Manly Comfort

Writers: Chelle, Paula
Date Posted: 11th April 2012

Characters: Sarban, Corowal
Description: The two men speak about Lisadi's leaving.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 7, day 5 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Felyna, Lisadi, Arippa, Jeyme, Nikhan

Instead of reporting for duty that morning, he'd begged off, putting an understeward in charge for the day. Sarban knew he'd be as good as useless anyway. Walking into the stables, he'd asked for a runner and had headed out, needing fresh air to clear his head. He didn't get very far from the Hold when he stopped his runner and just sat there, thinking and looking at everything.

**Is this the life I want? Maybe I should go sailing again?** He knew he could never do that to Corowal, after everything he'd done for him. Still, would he have to stay at Emerald Falls, lonely, for the rest of his life? Maybe he should just let Felyna do whatever she wanted and pick a woman for him. Perhaps Lisadi would come back. Could he wait that long? He had waited so long already. His mount made a noise and he noticed someone approaching. Straightening in the saddle, he spotted his cousin's head and sighed.

Corowal had picked out a young runner from the stables to go out with. The beast turned out to be spirited and only half trained. By the time he reached Sarban, he was cussing the beast. He was only a mediocre rider. "Sarban," he grunted and pulled the young runner to a halt. "Next time I pick out someone more trained and less eager to bolt."

"At least I know I'm not the only one in the family that's a bad rider." Of course he had had turns at sea to explain it away. Trying to be lighthearted and disguise his awful mood, he wondered if Corowal would bring up the obvious. He was sure the whole Hold knew by now anyway.

"Too many desk jobs," Corowal flashed a grin and then turned serious again. "So, she left then," he said softly and with compassion. He didn't have to specify who he meant.

"Yeah. She might come back, but it'll be awhile. I don't know if I should wait or just..." He sighed and looked down, wondering why he had to end up in such a situation. "I mean she chose that over me.. Not that family isn't important but.. I don't know." Corowal was better with women than he was, though not by much. Maybe he would have some advice.

"You just can't win if the woman decides to play martyr," Corowal said with a rueful shook of his head. "And that's what it is, if you go to tend an elderly relative you barely know."

Sarban hadn't really thought of it that way and Corowal's remark caused his face to harden just a bit. "It appears I'm not good at picking women. I'm glad you are or the Hold would be completely in chaos."

"Experience, that's what it takes, experience. You've spent too many turns at sea," Corowal said. "Although I do admit that women are still a mystery to me too."

"Well, are there even any others here that I could hope for? I know Felyna would just love to find me one, but I'm afraid of what she'll suggest. She and I seem to have different ideals on that matter." He remembered their last conversation before he'd met Lisadi.

"I can imagine that," Corowal said, amused with the thought of his wife and Steward arguing about suitable wives.

"A man shouldn't be lonely for the rest of his life, though. Perhaps the type of mate I want, think I need, is wrong. Perhaps I should settle for what might happen instead." He was second guessing himself.

"You won't stay single forever," Corowal comforted him. "You're too good catch for that," he added with teasing tone. "I married the first time when I was thirty, " he reminded.

"I'm past my third decade, Corowal. You're not making me feel any better." He closed his eyes and thought about all the women he'd met while in port. None of them had really cared about him. They were just a means to an end. Maybe he was being punished for that now.

"The right one will come along and then you'll wonder what happened, finding yourself married with children," Corowal reassured him.

He was still skeptical but he appreciated his cousin's efforts at making him feel better. Suddenly needing to control something, he nudged the runner into a walk down the hill back to the Hold. "Maybe I need a haircut or something different."

"Or just go to Gather or similar to meet the ladies," Corowal suggested and nudged his young mount to follow. The stupid beast wanted to run and it became a battle of wills. The Lord holder won, of course.

"If you would stay home, maybe I would," he grinned. In reality, though, Sarban didn't really like the idea of going around Pern to gathers, trying to see if any of the women caught his eye. That wasn't a way to start a real relationship, was it? Still, if he had to, he would.

"Hah hah," Corowal said. "Did you hear that Zathris is sending over one of his wife's nieces?"

"No, but let me guess..she's barely out of diapers?" That was usually the way of things. All these young women trying to marry and women of his turns were already spoken for.

Corowal chuckled. "Not quite, she's marriage-able, but I think young Namiren is already courting her. That's one reason why she comes here. So you're off the hook," he replied.

"Thank Faranth for that. Any word on things for Jeyme?" Sarban hoped that someone would find that girl decent. She seemed like she deserved a family.

"Nothing I've heard. I'm surprised really, you would think she had suitors lining up at her door," Corowal replied and shook his head. Some things were just unexplainable.

"Hmm aye she seems like a nice young girl. Plus she's learning some of Nikhan's tricks. That ought to be enough to have half the single men at the Hold coming to say hello." A rare smile came across Sarban's face as he thought about that. Leave it to Felyna-she'd have that one fixed in no time. He slowed the runner since they were now within the gates. "If it's allright, I think I'm going to take a day and just go fishing by myself. I'm sure Dewian can handle it and if you really do need me, you know where I'll be."

"Sure, go ahead," Corowal said with a wave of his hand. "Oh, one thing," he frowned when he remembered something. "Lisadi's fosterlings. This isn't easy for them either. Don't you abandon them too. Especially the boy, he _needs_ you."

"Yeah I know. Does Felyna know who is going to foster them yet?" Thinking of Trewlin, especially, caused him to frown.

"Not yet," Corowal sighed.

"Allright, let me know when a decision is made and I'll see about it." He stopped at the entrance to the stables, handing the animal off to a groom as he dismounted. Now to gather up his things.

Last updated on the May 1st 2012

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Manly Comfort