Logs:Four Steps
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| RL Date: 1 April, 2013 |
| Who: Devaki |
| Involves: High Reaches Hold, Tillek Hold |
| Type: Vignette |
| What: Devaki reflects on his next moves. |
| Where: Tillek Hold |
| When: Day 24, Month 5, Turn 31 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Raum/Mentions, Itsy/Mentions, Issedi/Mentions, Braeden/Mentions, Tomaeran/Mentions, Edeline/Mentions |
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| Devaki waited until Issedi was fast asleep, then waited minutes more before he finally slipped free of the bed. He stood beside the bed for moments more, his gaze flowing across her form. He imagined he could already start to see the swell of her belly in the dim light, and wondered whether the little boy -- he was sure it was a boy, though aloud he agreed with Issedi's preference for a girl -- could hear him as he whispered, 'Look after her, son.' Slipping out into the corridor, half-shuttered glowlights provided enough illumination, and his memory provided the rest of the guidance he needed to find his way outside, to set himself to a walk to think. The islander barely noticed the shadow of the Other trailing behind him, so used to it as he was by now. He had missed Tillek, Devaki admitted privately. It had been the first time he'd been out on his own (did Raum count? Did Itsy? He didn't think so.) The relative freedom and anonymity had been a shocking change from life on the Island -- where everyone knew everyone else, and the Weyr -- where everyone knew he was one of those Exiles. The first time he'd borne those whispers. Exile. The second time he'd borne their recriminations. Murderer. The third time? Well, he expected it to be a far different reaction, the next time he entered the Weyr. The negotiations with Lady Edeline had been going well. Tomaeran hadn't been thrilled at the idea of another arranged marriage, not at first. But the promise of wealth appropriate to his status (and Devaki's assurances that discrete dalliances were allowed, so long as he did his duty to his wife-to-be) had finally assuaged his doubts. When everything was settled, should he let news about Issedi's pregnancy slip free, to fly towards High Reaches Hold, to reach Braeden's ears before their return? Or was it better spoken in person with just the right amount of pity and understanding? He liked Braeden, but the man had to acknowledge his own proclivities prevented him continuing the charade for any length of time. Devaki wanted to make sure that Braeden considered his future in a logical way that served both the Hold... and himself. Yes, what would they call him the next time he went to the Weyr? It was like that chess game the Blooded on the mainland seemed to favor. He had to think four steps, more, ahead of everyone else. Did they expect an Islander to move in a certain way? Like the oddly-named Bishop, always diagonally? Devaki'd never played the game, but he'd watched it plenty of times, and he understood that as often as not, to get to the King, you had to take the Queen. In his case, to become the King, he had to out the Queen. Four steps ahead. |
Comments
Azaylia (Dragonshy (talk)) left a comment on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:29:09 GMT.
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No Devaki, that's a bad Devaki! D:>
Really though... this was fun to read. A little horrible, mostly exciting and certainly... intriguing.
Alida (Alida (talk)) left a comment on Sun, 07 Apr 2013 20:22:01 GMT.
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Kinda makes me glad Alida wound up *not* working for him, at least in a way. Too much subterfuge for her. Still...niiiice. ;D
Hana (Hana (talk)) left a comment on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 01:43:19 GMT.
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Oh dear....
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