I want to bring her home

Writers: Ames, Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 20th June 2011

Characters: Benani, Zelanka, Wirnan, Yanley
Description: Benani receives a letter from her sister
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentions: Zathris

Benani

Wirnan

Yanley

The messenger rode hard. He had been paid well to deliver this letter
to the Lady Holder at Amber Hills and he knew that he would be
rewarded for his speed. He changed runners at several posts along the
way and finally arrived at a high ground eating lope. Guards barred
his way into the hold until he showed them the seal on the missive he
carried. That along with his knots showed he was on official business.

He walked into the hall and looked around "I have a letter for the
Lady Holder?"

A young drudge girl looked up startled at the voice. "Um, Let me find
someone to help," she quickly told him planning to seek out either the
Headwoman or the Steward, or anyone at all who could help. She hurried
into the kitchens hoping she would find the headwoman without too much
difficulty.

Zelanka wasn't hard to find, she was overseeing the kitchens, one of
her favourite places.
"Yes?" she said to the girl.

"A messenger arrived. They said they have a message for the Lady
Holder," the girl was not about to go and distrub the lady without
knowing more which was why she had come to the Headwoman. Once she'd
delievered her own message, she darted back out of the kitchens to see
to her own chores, knowing the headwoman would handle the situation.

"From where and from who?" Zelanka asked, gesturing the messanger to
follow her.

"From Lady Yanley, Ma'am" he said pulling his forelock. The man was
exhausted from the long ride and would welcome a spot in the stables
to sleep and care for his runner.

"All the way from Lazur Lake? This way, please, I'll take you to her,"
Zelanka said. It didn't take long to reach Benani's office. She
knocked her door. "My Lady, a messanger is bringing a message from
your sister."

Benani looked up "Send him in please Zelanka." She rose from her desk
to step around it.

The messenger entered and bowed before placing the letter in her hand.
"I was asked to wait for a reply ma'am," he said.

"Thank you for your diligence," she said. "Zelanka, can you please see
he gets whatever he needs?"

She moved back around the desk and picked up her letter opener to
slide under the seal as the others left the room.

"Of course, my Lady," Zelanka replied.

~~~Letter begins~~~

"My dearest sister Benani," the letter began. "I hope this letter
finds you in good health and in happy mood. I was delighted of your
news. My sincere congratulations to you and your husband. If only my
news were so good, but they are not. It's over now. What started with
Golansin's announcement at the Turn's End feast is now final. (What a
way to tell your wife: I'm kicking you out and marrying some one half
of your age, all public and no pre-warning.) He is now free to marry
his mistress, that vapid, empty headed little twit as the harpers
confirmed the divorce. Reclutantly, our hold harper admitted to me, he
likes me. But they can also understand his need for Heir and
twenty-five Turns is time enough to me to provide one. Hah! Like any
of his past lovers ever get pregnant either. Besides he has plethora
of siblings, nephews and cousins to keep the Blood line strong and he
could just pick one and declare him as the Heir.
Anyway, the little twit is strutting around the hold and I'm thrown
out like yesterday's garbage. Do you know what she did? She offended
the Headwoman, twice. The Headwoman and I have been working decades
together in perfect undrestanding, like well-oiled machine. She is
allianating his allies. She is nobody, a minor holder's daughter, she
has none of my connections, my skills, my knowledge of social
niceties..."
the letter went on like that for several pages, full of pain and
bitterness, stained like what looked like tear drops.

..." I'm sorry, sweet Benani, to pour this on you. I don't know what
to do now. I feel so utterly alone and betrayed. Twenty-five Turns,
cast away like that (Well, I should probably deduct the Turns we lived
separete while I was helping father after Nimile's death.) This letter
seems to get too long and heavy for poor Bramble to carry, so I send
it by the messanger. At least things are going well for you. I hope to
hear from you soon. Maybe you have news that cheer me up. With love,
Yanley."

~~~End Letter~~~

After devouring the letter from her sister Benani scanned it a second
time and then read it slowly again a third. She got up from her desk
and started pacing with her hand on her stomach. Zathris was gone on
his trip or she was certain he'd have some hard words. "Divorce?" she
exclaimed. Shaking her head she went to the door. "Please ask the
Steward to come quickly."

A hand went to her forehead and she continued to pace. This was a full
insult to Amber Hills Blood!

Wirnan arrived as soon as he was summoned. Knocking, he entered when
given permission.

"How can I help, my Lady Benani?" He asked as he looked to her.

"Thank you for coming Wirnan," she said. "I need your advice." She
handed him the letter.

He read over the letter and looked up with a thoughtful gaze on his
face. "What kind of advice are you seeking? Did you wish to visit your
sister?"

Benani paced as he read the letter. Unfamiliar anger at the treatment
her sister had received momentarily stopped her from understanding his
question. She stopped and blinked, "What? No..." she paused a moment.
"I want to bring her home. No one of Amber Hills blood should be
treated like that."

"Oh, I see." Wirnan replied, watching the Lady with interest. "Well, I
know for a fact that Lord Zathris would be in favor of such a move,
seeing as she is your sister and is now no longer beholden to her
husband. He may not condone such things himself, but he would never
turn her away in these circumstances." Wirnan paused in thought for a
moment. "Perhaps, we could enlist the help of some of our rider
friends. That might make a statement to her husband and his hold as
well as get her here sooner," he looked to Benani to see what she
thought of that suggestion.

She nodded as she listened. "Excellent idea Wirnan. Thank you." She
would need to speak to Zelanka again to prepare rooms for her sister's
arrival. There were several appropriate suites available to the blood.
"Would you please arrange for a ranking rider if possible? I would
like to show Lazur Holds Lord," she couldn't even bring herself to say
his name at the moment. "How much value he has let go in my sister."

Thinking perhaps Zelanka was still outside, she called. "Zelanka are you there?"

"Of course, Lady Benani. I'll go and send some messages immediately.
As soon as I hear back, I will let you know." Wirnan gave her a nod
and turned to leave. "When would you like them to pick her up?"

"As soon as can be arranged Wirnan, and thank you," she called after
him. "Zelanka," she said to the woman when she reappeared. "We'll
need to arrange a suite for Lady Yanley," Benani finally smiled.
"She's coming home to stay."

"Well, that's a piece of good news. I shall get to it straight away,
My lady," The headwoman replied.

Last updated on the June 24th 2011

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I want to bring her home