Goodbyes: round 3, episode 2

Upon his return home to Ymris Manor, after the wedding, the Baron felt himself growing more and more fatigued. He had developed a cough during the damp ride home, and more and more often he found himself needing to lie down and rest after even the slightest exertion.

One night, he sent an urgent message to his distant cousin, the Reverend Father Aloil, at Erlen Abbey. When the Abbot arrived, Baron Awn insisted on meeting with him outside, although the night was chill and his cough was tormenting him.

The Baron spoke at length, unburdening his soul and begging his young kinsman to assure him that he would be forgiven. He spoke of the intelligence he’d collected, and the sometimes devious and dangerous plans he’d laid in place. As the leader of his people in dark and perilous times, sometimes there had been no good choice; and the Baron knew that the blood of innocents had more than once been spilled due to his machinations. When they parted at last, Awn watched the priest walk toward the stables, feeling relieved, but too exhausted even to climb the steps to his chamber.

When morning came, he was too weak to rise from his bed. His grandchildren, as well as their faithful servant, spent the day sitting with him in his chamber, although he rarely seemed aware of their presence.

Sometimes he cried out, seeming to believe that a danger was approaching, and calling “To arms! ‘Ware enemies! Oh, they are upon us!” in a tone of horror and fear. Toward evening, he roused himself enough to give them his blessing, and then fell into a more peaceful sleep, then surrendered to death in the deep watches of the night.

As the new Baron Heureu wept for his grandfather, he wondered if he knew enough to fill those shoes, or if the little community would falter without Awn’s knowledge and subtlety.

Yet perhaps there is no ending without a new beginning. Only a few days after Baron Heureu acceded to his title, the young Prince Tirunedeth also grew into his teens. To his people, who had become used to seeing the young boy as one of themselves, a playmate and almost an equal to their children, it was both shocking and comforting to see him gaining the dignity and reserve of a ruling Prince.

And to Tirunedeth, knowing that soon he must leave to pursue his own course of studies at Caithnard, the throne seemed a very lonely place compared to the fields and smallholdings of his subjects.

However, the young Prince knew that danger was not far away, and his little realm was more vulnerable now that the passes were open for the summer. Already, travelers were trickling into Erlenstar, and rumors were flying about events in the South.

One such traveler, Lord Arawn of Osterhaven, seemed to be everywhere—talking to folk in the shops and taverns, asking questions, watching everything. People began to mutter about “Rats in the corn cribs,” wondering why he had come and what use he had for the information he was gathering. Was he a spy?

He spent a lot of time with Master Avo’s beautiful young daughter, Griet, who seemed flattered by his attention.

Who knew what information he was extracting from the naïve girl, or what she passed on to him?

The community became more and more inflamed with gossip and rumor as spring ripened into summer. Master Avo, who usually passed his evenings peacefully at his telescope, came out one night to a nasty surprise.

Even the farmers, who usually passed their leisure hours in the fields encouraging their crops to grow big and tall, began to worry about spies and “vermin” in their midst.

It seemed that matters would have to come to a head soon, or the whole valley would be consumed by fear and suspicion. Were there spies amongst them? Whom could they trust? No one knew….

Next post: http://kerrysims.blogspot.com/2007/05/another-traveler-round-3-episode-3.html