Rather when music on bright gatherings lays
Its tender spell, and joy is uppermost,
Be mindful of the men they were, and raise
Your glass to them in one silent toast.
-Champagne, Alan Seeger
Gaerwyn peaked in through the door of the barracks room, the glow of the lamp held low, to see who all were inside. Just Ewan lay unchanged, so he swung the door wide, leaving it open. There was no sense in trying to keep the situation secret as few were on the grounds and all of them already knew.
The lamp set aside on the bedside table as Gaerwyn looked down at his cousin. Just at the moment, Ewan?s eyes flashed up and some desperation rose up in Gaerwyn. His hands clasped on either side of his cousin?s face, ?What?s going on in there? Why can?t you bring yourself back?? But the green eyes closed again and Gaerwyn sat back in the chair with a sigh. He wanted to yell. Instead he breathed in slowly and sighed again, fingers combing through his sun-stripped hair.
?Alright then, old fellow, let?s get some work out of you.? The book in hand, he set it on the near arm and the exercises began again while Gaerwyn talked.
?Well, redbird,? he stopped and chuckled, ?I haven?t called you that in awhile. Probably afraid that you?d give me a proper calling out if I did. I might take advantage of your weak state and tease you as I did when we were lads. I?d suggest getting well before I take to that plan.? The talking was for him. Ewan might as well have been a broken doll on the bed before him, but he continued. ?News came in by fast horse today. Maybe news you don?t want to hear, or maybe this is the best time of it while you?re in this state. I?ll risk it. Baron Kieran Logansson crossed to the meadowlands night before last. I know that you?d be beating yourself up for it now, but it wasn?t you that did it. That?s something you got to remember.?
He set aside the book and took up his cousin?s hand, ?Come on now, redbird, and push against it.? There was nothing but the strong grip, the still strong grip, of Ewan?s hand around his own. ?Come on now, I?m not for holding hands with a fellow. You save that for your Storm lass.?
Gaerwyn released the hand and looked across to the wall, ?I suppose she told you we had a bit of a row last night. I cannot abide her, and I keep wondering why it is. You know it?s not like me. I?ve traveled far and wide and see all manner of folk. Why is it she bothers me? Maybe it?s all those tales from when we were young of spirit folk able to come and freeze your blood and steal your souls. Maybe I just can?t let go of the idea that?s she?s controlling you somehow.? A moment or two as he thought on that, ?Well, whatever it is, Lenika came by in time to keep me from being too much the bull headed fool I can be.?
He shook his head and started working Ewan?s legs, bending them at the knees and then straightening again. ?You?ll lose your sealegs if you stay in this bed much longer. I?ll make you climb the mainmast twenty times a day if you keep going like this.? He tried to sound lighthearted. ?Let me see, what have I learned while walking around. Oh, I met an unusual soul in the inn, the other day. I say unusual in that she does not act like most of the others. She?s a quiet sort. Reminds me of those young lasses in Feria; the bound servants. You won?t believe who she?s bound herself to here.? Gaerwyn chuckled once again, ?Then again, you probably would believe it. Nothing seems to faze you about this place anymore. I?m not sure I want to become like that.?
Gaerwyn stopped the working of his cousin?s legs. ?Well now, you?ve been fitted out for today, so I will be taking my leave and see you come evening. I?ll have more word of this land for you. Might take myself down to the docks again and see if I can get a game or two in and make some coin while I?m here.? With that, Gaerwyn stood and left the room without a look back.
Its tender spell, and joy is uppermost,
Be mindful of the men they were, and raise
Your glass to them in one silent toast.
-Champagne, Alan Seeger
Gaerwyn peaked in through the door of the barracks room, the glow of the lamp held low, to see who all were inside. Just Ewan lay unchanged, so he swung the door wide, leaving it open. There was no sense in trying to keep the situation secret as few were on the grounds and all of them already knew.
The lamp set aside on the bedside table as Gaerwyn looked down at his cousin. Just at the moment, Ewan?s eyes flashed up and some desperation rose up in Gaerwyn. His hands clasped on either side of his cousin?s face, ?What?s going on in there? Why can?t you bring yourself back?? But the green eyes closed again and Gaerwyn sat back in the chair with a sigh. He wanted to yell. Instead he breathed in slowly and sighed again, fingers combing through his sun-stripped hair.
?Alright then, old fellow, let?s get some work out of you.? The book in hand, he set it on the near arm and the exercises began again while Gaerwyn talked.
?Well, redbird,? he stopped and chuckled, ?I haven?t called you that in awhile. Probably afraid that you?d give me a proper calling out if I did. I might take advantage of your weak state and tease you as I did when we were lads. I?d suggest getting well before I take to that plan.? The talking was for him. Ewan might as well have been a broken doll on the bed before him, but he continued. ?News came in by fast horse today. Maybe news you don?t want to hear, or maybe this is the best time of it while you?re in this state. I?ll risk it. Baron Kieran Logansson crossed to the meadowlands night before last. I know that you?d be beating yourself up for it now, but it wasn?t you that did it. That?s something you got to remember.?
He set aside the book and took up his cousin?s hand, ?Come on now, redbird, and push against it.? There was nothing but the strong grip, the still strong grip, of Ewan?s hand around his own. ?Come on now, I?m not for holding hands with a fellow. You save that for your Storm lass.?
Gaerwyn released the hand and looked across to the wall, ?I suppose she told you we had a bit of a row last night. I cannot abide her, and I keep wondering why it is. You know it?s not like me. I?ve traveled far and wide and see all manner of folk. Why is it she bothers me? Maybe it?s all those tales from when we were young of spirit folk able to come and freeze your blood and steal your souls. Maybe I just can?t let go of the idea that?s she?s controlling you somehow.? A moment or two as he thought on that, ?Well, whatever it is, Lenika came by in time to keep me from being too much the bull headed fool I can be.?
He shook his head and started working Ewan?s legs, bending them at the knees and then straightening again. ?You?ll lose your sealegs if you stay in this bed much longer. I?ll make you climb the mainmast twenty times a day if you keep going like this.? He tried to sound lighthearted. ?Let me see, what have I learned while walking around. Oh, I met an unusual soul in the inn, the other day. I say unusual in that she does not act like most of the others. She?s a quiet sort. Reminds me of those young lasses in Feria; the bound servants. You won?t believe who she?s bound herself to here.? Gaerwyn chuckled once again, ?Then again, you probably would believe it. Nothing seems to faze you about this place anymore. I?m not sure I want to become like that.?
Gaerwyn stopped the working of his cousin?s legs. ?Well now, you?ve been fitted out for today, so I will be taking my leave and see you come evening. I?ll have more word of this land for you. Might take myself down to the docks again and see if I can get a game or two in and make some coin while I?m here.? With that, Gaerwyn stood and left the room without a look back.