The Consequence of Honor pt 2

Writers: AL, Heather
Date Posted: 7th August 2014
Series: The Unwanted Sister

Characters: Coran, Relea, Reven, Caenir
Description: Relea finally is allowed to see Coran, and Reven and Caenir discuss what to do with the two men they apprehended.
Location: Green Valley Hold
Date: month 8, day 9 of Turn 7
Notes: Directly follows "The Consequence of Honor"

Relea

Reven

"You can see him now."

Coran's clothes were still stained with blood and his face was
beginning to swell but wounds had been cleaned, blood wiped up, and a
dose of fellis given. The moment the curtain was drawn back he turned
his head, looking for his wife.

Reven had been unrelenting and refused to release her. She'd finally
given up, though not without adding a few bruises to Reven's arms.
He'd regained enough strength in his time back that he was successful
in keeping her at bay. As soon as she was allowed, however, she
jerked away from her brother in law to rush to her husband's side.
One hand twirled with his once more and the other carefully stroked
his hair. "Coran..." She spoke his name, the syllables thick, but
still understandable.

The sound of his name on his wife's lips caused a hot flash of tears
to press against the back of his eyes. He squeezed her hand in return,
for the moment not trusting his voice.

"I will be back to talk more about what happened, Coran." Reven said
as he stood, motioned for the other healer, and left the room, leaving
the husband and wife to their privacy.

Relea barely registered their departure as she continued to tenderly run
her fingers through his hair. For a few moments, all was still, then she
reluctantly pulled away so she could 'talk'. "What happened?"

Coran was beginning to feel the effects of the fellis as the muscles
in his body relaxed. It made hand-signing more difficult, and required
much more concentration as he told Relea, "The man from earlier today.
He had a friend with him." Coran could see no way the situation could
have been avoided. If he had not stood up to the man when he had
accosted Relea then she would have been harmed.

Surprise was followed by anger, but she pushed it aside to take his
hand once more. The other signed a simple 'sleep'. He needed rest.
The body healed better when one could rest.

The healer reached out for his wife's hand. His eyelids felt so heavy,
and he sighed in contentment as the fellis momentarily numbed his body
to the pain. After a while he wasn't sure if he could even raise his
hands any more, so he simply squeezed Relea's hand and finally let his
eyes droop shut.

Relea captured his hand in both of hers and stroked it gently. For
some time, she remained by his side, then finally slipped away to step
outside of the infirmary.

~*~

"I want them sent to Emerald Falls. They have much better facilities
to deal with them there." Reven told Caenir as they stood looking in
on the two men that had ambushed Coran. "Do you have any idea why they
picked him?" He asked the Stablemaster.

Caenir shook his head, his expression sour. What was going on in this
place? What had the previous holder allowed to create such unsavory
sort within those walls? "Dunno."

"I do." Relea signed as she approached the men. She'd caught the
words upon Reven's lips. Afraid that what she might have to say
further would be too difficult, Relea resorted to her stylus. "A man
tried to harass me earlier and Coran broke his nose. He evidently
returned with a friend."

Reven felt that momentary surge of pride that an older brother felt
when a younger brother stood up for himself, "Why was he harassing
you?" He signed to Relea, but spoke the words for Caenir's benefit.

Relea's lips thinned. It was embarrassing, but hiding the truth
wouldn't do her or Coran any good. "He thought because of the rumours
I am a loose woman." That was putting it mildly. The question was,
how many others thought that? The rumours were not true by any
stretch of the imagination, but who would believe her?

Reven hesitated before signing, "Rumors... About us?"

Relea merely nodded. Caenir had known about the rumours. He was
quiet, but that didn't mean he didn't listen. He'd just never put any
stock into it because he knew his friend wasn't that sort, and while
he didn't really know Relea very well, she didn't seem to be that sort
either. The result, however, had been that Relea and Coran both
suffered because of it.

"I see." Reven's voice was grave. He didn't know if Caenir followed
the conversation since most of it had been in sign language but he
trusted his friend regardless. It was a bad situation but still not as
bad as he had previously thought. At least it did not seem to involve
the Hooded Man.

"This is bad." Relea signed to Reven specifically, her own expression
tight. "What are we going to do about these rumours?" It could have
cost Coran his life, had Caenir not arrived when he had.

The holder raked his hand through his hair in agitation, "I don't
know. I need time to think. Go back to Coran."

"I want him home as soon as possible." The infirmary was designed to
meet the needs of those who had to use it, but it wasn't as familiar
or comfortable as one's own bed. With that, she twirled back and
around and returned to her husband's side.

Caenir watched the woman disappear, then turned his attention back to
his friend. "Whaddya want me to do?" He'd do whatever it took to
help Reven and his family - and his friend knew that.

"Just make sure those two go to Emerald Falls. Thanks Caenir." He said
absently, his mind still preoccupied.

Last updated on the September 7th 2014

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The Consequence of Honor pt 2