The Storm Breaks (2/4)

Writers: Estelle
Date Posted: 25th July 2020

Characters: R'fal, Lirena, Terren, Evinder, Falanna
Description: An argument is brewing at R'fal's birthday dinner
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 5, day 14 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Corowal

By the time the birthday meal was served, R'fal was ravenous, and he
tucked in to the succulent roast lamb, crispy tubers and spiced
vegetables with an appetite he hadn't felt in months. Best of all, he
could feel how pleased Marlath was. The young brown watched them eat
with fascinated interest, having not seen a group dining outside before.

His mother seemed in good spirits, too, chatting to Telany about her
fostering at Emerald Falls, with some of their cousins listening in awe
to hear her tell about the Hold, and learning to dance and sing, and
what the Lord Holder's children were like. Terren was quieter, focusing
on his meal. R'fal asked him a few questions about the farm, but he
wasn't sure what else to say. The fact of his six months' labour in the
mines stood between them like a prison wall.

When the plates were cleaned, there was a lull in the chatter and
several sighs of satisfaction. R'fal leaned back in his chair, feeling
the warm sun on his back, and saw his uncle rising to his feet.

"Holders." Evinder cleared his throat as the conversations around the
table fell silent. "We've all filled our bellies with the delicious meal
prepared under the supervision of my wife and sister-in-law, and I hope
everyone's left a little room for dessert..."

"Bubbly pies!" one excited girl squealed.

The cotholder grinned. "But before we bring out the sweets, it's time to
raise our glasses in a toast to those who risk their lives to protect
our lands and keep us safe from Thread, so that we can enjoy the fruits
of our labours. And of course, we have one of them here with us today,
to celebrate his eighteenth birthday. I'm proud to call him my nephew."
He lifted his glass, the sunlight glittering through the pale white
wine. "To R'fal and Marlath!"

"R'fal and Marlath!" The rest of the company chorused, accompanied by
scattered laughter at the mortified look on the young brownrider's face.

R'fal felt a moment's pride, but mostly wanted to slide down in his
chair and hide under the table. All eyes were on him. He felt his sister
nudging him and suddenly realised it was his turn to reply. Hastily, he
got to his feet.

"Uh - thank you, Uncle." For a moment, his mind went blank and despite
having attended many such a celebration before, he couldn't think
how to respond. He looked up and down the table in a panic, and caught
sight of his mother, looking up at him with encouragement in her eyes.
"I - I may be a dragonrider now, but I've not forgotten where I came
from. Marlath and I, and our wingmates, we couldn't do what we do
without you. I'll always be proud to be born a holder." He took a
breath. "To the herders and cotholders!"

Then there was a lot of cheering and loud applause, and people repeating
the toast, and even Marlath rumbled in agreement, prompting more
laughter. R'fal took a sip of his wine and sat down in sheer relief that
he'd got through this moment without making a complete fool of himself.
Then the chief herdsman got up and proposed a toast to his aunt Falanna
and the cooks, and his aunt rose in response and thanked the elders for
their wisdom, and soon toasts were going back and forth and getting
sillier, until his uncle stood again.

"One last toast, now, and then we'll get to serving the sweets." He
winked at the young girl who'd spoken before, who was wriggling with
impatience in her seat. "According to our tradition, as loyal holders of
Emerald Falls, we drink to our Lord Holder, Lord Corowal, and wish him
health and prosperity."

The chorus of toasts was repeated politely but sincerely, with most
people clearly anticipating the bubbly pies, but then there was a stir
and some whispering. R'fal looked across the table and saw that his
father was getting up, leaning unsteadily with one hand on the back of
his chair.

"I'm surprised that you'd raise a glass to that man." Terren's gaze was
locked with the cotholder's, his voice falling, bitter and hostile, into
the sudden silence. "After what he did to our family."

Evinder paused with the wine glass at his lips, then deliberately
drained it and set it down. R'fal had the sudden, disorienting sense
that this wasn't the beginning, but a continuation of something that had
been building between the two men for some time. He felt dizzy,
light-headed with the wine, wanting to stop it and unable to do anything
but watch.

"We've always respected the Lord Holder here, Terren. He's a just man."
He paused. "And none of his decisions lately have done anything to
change my opinion."

Terren's hands curled into fists. "Then seeing your sister-in-law turned
out of her home, along with her children, our name dragged through the
mud - that's not enough?"

"Terren." Lirena laid a hand on his arm, her voice soft but urgent. "You
know the children are provided for. We agreed to put this behind us."

"I didn't agree to anything. And if any of you had been treated like I
have, you wouldn't either. You don't know what it's like there. How they
work men like beasts until they drop, or die crushed under rocks,
screaming in the dark." He shook off her touch. "I'm sorry to spoil your
pretty demonstration of loyalty by telling what I saw, brother-in-law,
but that's how your precious Lord Holder got so bloody prosperous. By
grinding men into the dust."

"You didn't have to go there." Evinder spoke through gritted teeth.
"No-one forced you to commit a crime."

The table was now completely silent. Lirena stood, trying to press her
husband back down into his seat. "Terren, please. This day is for R'fal.
Think of him."

He barked out a laugh. "Think of - did any of you think of me? Did you
even lift a finger to help me? Any of you?" His gaze swept the table,
lingering on his son.

"We gave you far more help than you deserve. Not that we've seen any
gratitude!" The cotholder shook off his own wife's calming gesture and
glared down the table at him. "Who do you think paid for that harper to
defend you?"

"Aye, and much use she was. But you'll squeeze every last mark of it
back out of me regardless, won't you, you grasping skinflint?" Terren
pushed back his chair, turned on his heel and stalked off, back towards
the cothold.

Lirena started after him, then looked back. "Evinder, Falanna, I'm so
sorry. He's had too much wine, he's not used to it yet. I'll talk to him."

The cotholder let out a snort of disgust and sat down. Falanna stood,
her usually cheerful face tight with anger. "As my sister says, I hope
you'll all excuse my brother-in-law." She looked to her two elder
daughters. "Girls, let's go and bring out the pies."

R'fal watched them both go, a choking tightness in his throat, unable to
speak. He was grateful for the bustle of the dessert being served, but
shook his head when one of his cousins offered him a plate of bubbly
pieces. Over by the shade of the main cothold building, he could see his
parents standing, his father with shoulders hunched, his mother
gesturing. Pleading.

His brother and sister were looking at him. Kerril looked as though he
was about to cry, while Telany looked stunned, as though she couldn't
believe what she'd heard. "R'fal?"

"It's all right. They're - I'll go and find out. Stay here, have some pie."

He pushed back his chair and walked across the courtyard, feeling all
the eyes on his back, until he was close enough to hear his parents' voices.

Lirena was shaking her head. "I'm sorry, I don't believe it. Mining's a
job, like any other. It's just hard work, and you weren't used to it."

"You weren't there." His father's voice was low. "You don't understand."

"No, because I'd never have been such a fool as to get involved with
those holdless thieves!"

"I wasn't doing anything wrong."

"How can I know?" R'fal watched, horrified, as his mother brushed away
tears with her sleeve. "How can I trust a word you say? There've been so
many lies, Terren."

"I'm _not_ lying! Not about this!"

"He's not, Ma."

They both turned, and R'fal swallowed. He wasn't supposed to talk about
it, but how could he keep silent? "What he's saying, it's all true. The
way they treat the prisoners. I've seen it, with my own eyes."

Last updated on the September 29th 2020

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The Storm Breaks (2/4)