Fate's Calling

Writers: Suzee
Date Posted: 15th February 2019

Characters: Zathris, Benamil, Nazli
Description: Zathris checks in with Benamil to make sure he and Nazli are following his orders.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 6, day 18 of Turn 9

Zathris

Benamil

Nazli

Zathris rarely felt nervous but as he waited for his brother-in-law to
show up in his office, he could feel vtols wrestling about in his gut.
He didn't like how stinted and awkward his relationship with Benamil
had become. Before the "incident" with Saedriel and Arion, Zathris had
truly considered Benamil like a brother. They both enjoyed the
outdoors, hunting, and runners. Benamil was also the closest, out of
his wife's other brothers, to him in age, which had made it easy to
find things in common.

Now, he couldn't help it, he found himself looking at Benamil
differently. Was it because he was taking a man for his lover? The
Lord Holder pinched the bridge of his nose as he considered the
question. Was he upset at Benamil because he was like those male
greenriders from the Weyr, or was he upset because the detail had been
kept hidden from him? Or was it a mix of both?

It felt impossible to detangle his feelings about the matter and exam
them properly. All he knew was that a once solid friendship had become
apprehensive and awkward.

"Lord Zathris," Benamil's voice broke into his thoughts, "you wanted to see me?"

Benamil never called him 'Lord,' not unless they were around company
that required such a title. The use of it now stung.

"Have a seat," he said, studying the hard set of Benamil's jaw, the
aloofness in the depths of his blue eyes.

"I suppose I should thank you for allowing Arion to move into the
Hold," Benamil said, eyes locking with Zathris's. There was no warmth
behind the words of gratitude.

Zathris sat a little straighter in his chair, "I felt it was the least
I could do, considering everything else."

Benamil's reply was a slight narrowing of his eyes and nothing more.

"How are things with you and Nazli?" Zathris asked, trying to pose the
question lightly.

"You mean, are we following through with your edict?" Benamil bit out.

Again the words stung, but Zathris knew that he'd earned them, "Yes,
that's what I'm asking."

The beastcrafter's mouth worked for a moment as if he were choosing
his words carefully, "We're working on it. It's not as easy as you
might think, forcing an abused woman to do things that frighten her."

Zathris's temper flashed. "Well, you should have considered that
before you started slinking around at the tavern!" he snapped.

"Is that what I was doing? 'Slinking' around? Is that what you called
it when you were dating? Would it have been acceptable if I'd been
going there to see a woman instead of a man?" Each word was like a
dagger.

The Lord Holder's eyes became slits, "I was talking about your
interactions with Saedriel. I'm not the monster you think I am!"

Benamil snorted, "Could have fooled me."

Zathris bit down a snotty retort, straining instead to reign his
temper in. Why couldn't Benamil see the predicament that he had placed
him in as Lord Holder? "Listen, I didn't make the rules of the society
we live in. I am doing this for your protection, as well as Nazli and
Arion."

"Oh really? Explain how forcing two people to hide who they really are
is 'protecting' us?"

"As your wife, and mother of your heir, Nazli will always be offered
the protection of the Lord Holder's family, and you know that! Even if
something were to happen to you, she would be then under my protection
and never forced to marry again. Which is in the realm of what's
acceptable in society. Now that Arion's here, rather than being sent
away, you will have the opportunity to continue seeing him. Provided
you can do that discreetly since you lacked the proper judgment
before." Zathris inhaled, finding his pulse racing.

Benamil merely blinked at him, seemingly unmoved by the speech, "I
would rather you stand up for us, as Lord Holder, and tell society to
jump /between/. Instead, you're telling us to be what we're not." The
beastcrafter pushed to his feet. "Don't worry, I'll tell Nazli that
we're behind on our deadline."

Zathris sighed, seeing that Benamil would not listen to reason, and
also seeing that their friendship was probably beyond repair. "I
didn't want this for you, whether you believe that or not."

"Have a nice day, Lord Zathris." Benamil left without looking back,
leaving Zathris staring at his retreating form.

**

Benamil's irritation read clearly on his face as he opened the door to
the suite that he shared with Nazli. "Nazli?" he called for her.

"I'm here," she said coming out of her bedroom. "How did it go?"

"Just as I thought it would. He's still expecting us to produce a
baby." Benamil's shoulders were taut.

She blew out a slow breath. Her heart beat so hard in her chest she
could hardly believe he wouldn't hear it all the way across the room.
She knew the way it was supposed to happen and that it would take more
than one time to assure she was pregnant. She reached for a chair and
sat down hard. "Somehow I thought Benani might talk him out of it."

"He can be incredibly stubborn," Benamil sighed and plopped down as
well. "We could... we could leave? Go to Dragonsfall. I can work there
as a beastcrafter." Of course, he would have to discuss that with
Arion...

"Only if that is what you want to do," she said. She didn't feel like
she'd be any happier at the Weyr, in fact, she'd still be afraid of
her own shadow. Here she had the protection of the family of the Blood
of the Hold. Here she was someone that no one could trifle with
without severe consequences and she knew that nebulous 'They,' knew it
too. "I don't mind having a baby," she lifted the corner of her mouth.
"It's just the getting it in there that scares me."

Benamil reached out for her hand, "Hey, it scares me too. We'll be in
it together... Literally."

"Yes," she shivered involuntarily. "I'm sorry," she said. "I don't
know how to say this Ben," she put a hand on his chest. "But I love
you very much for so many reasons I can't recite them all. But If I
could do that without having to go to bed with you or even having the
memory of that it would be far better. Can you think of a way to do
that?"

"I mean," and here he made a face, because it was something he had
been thinking about, but wasn't sure would work, "there is this
technique we use to impregnate mares but... Well, you're not one so
I'm not sure it would work."

Hope filled her and she looked up at him with wide eyes. "Could we try?"

Benamil exhaled heavily, "Well, I mean if you are willing to try it,
I suppose we can. I would need to find a healer to help. It is still a
rather... intimate procedure."

"Alright," she sighed, not completely happy with the thought of anyone
touching her there but if it had to be, maybe this would work.

Last updated on the March 3rd 2019

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