The Escort

Writers: Chelle, Heather
Date Posted: 10th July 2012

Characters: Sarban, Jeyme
Description: The steward serves as escort to a wedding.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 9, day 8 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Corowal

Jeyme

Jeyme wore her hair pulled back away from her face, pinned with golden
combs that held the sable locks at bay. The rest of the cascade of
silky brown hair flowed down her back in a shimmery wave. The golden
dress that she wore was of the corset variety, the bodice giving her
some extra curve, while the skirt fell in a simple wave of amber silk.
It was perfect for a wedding, simple, elegant, and nothing that would
upstage the bride. One of the ladies at the Hold was getting married
that evening and as etiquette dictated, she would have to attend...
not that Jeyme minded, too much, she enjoyed an occasion to be out and
social.

Earlier that sevenday Jeyme had sought out Sarban, knowing that the
man would probably not be looking forward to attending the wedding
alone, after his recent break up, she had asked him to be her escort
to the event. At least they could keep each other company.

In his quarters, the steward was attired in his usual gather finery. It was
a black suit that was well tailored with a lining that was a dark green for
the Hold. His knots were well displayed on his shoulder and he slipped on
some leather shoes. Fiddling with his tie, he managed and then adjusted
his hair, slightly unruly as it was. Satisfied with the result, he headed to go
and pick up Jeyme, glad for the distraction. He was indeed grateful not to be
alone. Arriving at her quarters, he knocked twice then stepped back.

Jeyme gave her appearance one last survey in the mirror when she heard
the knock at the door and then turned and opened the portal, "Sarban,"
there was a pleased warmth in her voice at the appearance of the
steward, "it's good to see you. Thanks again for agreeing to come with
me. No one wants to show up at a wedding alone." She smiled as she
closed the door behind her.

"No, not really. It makes people gossip about you when you're not listening."
Looking her over, he definitely approved. Jeyme would make someone a good
companion someday, and certainly not a bad-looking one. "You look very nice.
Shall we?"

"Thank you." She beamed at the compliment as she slid her hand into
the crook of Sarban's arm, "Let's." She agreed. Jeyme wondered what
people would think about the two of them showing up together at this
event, but in the end, decided that it didn't really matter and that
no one would notice anyway. The woman was a master at keeping a low
profile, she doubted if most people in the Hold even knew her name.

Arriving, Sarban led her to a table easily. Nodding his hellos to folk he
knew well, he bent down. "Do you want something to drink? Or eat?"
He couldn't have her wandering around alone fixing things, after all.
That was the purpose of an escort.

"A little bit of wine would be lovely." Jeyme said with a smile of
thanks to the Steward as she settled herself at the table, her hands
fixing her skirts around her legs as she looked around the room,
hoping to catch sight of the bride.

It didn't take him long to procure a flagon of wine as well as a plate of
sandwiches and a few other finger foods. Bringing it back, he set it down
easily and slid into the seat. Pouring a glass for her, then himself, he drank
and sat back. "Been to so many of these."

"I empathize," Jeyme said as she took a sip of the wine, and picked up
one of the small triangular shaped sandwiches. "I've been to countless
weddings. If you're a single lady looking for a husband society bids
you to come so that you may find one." She rolled her eyes a bit to
that before taking a dainty bite out of the sandwich.

"Oh aye, plenty of eligible fellows. Any you know?" He looked out into the
crowd, ready to provide her with financial information he might have that
she didn't.

Jeyme looked out at the men in the room and wrinkled her nose, "Yes,
unfortunately." She chuckled a bit, "The eligible men that I _do_ know
that are here tonight are not exactly ... what I'm looking for..." she
held up a finger to her lips, "but don't let my father know that I'm
being so picky." Her father, of course, cared not if a man was boring
or if he was portly, or had blackened teeth.

"Oh, and what is it that you're looking for that they don't have?" It was
sometimes interesting to hear womens' opinions about suitable men.

"Having a good set of teeth, for one, and preferably without a stomach
that is lopped over their belt." Jeyme didn't want to sound too picky,
but she would rather live alone forever than have to kiss some man
with rotten teeth.

Chuckling for a few moments, Sarban couldn't help himself. **Poor child**
"Well I for one don't have either of those so I know there are men out there
that don't. Usually farmers have good teeth. Maybe you should find a
journeyman?"

"Maybe." Jeyme agreed as she sipped at her wine, her eyes still roving
the crowd. It was true that Sarban had neither bad teeth, nor a bad
physique, Jeyme had quite certainly taken notice of that. Sarban, a
little over a decade older than Jeyme, was one of the best looking
"eligible" men at the Hold, but Jeyme didn't think it quite
appropriate to tell her chaperone such things.

"So what talents do you possess besides baking?" He remembered the
bread she had brought him. It had been a nice loaf with just a hint of
spice.

"All of the traditional talents of a lady, I'm afraid," she said this
with a ghost of a smile, "dancing, painting, sewing, those sorts of
things. Although my favorite thing to do in my leisure time is
commandeer one of the runners out of the stables and go for a ride."
Jeyme loved to ride, especially because of the independence it brought
her.

"Sewing is useful. Riding...I'm decent, but not all that great I'm afraid.
Too many turns on the water." He lifted up his hands in supplication to
cement the excuse. Sarban would much rather be behind a wheel then
reigns.

"You sail?" Jeyme asked with genuine curiosity.

"Before Corowal asked me to come here to help him, I was a seacrafter.
Hard to put aside habits learned during that many turns sometimes." Indeed,
the adjustment had been very hard at first, but there had been the matter of his
mother to tend to.

"I would imagine so. Do you ever go sailing any more?"

"Not really. I go on the riverboats every now and again. Most of the time if I
have to travel on Hold business, I can go by runner or hitch a ride with the
watchdragon. Corowal does more travelling than I do, though. Of course when
he's gone, I have to be here to make decisions." Someone was always on watch
and in effect, if Corowal was gone-it was also Sarban's responsibility
to see that
his family was protected.

"Maybe that's something you could do for a vacation some time, then."
Jeyme suggested. She couldn't imagine what it must be like for a
seacrafter to suddenly be stuck on land for the rest of his life. If
Sarban had a true passion for the sea then he had to get tired of been
landlocked all the time.

Little did she know how true that was, which was why the steward was often
seen wading into the river, fishing, when he had the time. "Hmm a vacation..what
an idea.." He had been thinking about getting away with his new wife, back when
that had been a possibility. Now Sarban was working hard not to think about it.

Last updated on the August 3rd 2012

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The Escort