A Bad Day For Travelling.

Writers: AmajoS, Suzee
Date Posted: 1st March 2019

Characters: Benani, Nazli, Rothen, Kyselen
Description: Benani helps Rothen's mother through a tough time.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 7, day 14 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Zathris

Benani

Nazli

She could hear the wind and knew it was slamming snow against the
shuttered window without needing to see outside. The blizzard was no
surprise, it had been announced almost a sevenday ago that there would
likely be one. All the preparations had been made and it wasn't as if
blizzards were not a normal part of winter a voice in her head, which
sounded remarkably like her son, argued. Still, every creak and quiet
bang sent her hands trembling. It sounded bad. It sounded so very bad.
Anyone caught outside in that might be in trouble.

Kyselen shifted uncomfortably at the thought of someone trapped
outside in the blizzard. She was seated in one of common rooms, a
basket of sewing at her feet. Most of it was her son's mending, but
she had taken several other guards' torn clothes as well. Particularly
the single ones, without family at the Hold proper. She'd come here
with her work because the idea of being in the small quarters she
shared with her son during the storm made her feel ill, but it wasn't
that much better in here. There was a nice fire and all the lights
were on. There were other women and scores of children all around, but
the noise their conversations and play made were hollow background
noises to the near constant rattle and thudding bang and howling wind
of the blizzard outside. If someone were out there...

Her breath caught in her throat as she thought of her youngest. She'd
been away for turns now, but what if, by some unlucky chance, she had
picked today to come home? Over and over, her son had said, his face a
careful mask, that she would have heard where everyone went and known
to come here. But, Kyselen's increasingly wild mind asked, what if she
tried to come today? In this blizzard? The notion of her little girl,
her baby, whom she hadn't seen in turns, wandering outside lost made
Kyselen's heart leap into her throat.

"How's everyone doing," Lady Benani smiled at the holders as she
walked into the room with several women carrying blankets and pillows
and more importantly food.

Several women answered in affirmations to the Lady Holder's question.
A few of the higher ranked ladies moved to meet her in order to
exchange pleasantries or to complain about some missing element
required for their comfort. Kyselen did neither. She hadn't really
even -heard- the question or noticed the entrance of the Lady Holder
and her helpers. Her eyes were trained on the shuttered window closest
to her. Her hands were clinched tightly and fine beads of perspiration
had formed on her forehead.

Benani could see the confusion in the older woman's eyes. She
recognized it from her own experience. She moved over to where she was
and sat down next to her. She reached out to take the other woman's
hand "Kyselen? How are you doing?"

At first, the older woman didn't notice she was being spoken to, but
after a few moments, the question penetrated the maelstrom in her
head. "My... my Lady," her voice shook a bit as she spoke. "It
sounds... it sounds very bad out there, doesn't it?"

"I think it sounds worse than it is," she said reassuringly. "That's
just the wind blowing things around, but we're snug and warm in the
Hold."

"But, what if someone were outside in it?" Unthinkingly, Kyselen
clutched at Benani's hand with a tight grip. "My daughter, Kyselara,
she's traveling. She...," the older woman trailed off a bit before

continuing in an urgent tone. "She could be out there now, my Lady.
She could be trying to come home to me and...." Again, she trailed
off, this time she couldn't continue. Tears escaped her eyes as she
gripped the younger woman's hand like a lifeline.

"It's alright Kyselen," Benani squeezed the hand in hers. "Find
Rothen," she said over her shoulder to one of her attendants. They all
knew the older woman was forgetful in her grief and sometimes refused
to acknowledge her daughter's passing. "We're watching all the roads
and finding any travelers." She patted the hand in hers encouragingly.

Rothen had just started checking all the shuttered windows on this
floor of the main Hold building. With the wind as bad as it was, he
and a few other guards were set to making sure the latchings were all
secure. So far, he'd only found one that was a bit loose and marked
the location on he sheet he'd been given. It should hold for now, but
would need to be checked periodically and then repaired when the storm
was over. He was making his way to the first set of windows on this
floor, when he heard someone approaching quickly and calling his name.

Nazli was timid at the best of times but she knew when she was needed
and hurried up to the guard. "Lady Benani asked me to find you Rothen.
It's your mother.

"What's happened?" A million dire events crowded in his mind at once.
His mother fallen down a flight of stairs and broken something. His
mother choked on a bit of food. His mother having a heart attack - he
knew she found storms stressful. "Is she hurt?"

"I guess she's worried about your sister?" Nazli wasn't quite sure why
that should worry Benani but it clearly had.

Rothen's eyes closed briefly, familiar grief replacing the wild worry
from a moment ago. Of course, his mother would be taking the storm
badly and when she was stressed... but she had been doing so much
better lately. Even taken to mothering his fellow guards. He reopened
his eyes and could see her confusion, "My sister died turns ago. Where
is she?"

"Down in the parlor with the other hold women," she said. "I can show you?"

"Please, if you don't mind. I would appreciate that. I need to find
someone to finish checking the windows on this floor too, in case I
can't come back right away," he gestured toward the list in his hand
with a worried frown.

"I'm sure we can send someone back," she nodded. She would talk to her
husband to make sure it got done. "This way," she said, threading
through the crowded halls toward Lady Benani. "My Lady," she called
when they got close.

"Nazli?" Benani turned and her face lit with relief "Oh Rothen," she
smiled. "I'm so glad you're here. Kyselen was just telling me about
your sister out in the storm."

Rothen offered the Lady Holder a smile in gratitude for her kindness.
It was things like this that made him so glad that he'd decided to
bring his mother with him when he'd moved here after the earthquake.
"Thank you, my Lady." He then turned his attention to his mother, who
had transferred her death grip from Benani's hand to his as soon as
he'd gotten close enough. "Mother," he said softly, "what's all this
then?"

Kyselen gave a small sob and replied, "Your sister! Rothen, what if...
Oh Rothen, she could be out there right -now!-"

He wanted to cry, she had been doing so well. But, he just smiled and,
in a teasing tone, asked, "Now, you don't think she's that silly do
you? Who would go traveling on a day like today? And it's not like
the storm was a surprise. We've known it was coming for days, isn't
that right my Lady?" He glanced at the Lady Holder in mute appeal.

"Oh yes," Lady Benani nodded. "Days. Lord Zathris sent messengers all
over the hold to warn everyone."

"See?" Rothen gave his mother's hand a squeeze. "She wouldn't pick
today to try, would she?"

Kyselen hesitated a moment, thinking through what her son and the Lady
Holder said and then nodded jerkily. "You're right. Of course. Of
course. Kyselara is a clever girl, she wouldn't be so foolish." With
the relief from the fear that had gripped the old woman came
embarrassment at having caused such a fuss. "I'm sorry," she
whispered.

Benani reached out and took the woman's hand. "Don't you worry," she
said. "I'm sure everything will turn out just fine." She gave Rothen
a compassionate look and stood. "I need to look in on some of the
others." she patted the guard's shoulder. Then she gathered up her
ladies and moved on around the room.

Last updated on the March 3rd 2019

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A Bad Day For Travelling.