Veridia: Interlude IV

[eulalia]

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Norweni: Andraste's tits, he's really done this place up, hasn't he?

Queen Senovara: Norweni, darling girl! Someone told me you were here and I just had to come see for myself.




Norweni: My queen.

Senovara: None of that, now! Come, let's sit in the bower and share a drink. I haven't seen you for ages. Water? Wine?




Norweni: It has been years since I've had a good cup of wine.

Senovara: I can't promise that it's good wine, darling.


* * *




Senovara: So you came with the tithe? Not that I'm unhappy to see you, but it's been years since you've done that. Why now?

Norweni: I don't like to leave the village or my children for too long. But these days the children are older and spend half their time with my former wife, and there are others, like my nephew, who can watch over Veridia if I leave for a week or two. So here I am.

Senovara: Mm, when your nephew brought the tithe before, he mentioned you had settled down. I could hardly believe it.




Norweni: I'm not settled anymore, I suppose. And don't interrogate poor Kinet, Vee, he's done nothing to deserve that.

Senovara: How else will I get my information? Anyway, Maccus will be sorry he missed you.

Norweni: Maccus should be here instead of fighting some bullshit war for Icena, then.




Senovara: You and I both know it's bullshit, but he's obligated to aid them after everything she did for him.

Norweni: Will he call an army?

Senovara: I'm not sure. He's there trying to solve it with diplomacy, actually, you would be very proud of him. But if he does, it won't be until spring. It's too late in the year, and not even Queen Icena is hardheaded enough to march in winter.




Norweni: Perhaps she should've spent less time teaching her granddaughter battle plans and more on how to make bread. Maybe then Coel's son wouldn't have run off with a baker instead.

Senovara: *laughs* That's terrible.




Norweni: I was surprised it was his son she engaged the girl to and not one of your children. I figured you'd've wanted to reinforce that tie.

Senovara: I wish. But it couldn't be Cynric, since he's our heir, Eluned insults the girl any chance she gets, and Cadwgan is far too young. Hmmm... how old are your children?

Norweni: Younger than yours and not to be used as pawns.

Senovara: Fair enough, darling.




Senovara: Speaking of the children, perhaps you could do me a big favor. Cadwgan wants to become a priest.

Norweni: Good for him? I don't see what I can or should do about that.




Senovara: Not good for him! You know that priests and priestesses cannot hold land or titles, and what if, spirits forbid, worst comes to worst? Cynric and Eluned are both still unwed… if the country were to end up without an heir, the lords and landholders would tear Abona to pieces just so everyone can get their own little kingdom.

Norweni: So tell him no.




Senovara: He's sixteen. We can tell him no, but in a few years he can do as he wishes. Even worse, some lord visiting from Halswitha put a bug in his head about that Watcher god that's all the rage there, so he keeps going on about prayer and asceticism. When I was his age, boys were more interested in drinking and flirting with whoever they thought was pretty than religion.

Norweni: Watcher?




Senovara: Oh, you haven't heard of this yet? It's a religion that's spread from the continent, some rubbish about how there's only one god and it's some omniscent being that, I don't know, makes your wheat grow if you behave piously enough. Wretched nonsense. Who wants a god watching what they're doing all the time? Maccus tried to put him off the idea, but you know how stubborn teenagers are, or you will if you don't yet.

Norweni: I see. And you want me to do what, exactly?




Senovara: Would you foster Cadwgan in Veridia? He's more sheltered here than he understands. If he's going to make this choice, I'd like him to know more about what he's going to give up. And you could continue his martial training, which I'm sure would make Maccus happy.

Norweni: You want him to learn what it's like to work for your keep in a farming village and realize that a cushy life in his father's hold is better than he thought.

Senovara: That works too. Please, darling girl?




Norweni: Fine. I suppose I can find some space and something for him to do.

Senovara: Wonderful! You can take him with you when you leave.

Norweni: I think we're going to need more wine.


* * *




Senovara: So, you were married and now you're not. Any current lovers?

Norweni: One.

Senovara: Time has not made you any more loquacious, darling.




Norweni: ...I thought it was an annoying infatuation I could just get out of my system, and that my wife would understand that. I was wrong and ended my marriage because of it. Now, unfortunately, I think I might be in love with him, and I doubt he feels the same. Also, he's married to a daughter of one of western Abona's preeminent magical families.

Senovara: Oh, darling, don't mess with witches. I'd hate to see you get cursed.

Norweni: She has her own lover. I'm not sure she cares.




Senovara: And what's so special about this man anyway?

Norweni: He's... easy—




Senovara: *snerk*

Norweni: Not like that, Vee. He doesn't expect anything more than whatever I can offer that day, however much that is. It's... calming.




Senovara: Is that a good reason to love someone?

Norweni: You say that like it's a choice.




Senovara: Isn't it, to some extent?

Norweni: No?




Senovara: Hmm. Perhaps you should finally agree to come to court and be my mistress instead. We can scandalize people and you can play fidchell with Maccus every evening. He'd be delighted.




Norweni: But if I did that, who would teach your son the joys of threshing wheat and shoveling cow shit in a small village?

Senovara: Not at the same time, I hope. Ah, well, I'll convince you someday.

Norweni: Maybe you should kiss me while you can.





* * *










Norweni: We'll stop here for a rest.




Norweni: Your mother says you wish to become a priest.

Cadwgan: Yes...

Norweni: I don't believe in forcing children to become or not become things they don't want to be, so long as they end up safe and happy. So if you can stick it out here for a few years, you can go off and pledge yourself to whatever shrine you wish and I'll just tell your parents, 'well, I tried'. In return, I expect you to not cause any trouble before then. Deal?




Cadwgan: Truly?

Norweni: What do I get out of stopping you from dedicating yourself to the spirits?




Cadwgan: Few people would disagree with my parents.

Norweni: I knew your father when he was a mewling boy still trying and failing to grow a beard. I don't have much trouble telling him no.




Cadwgan: ...the Watcher has temples, not shrines.

Norweni: It's all Greek to me, child. Go eat your lunch.

Cadwgan: ???


* * *




Sun: You're back! I thought I heard the watch tower hallooing someone.

Norweni: Oh, good, Sun, you're here. I brought you something, as promised. It's not a beaded necklace, but I think you'll like it better. *whistles*






Sun: EEEEEEEEEEEE!




Norweni: So what will you call her?

Sun: Ruby.

Norweni: Why that?

Sun: Because she's even more precious than one.

Norweni: Oh... that's sweet, Sun.