Troubled Times

Participants:

Max.jpg

Date: 2011.03.02
Location: EW - Beast Manager's Quarters
Synopsis: Max is sent troubling word about the state of affairs at Tillek Hold.
Rating: PG13
Logger: Max

Day 20, month 07, turn 02

The day before Max was due to depart for Tillek in a bid to make restitution with Kelarad for misperceptions spoken on his intentions as crimelord, he found three message pouches waiting for him on his desk when he returned to his quarters that night.

A long day spent mostly on runnerback as he’d ridden out to meet with the wagonmaster of a local trading clan, he’d not yet had chance to seek the soothing comfort of the baths. Instead curiosity got the better of him and taking up the three pouches he slumped into his chair and propped dusty boots up on his desk.

Untying the first he slid the sheet of paper out and unfolded it, a smile coming to his lips as he recognized the feminine handwriting – Auren, with news of Little Bit he presumed. That smile quickly fled his face paling slightly as he read the hastily scribbled note that showed to have been dated two sevens ago:

Day 06, month 07, turn 02

Max,

By the time this reaches you, I will no longer be at the Hold. The Lady has released me from service. Things have gone from bad to worse here and I fear now more than ever that Little Bit may be starting to run out of options. The midwife that arrived last seven has promised me that she will do all within her power to shield the child from her mother but I fear it may not be enough. For while the Lord has returned from his business trip, his presence seems to further tip his Lady toward irrational fits and outbursts of anger. I fear that even his Lordship is affected for he has taken ill and only rarely leaves his chambers.

Elia tells me that you’re working on a plan. Whatever you’re going to do, you need to do it now.

Auren.

Worry etched a frown into place with a feeling of deep unease starting to gnaw in the pit of the beast manager’s gut as he reached for the next message pouch, the date showing it to have been sent out of Tillek Hold just four days ago. The writing and sender at first unfamiliar until the contents revealed it to have been sent from the midwife that Seren had helped put into place. Worry turned to dismay as he read on:

Day 14, Month 07, Turn 02

Lomaxin,

The Lady has been delivered of a boy child that is hale, hearty and fair of skin. His sire is quite clearly not the one originally believed. The man under suspicion was in fact let go shortly upon my arrival by the Lord himself before he took ill.

Auren told me all that she could before she too was discharged of service and I have given my word that I will do what I can to keep the girl out of harm’s way. While I have managed to extend my stay by taking charge of the wet nurse appointed, I do warn that my term here is temporary and will come to an end as soon as another nanny has been appointed within the next seven or two.

Whandyla

Hands shook slightly as Max automatically reached for the ever present whisky bottle on his desk, pulled the cork free with his teeth and threw back a healthy swallow of the burning amber liquid as if to drown the words that had killed his hope for catching the Lady in the act. How did it come to be that the child born bore no resemblance whatsoever to the dark skinned stable manager recently dismissed that he had been led to believe was it’s sire?

With Auren gone and the Lord ill, his concern for Little Bit’s wellbeing increased tenfold. A heavy sigh exhaled and the young crimelord pressed fingers to his eyes battling against the mounting sense of defeat that threatened to overwhelm him.

Pouring more whiskey down his throat he reached for the last letter, this dated the same day as the midwife’s and bearing the mark of Lazerne, his informant hidden within the Hold proper as a guard:

Day 14, Month 07, Turn 02

Max,

You need to get on up here for there is more ill afoot than I dare put words to paper.

Laz

Usually so gregarious in his reports, this alarmed Max more than the missives received from Auren and Whandyla.

What the shards was going on up there!? The end of the whiskey bottle held no answers. Neither did the bottom of the next.


Closing Credits: Shinedown - Save Me


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