He's Gone

Writers: Eimi, Estelle
Date Posted: 24th August 2005

Characters: Kelvarand, Penryn
Description: Penryn tells Kelvarand that Lord Aswic is dead
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 7, day 4 of Turn 3

Rumours seemed to travel faster than runners in the Hold that day. The whispers even reached Kelvarand the chandler in his workshop, carried by customers, though the stories varied. The Lord Holder was dead - no, it was the Lady, or the Steward - the Headwoman had vanished, or had been kidnapped, or murdered herself. A renegade guard was responsible - or perhaps it was the bandits who had recently been troubling the border holds.

All of them seemed to agree that something momentous had happened up at the Hold. Rand did his best to look only mildly concerned and soothe fears, though he felt cold inside. Aswic would surely be safe - people always exaggerated. Perhaps it was nothing at all...but even so, he joined the many cotholders who converged on the Hold at the end of the day's work.

The closer he got, the more hushed voices he heard claiming that the Lord Holder was dead. Some people were in tears. Still, he refused to believe it. Aswic was not ancient, nor was he an unpopular Lord. He had no reason to die, apart from the slight weakness of his heart...

Once inside the Hold, he was lucky to cross the path of one of the Steward's staff. "Penryn - have you seen Lord Aswic? What's happening here?"

"What have you heard, Kelvarand?" the assistant steward asked in a whisper. News was traveling fast, and as usual, the rumors were probably inaccurate. He knew the chandler had been friends with the Lord Holder, and the news would not be easy to break. But it would be useful to know what the people were saying. He took Rand by the elbow and started walking him towards the reception hall. Hopefully there would be no one there this time of day and they could talk freely.

"What _haven't_ I heard would be easier to answer," Rand replied, though he didn't feel much like laughing. "People have been saying that someone has died at the Hold and there are rumours of foul play."

Thankfully the hold residence had busied themselves elsewhere and the two had the Hall to themselves, save for the odd drudge who might pass through. Penryn sat on the first bench and indicated the spot next to him. "Have a seat. There is much to tell."

"Just tell me - is he..." Rand would not usually have been so rude, but thought he saw the truth in Penryn's eyes. Even so, he still could not make himself believe in it. The man had to be mistaken - Aswic could not be...gone. He was the Lord Holder - he had a wife and an infant son, and Rand had seen him only days ago, in the best health he'd been for months.

"He is," Penryn replied, deciding that the direct approach was the best approach. "Along with the Steward and a guard."

"He's gone."

Rand felt as though he were listening to someone else speak with his own voice, from a great distance away. It was almost like a dream, as though someone had cut off one of his limbs and he was trapped in that moment of numb shock that came before the pain. "How...how did it...happen?"

"I'm sorry, Kelvarand. I know you were the very best of friends." Penryn allowed the chandler his moment of shock. He had known that the man had been a friend of the Lord Holder since before he was born. The assistant steward could only guess at how he must be feeling at the news.

After a pause Penryn went on to explain, "It appears that Lord Aswic and Steward Auren drank poisoned wine. We are still not sure of the motive, but we have the name of a guard whom we believe perpetrated the crimes."

"A guard? But they...they're supposed to _protect_ him." Rand's face hardened. Bad enough to lose Aswic, but to know that one man's treachery was the cause of all this... "The name?"

"Meijah," Penryn replied. "Do you know of him?"

"I've heard the name." He vaguely recollected a face - a tall man standing on guard outside Aswic's rooms when he'd gone to visit - and felt sick. Had the traitor even then been planning the death of his Lord? He felt an overwhelming need to crush the man, to take his life from him as he'd taken that of Rand's beloved. "You said you had his name only...has he not been captured?"

"I'm afraid he made his escape in the confusion," Penryn said gravely. "But we are doing all we can to recapture him."

"Can I help?" Rand asked immediately, knowing it was foolish as soon as he spoke. He was growing old, and Aswic's murderer was young, strong and trained as a guardsman.

The younger man shook his head slightly. He knew Kelvarand would want to help find the murder of his life-long friend, but he could prove more a liablility than an assistance at this point. "Just help keep everyone calm. And rest in the knowledge that everything that can be done is being done." Though, Penryn wondered just how much _rest_ anyone would get in the following days...

"I'll do my best." Though all Rand wanted to do was to return to his empty cot and grieve, silently and alone, for his friend and lover, he owed it to Aswic to help his holders now that he was gone. "I...I won't keep your from your search, Penryn. I hope you find this man, I truly do."

"I will tell you when we find him." Penryn said as he stood. Rand looked like he needed the time alone. "Let me know if you need anything." With that he turned towards the door. The assistant steward knew he could spare no more time. He had to find a way to bring some order to the chaos that threatened the Hold.

***

Estelle (estelle@triadweyrs.org)
Kelvarand, chandler, GVH

Eimi (sea_spray_singer@fastmail.fm)
Penryn, Assistant Steward, GVH

Last updated on the August 26th 2005

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He's Gone