Evening of Secrets

Writers: Miriah, Paula
Date Posted: 1st March 2013

Characters: Zelanka, Karhal
Description: Zelanka and Karhal find out that they know a bit more than they realized
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 12, day 28 of Turn 6

Karhal

Karhal stepped out into the chill of the early spring air, giving a slight
nod to one of the stationed guards. The man nodded back and stood a
little straighter. Karhal hid a smile, but continued walking. It
didn't hurt that he took these night time walks. Technically, he
wasn't on duty but it never hurt the newer guards to know that he
could show up at any time.

He inhaled the icy air and closed his eyes to concentrate on the bite
of the wind as it touched his skin and ruffled his short hair. It felt
good, despite the winter bite and he enjoyed it.

One of the benefits of being Headwoman was an appartment where she
could see most of the comings and goings of the hold. Looking out of
window, Zelanka spoke to her husband. "I'm going out, Petriv, there's
something I need to do."

"Hmm?" he lifted his gaze from the book he was reading.

"I'm going out for a walk," Zelanka repeated and went to fetch her
cloak. Summer may be comming but the evenings and nights were still
chill.

"Do you want company? It's pretty late," Petrvi offered reclutantly.
He really didn't want to leave his book.

"No, you keep reading," she answered with fondness. Shoes on and she was out.

Zelanka could pad as quietly as hunting feline but she knew better
than sneak up on a guard. So she made sure Karhal heard his footsteps
before she called out to him. "Karhal!"

And she hadn't surprised him. Karhal's pale brows arched and he
inclined his head to the headwoman. "Something I can help you
with, Zelanka?"

"Would you like some company for your walk?" Zelanka asked. "You spend
too much time alone or surrounded with burly guards."

She was given a slight smile. "It's my job to be surrounded by
burly guards." He considered her and took a slow breath. Even
if he had wanted to be alone, should he have said something,
Zelanka may not have listened to him anyway. "Feel free, but
tell me if you get too cold."

"It's spring and I know how to dress up sensible," she gave him whole
charm of her smile.

The charm of her smile set off warning bells in Karhal's mind.
The woman was up to something and unfortunately for him,
he wagered that he was the target. Supressing a sigh,
he offered her his arm. "Well, lets walk then."

"You know me too well," Zelanka noted with a smile. Her expression
grew serious again. "How are you doing? The drudges are bringing out
too many untouched plates from you're office and I haven't seen you
eating in the dining hall either," she asked. There was honest
concern in her voice.

He didn't look at her, but kept his eyes straight ahead. His voice was
soft however and his shoulders twitched in a slight shrug. "I'm doing
fine. I've just been busy, Zelanka. I eat when I get the chance."

"I have two sons," she reminded him, he was not fooling her. "You need

to eat regulary to maintain your strength, Captain." The use of his
rank was also deliberate.

"I do eat." He replied quickly. "I am just busy." He sighed and turned
to the Headwoman, arms crossed. "And I have a lot on my mind. You of
all people should understand that."

"I do understand. I understand how easy it is to just stop _caring_ and
start neglecting yourself. How easy it is just to work through the night
until you just collapse. To make yourself so exhausted that you can't remember."
She had gone little bit crazy after Benaroy's death. Washing floors or polishing
furniture middle of night. She wouldn't had made it without Petriv, his solid
presence and his shoulder to cry on.

Lips thinned as Zelanka hit a bit close to home and his pale blue eyes sharpened.
He took a deep breath and spoke softly. "I do care, Zelanka. I do my job." Karhal
shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. "What do you want from
me, Zelanka?"

"Want?" she gave him her arched eyebrows. "I want you to have a life outside
your job."

Surprisingly, Karhal gave a bitter laugh. "Like you used to?" His jaw twitched,
his exhaustion sapping his own discipline and making his words a bit sharp.
"The former Lord Holder must have thought himself a very lucky man."

Zelanka gasped and stopped, reacting like she's been hit with fist instead of
just words. "You...how?" she stuttered. Was there any person in the hold who
didn't know? She got her wits back together. "Oh, that was low. Is this how
you always treat people who try to be your friends? I know how to play that
game too." Her voice was quiet and cold.

Karhal inwardly winced and his tone was apologetic. "I'm sorry, Zelanka." He
ran his hand through his short hair and then over his face. "I'm tired and
I ..." He exhaled. "Look, I've not said anything to anyone else. I just watch
and notice things. " He sighed and looked at her, the big man shrinking a
little in his contriteness. "And I'm not going to say anything to anyone.
I wouldn't."

"I do hope you won't. I notice things too," Zelanka replied, crossing her
arms over her chest.

Karhal immediately stiffened and his gaze shuttered down to absolute blankness. "What
exactly are you talking about?"

"Nothing, it's nothing," Zelanka said with resigned, sad sigh. Somethings were better left untouched.

"No, it's not nothing." A tense jaw twitched. "You might as well say it."

"Look, it's nothing tangible, nothing I can prove, just a feeling in my gut,"
she lowered her gaze and bit her lip. This wasn't easy for her, it involved
her family. This seemed to be an evening for secrets to come out. "You do know
that my daughter and your wife were friends. Well, I suspect Pelanka is Petriv's
true daughter in more than one way..." she left it to hang, letting him do his
own deductions. After all, if he knew about her and Benaroy, he must know about
Petriv too.

Blue eyes closed and broad shoulders slumped a little. Karhal's voice was soft.
"Ohrla was discreet, but yes, I know." It was the reason he didn't have children
and the reason her parents had arranged their marriage with his own. "I never
faulted her for it. She couldn't help the way her heart went. You couldn't either,
nor could your husband."

"Yes..." for a moment it looked and sounded like she was about to burst in tears.
Then she regained her composure. "So I do understand you, better than you thought."

His eyes were sad for a moment before he remembered himself. His voice still soft,
he looked over at her. "Perhaps. But Zelanka, you have your family and your
children. This job...what I do...it's all I have now." He took a deep breath
and stood straight, his expression returning to one of strict discipline and
neutrality. "I'll think about what you've said, Zelanka."

"Don't forget that you do have friends, people who care about you," Zelanka said.

His gaze softened and he nodded. "I know. Thank you."

Last updated on the March 17th 2013

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Evening of Secrets