You Must Talk to Him

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 30th April 2008

Characters: Shadux, Zelanka
Description: Shadux comes to Zela after a worrying moment with the Lord Holder
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 9, day 22 of Turn 4

"Zelanka?" Shadux said softly behind the Headwoman as she stirred the lunchtime pot of stew. "Can I speak with you a minute?"

"Of course you can," she smiled at him over her shoulder.

"Perhaps in your office?" He lowered his voice to a whisper only she could hear. "It's about Lord Benaroy."

Zelanka nodded. If you wanted a privat talk and avoid rumours, the kitchen was the worst possible place. She handed the lardle to a kitchen worker and gestured Shadux to come with her. She reminded silent untill they were in her office and she had shut the door. "What it is?" she asked, curious and bit worried at the sametime.

Even though they were away from curious ears and eyes, Shadux kept his voice low. "This morning I had some business with Lord Benaroy in his office. We were talking normally at first, but then he started to make no sense. He put his head in his hands and just started mumbling incoherantly. I tried to ask him if he was all right, but I couldn't get an intelligable answer from him, so I paniced. I ran and fetched one of the healers. By the time we returned to his office he seemed shaken, but more himself. He said he was fine, that it had just been a headache but the healer said it's very possible he had just had another small stroke."

"I've seen that happen few times myself. He claims it's nothing but...," she couldn't finish the sentance.

Shadux nodded. He had known she always had looked after the Lord Holder's wellbeing. That was why he had felt it was right to tell her, despite the Lord Holder's insistance that it should not be talked about.
"The healer seemed concerned."

"He has had several strokes in the past and the next one could be the one which kills him," Zela said with voice full of concern.

Shadux shook his head saddly. "I don't understand him. Why does he insist on pretending like nothing is wrong?"

"Perhaps he doesn't want to admit that the age is catching up with him. Or perhaps he doesn't want to worry us, try to keep up the appearance of a strong Lord Holder," the Headwoman replied with small shrug. Her hands were absently rearranging the things on her desk.

"If he only named an heir, he'd be able to pass some of the responsibility of the Hold off on him." But in that, too, Lord Benaroy had seemed rather stubborn. "He listens to you, Zelanka."

"Not it that matter, he doesn't. I think he just can't decide. They are all capable on their own ways," the headwoman said.

"The Healer warned him that if didn't take his medicine and take better care of himself, the next one could be the end of him. He _has_ to make a choice." As angry as Shadux had been at the way the Lord Holder had ousted his father to make room dor Cyrek, he had still been a man he had loved almost like his own grandfather since he was a small boy. The last thing he wanted was to believe that his end was near, but after what he saw that morning he was begining to see the writing on the wall.

"I'm making sure he does take his medicine," Zelanka told him.

"And what if it's not enough? What if he dies in denial and never choises his heir? What will Amber Hills do then?" Could they really afford the chaos that would ensue?

"I don't know," Zelanka said with deeply disturbed tone.

"Zelanka, please," Shadux said earnestly, moving around the desk to take her hands in his. "You _must_ talk to him. He respects you. He would listen to you."

"I will talk to him," she promised.

Last updated on the May 1st 2008

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You Must Talk to Him