What the Servants Said

Writers: Avery, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 29th January 2018

Characters: Zelah, Ahdira, Narlia, Ovonal, Gerva, Mekran, Ingren, Casaria
Description: Xeladrie's behavior is causing rumors about her to spread around Turquoise Ba
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 2, day 6 of Turn 9

Zelah

Xeladrie had been keeping herself shut up inside her rooms, though the
same walls were beginning to drive her crazy. She picked at her meal
and frequently criticized the food. She yelled at the maid who cleaned
the rooms. She was snappish at the midwife every time the woman tried
to examine her. In short, she had been making herself as unpleasant as
possible to be around.

She needed time to herself so she could write letters to send out and
make her plans. It also wouldn't hurt to start rumors swirling around
the staff. She'd hoped to get a few people concerned by her actions.
And at that she had succeeded beyond what she could have hoped for...

- - - - -

Within three sevendays after the baby's birth, everyone on the
Turquoise Bay support staff had a different opinion on Lady Xeladrie.

Some said she was a spoiled brat, with unrealistic expectations for
how she should be treated - she was the Lord's wife at Sunstone but
here in her father's Hold she was just a daughter who'd married out,
and she couldn't order them around like that. Others said she was an
unpleasant harridan who screamed and scolded, pitying her husband for
being stuck with her. Some who'd known her since she was very small
claimed she was a tragic figure, stressed by losses.

"I don't remember her throwing attitude around like this before. She
was such a sweet, biddable girl," cleaning drudge Narlia said as she
dealt with the mess of Xeladrie's latest tantrum.

"The girl's been off ever since her sister died," claimed seamstress
Ahdira, one of the few who would speak about the lost sister. "They
were close as twins. It must be hard for her to be back at Turquoise
Bay without Elarie."

"Her father didn't smack her enough, and now she's too willful. Must
be a nightmare for her husband," opined guard Ovonal.

"Even if her husband is too lenient with her, she should know her
place is with him," insisted old auntie Gerva as she bent over her
mending. "Surely she needs him."

"She hasn't been right since she gave birth. She needs a healer now,
before she does something to hurt someone or herself," said Mekran the
cook in a flat tone of finality. "It's her duty to get back to full
health and try for more boys."

Ingren the glass-worker gave his own thoughts quietly, as if in fear
of repercussion. "Look, I'm not saying she's right to do any of this,
but I'm worried. Something bad is happening, and if she isn't right in
the head anymore.... well, who's going to hear us when we need someone
as kind as she used to be?"

"She's got the brain-sick her sister had. If I was her maids I'd be
making sure she doesn't take a trip to the rocks," said Casaria, wife
to Xeladrie's youngest brother. Her husband had been devastated by
his sister's suicide, while she'd understood the young woman's
desperation, and feared it would be the same for Xeladrie.

And that was what the servants said.

- - - - -

And how was the Lady actually doing?

She was not, in fact, brain-sick from the pregnancy. It was true that
she was grieving her sister's loss and the memories of her that
haunted the halls. It was true that she was thinking about hurting
someone. It was true that she was rebelling against her husband.

She wrote three letters. It took her time to craft them - time when
she was alone in her room, or with only Ranni - when she wasn't
feeding the babe or being tended to by the midwife or being seen to
by any interested or nosy servant. And so it took almost a sevenday of
writing and hiding them before she was done. But finally, they were
done, and she was ready to send them out via Glimmer.

One went to Kiomo, a bit over a sevenday after they had spoken last. It
read:

"Kiomo,

When we spoke, you said to follow up with you within a few days. The
servants spread rumors about my conduct. They are thinking ill of me.
I am still interested in your aid in the critical matter.

Xeladrie"

Simple enough and hopefully he would understand what she meant by
asking for his aid. And that he'd still be willing to help her and not
interested in exposing her to Lord Bryvin.

Glimmer delivered the letter and came back.

The second one went to K'dee. It read,

"Bronzerider K'dee,

My duty to you and Vatonth. I hope you are well.

I have had a daughter. Plans are proceeding on this end to arrange
transport to you. I don't know if I'll have time to write anything
once they begin. So I am giving you a letter now for your Weyrleaders.
Please keep this safe and give it to them when you get the girl.

I have named her Xelbry because she needed a name as though I planned
to keep her. But I want you to name her something else when she goes
to the Weyr, so nobody knows who she really is. I trust you in this.

Xeladrie"

And the included one to the Weyrleaders of Dragonsfall read,

"Weyrleader and Weyrwoman,

I am of my own desire surrendering baby Xelbry to bronzerider K'dee to
take to the Weyr to be raised. I do this without the knowledge or
agreement of my husband. I do not want my girl to be raised as a
daughter of the Blood to be forcibly married off for the acquisition
of land and money and the pleasure of a man. I want her to seek her
freedom at the Weyr. Please do not tell my husband or bring my girl
back to my Hold. I beg this of you.

This is my statement.

Lady Xeladrie of Sunstone Seahold"

She attached both of them to Glimmer and again sent the firelizard out
to deliver them. When the green came back that evening it was with the
impression of having been well-fed and having seen a large bronze
shape. So hopefully K'dee had gotten her letter and passed it on.

Now, all she had to do was wait for Kiomo to arrive and tell her his plan...

Last updated on the March 2nd 2018

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What the Servants Said