Homework

Writers: Paula, Eimi
Date Posted: 18th February 2011

Characters: Corofel, Erassa, Beleran, Wallia, Felcoron, Corolia, Ofewal
Description: The Lord Holder's children blindside Erassa with a question.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 13, day 5 of Turn 5

Corofel

The older children were doing their homework after the Harper classes.
Or in Ofewal's case, had already finished it and was reading something
else or in Corolia's case, daydreaming and drawing pretty flowers on the
slate. Wallia was now almost two turns old toddler and was learning to
move around with a help of a cane. She also used it to whack her
brothers, who were busy placing obstacles on her path.

"Why is it shelves and not shelfs?" Corofel asked with complaining tone.

"You try and say 'shelfs' five times fast and see how much easier it is
to say 'shelves'," Erassa smiled. Corofel's questions always seemed to
amuse her. He had quite the sharp mind and was going to make a fine
Lord Holder, she thought as she ruffled his hair affectionately.

"With nouns you have to think phonetically too," Ofewal said with
superior tone to his older brother.

"I can show you where to stick your phonetics," Corofel said
threatheningly.

"Mom! They put chail!" Wallia wailed, having tripped over to a chair.
Felcoron and her milk-brother were sniggering maliciously.

"Hey now." Erassa gave Corofel's shoulder a light tap. "I will not have
that kind of talk in this home. Especially not to a family member and
not in front of the little ones. They look up to you, remember."

She turned her attention to those same youngsters. "Well, Wallia,
that's what your cane is for. You have to find little surprises like
that. And you two," she said, putting her hands on her hips as she
fixed the two little boys with a serious look of reproach, "I've got
half a mind to let her use that cane on you both. Boys should _not_
pick on girls."

"How come she can pick on us then?" Felcoron grumbled.

"Can I go play outside?" Corolia asked suddenly.

"Because you're a big boy and you're strong enough to take it," Erassa
whispered to Felcoron before bowing down to give him a kiss on the top
of his head. "Have you finished your studies, Corolia?"

"Umh," she wiggled on her seat.

"She's not," Ofewal said after taking a peek on her hides. "She's been
drawing."

"Then I'm sorry, but you can't until it's all finished. Beleran!
That's Willia's cane. You don't get to play with it," she said sternly,
noticing a tug-of-war match about to break out.

"Mine! Bad boy!" Wallia cried.

It was one thing to be scolded by his mother, but quite another to be
reprimanded by his favorite playmate. Beleran burst into tears, letting
go of the stick and letting out an ear piercing wail.

"See," Erassa said as she picked him up to offer a little comfort. "I
told you to leave Wallia's stick alone. That's hers and it's not for
you to play with."

Corolia watched them, smiled at her little sister and then started to
thoughtfully chew the tip of her drawing stick. "Erassa, she asked
suddenly," How come dad doesnt' talk with you the way he used to?"

The question caught Erassa off guard and she spun around to look at the
girl, her eyes wide. She quickly composed herself, masking her surprise
as confusion. "I don't know what you mean Corolia. He talks to me all
the time."

"About us, not about anything else," Ofewal remarked. The older boys
were also interested in.

"Yeah, of how many new pair of pants we need," Corofel snorted. Was it
his fault he out grew his clothes or they got ripped?

The last things she wanted to do was explain to them that her father
wouldn't talk to her because she refused to be his dirty little secret.
Thinking quickly she decided the simple explanation was best.
"Children, your father is a very busy man. He doesn't always have time
to chat with me. We talk about the important things, which is all of
you."

The other children settled for that but Ofewal still looked suspicious.
He didn't say anything though and the moment passed.

Corofel slammed his book (very expensive one) shut loudly. "I'm done.
I'm going outside," he declared.

"Corofel, stop," Erassa said in a stern voice. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I've done my homework. Can I go out and ride now?" he said and
modified his tone to pleading one.

"Who will you go riding with?" As experienced on a runner as he was,
she still got nervous about the idea of him going out alone.

"I'll ask one of the stablehands. You know Master Aivorn won't let me
anywhere near a runner without adult supervisor," Corofel replied.

"All right, but if he can't spare a stablehand, you need to come
straight back here until your father gets home. Agreed?" she asked, her
tone telling him that if the right words didn't come out of his mouth,
he wouldn't be going anywhere.

"Yes, ma'am," Corofel said obediently. He knew Erassa so well he knew
when to push her and when not to. And that tone meant no compromises.

"Right, on you go then. Watch out for Wallia," she said, warning him
that his determined little sister was about to cross his path. "And if
the rest of you finish your homework we might be able to take a walk
down to the pens to see the ovine before supper."

"That means you," Ofewal whispered to his little sister. Corolia stuck
her tongue out to him and finally started to do her work.

Last updated on the March 3rd 2013

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