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Vale of the White Horse
Topic Started: 5 Jan 2010, 13:03 (19,275 Views)
Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'There is still no improvement in your husband's condition, I am afraid,' Rufus said sympathetically.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘No, there isn’t. Yet.’ She glanced down to her chair. Would she sit again, or remain standing?
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'I can imagine it is hard for you, especially now that your mother has passed away. I'll do whatever I can to take as much tasks off of your shoulders as possible, my lady.'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
She lifted her eyes to his face, smiling. ‘Let’s discuss the issues of food a little further. I’m not all pleased about what I’ve heard from my husband.’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'Ah no, it's not the prettiest of situations, indeed.' Rufus wondered how much Tudwrig had told her. He had an incling the man wouldn't withhold anything from his wife. And even if he did, she was liable to find out anyway - but that only made things more interesting, so to say.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘I’m glad that you say that. I was rather under the impression that you had been less than courteous.’ She crossed her arms, deciding to remain on her feet.
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'I have only ever done what I believe to be the best, given the circumstances. If that came across as uncivil - well, it was not my intention.'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
Ah, so he had tried to do the best. Well, she didn’t doubt it. ‘I’m wondering for whom it would be the best. For Romans? For yourself, my lord? Telling us that you will allow half of the settlement’s population to starve if they have no new supply of food - this is your way of civility, my lord tribune?’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
Rufus kept his face in check. So losing her mother had done nothing for her attitude when she got worked up. 'Perhaps you should ask your husband to tell you the full tale next time, my lady. It really does not become you to draw conclusions based on just one side of the story,' he said calmly.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘I see.’ She unclenched her arms again and drew up another smile. She knew her face shaped in a pretty way when she did so. Braegne had told her so. ‘Of course, that might be my mistake. I’ll apologize if it is. Why don’t you correct me?’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'Your husband insisted that the problem of Roman mouths to feed was my own. He even went as far as to accuse me of not taking my responsibilities. You will understand that I really didn't have much of an appetite for taking care of the people he bragged he could support.' Rufus had his lips pursed and looked shrewdly at Briallen.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
Bragged? She could hardly imagine Tudwrig doing such a thing. ‘In a way, perhaps. Would you expect to treat your people the same, were the situations different, my lord?’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'I really rather wouldn't see anyone being the dupe of this situation, my lady,' he answered with a straight face. 'But I do believe that given the circumstances, this is the best solution possible. I've been giving constantly, and hardly if ever did I receive - or expect to receive, for that matter - anything in return. If the only way for us to work together is this dichotomy in the feeding of our people, then so be it.' Back in Rome, expensive words always served his goal well, and though he doubted Briallen would be impressed, it had become somewhat of a habit.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
Anger flared up; she felt it like a flame in her belly. ‘Well. Shall we take a walk down to the settlement to explore the current circumstances? I have not been there due to my sudden absence.’ Briallen struggled to keep her voice down. ‘And then in the meanwhile perhaps you can present me with a list of things we have not given you in return for all that you have given us. I'll be most interested to hear it.'
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'Again I suggest you talk to your husband about his behavior in your abscence,' Rufus said quietly, not showing his immense enjoyment. He knew he could hardly get so much as a toothpick between the couple, but it was an interesting game to play nonetheless. He got up from his seat. 'I did say I didn't expect anything in return. Some respect would have been nice, however.'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
If Tudwrig had been less than civil, she would cheer for his strength. As it was, she moistened her lips. ‘Believe me, I would not have such accusations as bragging or unfairness towards my husband go unanswered in either direction. Which I why you must realize the gravity of your words, my lord. Well? You have not given me an answer.’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'I'd gladly accompany you into the settlement, my lady.' Gravity of his words, his arse. Soon, she and Tudwrig would have nothing left of what little power they still had. And then, gods willing, he could prevent his own death by making sure Morcant would never enter this Vale again now that he had left together with Essylt.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘Braegne! My cloak, please.’ Briallen held her pointedly gaze away from his face as her maid hurried to fetch her warmest cloak, the one she had worn only half a day ago during her journey. While she drew it around her shoulders, she felt how weary all her limbs were. If she could, she would have postponed this moment for hours, even days. As it was, she shot the Roman a challenging look. At least she had already bathed and changed. Tudwrig had said she looked very pretty, despite the weariness.
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
Rufus wondered how far he could press her - she certainly looked irked right now. When her maid had brought her the cloak, he stepped towards the large doors leading outside. 'Please do not exhaust yourself, my lady,' he said before they went outside. 'You hardly had time to rest after your travels.'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘I’m fit enough,’ she replied and, to prove it, kept a steady pace crossing the courtyard and past the gate of the caer. The sky was hung with grey blankets. Perhaps it would snow soon. ‘So. You are dissatisfied with the way we have been treating you and your people. Please give me the full score.’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'Ah, I'm merely unhappy with the lack of respect your husband has shown me in your abscence. I really have very little to complain about otherwise; this Vale is a nice, quiet station, with very little trouble. Not counting the two murders, of course.' He flashed a smile in her direction.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘I’m sorry,’ she said, ‘I seem to misunderstand you. Didn’t you just now mention how you have been giving constantly and hardly – if ever – received anything in return?’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'Yes, and I also said that I didn't expect to receive anything in return. A little respect goes a long way, my lady, and up until recently you and your husband have been very kind. I don't know what has gotten into him after your departure, but I don't like it. Not at all.'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
The muscles in her jaws and arms tightened harder, but she kept walking, gaze on the settlement below. ‘Ah?’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'You see, I get a feeling that he may be slightly - what's the word... ah, irresponsible. It's his affliction, no doubt.' His implication was only thinly veiled. If Briallen and Tudwrig felt the ground under their feet grow hot, they might start to do rash things.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
Her heart suddenly skipped louder. Was he on to something? No, that couldn’t be. If he had discovered the beast that Tudwrig could be, he would not be walking here now. ‘That’s a complaint I’ve heard before. Indeed, he can not often manage to deal with every aspect that chieftaincy requires of a man. But irresponsible is another matter entirely. It would suggest that he does not care.’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'And yet, he isn't willing to leave the aspects of managing his lands that he cannot manage to more capable hands. With all due respect, my lady, but simply caring isn't enough to be a good chieftain.' They entered the settlement, and he nodded at the gate guard who had sprung to attention.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘The hands that, no doubt, belong to yourself?’ she answered, not bothering to hide a hint of derision. ‘But you need not worry yourself over these matters, my lord. If my husband should be irresponsible in such matters, it will fall upon my own shoulders. And I assure you, I have every intention of working as hard as I can for my people. And unlike Tudwrig, who lost his father, I am quite sufficiently trained.’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'My dear lady,' Rufus said flatly, 'I have never known my father, and yet I've come a long way - farther, I daresay, than your husband. It's no excuse as far as I'm concerned. I'll admit that you're managing perfectly well, however, matters were very different in your absence. That is all I'm saying.'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘Well, we cannot all be quite so accomplished as you, can we?’ She looked up, smiling a smile that, she felt, left her eyes in shadows. ‘Ah, but I will not be gone for the foreseeable future. So that problem is solved, I hope?’
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