"I Quit"

Writers: AL, Heather
Date Posted: 1st August 2014

Characters: Barenziah, Zathris
Description: Barenziah resigns from her position, or tries.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 8, day 15 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned; Benani

Barenziah

Zathris

Barenziah braced her hands on either side of the small mirror that was
nailed onto the back of her door. She studied the light row of
freckles spattered across the bridge of her nose and over her cheeks,
the natural curve of her lips, the hard blue of her eyes.

"You can do this Barenziah. Just go in there and get it over with---
Like a bandage. Rip it off quickly and start healing." She pepped
talked herself, clenching her teeth together to give her voice a tough
sounding edge.

Exhaling a short blast of air, Barenziah opened her door and stepped
boldly out into the hallway. Walking past the door to Benani's
quarters, she headed instead for the Lord Holder's office. She knew
his schedule pretty well by this point and so she knocked and then
opened the door.

She froze for a moment when her eyes met his, but continued forward
into his office and shut the door, "Do you have a moment?"

Zathris gaze lifted from his work and immediately a smile attempted to
appear as it always did when she came around. He forced it back,
however. Things had gone too far and he had to place some distance
between them. So the smile was tamed as as the desire to stand, sweep
her into his arms and envelope her in another passionate kiss.
Despite that, he would not outright ignore her and if she had a
problem, he wanted to make sure to fix whatever it was that was wrong.
Without hesitation, he placed his quill in its holder, then indicated
one of the two chairs that sat opposite his desk. "Of course, please,
sit down."

"No thank you," Barenziah was glad that her voice sounded firm and
strong...she hoped it stayed that way. "I will be brief and not take
up much of your time. I would like to resign from my position as one
of Benani's ladies. I will go to the kitchens, the laundry, the
fields, wherever you see fit to place me."

That had been unexpected. Zathris' hands drew together and his
fingers laced as he studied the woman across from her. "I see. And I
should grant this request because you simply desire it?"

Her chin raised, "Yes. Are you not already keeping me at arms length
and pretending I do not exist? I do not wish to be a part of his
awkward charade any longer." Barenziah's eyes turned to his, "Would it
not be easier on us both if I were removed?"

Panic flickered in his chest though Zathris did his best to stamp it
down. As it was, his frown deepened and he stared at the woman across
from him. "Maybe. But I'm sorry, you will not be relieved of duty.
We're adults. We're going to handle this like adults."

Barenziah's teeth ground together. Why was he doing this to her? Was
this some form of punishment? He wouldn't treat her like a friend as
he did before and so now she was to endure his cold shoulder? For how
long? Until Benani was better and Barenziah was no longer needed?
**Faranth, I could be old and gray before then.** The glint in the
Lord Holder's eye said that he would not change his mind.

"As you wish." She ground out.

Zathris nodded and wished she wouldn't look at him like that. He
wished the kiss hadn't happened. He wished they could go back to the
way things were before. "Good. Anything else I can help you with?"

"No sir." Barenziah's voice lacked any warmth and was the polished,
polite tone a lady was expected to use when in the company of a male.
With a smooth dip and curtsy, she turned and excused herself from his
office. As soon as she closed his door behind her the facade dropped
and her mouth tipped down, her brow furrowed as she muttered curses
underneath her breath that would make a sailor blush.

Last updated on the August 12th 2014

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"I Quit"