Brand New DayRhys heard the cock crow and sat up with a start--he'd fallen asleep at the worktable again. He blinked blearily, rubbed bloodshot eyes, and stood. He felt an achy pain in his neck and he reached back to massage it while he walked over to Ser Godfrey. Godfrey was asleep, as were a majority of the people still here. Several had already been discharged to recover in their own rooms, looked after by their own families, and Rhys expected to discharge more today. This was good, for he found the responsibility of overseeing the recuperation of so many to be taking a toll on him, especially since his great-uncle was not there to help. Godfrey slept easily having had only a little poppy, his skin warm and dry and pink--if it'd been pale and clammy, then Rhys would've worried. As it was, he nodded in satisfaction and moved onto Sewell. He wasn't doing as well as Godfrey. He was still feverish and Rhys had taken to draping cold, wet towels across his thin torso during the night in an attempt to cool him down. He slept peacefully enough for right now, but that wasn't that uncommon for this time of day. His fever would go back up come late morning. If only Sewell could tolerate willow, but it terribly upset his stomach. Maybe yellowroot...they might still have some powered from last year... Rhys yawned suddenly and rubbed his eyes again. He'd try Sewell on yellowroot today, but what he most wanted for himself right then was tea. And lots of it. Figuring he could leave for a little while to get breakfast, Rhys left orders for a servant to watch the room and come find him if anything became amiss and left the Tower in search of something hot to put in his belly. The rhythm of life in the castle was resuming, it seemed, for the hall was busy with people who, having been going about their work for some little time, were now breaking their fast. Ser Anders was on the high table along with the Septon, the former talking around a place of thick beef and a mug of ale, the latter eating bread with honey - but drinking ale. Both looked tired, but not to the point of exhaustion. "How are your patients?" Ser Anders asked. "I've been on the Night Watch - but I didn't look in for fear of disturbing them. Celia ... will you look in on her this morning? She is awake and knows me but ... " He sighed. "In her mind, she's back in the days of Ser Martin's courtship. She talks of naught but the fine blue gown she'll wear that will break his heart." He shook his head. "I tell you, Maester, it near broke mine to hear her." Rhys nodded, thougthful. "Certainly. I've read about this happening before, this kind of forgetting after a blow to the head, but have never seen it. It's rare, but there's every good chance she'll regain her memories in the end. "The time around when she received the blow will likely be gone, though--a few hours before, a day or so before, I can't predict." The young maester's attention dropped to Ser Ander's food as he talked, and his expression turned wistful. Ser Anders glanced at him - then signalled a servant. Within a few moments, a similar platter and mug had been set before Rhys. Rhys fell to the food voraciously, surprised he was that hungry. Kenrith had gone to bed early the previous evening, so he was able to wake early for his now-customary jog before freshening up and coming to break his fast. His left arm was no longer lashed to his chest, but he was wearing a cloth draped over his shoulders and left arm to avoid discomforting the others apetites. It was bread, honey, and ale for him as well. He motioned for Rhys and Anders to not let him interrupt their conversation, and began eating. "I'd be grateful if you could visit her nevertheless," said Ser Anders. "When will Edlyn's duties be finished? Perhaps she can sit with her mother for a while." "I'll visit her, Ser Anders," Rhys assured him between mouthfuls, praying he was correct that Celia would regain her memories. He disliked the idea of giving Anders false hope. "Edlyn has been invaluable as an assistant to me in the Tower," he continued brightly. He didn't add that he missed seeing Syndra's face there too, but he paused another brief moment to send up a silent prayer to the Mother for her safety. "More patients will leave today, so I can spare her this afternoon after the midday meal. Her ankle is doing much better and she no longer needs the crutch." After a pause long enough for Kenrith to know they had concluded what they spoke of, Kenrith said "I know you're soon to bed, Ser, and that you have many other duties Maester, but I was hoping you could show him what you saw through the fareyes. We'll need to do something about that when we have the men, which I'll grant we don't right now." Ser Anders turned and looked at Rhys in some surprise. "What's this?" he said. "I told you about this at breakfast yesterday," Rhys reminded him. "You need to get more sleep," he told Anders sternly. Rhys turned his gaze to include Kenrith. "Will after we eat suit?" Kenrith had already refilled his mouth with bread, but he grunted affirmatively and nodded. "No sign of the Steward, I assume?" he asked more quietly. "Steward?" Rhys asked curiously, not in the know. Kenrith nodded and swallowed again. "He escaped in the chaos... which suggests I was right to wonder what he was up to." Ser Anders frowned. "Celia had suspicions of him; I thought it was your Lord father's age that was making him forgetful in such matters. But Celia told me he was loath to believe ill of a man who had served him many years. What have you learned?" "That he was beholden to someone other than Lady or Lord, and that if we are to pay the guards... matters could get quite embarrassing." Rhys's eyebrows went up. He continued eating. "I'm hoping to work out a trade with Corryn or a merchant... possibly sell Manderly some ship masts, or find a knight with one arm to buy some ill-fitting plate... but if that doesn't pan out, or if the guards require more ready compensation... do you suppose they'd take their pay in firewood?" Kenrith asked quietly Rhys swallowed his food. "We could sell one of the fareyes--we have two and I can make another. And if you're looking for a merchant, I have a cousin who trades in these parts--he came through not long ago to visit so he's likely still in the area." "There are other things that can be sold," said Ser Anders. "The right to hunt game in the forest in winter, the right to grind corn, the right to brew and sell ale. And these can be granted for a number of years or even in perpetuity. But such neison should be held as a last resort, I'm thinking." Kenrith nodded with a knowing look. These were things he had considered. He looked with some curiousity at Kenrith. "Are you sure it was to someone that he was beholden - and not merely to his own greed for gold?" "Certain? No... but from what he said, from how he said it... I think even sotten he would have seen the sense in coming clean then, unless someone had already promised him an escape... in which case he still turned his cloak, as it were," Kenrith said as he shook his head, continuing to keep his voice down. "He might fear vengeance at the hands of a new Lord Hardy," said Ser Anders, wiping the meat juices from his plate with a hunk of bread. "He had the example of Ser Herys, after all." He lifted his head and looked directly at Kenrith - a non-judgemental gaze, perhaps even slightly approving. Rhys glanced at the two men, then carefully looked down at his own plate. He had nothing to add. "I'm not sure the timing plays out on that, but it is possible. If I'd let Herys walk out of here, he might wag his tounge until his brother had an excuse to take Hardy land. Dead, he may still make trouble, but at least we won't have a... very irritated and short tempered... Herys prompting him," Kenrith explained into his ale before looking up to gauge their response. His lordface was back on, though it felt heavy this morning. "As for what that says on my justice in general... I'd rather have the facts and the opportunity to be merciful, but I'll swing the headsman's blade when I must," he said before refilling his mouth with bread. Ser Anders nodded. "And if all the suspicions about the Steward are true, he might be the next to feel the blade on the back of his neck," he said soberly. "If we can find him, that is." He pushed away his empty plate. "I'll sleep a few hours," he said, "if you've no further concerns that you need me for. But now things are more settled, it's my plan to be up after noon and hand the night watch over to Krill - as is more usual. I'd rather be awake during the day - there's work to be done." He glanced at Kenrith - it seemed he was looking more for acknowledgment than approval. Kenrith nodded, more in acknowledgement than approval. Over the course of the day, Kenrith did the following: He once again held court, and maintained a lordly demeanor. Normalcy, he knew, was half perception and half fact. He toured Holdfast, and made notes of changes which needed to be made to improve security (including installing locks or guards at the base of the Maester's tower, etc.) Several times he was referred to Anders for details; finally Anders suggested they undertake a tour together. He spent time with family, including some time with the injured. Edlyn was always too busy tending the sick to spend time with him; she seemed pale and crushed by all that had happened. His younger brother and sister seemed scared - it would take time to build up any sort of relationship with them. Kenrith and Anders both addressed the guard garrison (twice, so that everyone heard it but nobody left their posts.) He explained the financial situation now that the steward had run off, and made it clear Hardy would not forget its obligations, and that there were several options that would take a bit more time... but Hardy is synonymous with scrupulous honesty, and he was to be no exception. They received the news in disgruntled silence - Anders seemed surprised he had told the men so much - and somewhat dismayed. Kenrith shared the details of the letter he'd sent with Rhys, then later the details related to the garrison etc with Anders. Kenrith asked around to see if Garyn, Evan Tamm's would-be squire was still about. He was told the lad had been hanging around apprehensively and helping out with the injured. In the meantime, Rhys showed Anders the rope bridges in the fareyes (and Kenrith as well, if he liked). After that he checked on Lady Celia and Lord Hardy and then made rounds in the Tower again. Lady Celia still didn't recognise people; she thought they were all visiting her father's halls. Lord Hardy was doing badly. He had made no progress - and he seemed to be having difficulty swallowing. Rhys made sure someone was always in the Tower to keep an eye on things so certain lads didn't feel the urge to smother their elders. The recovering Bolton was another of the people who seemed crushed by what had happened. Rhys tried yellowroot to bring down Sewell's fever and kept a close eye on him and Godfrey. Godfrey was doing really well - although that smashed thigh would take a long time to heal. But there was no fever, and he kept all his wits about him. Rhys made a point to send more people out of the Tower and back to the care of their families to lessen his load and slept when he could. |
