A Letter and Farewell

Writers: Estelle, Miriah
Date Posted: 5th November 2020
Series: The Assassin's Husband

Characters: Lusilk, Lorican, Silgan
Description: Lorican wakes up to a letter
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 6, day 15 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned : Bryvin, Jayzine, Dunrik

Lusilk

With the moons rising in the evening sky, Lusilk carefully slid out of
Lorican's arms. It only took a few moments for her to fully dress and
before she slipped out of their bedroom, Lusilk looked down at Lorican
as he slept. After the incident with his lady love at the new
hospital, she had only been more certain that what she was doing was
the right thing for him. The past sevenday had been more than
pleasant; he'd been an easy man to live with before and she had to
admit that his lovemaking since their marriage had been much more
pleasurable than she'd expected. She'd enjoyed every moment they'd
shared. But despite her enjoyment, and she'd also made sure that he
also enjoyed himself, she wasn't for him nor him for her. He deserved
better than a marriage of convenience. After she was finished, perhaps
Silgan wouldn't need the protection of his craft or the Weyr, nor
would he need her protection.

But if anything happened to her, and Faranth knew it was possible, at
least she knew that Silgan would be cared for, by Lorican or Bryvin.
She'd covered every single angle she could think of. She reached out
to lightly stroke her fingers over Lorican's hair, just enough to not
wake him. Before pulling away, she pushed aside a momentary flush of
sadness. It was the best for both of them. She shouldered her pack and
lay the letter she'd written on the small table beside their bed along
with a heavy pouch.

She couldn't leave before she saw her son. Lusilk slipped into
Silgan's room and sat on the edge. "Silgan." Her voice was soft as she
laid her hand on his shoulder.

He woke immediately; he'd learned to over his short turns. "Mama?" He
rubbed his eyes and took in her appearance. His face fell instantly,
recognizing what it meant. Sitting up, he looked close to crying.
"I'll get my pack."

"No, my flitling. You don't have to leave with me this time." She
stroked her fingers through his hair. "We're not running away. You can
stay with your new Da."

His face brightened. "I can?" Then his little brow furrowed.
"But...when are you coming back?"

Lusilk never believed in lying to Silgan about how long she would be
gone. Usually she had a good idea of when she'd return. But this
time...this time it would be different. "As soon as I can. You stay
with Lorican. He might not understand, okay? But when I come back,
Silgan, there's not going to be any bad man anymore to be afraid of.
And you can talk whenever you want. To anyone you want."

He stared up at her, eyes amazed and hopeful. "I can? To anyone? My
friends?"

Lusilk nodded. "Mmhmm...No more quiet. But not until I come back,
okay?" She paused, considering what would happen if she didn't return.
"Or when Lorican says it's okay. He'll know."

Silgan nodded, eyes wide. "Okay." He hugged his mother tightly. "I'll
miss you. I love you, Mama."

She held him tightly, cheek pressed against the top of his head. "And
I you, my little flitling. Be good, listen to your new Da, and stay
close to him, okay?" She felt him nod against her chest and her eyes
stung as she squeezed him just a bit tighter. She blinked quickly,
then laid him back down, covering him and tucking him in. "Go back to
sleep, Silgan. I love you." She bent to kiss his brow and rose.

Silgan watched her, then blew her a kiss before snuggling back under
the blankets. Lusilk smiled down at him, then quietly left the room.
She stopped outside, leaning against the door as she took a moment to
steady herself. **I'll try to come back to you. I couldn't promise I
would this time.** With a final look at her shared bedroom, she
carefully unhooked the alarm bell over the door before she left their
room, closing it quietly behind her.

The runner mare that she had arrived on was ready shortly after. As
Lusilk stroked the mare's neck, she gave final look at the dining
hall's second floor, where her rooms with Lorican had been. "Goodbye."
With a soft click of her teeth and a nudge with her heels, she rode
the mare away, starting at a walk. The moment they were out of the
area, she nudged the mare to a quicker pace, headed to the north west
towards Shadow Peak Mining Hold.

The letter:

"Lorican,
You may be wondering what is happening and why I was not there beside
you when you woke this morning. Though I am not as honorable as you
are, I did make a promise to you. I know who hunts you. Before he
died, the man in my arms told me who hired him and I believe he told
the truth. And no, I will not tell you who it is. I think I know you
well and you'd try to do something stupidly honorable and put yourself
in danger to try to stop me. Don't try. You promised to keep Silgan
under your protection and I am calling in that promise.

I also made another promise to myself and to a man who once was as
important to me as your Weyrhealer is to you. It's time I fulfilled
that promise. Silgan shouldn't live in fear anymore and I am tired of
running. Silgan's grandfather will take his last breath at my hand or
mine at his. I am hoping I am skilled enough that it be the first and
not the last. I can not make any promises to you or myself regarding
that.

Lord Bryvin of Sunstone Hold may come to you soon. He'll explain why
and will ask for the locked wooden box under the bed. Give it to him
and no one else. I have left a pouch with this letter. It's for you
and Silgan, just in case. Inside are the marks you gave me during
training as well as some of my savings. The gemstones are uncut, but
are valuable and there's plenty of marks inside. Use them if you need
to, or keep them for later. I have left a note for Jayzine that there
has been a family emergency that I've had to leave for. I told her
that one of my relatives has become ill and I must leave immediately
to care for her. That should help you avoid questions.

If I am successful, then I'm certain word will spread. Word will also
spread if I am not. If I am not, then remember your promise, Lorican.
Go to your Weyrhealer. Find happiness, if you can. Don't be upset
about me. This past sevenday has been very special to me. I've been
happy and I've tried my best to make you happy. But I think you will
find more happiness with the woman your heart wants. Just take care
of Silgan and perhaps he might share your happiness. Just be happy
and know that I will make certain that you are now safe.

With real affection,
Lusilk

PS Cut your shaffing brother off after this. Or when I'm done, I'll
make certain he never breeds."

Lorican woke as the first rays of morning sunlight lit the window in
their bedroom and warmed his face. Still sleepy, he murmured something
and reached out, but there were only empty sheets where his wife usually
slept beside him.

He frowned and his eyes opened. Was it later than he'd thought? As he
sat up hastily, he wondered if he should be in the smithy by now. There
were allowances made for a newly married man, but the mastersmith's
tolerance would only stretch so far. It didn't feel late, though.
Perhaps she was with Silgan? There was something not right, something he
couldn't put his finger on, and the last few months in her company had
taught him to pay attention to his instincts.

As quietly as he could, he got up, wrapped a sheet around himself and
went to the door. Across the room, he saw Silgan's bedroom, and a small
shape curled up under the blankets. There was no-one else there.

**It's probably nothing,** he told himself, despite his growing concern.
She might have gone out early to train, now her wound was healed enough.
He turned back to their room, intending to dress, and that was when he
saw the letter and the pouch on the table.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and reached for it with a growing
sense of disquiet, that deepened into confusion and then dread as he
read what she'd written. Almost before he'd reached the end, he was on
his feet, struggling into his clothes with his heart racing, though he
knew he was already far, far too late to stop her. The sheets had been
cool. She must have left as soon as he'd fallen asleep.

What had been the name of the hold in the letters? Something foreboding,
he thought, conjuring images of isolated mountains, shrouded in mist.
**Lusilk, you were supposed to be safe with me!** Dressed, he hurried
out into the main room, looking frantically around for his warm jacket.
If he could rouse a rider, that brownrider who'd offered him a ride, if
he could remember the name, he might get there in time. Then, he stopped
short. Silgan...he couldn't leave the boy on his own, and if he left him
with Master Dunrik there'd be questions. Could he send a message, a
warning to the Holder? What if he just ended up getting her killed? He
thought of Lusilk, moving on silent feet as he knew she could, a knife
gleaming in her hand, of the hulking shapes of guards, lying in wait for
her.

But if he didn't stop her, and she went on to try to kill a Lord Holder...

Lorican went back into the bedroom, saw the pouch she'd mentioned. When
he opened it, his breath caught and he had to sit down. There were more
marks there than he'd ever seen in his life, and gems nestled in the
midst of the coin. There would be more than enough to care for Silgan,
or, if...if she didn't come back, to run...

**I meant for you to leave that life behind. No more killing, no more
blood on your hands.** Perhaps he'd been a fool to think that was
possible. He looked over at his portrait of Lusilk, framed on the wall
opposite the bed. Shards, he should have known. With his own hand, he'd
drawn a woman who would never stop fighting, never allow a threat to her
child to continue to exist.

Lorican covered his face with his hands, took a deep, shuddering breath.
His heart ached and he didn't know what to do. There was no-one he could
ask for advice. All he had was his promise to care for the boy.

Hastily, he tucked the pouch and the letter into the tool bag and pushed
it further under the bed, into the dusty shadows where it couldn't be
seen. Then he got to his feet, crossed to Silgan's room and crouched
down beside the bed. "Silgan?"

Silgan rolled over to face Lorican; it was obvious that he'd been
awake and had simply been waiting. His face held a sad resignation
that few children his age had ever expressed and as he looked at
Lorican, his new Da, he got up. He wrapped little arms around
Lorican's neck and hugged him, speaking softly. "Mama's gone again."
Remembering how his mother had explained that Lorican might not
understand, Silgan pressed his cheek against Lorican's shoulder in an
effort to comfort him. "It'll be okay, Da. She's making the bad man go
away for really real this time."

Lorican put an arm around the boy and held him close, patting his back
to return the gesture of comfort. "I know, son. She's very brave. So
it'll just be the two of us for a while." He felt his eyes prickling as
he spoke, and swallowed, making an effort to sound reassuring. "Did she
tell you where she was going?"

Silgan shook his head. "No. She never ever tells cause it's _secret_."
It was obviously something he'd been told several times. "But I didn't
have to go this time cause now I got a Da. And I hafta be good and
listen to you until she gets back. And when she gets back, " he paused
and his little brow furrowed and he lifted his head, "or when you say
so, she says I don't hafta be quiet all the time. But only when you
say so cause you'll know or when she gets back." Silgan looked at
Lorican and spoke with hesitation and worry. "But she didn't say when
this time. She always says when. Her face looked funny too."

With an effort, Lorican put aside his own concern at what that might
mean. "Maybe she didn't want us to feel sad if her journey takes longer
than she thought. I'm sure she'll be back as soon as she possibly can."
He managed a half-smile, hoping his fears didn't show in his face.
"Let's get you up and get some breakfast, shall we? If I'm late bringing
you to the creche then Mama will have my hide when she gets back."

Silgan nodded somberly and then cracked a grin at Lorican's last
statement. "Yeah. She'd be mad, but she'd be nice after she was mad.
She can't be too mad at you. You're married now so you gotta love each
other. That's what the ladies at the creche say."

Lorican did smile at that. "I hope they're right, or else I'm in
trouble." He got to his feet. "Come on then, up you get and get washed
and dressed. Later on today, I'll collect you from the creche and we can
find some jobs for you to do around the smithy, all right?"

"Yay! The smithy!" Worry promptly forgotten, Silgan hopped away. He ran
for his dresser and pulled out his clothes, conveniently forgetting
about the "washing up" and already excited at the prospect of spending
time there. The little hammer he'd been given was now one of his prized
posessions and he banged on everything he could with it in mimicry of
the men there.

"Don't forget! Wash! Or Mama will find out when she gets back. She knows
everything." Lorican felt a little guilty about using that tactic. But
as he returned to the main room to fetch what he needed for the day, he
decided that as a novice Da, he needed all the help he could get.

Last updated on the November 11th 2020

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A Letter and Farewell