Fallout

Writers: Avery, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 29th July 2016

Characters: Goulan, Nohria
Description: Nohria explains herself and awaits judgment.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 6, day 22 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Corran, Zelanka, Yusanis, Jisalle, Pelanka.

It was early enough that Goulan might not have yet left his room to get breakfast. Nohria knocked on the door to his quarters and waited for a response, hoping this could be over quickly. She wasn't looking forward to what her boss might say after she confessed.

The understeward answered the door with his shirt off and still disheveled. He grimaced when he saw Nohria and waved her inside.

"What is it?" he demanded. He was always cranky without his morning klah.

Nohria came into the room and waited until the door was shut before she spoke. "My position here is dangerously compromised," she said bluntly. "The guard Corran wishes to court me, and there is still no way to turn him to our side. Worse yet, his attentions are making a fool of me, and I don't know how to make it stop. Because our leader isn't here, I must ask you for judgment."

"He wishes to _court_ you? What's a guard doing thinking about a drudge like you? Drudges are supposed to be effectively invisible," Goulan said angrily.

This was a disaster. If the guard paid too much attention to Nohria, she'd have greater scrutiny on her and become useless to him. It might almost have been better if the guard in question had suspected her as a dissident - to be courting her was a whole different kind of scrutiny.

And then the second part hit him. "I thought you were smarter than to fall for a pretty face and a kind attitude."

"I am, and I haven't," Nohria said defensively. Then, knowing he wouldn't believe that, she reluctantly added, "But the temptation is there. I haven't had a lover since our group split." Goulan didn't count; what they did was just blowing off steam. "Anyway, I don't know why he's paying so much attention to me. Maybe he's been celibate too long as well and I'm convenient." That didn't seem to be the case, but she was grasping at any straw she could. "Yet we need to do something about this."

"Yes, we have to get him off your back," the understeward agreed. He pulled open the cabinet his clothes hung in and pulled a shirt on while he thought.

"I assume telling him no won't drop his interest, if he's persistant enough?"

"He would back off, but I can't promise his interest wouldn't waver," Nohria admitted, rubbing her left temple. "It takes time for stuff like this to dissipate. We may have to arrange for him to be out of action for a while, or- or try to push him into a transfer. Something to get him out of the way. If worse comes to worst, we may have to risk arousing Zelanka's suspicions and bring someone in to replace me."

"Does Zelanka seem suspicious of you? I'd rather someone in addition to you, rather than replacing you entirely. You're still too valuable." That was another wrinkle. If both the Headwoman and the guard suspected her...

He decided to focus on the guard problem, first. "There must be something we can use against him to get him out of the way. Maybe there's a secret in his past. A problem with his family. Something that calls him back home... Where is he from?"

"Given what we've been doing, I think she's suspicious of everyone," Nohria sighed. The question gave her pause. "He mentioned they're in one of the Amethyst Cliffs cotholds," she said slowly. "They're old and don't want to move here. Were something to happen to them or their home, Corran would rush to them. In the meantime, we can put pressure on Yusanis and start scattering the threats. Have our comrades at the camp sent word as to how many notes they've composed?" Moving a plan forward made her feel better, as did being called valuable.

"So we'll have something happen to their home. He'll be too concerned to do anything here," Goulan said, nodding in satisfaction.

"There's two fake notes for implicating Yusanis," he said. "One from Malachite Gulch and one from his father at Ruby Ravine."

"Good, but what about the threats against Zathris? 'This won't end while he reigns,' 'Women aren't broodmares,' those issues," she reminded.

"A few handwritten notes in disguised hands. And do you remember Helmarin? He's been mixing up some paint to graffiti them around. He thought maybe the stables, unless you had a better place?"

"No, the stables are fine. Less chance of getting caught there. I'll pick up the threats at the tavern as soon as I can," Nohria promised, already trying to think of an herbal concoction that would alter her scent enough to confuse the guards' hounds. It would need a time limit so it couldn't be traced to her room.

"Close enough to be visible and far enough away to have less of a chance to be caught. I like this," Goulan said. "Do you want him to do the painting so we don't risk you?"

"Yes, please. I'll keep sowing dissent among the women in the meantime," Nohria stated.

"How is that part of the plan going?"

"One more is ready to leave, so she should be at the camp next sevenday. Send word to have her put to work as an inventory manager; she's so brilliant with numbers it's astounding. Another is wavering, but she just had a child and isn't sure she can leave her here, even though she doesn't want motherhood and hasn't bonded with the baby. I may have to send her to Jisalle for treatment before she feels strong enough to make the choice. And there's one more dissatisfied target," Nohria said, meaning Pelanka. "I'll have to work on her more." She hesitated, then ventured, "How am I to be disciplined for losing my focus?" to prove she was still committed to the cause.

He was still furious enough about her dalliance with the guard - how dare she fall for a man like that, how dare she lose her focus? Briefly, he considered having her beaten. But it would look too suspicious if she was suddenly injured. It might catch the guard's attention, make him investigate her more. No, he couldn't do anything physical. But emotional...

"Nothing, if you're able to get that guard's attention off of you. Find out where his family is. Talk to Eraklin at the tavern. Tell him to cause trouble at home. Then encourage your guard to go away."

Goulan waited a beat for the instructions to settle, then added the threat. "Otherwise, we might have to remove him ourselves. And dismiss you." If the threat to the guard's life didn't do it, maybe the one to her job would.

Her jaw clenched. If he tried to have her banished, she would appeal the decision with their leader. If it stood, she would join the others at Malachite Gulch and resume her healing duties. That would be fine. Threatening innocents and Corran's life was not. The idea of anything happening to him made her guts and heart wrench. For the first time since she had joined the lawless band, Nohria was going to modify the orders given to Eraklin: Frighten the oldsters, but don't hurt them. Goulan _had_ said "cause trouble"; he hadn't specified what the trouble should be. "Of course, sir. I'll let you get to work now. For a better day," was all she said.

He nodded and let her leave. As Goulan pulled on his boots, he thought about the encounter. He'd make sure to keep an extra eye on her...just in case.

Last updated on the August 3rd 2016

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Fallout