Opposite In Opinion

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

Characters: Ryndel, Kohler
Description: Kohler talks to Ryndel about the Harper Hall fire
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 7, day 14 of Turn 3

It was late afternoon before Ryndel finally got a moment to snatch some
rest. He'd seen to it that all the harpers had a bed to sleep in in the
Hold - even if it was only a mattress on the floor for most of the
apprentices - and visited the ruins of the Hall again in the vain hope of
finding some clue as to the person responsible.

The ruin of his workshop, where the fire had burned hottest, was painful to
see. Up until now he'd had too much to think about to be regretful, but now
when he thought of the hours of patient labour that had gone into the
instruments within, when he trod by accident on the blackened belly of a
gitar or the twisted neck of a harp, he felt lost. So much work, reduced to
char and ashes!

Grimy and exhausted, he'd returned to his rooms. If he could just have an
hour or two of sleep, he'd wake ready to go back out and devote his energies
to finding out who had destroyed his home.

"Hallmaster Ryndel?" Kohler had followed the harper, almost too hesitant to
disturb a man so deep in thought. But he _had_ to say something and, with
the current chaos, finding an ideal time was going to prove difficult.

"Yes?" Ryndel turned to face an unfamiliar holder, and his response was more
curt than he'd intended. That shamed him - not all holders were like Lord
Enrizial, he knew. "My apologies - it's been a long day. I'm Ryndel. How can
I help you?"

Kohler gave the harper a tentative smile. "No need to apologize...anyone
with sense will understand how stressed you must be, Hallsecond." He held
his hand out. "I'm Kohler of Green Valley Beasthold, by the way. I wanted to
discuss and important issue with you if you can spare a few moments?"

"Of course. But I am busy, as you can imagine," Ryndel said stiffly,
wondering what this holder could possibly have to say to him. He thought he
recognised Kohler's name as that of a loyal ally of Lord Enrizial. Still, it
would be discourteous to keep the man standing in the corridor and so he
invited him inside and offered him a chair.

Kohler waited until the other man sat before he spoke again. "This is most
uncomfortable but I feel I should say _something_ and there's no easy way to
do it and so rather than insult your intelligence, I'll just say it. Now, I
understand why you're upset, Master Ryndel, truly. But I understand that
you've blamed a Hold guard for the fire, correct?"

"Yes. He was caught running away from the fire by one of my journeymen. I
understand he's the husband of our new apprentice, Calenta, and had
quarrelled with her that evening." Ryndel eyed the holder, daring him to
make some comment about the fact that the new apprentice was female. "He's
been handed over to the Hold, and we harpers intend to demand justice from
Lord Enrizial."

"Hallsecond, I understand you are a married man, like myself. While I would
not dare to presume the intricacies of anyone's marriage, surely the last
time you argued with your wife you were not tempted to burn a building down
around her, were you?"

"No." Ryndel shrugged. "But who can tell what goes through the mind of a
criminal? I have never been tempted to steal, either, or to brawl with other
men, and yet some people do these things."

"What if he was running from the Hall _for_ help? Did anyone consider that?"

The harper snorted. "He is a devoted follower of Lord Enrizial, who recently
declared that he wished we harpers would just 'go away'. If he didn't set
the Hall afire, then who did?"

"Someone besides him?" Kohler shook his head. "And I'd heard you were a fair
man, Ryndel. Is it not the harpers duty to seek out all possibilities and
come to a fair decision. Anger is certainly not the emotion to follow when
there is a man's life and reputation at stake. I'm quite loyal to Enrizial
as well...let's just say it's a family habit. But if my wife were inside of
any building I could not burn it down--and if I felt I could not get in, I'd
be running toward assistance as quickly as possible."

"I'd expect you to defend a fellow servant of the Lordling, Holder, but I
doubt there's any need. Since we've had to give the man up to the 'justice'
of Emerald Falls, I imagine he'll get off anyway. Emerald Falls is welcome
to him." Even if the Craftmaster didn't agree to his recommendations, Ryndel
had decided he would be moving, accepting a position elsewhere. He would not
wait until his family were burned in their beds along with his life's work
before he got the message that he was not welcome.

Kohler stood. This was as hopeless as Enrizial had indicated. Still, to lose
your home, a place you felt safe and had worked in for turns; he couldn't
blame Ryndel all that much for his rancour. "Loyal does not mean stupid, nor
does it mean I cannot see things that should be improved. But justice
entails _listening_ as well as accusing and I'm sure when you're not so
upset you will see that."

"Maybe." Ryndel held the door open for his visitor. "But if you're wise,
you'll take your own advice and _listen_ to Lord Enrizial when he speaks.
You might find he's not worth remaining loyal to."

A ghost of a smile flitted over Kohler's face. "It's not only those most
deserving who need loyalty, Master Ryndel. Sometimes, it's those who need
the most improvement in certain regard." He tipped his hat--he'd gotten used
to wearing one working outdoors so often--to the Master Harper before he
turned away. "Opposite in opinion does not mean unworthy of existence. Good
day..."

Last updated on the August 29th 2005

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Opposite In Opinion