ACH: Empty Cradles (6): Where Are My Daughters?

Writers: Estelle, Lexy, Nici
Date Posted: 18th April 2005

Characters: Alalir, Alajeran, Enrizial, Jeralir, Aswic
Description: Alalir, Aswic and Alajeran continue to organise the search for the babies, and are interrupted by Enrizial.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 5, day 1 of Turn 3

Aswic stepped into the room where Alalir was sitting quietly in conversation with his son. He'd not been woken through the night, and from the grim looks on the two faces, they'd not gotten any sleep, and they hadn't found the two babies. Which meant Enrizial would be sent for. Sighing, he lowered himself into a chair across from them. "I take it from your expressions that the children have no been found?"

"They haven't..." Alalir stood to greet him. "And we've managed to have Lady Anaia send word to Lord Enrizial via her flit Sweetie. You might want to either hide or stand as witness. I doubt his arrival--and I know he'll show--will be pleasant.

"Well, it's simply a matter of waiting." He reached out and poured himself a mug of klah, looking grim. "And, how is Lady Anaia doing?"

Alalir's look was grim. "As well as can be expected. Lady Enriline sat with her all last night. I worry about her, but I could not ask her to leave Anaia's side...not when she needs her so."

Aswic nodded. "I hope she doesn't push herself. Not that I'm one to talk most of the time. So, were the guards able to find any tracks or any hint of where the babies were taken?"

"Not as of yet," Alajeran replied. He and his father had been reviewing a map of the area and he pointed. "These two areas are still being throughly searched. Whoever did this would have to go through land or over the mountains to the sea to get to the borders. With two babes..." He shook his head. "Let's hope they chose land."

"I've alerted Dragonsfall as well," Alalir replied. "They were very helpful when my daughter by marriage was taken."

"Let's hope they can as helpful now." Aswic paused and looked at the map closely, pointing. "There are hidden caves all throughout the mountains. We have quite a few in Garnet Valley as well. That's going to make it even harder. Perhaps I can get my own guard on alert and send some people to keep an eye out along the border. Hopefully they won't get that far...but if they do, maybe my guard can catch them?"

"They would have to travel well out of our territory to even come close to yours," Alajeran said. "And don't plan on them having the children that long..." If he had to get a runner and look himself he would.

They were interrupted by the sound of running footsteps and the door was flung open, revealing a young guardsman - one of those who'd been left behind to guard the Hold while the others searched for the missing babies - out of breath.

"Milord..."

"What is it?" Distracted by his maps and exhaustion, Alalir's voice was more sharp than normal. "Have they been found?!"

"No." The man shook his head. "It's the Lord of Emerald Falls...he insists on seeing you and he won't take..."

"Where is he?" Enrizial snapped, pushing the guard aside as he stalked into the room and faced Alalir, brandishing a letter. "What is _this_? Is it some kind of vile joke on your part? Where are my daughters?"

"Enrizial...I hardly think I would joke about two children being missing..."Alalir's brows knit. "We have my men searching and have been up all night looking for them."

Enrizial was not listening. "What do you mean, they're missing? How could this happen? Don't you have guards? Or don't my children rate such protection?" He glared at the older man, his hands clenched into fists and trembling with rage. "They were under your care!"

"Lord Enrizial, please calm down." Aswic came around the table as if to come between Alalir and Enrizial, though what he could do to stop the much younger and stronger man from attacking the Amethyst Cliff Lord Holder, he wasn't sure.

He gave Aswic a brief look of contempt. "No, I will _not_ calm down! This Hold is a disaster, run by an incompetent, low-born fieldhand of little intelligence. Here my wife and I were nearly poisoned, my sister was kidnapped and accused of breaking her marriage vows, my mother was tricked into a sham of a wedding and now my daughters have vanished. I want Faraline and her sister found, and then I want to take the members of my family out of this death-trap for good!"

"And become irrational and flinging insults around will do nothing to help find them! Lord Alalir has been doing everything he could to find them since their disappearance. I know this for a fact because I have been here the entire time as witness. Now, please, Lord Enrizial, settle down and perhaps you can be brought up to date on what has been done so far." Aswic stood, meeting Enrizial's gaze, hoping that the other man would listen. Otherwise he was going to make the entire situation miserable for all.

It was Jeralir, slipping into the room who broke the silence. "Have I missed another tantrum?" He drawled lazily, ignoring his brother's 'look'. He was as tired as they for all he'd not kept vigil. Sleep had been hard for anyone, Blooded or not, if they were parents last night.

Enrizial glanced at Jeralir, deemed him unworthy of notice and turned back to Alalir. "I want an explanation for my daughters' disappearance. Now."

Alalir leaned against his desk wearily and looked at him. "There was a party at Vintner Hall last night in honor of your mother's new position as Lady Holder. All of our our _allies_ were invited. We are under the impression that someone came in while the children and the nurse slept. We _are_ guarded, but against violence...although I will not use that as an excuse, Enrizial. Needless to say, it seems obvious that your children were the true targets. Calrian and Jeralara were not touched, nor were any others. My guards are searching and have searched all night and _will_ find them."

"Oh, now it all becomes clear," Enrizial sneered. "You were all at a _party_ while my daughters were being stolen. Can there be any clearer proof that neither you nor your half-Blood offspring are fit to rule?"

Before Alalir could reply, Alajeran swept the maps to the floor and stood. "Enrizial....take a care at the words you speak. Take good care fore I will _not_ have you enter our home and mouth vile words and accusations at us this way!"

"I'll say what I please now that you and your father have failed to protect my children, fieldhand," Enrizial retorted.

"You will shut and up and listen now that you've had your little tantrum and spit out your nasty ignorant words," Alajeran came from behind the desk. "The only reason you're still standing in this room is because as a father I know what you must be feeling. But don't let your fear rule your tongue."

"Alajeran..." Even Alalir was shaken at his son's vehemence.

"No! This overbred Blooded tunnelsnake has insulted this family enough! He talks of intelligence as if he has any of his own. We are the _fieldhands_ who know the work our holders do for us and we can leave our home and not fear some bastard will steal the Hold out from under us. And you know a bit about bastards _don't_ you, Enrizial?" He'd gone too far and didn't care. He too heard rumors--he'd been too polite until now to voice them. The gloves one might say, were off. "Simple folk are fine to bed, but not to treat with honor. I have your measure and find _you_ just as lacking."

"How _dare_ you speak of honour," Enrizial hissed, taking a step closer to his brother-in-law, their brief truce forgotten. "At least I did not have to resort to a false marriage to persuade a woman to my bed!"

Jeralir knew his brother only too well and moved forward to intercept him. Too late--he'd not known he could move that bloody _fast_. Before Alalir could stop him, Alajeran's fist connected with Enrizial's face and sent him flying.

Last updated on the July 10th 2006

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ACH: Empty Cradles (6): Where Are My Daughters?