Don't Waste Your Time

Writers: Estelle, Nici
Date Posted: 29th August 2005

Characters: Enrizial, Kohler
Description: Enrizial asks Kohler for advice after Ryndel accuses Gilbek of setting fire to the Harper Hall, and Kohler offers to speak to Ryndel
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 7, day 14 of Turn 3

Enrizial returned to his Hold exhausted, filthy and caught in a dilemma as
to what he ought to do about the accusation the Hallsecond had made to him
before he'd left. He could not deny the evidence seemed plain enough - and
yet Gilbek was the only man in Emerald Falls he truly trusted. Could the
quiet guardsman have started a fire that threatened the lives of so many?

Not quite the only man he trusted, though - not at the moment. Returning to
his chambers, Enrizial ordered a message to be sent to Holder Kohler, to
meet with him once he had bathed and dressed, and for breakfast to be served
to them in his study. Now, more than ever, he needed the honest advice of a
friend.

It was a tired, but freshly washed friend who met him in his study. Kohler
sat down, rotating his shoulder gingerly. While he was no stranger to hard
work, there had been a _lot_ of buckets passed the night before and he was
not getting any younger!

"How are you, Lord Enrizial?" The younger man looked as tired as he felt.

"I'm well enough," Enrizial replied wearily. "And I'm sorry to keep you from
the rest you well deserve this morning, but I've just had some
rather...disturbing news. I'd like your advice if you'll give it."

"Of course, milord...." Kohler wondered what, other than the tragedy of the
fire, could have occured in such short a time.

"You remember Gilbek - the guardsman who helped me regain Emerald Falls?"

"Of course...what's happened, Enrizial?" Kohler inadvertantly forgot his
title, but figured that they both knew that he respected it enough to use it
when they weren't in private.

"It seems he was found wandering near the Hall just after the fire started -
and he'd quarrelled with his wife." Seeing Kohler's bemused expression,
Enrizial hastened to explain further. "The harpers had just taken his wife
as an apprentice at their Hall. I objected in the strongest terms, of
course, but it seems in their original charter that they are autonomous in
their Hall, and as long as the woman does not set foot outside their
territory, nothing can be done about it."

Kohler nodded. "I've heard that. But what does it have to do with
this guardsman?"

"The Hallsecond has accused him of starting the fire. I didn't know what to
say - his movements on the night of the fire look very bad. That..._harper_
has the whole Hall prepared to swear they heard him arguing bitterly with
his wife yesterday evening, and they're demanding that something be done."
Enrizial rested his head in his hands. "What can I do? His actions reflect
on me - I can't have my men damaging property and risking lives. It's a
miracle no-one was killed."

Kohler shook his head. "One argument does not an arsonist make. Harper
Hall brings prestige to Emerald Falls and this guard is anything if not
loyal
And Gilbek hardly seemed the sort to risk his wife--argument or no."

"I hope you're right." Enrizial frowned. "The Harper Hall want to hold
_someone_ responsible - not that I blame them there. I don't want an
arsonist loose in my Hold. But I can't ask the guards to investigate
Gilbek's case because they'd be biased in his favour, and I certainly can't
ask a harper. What's to be done? Ever since they took in that wretched
woman, holders and craftsmen have been all but at each other's throats."

The Hold in general, Kohler reflected, was a mess. He wasn't sure if it was
Enrizial's fault or just an unfortunate set of circumstances. But something
had to be done. "What will they do with him...Gilbek?"

"_They_ want blood," Enrizial said darkly. "But I'm certainly not going to
have a loyal guardsman killed to satisfy harpers, not on such flimsy
evidence. I've asked the Captain to see if he can find whoever _did_ set the
Hall afire, but I don't hold out much hope. There are a lot of people who
don't want to see a woman crafting in Emerald Falls...including myself." He
sighed. "If the culprit is not found, then I can hardly keep a man under
suspicion of arson in my Hold Guard. Gilbek will have to leave the Hold."

That wasn't acceptable to Kohler at all. Gilbek had been unfailingly loyal
to Enrizial, risking himself when he could have joined those hold guards
who'd banded together to put his half-brother in control of Emerald Falls.
"Where is Gilbek now?"

"In the Hold's cells. The harpers would stand for nothing less. They heard
him arguing with his wife..."

"And did these harpers bother to ask his wife what _she_ thought? Or is she
only good for apprenticing against your wishes?" Kohler was in the mood to
find this Hallsecond himself and talk to him. Someone had to be the voice of
reason and if the harpers, who _should_ be that voice were blinded by anger,
then someone else had to try to be.

"I wish you luck," Enrizial said darkly. "The man has a personal vendetta
against me. Ever since I..." He stopped, not being entirely proud of how
he'd had a former Hallmaster - one of Ryndel's closest friends - demoted and
transferred to the North. "Never mind. He won't listen to you - don't waste
your time."

"I have to try, Enrizial. The man risked his hide for you--I can't see not
trying at the very least."

Enrizial shrugged. "Do as you wish. The harpers are all sheltering in the
Hold for the moment, not that they're showing any gratitude for it. But you
can tell Master Ryndel from me that Gilbek will have the fair trial he
deserves. No matter what he's done, I'll not be pushed around by a rabble of
musicians and gossips."

"Good, then let's try to forget about fires, gossips and harpers for the
time being a focus on the meal we've been ignoring."

"Of course." The Lord Holder looked rather abashed at having kept his friend
from his breakfast. His advice had been valuable, though. It was a stroke of
luck that Kohler had been at Emerald Falls just when Enrizial needed him the
most!

Last updated on the August 29th 2005

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Don't Waste Your Time