Visiting a Memory

Writers: Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 31st March 2017

Characters: Zathris, Benaroy, Royan, Benani, Rizan
Description: Zathris reminisces about his first meeting with Benani while penning a letter to his father.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 10, day 19 of Turn 8

Zathris

Benani

Zathris sat and stared at the blank piece of parchment on his desk,
pen poised as he searched for the right words. Corresponding with his
father was never an easy thing, but to actually invite him to Amber
Hills was even more difficult. Things had never been the same between
them after he had stripped Zathris of the title of 'heir' and given it
to his brother Ethizan.

**But, I guess I should be thankful. It led me to Benani. It led me here....**

~Flashback~

Amber Hills Hold. Zathris had heard a lot about the major Holding to
the far South of Jade Harbor, but had never had any reason to travel
such a distance. Now that he was back at Willow Bend, however, he'd
been asked to travel to Lord Benaroy and negotiate a trade for some of
the lumber from Willow Bend for a few of the famed Amber Hills
runners.

Rizan, his younger brother by three Turns, rode beside him, a
happy-go-lucky expression on his face, which was not so very different
from Zathris's.

"Not only are the runners at Amber Hills famed, but I hear the women
are desserts for the eyes." Rizan waggled his eyebrows at Zathris.

Zathris's lips turned down into a firm grimace. His own beloved Maisla
was still fresh in the ground in his mind, having passed away only six
months prior with his child. His hazel-green eyes cut sideways at
Rizan.

Rizan sighed but the smile never left his face, "I am just making
conversation, Zathris. There's no reason to get that murderous look in
your eye."

"We're here on business. Let's not forget." Zathris said simply, and
turned his sight back to the gates of Amber Hills, which they now
passed through with a nod to the guards on duty.

"Ah yes, our duty." Rizan's unrepentant tone said that he clearly
planned on having a little fun while they were in Amber Hills.

A thunder of hooves rumbled louder and louder and two riders flashed
past the strangers entering the hold. Blue eyes and the flash of a
smile turned back across a shoulder from under a rather disarrayed
ladies hairstyle under a utilitarian hat.

An older man bellowed at the young woman. "Shards! Pull up now!"

"I beat you fair and square," she retorted but pulled the runner up
hard enough it practically sat on it's haunches coming to a stop in
the grass around the side of the main hold. She jumped down and ran
inside with a laugh before he could catch her.

Grooms grabbed for bridles and steadied the plunging animals.

"You don't treat runners like that," he said to her retreating back as
he jumped from his own runner and then took hold of the girls mount to
check it's mouth and pat the trembling neck. "I'll see she doesn't do
that again my girl," he muttered.

Zathris and Rizan exchanged glances, Rizan's amused and clearly
interested in the spirited girl who had blazed past them on a runner.
Zathris, on the other hand, found himself in agreement with the man
who was scolding the girl's treatment of the runner.

Dismounting, Zathris handed the slick leather reigns to a stablehand
and tucked his riding gloves into his belt.

"We're expected. Zathris, Steward at Willow Bend." He told the inquiring drudge.

"Yes sir," the drudge gave a short bow. "My Lord is just this way." He
spread a hand toward the right and began to lead them toward Lord
Benaroy's office.

Royan rounded a corner and smiled holding out a hand. "Welcome to
Amber Hills," he said. "I heard you're here to see my father? I'm
Royan." He dismissed the drudge with a thrust of his chin.

Zathris took the man's extended hand, "Zathris, Steward at Willow
Bend. Your father should be expecting me. I'm here to negotiate a
trade. Wood for runners."

Rizan also shook Royan's hand, but he stayed slightly behind his older
brother, letting Zathris do the talking while he looked around. Amber
Hills really was as large and grand as everyone said.

"Oh yes, he mentioned that to me," Royan smiled and tilted his head.
"This way," he led them down the short hall and rapped once before
opening the door. "Father," he said as he stepped through. "You have a
couple of visitors from Willow Bend."

"Ahh," the elderly Lord Holder rose from his chair and waved off the
young steward that had been hovering over his shoulder. "Welcome to
Amber Hills." He held out his hand as he came around the desk.

Zathris inclined his head respectfully to the Amber Hills Lord as he
shook Benaroy's hand, "Thank you, sir, you have a fine Holding here.
I'd heard much about it and it has lived up to the rumors."

"Many Turns of hard work. I assure you," Benaroy nodded at the
compliment. "Royan here has had management of our runner stock for
some time."

Royan was pleased at the notice but just looked down at his boots and smiled.

"But enough," Benaroy said expansively. "We must refresh before we do
business. Benani," he called.

His next to the youngest daughter came into the room. "Father, I can
explain," she started when she saw her brother across the room. Then
she stopped abruptly and almost stuffed her fist in her mouth as the
saw the two men she'd passed on the road. She hastily amended what
she'd planned to say, "I'm sorry Father."

Rizan's eyebrows lifted, clearly amused and interested in the spirited
girl that had passed them on the road. Who would have thought she
might be a daughter of Benaroy?

Zathris noted the dust that coated the young woman's boots and the hem
of her riding coat. Her cheeks still had a pink flush from the thrill
of riding. She reminded him some of his younger sister, Rethisa,
always looking for an adventure with her brothers.

"Milady," Zathris inclined his head, and Rizan followed suite.

Her blue eyes danced at the two men as she made her best curtsy. "Well
met gentlemen," she said in a melodic voice. She successfully stifled
the laughter that threatened to burble up. "A beautiful day outside
today."

Royan snorted.

Benaroy lifted an eyebrow at his son along with a questioning look.
"Well," he rumbled with narrowed eyes. He'd get the story out of Royan
in a bit. "It's getting late and I'm sure Zelanka would like to show
you to your rooms. Dinner will be served in about an hour. I'm sure
you'd like to freshen up before joining the family?" He nodded toward
his daughter. "Benani will show you the way."

"Thank you, my Lord." The ride had been long and a moment to clean up
and rest sounded ideal. He lifted his eyes back to the young woman who
would be showing them the way. Zathris wondered how many children
Benaroy had, she seemed much younger than the Royan fellow. **Perhaps
Benaroy has a taste for women like my father.** Zathris had so many
siblings he could barely keep up sometimes.

"This way sirs," she nodded to her father and turned to lead them
through the door. As they got into the hall she could hear hear the
muffled voices of her father and brother and her smile grew just a
little strained. She led them up the wide staircase and through the
connecting corridor toward the guest quarters.

As they arrived at the door of their quarters, Zathris and Rizan both
inclined their heads, Rizan with an obvious spark of interest in his
eyes for the daughter of Benaroy.

"Thank you, milady," Zathris said politely.

"You are most welcome," she smiled at both men equally. If she'd been
taught anything by her sister Yanley it was how to be a hostess to her
father's guests. She didn't miss the glint of interest in one of them
while the other seemed so very serious. "I had heard you were here to
look at some of our runners?"

"Zathris is the Steward at Willow Bend," Rizan said, jerking his thumb
toward his older brother, "they're wanting to trade, lumber for
runners. Amber Hills has the best reputation for runners around here."

"Zathris," she said with a small dip tasting his name even though
she'd seemed to see a bit of disapproval in those amber eyes. She
turned back to the other. "And you are?"

"Rizan," he said, touching a finger to his temple in salute.

"I believe I'll go inside and clean up," Zathris said to excuse
himself. "Thank you again," he inclined his head to Benani and then
slipped through the portal to the guest room.

"You're welcome," she sighed and tilted her head. "Nice to meet you
Rizan." She closed her eyes for a long moment thinking she'd somehow
completely blown a first impression. She opened them smiling "Well
then," she sighed and then turned back the way they'd come. "Dinner is
in an hour. Down the stairs and to the left."

"Thank you," Rizan called after Benani.

~End Flashback~

Zathris found himself smiling as he recalled the memory. How far he and Benani had come still amazed him. His eyes focused back on the letter he was penning to his father and he straightened in his seat. Back to business.

Last updated on the April 25th 2017

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