Don't Do This To Me

Writers: AL, Miriah
Date Posted: 6th April 2013

Characters: Zathris, Karhal
Description: Karhal is forced to do something unpleasant
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 13, day 22 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Chupsin

Zathris

Karhal

Karhal answered the Lord Holder's summons promptly, arriving at Zathris's
door shortly after he had received it. He'd not asked for any reports, so
Karhal wasn't sure what the impromptu meeting was about, but as he rapped
lightly on the door, he couldn't help but wonder.

"Ah, Karhal." Zathris arrived just behind Karhal. He had been delayed longer
than he wanted so wasn't in his office when he had expected to be. "Sorry
about that. Some things came up. Glad you're here though." He opened the
door, then motioned for the guard to follow behind him.

"No harm done, my Lord." Karhal followed him into the office and stood
calmly at attention. "Is something the matter?"

"Just checking in. SIt." Zathris motioned to one of the empty chairs on the
other side of his desk before he lowered himself into his own. He sat,
folding his hands on his lap. "Every recent report should be
n your desk, Lord Zathris. Nothing new has occurred in the past few days."

"I'm not really interested in any of the reports you've turned in." Zathris
leaned back in his chair and brought his fingertips together. "I'm more
interested in a report about you, personally."

At that, Karhal sat up stiffly and his pale brows furrowed. "Me?" He looked
Zathris square in the face. "What about exactly?" He could think of nothing
occurring that he had been involved with that wasn't
in those reports.

"I've heard about what you've been doing with yourself. You're a good, hard
worker, Karhal." Zathris kept his gaze on the guard, watching him as they
spoke.

Karhal shifted, uncomfortable with the praise, but inclined his head. "Thank
you. I do my best."

"Good. Now, that being said, I'm going to have Firamon take over your
position for the next sevenday."

Brows immediately snapping downward, Karhal leaned forward. "Is there
something in particular that you needed me to do for that sevenday?" He
could only think that Zathris needed him to travel to another hold or
something similar. It wouldn't be the first time, but the last time was
before he'd become Captain.

"Yes, actually." Zathris straightened and pressed his hands on the desk. "I
need you to do nothing."

"Pardon?" Karhal sat back slowly, his expression carefully neutral, but
inwardly confused.

"I need you to do nothing. Or at least nothing that has anything to do with
your job." Zathris arched an eyebrow. "I'm not blind and I'm not deaf. I've
heard how you've been working yourself to death. Between you and Chupsin,
if you both keep going the way you've been going, you'll both be dead and
I'll be out a healer and a captain."

"I've not..." Karhal snapped his jaw shut before he completed his sentence.
Arguing with a Lord Holder was not advisable at any rank. Instead he took a
slow deep breath, seething inwardly about
being replaced, even temporarily, but keeping an outward appearance of
calm. Even with his outward calm, he couldn't help but his next words to be
a little stiff. "I enjoy my job, Lord Zathris, but if this
is an order, I'll obey it."

"I'm glad you enjoy your job. I want you to keep enjoying your job. However,
if you continue in this manner you will be in an early grave and won't be
able to enjoy anything, much less your job." Zathris shook his head. "Look,
Karhal, you're an excellent Captain and I want to keep you that way. That's
why you need to take this time off. You are literally working yourself to
death."

How could he tell Zathris that he wouldn't have any clue what to do with
himself? The thought of having nothing to do, nothing constructive at any
rate, was a disconcerting one at best. He'd never taken extended time off
since he began his duties; it was who he was. But he also knew his duty to
Zathris and it was to obey his orders, even if he didn't like them. He took
another deep breath. "Very well." It was all he could say in response.

"Good. Report back to me in a sevenday." Really, if Karhal kept that pace
up, he'd have a heart attack. Zathris really wanted to avoid that.

Karhal rose slowly, jaw still tense, but gave a respectful nod to Zathris.
"Of course. Will there be anything else?"

"Yes. Try not to hate me after the sevenday is up." Zathris gave the captain
a smile, then a polite nod.

"I doubt that would happen." Karhal replied briskly. It was true that he
wasn't exactly happy with the Lord Holder at the moment, however. He rose,
jaw still tight. "I will see you in a sevenday then."

Last updated on the May 1st 2013

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Don't Do This To Me