characters: Eilomar, Almonteo
Description: Eilomar reports back to duty and discuss his situation with Almonteo.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 4, day 5 of Turn 4
Eilomar had been released from the infirmary. (Or more like kicked out).
It meant he had to return to work and face his wife. But first, he was going to report to the Hallmaster. He was using a cane (he really didn't need it, but he thought it was nice touch), he had lost some weight which made his skin flab loosely and he looked disturbed. He had done lot of thinking while at the infirmary.
"Master Eilomar," Almonteo smiled as he opened the door for the man. "Please, have a seat."
"Thank you. So, what's been happening here at the hall while I was at the infirmary? Who's been taking care of my classes?"
"Journeyman Amgard. I think your students have missed you while you were away." It was a slight lie, but the man did just suffer a heart attack and it didn't hurt to be kind.
"Well, of course they did. Amgard is all right for a _journeyman_ but he lacks my skills and experience," Eilomar replied. The he sighed heavily.
"Most certainly," the Hallmaster nodded. "Are you ready to take back some of your classes or do you still need more time?" Almonteo had the report from the Healers, but he wanted to hear the man's evaluation of his health.
"It's not the _work_ that is the problem, I like it," Eilomar said. The Hallmaster's eyebrows raised curiously. "Not the work? There is another problem then?"
Eilomar was silent for a long moment, pondering. But he had to talk to someone, needed to talk. Keeping it all inside wasn't good for his poor heart either. "You see it's my wife. Do you know what happened? I caught her with another man! A rider!"
"Oh dear!" Not that it wasn't expected... His wife wasn't exactly known for her devotion to him. Not that many truly blamed her... "Eilomar, I'm so sorry."
"Then my daugthers paid a visit and I realized something... That she might have been unfaithful for me far longer than I suspected," Eilomar let out a long suffering sigh of man who had been done injustice. "Your daughters have had reason suspect something before?" Well, if it was a character trait that she brought with her to the Weyr, at least he could not blame their new home for corrupting her. That was at least a relief.
"The younger one, she doesn't look at all like me or her older sister. Oh, there's plenty of her mother's look in her but shouldn't she took after me even a little bit? Presuming she is mine," Eilomar said bitterly.
The Hallmaster was silent a moment. He had two daughters himself. Two daughters and two sons. He thought he could see himself clearly in each. But he could not imagine the horror he would feel if one day he looked them in the face and saw a stranger's face looking back at him.
No. Almonteo could imagine the horror. He had seen betrayal akin to that in his Carmora's face once. For the first time he felt true empathy for the man. "Eilomar... I am truly, _truly_ sorry."
"Thank you. I've been nothing but loyal husband to her. I have made sure she lacks nothing: food, clothes, jewelry, drudges... and this is the thank I get," Eilomar complained.
Well there was more to a relationship than the creature comforts, Almonteo knew. He had fallen to temptation in a moment when he had felt an emotional distance growing between himself and his wife. But no excuse could be made that would nullify the extreme selfishness of the act, or relieve the pain it caused. Pain that, as he well knew, did not ever truly go away... "You did not fail her, Eilomar. It was she who failed you."
"I thought you would undestand. Now I have to decide what to do with her. Keep up the farce of a marriage or divorce her. Would the divorce damage me and my career?"
"You are a Master Harper, Eilomar, and you have grounds for divorce. Your career would not be in any jeapordy." His reputation, however could be. There would be rumors and probably more than one snide remark and joke made at the rotund harper's expense. But he certainly had grounds. And Almonteo could not punish a man whose wife was unfaithful.
It smacked too much of hypocrasy.
"You're probably right. Being married to a woman who is quilty of adultry is going to damage me too," Eilomar said thoughtfully.
"I can assure you this will not effect your position in the Hall as long as I am the Master of it."
Eilomar nodded. "I appreaciate it. I will let you know what I decide later. I need gather bit more strenght before that," Eilomar said.
"Of course," Almonteo nodded. "Please take your time. We would not want to rush your recovery."
"Thank you, Hallmaster," Eilomar said.
Last updated on the May 25th 2007