What Must Be Done

Writers: Aaron, Heather
Date Posted: 19th February 2025

Characters: Zavek, Brennault
Description: Zavek and Brennault discuss the state of their relationship and what the future might bring.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 3, day 11 of Turn 12

Brennault

Zavek was exhausted, but in the good, satiating way that was only
experienced after sex. And shells, had they had _plenty_ of it in the
last twelve hours.

"I must have breakfast. Or I will perish," the beastcrafter said in
Brennault's ear. "I'll bring us both something back from." He slipped
out of the bed, shrugged into a robe, and padded barefoot from the
bedroom.

Brennault rolled onto his back for a moment or two before he decided
he had better wash up a bit before Zavek came back. Brennault was
certain he had smelled better. He rolled off of the bed and got to
work at the wash basin.

Returning to the bedroom with a tray of fruit and some pastries the
cook had baked the day before, Zavek set it down on the end of the
bed. "I feel like we have a lot of catching up to do," Zavek said,
sitting down and popping a grape into his mouth. "What's been
happening at the Weyr? Been on any interesting quest runs again?"

Brennault finished drying himself, rejoined Zavek on the end of the
bed, and took a much smaller bite of pastry than he might otherwise
have done if he were alone.

"Nothing as interesting as the sword," said Brennault. "But the only
thing as interesting as sword lessons I have to work toward only costs
me a trip out to Lavender Run." He grinned.

"The Weyr has been relatively quiet-- at least, compared to the news
I've been hearing from out west. Another woman Impressed a blue. And a
deaf kid made it onto the Sands and Impressed before they managed to
notice. Had you heard about those?"

Zavek raised an eyebrow. "I heard about the female blueriders. A deaf
kid, huh? They wouldn't have allowed him to Stand if they'd known?"

"Nope," said Brennault. "They're not into that. But it seems like the
dragon didn't mind."

The rancher smeared some fruity dip on one of the pastries. "You know,
I've never really asked before.... I mean, I've assumed. You sleep
with other people when we're apart, right?"

"Yes." Brennault got a bit of fruity dip for himself. "Does that bother you?"

"No," Zavek said honestly, tone tender. "I can't give you anything
more than... this," he swept his hand around his bedroom. "I wouldn't
dream of asking you not to live life outside these four walls."

"I would do a lot to protect what I have within these four walls,"
said Brennault. "And who I have." He kissed Zavek's shoulder.

Zavek gave Brennault one of his rare smiles. He hoped someday he could
give Brennault more, but he didn't know when or how. "So would I," he
agreed.

"I'm not going to let them take this away from you. Any of it."
Brennault was not sure it would necessarily need to come down to
disappearing anyone. A midnight visit might work just as well. Or a
dead animal carcass in their bed with them when they wake in the
morning. Something that sends a message.

But he would leave all the whats and hows to his father.

"We'll have to figure out who sent it first," Zavek said. "They
mentioned they would be in touch again, but I haven't heard from them
since. You also haven't been here since the letter, so your visit
might spur them to reach out again."

"I hope they don't just... go do whatever they mean to do to hurt you
without speaking to you about it first," said Brennault. "I think I've
been 'partaking in refreshments' long enough for anyone who saw us
before to know what we've been up to now."

A mirthless chuckle. "Yes, I'd say you're right about that. I'm sure
the hands who work here suspect, but they're loyal. I think they turn
a blind eye. They've never actually _seen_ anything. They can only
suspect."

"Then you think it's someone else? From nearby? Crackdust, if I'd
thought anyone could see us... Marvel was even watching. Or... I
thought he was." Brennault suddenly wondered whether Marvel was
staying away because he felt like Brennault blamed him for not keeping
watch well enough, but he was not sure whether he was really clever
enough to understand such a concept.

"There's a real chance it's someone working on behalf of my father."
He hated saying it out loud, but it had been on his mind. "I haven't
married, as he wished. I don't date. I don't attend any of his social
functions." Technically the tract of land that housed Lavender Run was
Zavek's father's. Everything he had worked so hard for over the Turns
could be gone the moment Zaverak decided he no longer wished to allow
Zavek to have it. "I'm the eldest. The heir."

"Then... your father would already know," said Brennault. "Making his
stooge disappear wouldn't fix that. We'd have to do something more
like... make him so afraid that he _will_ disappear that he tells your
father he was lying. I doubt there's any way he could have mistaken
what I was doing to you." He could not help but grin a little. He put
on a silly voice and said, "It's not what it looks like! I can
explain!"

Zavek wanted to smile, but his realization had him feeling cold
inside. Maybe marrying a woman was the solution to this situation. A
less bloody, but maybe more inconvenient solution. "I guess we won't
know until we figure out who they are."

"We're going to figure this out and make it work." Brennault scooted
carefully around the food and leaned into Zavek.

Zavek put a hand on Brennault's. "I hope so. I could always see if the
Weyr needs another beastcrafter but..." Lavender Run was his home. The
culmination of everything he had worked for in his life.

"I can always help you find somewhere to go," said Brennault. "But you
shouldn't have to leave everything behind. This is your place. I'm not
going to let anyone take it from you if I can help it."

The thought crossed his mind that if Zavek's father just so happened
to pass away, it would solve most if not all of Zavek's problems. He
would not jump to that solution first. It would probably be a
phenomenally difficult undertaking. But it was on the table.

Last updated on the February 21st 2025

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What Must Be Done