Post by odis on Jun 17, 2008 16:08:42 GMT -6
Odis made his way back from his tasks, while they were self appointed , it dated back to a promise made over ninteen years ago. Of course this wasn't something he could admit or even explain to the Duke and Duchess, though it had taken him longer then expected. And there were now three new graves in the English forests.
He hated to resort to that, however they simply would not take his rather simple lie as truth. It had been the closest they had gotten to Willa since he had taken over her guardianship on a more personal level. The reigns were drawn in as he looked over the court yard. He pondered telling the Lord and Lady he had returned, however.. he was somewhat anxious to see his daughter.
The horse was lead around to the rear kitchen entrance as he came across Aida. The sweet woman explain to him that Willa no longer worked in the kitchens after Willa's display of temper and lack of tolerance. He barely managed to keep the grin from his lips as the head cook recounted the whole serious of events. From the tormenting by the nobles up to the point Willa turned and laid the girl out on the ground.
He did however show his pride when Willa marched herself into the presense of the Lady , and confessed before the others could do anything else. That was "His" girl. He chuckled and gave Aida a nod before turning the horse about to head back to the farm where Willa had returned to.
He cut his way down from the castle to check, briefly on Maurice.. odd he found the man's shop closed. Ah well, more then likely off on business. Just as Odis was about to continue his ride back home. One of the boys that often did Maurices errands here in town for him showed up. The lanky lad explained that Willa hadn't gone back to the farm. but instead met the lord Zurban as he returned with Duke Aberdeen.
Odis lifted a brow and gave a nod... so.. the lass had gone off with that beau of hers? Again he couldn't help but offer a little grin. Perhaps he hadn't needed to worry so much about her. The man was more then warrior enough to keep her safe.
But... just in case he figured he should ride out to check on her and let her know he had returned. He paid the boy a couple of coins , while he inquired as to where Maurice was. The boy looked a bit puzzled and answered he had left a couple of days before..without notice as well. Odis frowned a touch at that.. it didn't seem right. Maurice was rather attentive to alert others when he was leaving town.
Something didn't seem to sit right as he turned the horse once more. The horse seemed as put out as the wounds he carried did. As soon as he found his daughter and knew she was safe.. he would see to those injuries.
The ride out there was some distance as he let his mind wonder a bit. It seemed that Willa and Dmitrii were becoming quite the pair. Of course Dmitrii would have to know the truth if he was going to be trusted to keep his daughter safe. And as much as he hated to admit it.. Augusta/Valisa.. whatever she was calling herself now.. was right. He should have told her a few years ago, instead of insisting on keeping the secrets.
but how did someone explain to the one that had been his soul, the light within his life, that there was no blood to bind them? Hell he and Brittany had been married in name only. Her mother had come to hate him for takingher away from the grand life of parties and politics she thrived on.
How to explain? Would she hate him as well? Turn away from him for telling her lies, keeping her ignorant? Would she forgive him?
He was beginning to feel his age. The wounds seemed to ache a bit more then they would have a few years before. And now? The world itself seemed heavier. The dull eyes watched the landscape warily, knowing here were so many secrets. Could he be strong enough to handle the questions he was quite certain that would come?
The vision blurred a bit as he remembered finding the vial amongst the wretched of their home. Would he tell her about that as well? No. No that was one secret he would take to his grave. She didn't need ot know her Mother had taken her own life, perferring death to living as a pauper. Brittany had decided to leave behind her daughter in the hands of strangers and a man that was no kin at all to her, except by an oath taken before her own birth?
The thick hand lifted to wipe away the tears that had spilled over the weather worn features. he drew the horse to a halt , while the lungs drew in a shuttering breath. No. That would all be his burden, as it should be and as it would always be.
The fields stretched out before him as the dark clouds rolled out from the east . An ominious sign. It was odd for a man devoted to his duty and faith to believe in such peasants supersticions. though they rarely proved wrong.
The eyes closed for a brief moment as his mind he could see that pretty blond child in braids running across the freshly turned field, laughing all the while she waved her first well sewn sampler. The day he taught her to use a bow.. or how hard she had worked to learn to set the snares he taught her so that in the winter months when he was gone, they would not go hungry.
Odis opened his eyes once more as he gave a nod. He would tell her the truth. though it could easily cost his heart and her faith in him. Sometimes it was best to step out from the woven shadows of lies.. if she was to go forward in her life, she would need to know what lingered behind in wait to harm her.
With that decision made, the heels again touched the tired flanks of the horse and the slow stride was taken up. By the appearances of those in the distance one may look upon this as a man riding to his funeral.
He hated to resort to that, however they simply would not take his rather simple lie as truth. It had been the closest they had gotten to Willa since he had taken over her guardianship on a more personal level. The reigns were drawn in as he looked over the court yard. He pondered telling the Lord and Lady he had returned, however.. he was somewhat anxious to see his daughter.
The horse was lead around to the rear kitchen entrance as he came across Aida. The sweet woman explain to him that Willa no longer worked in the kitchens after Willa's display of temper and lack of tolerance. He barely managed to keep the grin from his lips as the head cook recounted the whole serious of events. From the tormenting by the nobles up to the point Willa turned and laid the girl out on the ground.
He did however show his pride when Willa marched herself into the presense of the Lady , and confessed before the others could do anything else. That was "His" girl. He chuckled and gave Aida a nod before turning the horse about to head back to the farm where Willa had returned to.
He cut his way down from the castle to check, briefly on Maurice.. odd he found the man's shop closed. Ah well, more then likely off on business. Just as Odis was about to continue his ride back home. One of the boys that often did Maurices errands here in town for him showed up. The lanky lad explained that Willa hadn't gone back to the farm. but instead met the lord Zurban as he returned with Duke Aberdeen.
Odis lifted a brow and gave a nod... so.. the lass had gone off with that beau of hers? Again he couldn't help but offer a little grin. Perhaps he hadn't needed to worry so much about her. The man was more then warrior enough to keep her safe.
But... just in case he figured he should ride out to check on her and let her know he had returned. He paid the boy a couple of coins , while he inquired as to where Maurice was. The boy looked a bit puzzled and answered he had left a couple of days before..without notice as well. Odis frowned a touch at that.. it didn't seem right. Maurice was rather attentive to alert others when he was leaving town.
Something didn't seem to sit right as he turned the horse once more. The horse seemed as put out as the wounds he carried did. As soon as he found his daughter and knew she was safe.. he would see to those injuries.
The ride out there was some distance as he let his mind wonder a bit. It seemed that Willa and Dmitrii were becoming quite the pair. Of course Dmitrii would have to know the truth if he was going to be trusted to keep his daughter safe. And as much as he hated to admit it.. Augusta/Valisa.. whatever she was calling herself now.. was right. He should have told her a few years ago, instead of insisting on keeping the secrets.
but how did someone explain to the one that had been his soul, the light within his life, that there was no blood to bind them? Hell he and Brittany had been married in name only. Her mother had come to hate him for takingher away from the grand life of parties and politics she thrived on.
How to explain? Would she hate him as well? Turn away from him for telling her lies, keeping her ignorant? Would she forgive him?
He was beginning to feel his age. The wounds seemed to ache a bit more then they would have a few years before. And now? The world itself seemed heavier. The dull eyes watched the landscape warily, knowing here were so many secrets. Could he be strong enough to handle the questions he was quite certain that would come?
The vision blurred a bit as he remembered finding the vial amongst the wretched of their home. Would he tell her about that as well? No. No that was one secret he would take to his grave. She didn't need ot know her Mother had taken her own life, perferring death to living as a pauper. Brittany had decided to leave behind her daughter in the hands of strangers and a man that was no kin at all to her, except by an oath taken before her own birth?
The thick hand lifted to wipe away the tears that had spilled over the weather worn features. he drew the horse to a halt , while the lungs drew in a shuttering breath. No. That would all be his burden, as it should be and as it would always be.
The fields stretched out before him as the dark clouds rolled out from the east . An ominious sign. It was odd for a man devoted to his duty and faith to believe in such peasants supersticions. though they rarely proved wrong.
The eyes closed for a brief moment as his mind he could see that pretty blond child in braids running across the freshly turned field, laughing all the while she waved her first well sewn sampler. The day he taught her to use a bow.. or how hard she had worked to learn to set the snares he taught her so that in the winter months when he was gone, they would not go hungry.
Odis opened his eyes once more as he gave a nod. He would tell her the truth. though it could easily cost his heart and her faith in him. Sometimes it was best to step out from the woven shadows of lies.. if she was to go forward in her life, she would need to know what lingered behind in wait to harm her.
With that decision made, the heels again touched the tired flanks of the horse and the slow stride was taken up. By the appearances of those in the distance one may look upon this as a man riding to his funeral.