Klah and Conversation

Writers: Ainsley1, Vix
Date Posted: 3rd July 2007

Characters: Evaleine, Benaran
Description: Evaleine and Benaran share klah and discuss a possible outing with Benaran's children.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 4, day 23 of Turn 4

Evaleine was hurrying rather quickly through the family wing, after leaving the women's solar. Her ordinarily even temper had been rather tested today by the spoiled Mimoona, whom she was supposed to be instructing in the art of womanly graces. The audacity of the girl appalled her and Evaleine's pale green eyes still flashed in anger. To her horror, her inattentiveness and brisk pace landed her almost right on top of an unsuspecting Benaran before she could bring herself to a halt.

He dodged out of her way just in time, but extended his arm to detain her. "Lady Evaleine? Are you alright?"

"Quite alright, Lord Benaran. Other than embarrassed by my inattention. Please accept my apology."

The man chuckled at her titling of him. "Not 'Lord', just Benaran. However, you look as if you could use a cup of klah or juice and time to relax."

Evaleine blushed at her misnomer. She seemed destined to blunder today. "Yes a cup of klah and time to relax would indeed be very nice," she answered breathing out slowly to settle rattled nerves.

"Then join me." He offered her an arm and a smile to accompany it.

"Thank you, I would enjoy that very much," she replied, taking his arm, not sure that she should agree but despite her slight unease, she had to admit to feeling some attraction to the Lord Holder's son.

It was tempting to invite her to his own sitting room, but instead he headed for one of the walkways leading from the Family Wing to the main Hold. Upon passing a drudge, he gave a quick instruction to bring a tray with fresh klah to the westernmost reception room. "We can enjoy some quiet there," he explained to Evaleine.

"That sounds perfect, thank you, Benaran," she responded, offering him a smile and once again wondering about the man.

He led her to the reception room and motioned her to a seat before speaking again. "How are you settling in to the Hold, Evaleine? Have you found enough to keep you busy?"

Evaleine took her seat and settled herself, unconsciously rearranging the gossamer scarf she wore, "I am settling in very nicely and have found everyone most welcoming," she replied, thinking others had not found those at Amber Hills as hospitable, but in truth her own experiences had been very good.

"I fear I was idle for some sevendays, taking walks or an occasional runner ride, writing letters, or playing music. Harper Faran has been kind enough to give me some musical instruction and that has been a pleasant distraction, but I was still finding myself with too much time on my hands. Then I sought out Zelanka and she had an excellent solution. I have taken charge of the female fosterlings and that does prove to occupy a bit more of my time."

"The fosterlings?" He puzzled over that, trying to remember the young women who were staying at the Hold, but having an impression only of giggling and flirting. "What type of work do you do with them?"

"I try to teach them the things they will need to know should they marry, particularly should they marry someone of position. Appropriate behaviour and manners. Different aspects of domestic Hold management. How to plan for different types of occasions with the resources that one has available. Also, I try to make sure their time is occupied and supervised so that they do not have overly much opportunity to dally with young men about the Hold or surrounding Halls," Evaleine explained.

"So you're a combination of teacher and foster mother to them?" Benaran studied her thoughtfully. "I've seen you with my own children and think that you'd probably be good at that. But you don't live with the fosterlings, do you?"

"Oh, my no. They share a room in the Family wing while I share quarters with another young woman in the Serhox wing," Evaleine answered the latter question, accepting the compliment with a smile but no comment. "Oh, and I feel it is only fair to mention, your youngest brother and oldest son are favorite topics in the Lady's Solar when the girls are about."

"Benamil has always attracted attention but I hadn't realized that Benider was also under consideration," he mused. "Perhaps I should start looking for a suitable mate for him - though he still has plenty of time before a final choice."

Evaleine shook her head, "There is no reason to start looking just yet. Let the boy live a little. At this point, it's no more than a harper's class crush that the girls have. These girls in particular have a bit of growing up to do."

Evaleine paused and then gave Benaran a curious look. "I've told you what I have been doing to occupy my time. Now I would like to hear what type of duties the son of a Lord Holder must attend to."

Benaran sighed. "The son of a Lord Holder must learn all that he can about what a Lord Holder does. It's what I've been groomed to do for as long as I can remember, and yet I continue to find new facets to the job. My father seems to have either identified our particular talents or led us toward different tasks, because it seems that my brothers and I have each learned different portions of what he does."

"And what are your talents?" Evaleine asked, her green eyes studying the man before her.

He shrugged. "A little bit of everything. I can supervise projects, working with people and getting the best work from them, but I'm also good at hidework and can often find the mistakes that others make in columns of figures."

She nodded, "I've noticed that you seem to manage people very well. Right after the earthquake, when the refugees were arriving, you seemed to be highly involved in overseeing and organizing various groups."

"We all pitched in and did what we could," he replied humbly, trying to remember seeing her during that time, but having no recollection of her face.

"As I suppose one must during such trying times," Evaleine replied as she considered the man who sat opposite her, and thought back to the time right after the earthquake. He was not the most compassionate of those greeting the refugees, but he was very effective and efficient, a personality trait which could be worthwhile in a crisis, or in running a Hold. What kind of husband had he been? What kind of father was he now? "How has all this turmoil affected your children? You have five don't you?" she asked despite knowing the answer.

"My children are very accepting that we must do what we must. It's the way they've been brought up and the way that I was raised as well." He paused momentarily, considering how blunt that sounded. "I haven't really been able to spend as much time with them as I should and though I try to provide the best caretakers for them available, I suppose it's not the same as having a parent present."

Evaleine's eyes softened in concern, "How long have they been without a mother?"

"It's been two turns. I'm afraid that Vidaben barely remembers her."

"Well, he seemed bright, confidant, and altogether charming when I met him so you must be providing what he needs."

"I hope so," conceded Benaran, reminding himself to spend some time with the children and to think about Evaleine's comments. "Of course, they enjoyed the time they spent with you and look forward to more."

"As do I. Ah, here is our klah," she observed her eyes moving toward the approaching drudge.

"Just set it there," Benaran told the drudge, indicating a small table that rested between him and Evaleine. When the tray had been placed as indicated and the drudge had exited, closing the door behind her, he leaned forward and took the pot handle, pouring steaming cups of liquid for both of them. "Sweeting?"

"No, none for me thank you," she said feeling a bit awkward having Benaran serve her. As was often the case when she felt self-conscious her hand crept up to check the position of her scarf, to see that it was hiding or at least obscuring the angry scar.

He picked up one cup and saucer and held it out to her with a smile. "The children do want to see you. And of course, since the two youngest have spoken of you, Vibenia, the next in line, is anxious to meet you as well."

Thinking about the children put Evaleine at ease once again. She really had enjoyed Benaran's children. "I would very much like to meet her. What kind of outings do the children enjoy?"

"They like taking walks in the area and short rides. I'm afraid that their mounts are not up to lengthy runs." He did not add that most of these outings were in the company of their nanny rather than with him.

"I rather like riding and walking myself," she observed. "Though I've found the weather sometimes chilly for those activities of late."

"The weather has turned a bit cool, hasn't it?" He sat back with his own cup of klah, regarding her with an amused expression. "Perhaps we should plan an outing for all of us."

"I think that would be splendid," Evaleine replied before taking a sip of her klah with a slight upward curl to her lips. It had been some time since she had danced this type of dance and she found she was out of practice.

"Good!" He nodded and grinned. "The sooner, the better, though if we allow the children to help in the planning, they may not have us out in the most pleasant of weather."

Evaleine laughed, "Well, for their sakes I can be flexible."

He found himself chuckling along with her. "Then we'll make the plans - and hope for the best."

Last updated on the July 3rd 2007

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Klah and Conversation