Problems and Solutions

Writers: Heather, Iluva
Date Posted: 31st May 2025

Characters: Veslera, Rixana
Description: Veslera sees problems and solutions. Which is Rixana?
Location: Leeward Lagoon Hold
Date: month 6, day 1 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Toman, Tomendre

Veslera

“There, there,” Veslera crooned to Vareman, giving him the knotted
cord that he was fond of chewing on. Already one tooth had broken
through his fleshy gums and now it seemed he was working on another.

Turning away from her lastborn, the lady of Leeward Lagoon surveyed
the people gathered in the Dining Hall with a cool glance. Her glacial
eyes were making their return sweep when they snagged on a solitary
figure. Rixana.

The girl’s clothing was impeccably clean, but so worn that the elbows
of the dress were slick from use. Within a fortnight, Veslera was sure
that a patch or two would be needed for the elbows of that dress to
remain pieced together.

It was a shame, really, that Rixana’s family had so poorly managed
their own minor hold. Veslera tried to imagine what it would be like
to plummet into poverty and shuddered with disgust. Her husband would
never be so careless.

She smoothed a strand of her glossy golden hair back and tucked it
into place among her otherwise perfectly braided coronet. A jeweled
charm bracelet tinkled along her slender wrist, matching the golden
ring on her left hand. Pearl earrings hung from her ears,
complementing the solitary pearl necklace that rested just above her
neckline.

The emerald green dress she wore was of a fine fabric that had been
brought in on one of their trade ships. Leeward Lagoon might not have
the wealth and population of Emerald Falls, but they weren’t suffering
from want either.

“Tesli? Please tell Rixana to join me. I wish to speak with her,” she
instructed the drudge who served her table.

Rixana wasn't about to keep the drudge or the Lady of the hold waiting.

Despite smoothing down the front of her dress in long, thorough
strokes and squaring her shoulders, refusing to let her step or
posture falter, her surprise still rattled clumsily inside her, a
strange impending sense of unease with nowhere to go.

Lady Veslera had never asked for her - only her - before, and the
flutter in her stomach intensified now that her eyes confirmed what
she already suspected. The lady was even more stunning and elegant up
close, and she regretted not searching out a mirror and tidying up the
evidence of her morning when she had the chance. Standing before her,
Rixana was almost too enamored with the polish, the gleam of a woman
who looked more at home than any other in the hall, any she’d ever
seen.

A number of curious faces turned, staring, but if there was one thing
she could do it was school her expression, hold herself still. “Good
afternoon, milady.” She curtseyed smoothly.

Veslera’s eyes swept over Rixana in an assessing manner. **She is a
lovely little thing,** the lady thought to herself. **It’s a pity
Vasran likes boys.** Her second eldest son would be near Rixana in
age, but a marriage simply wouldn’t be possible.

“Have a seat dear,” Veslera said magnanimously. “Tell me how you and
your family have been doing. I’m afraid I’ve been distracted lately
with,” and here she gestured to Vareman.

“As well as can be expected, milady. It's kind of you to ask about
us.” Rixana gave a respectful dip of her head, only briefly hesitating
before sinking into the seat across from her.

“Well, Xanadir's still here with the guard, of course.” The Lady
likely knew that. He wouldn't let anyone fill that spot now that he'd
finally gotten it. “And Xirix has finally found a match… One of Lord
Mertton's daughters.” Red-haired, pretty enough. Rixana didn't say
that she thought Ixarean would have made a better match for her, or
that Xirix ought to be the one slugging his life out of a dirty ship,
blistering his hands and skin in the sun, ageing and throwing away his
youth in exchange for marks and a roof and pretending to call it life.

Even Xair, wherever he was, would have been a better match for that girl…

“Andirix,” she assumed, “is fine.” She had to assume he was,
sometimes. They'd know more in a few months if his letter didn't
arrive, but just the thought of the ocean and its sinister density
made her ill.

Watching another drudge pass by with a tray and with her face
impassive, voice crystal clear, Rixana thought of her sisters. “Most
of us girls are still here.” She wondered if Lady Veslera was just
being polite or wanted something from her, and chose not to mention
her parents. Instead, her attention on Vareman, she did smile a
little. “And he does look very persuasive, if that's alright to say,
milady.”

Veslera’s lips curved into a smile at the mention of Vareman. “Yes,
that is perfectly acceptable to say." The woman’s calculating eyes
turned back to Rixana, and the smile faded a bit. “With your
permission, dear, I’d like to speak with Lord Toman regarding your…
situation. A young lady of fine breeding such as yourself would make a
suitable match for any young man to marry. Perhaps even Toman’s eldest
son, Tomendre.”

Rixana felt the mask of impassivity and politeness fall away for a
brief moment into one of shock. Tomendre - his boyishly tousled auburn
hair, his kind eyes - was a frequent topic of conversation among the
other women since his return. He was handsome, he was Lord Toman's
eldest son. She felt the knot of nerves in her stomach constrict, the
tension as much fear as it was - for the first time in what felt like
forever - hope. She didn't know what to say. But she needed to say
_something_.

“I… I would be honored to even be considered a match, milady.” Rixana
said at last, trying to withhold her disbelief. “Of course you may
speak with the Lord.”

**Tomendre with the daughter of a disgraced holder… ** Veslera could
barely contain her glee, and framed her smile to be one of
graciousness.

Last updated on the June 10th 2025

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