Elendor
A Meeting with the Bundazanul Thane
Frarin demands answers from Braldor, and the situation quickly grows ugly.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Erebor
Description: Ranol walks with Frarin back to the Bundazanul Thingstead, taking a direct path to Braldor's office. Once they're standing outside the door, he nods to the clan-karls on duty, then knocks a couple of times before heading in. He's under the assumption that if the thane were ever in a meeting that was too important to be interupted the head of the clan would let the guards at the door know.
The huskarl bows to his Thane, "Good Afternon, Lord Braldor. Frarin is here to speak with you.."
[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin follows behind Ranol, dressed as if having been working on the repair work in the mountain for most of the day. There are thin bandages about both of his palms. His face is a mix of emotions, head tipped forward slightly, either wary or tired. From the frown beneath his beard and the hollow look of his eyes, he looks almost haggard, or in temper, whichever.
[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor is, indeed, in his office, sitting behind his ornate desk. His arms show some scrapes, a testament to his work in helping remove the debris caused by the cave-in, yet he's now leaning back on his chair, reading a parchment as Frarin and Ranol come in. "Greetings, huskarl", the thane replies, puytting the parchment down and leaning forward now, looking at his guests, "and Master Frarin. How may I be of help?"
"I told Frarin about the business with the mine collapsing, my lord." Ranol offers as a buffer to prepare Braldor for the upcoming conversation. "He has some questions regarding who's been informed and what's being done.." The huskarl steps further into the room, setting down his shield and warhammer in a corner, figuring this meeting might take a while.
[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin nods to Braldor, then belatedly bows as well. Not that he is usually particularly warm around the Thane Bundazanul, but today he does not even attempt a forced smile. He does not, however, look angry either. He looks rather stricken actually, though with a grim silence on top of that. He nods at Ranol's explanation and comes closer to Braldor's desk, hands clasping behind his back. "Aye, lord," says the silversmith. "I wished to know if anyone within Barazin, other than myself now, had been informed of this investigation. I had heard nothing of it before speaking with Ranol."
[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor leans back, his dark eyes fixed on Frarin, and then he nods. "I see that ye know of all this... mess", he says after a moment of silence. "The Narag have investigated all this, and came with a suspect. mind ye, he /is/ a suspect still, for I think that this will go to the King himself, for him to hear everyone involved and pass judgement, as is his right and duty", he adds. "No one besides the Narag, and us three, have heard about this yet, but I think it will be made public soon".
Ranol stands off to the side, looking between the two slowly. At Braldor's response his face crinkles a bit. He already knows that Frarin isn't going to like that no one else has been informed yet.
[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin listens with a static expression, lines deep upon his brow and under his eyes. Only at Braldor's last comment does the silversmith's face change, for he straightens a little and takes in a sharp breath. He looks tense, and does not answer for a time. "Made public soon," he repeats as a statement. His eyes flick to the ceiling. "It has been nearly three weeks, my lord. Three weeks, twenty-seven Barazin dead, and hundreds of florins worth of damage to our clan halls. And today I learn that it was foul play. Did you--" he takes a breath "--did you perhaps consider it pertinent to inform -anyone- in Barazin that this had been an -attack- on them rather than a natural disaster?"
[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor remains silent for a moment, regarding Frarin intently. "I thought you would react so, and lo!, I was not mistaken", he says, as he shakes his head a bit. "It is not within my power, Master Frarin, to divulge these news, as the Narag themselves asked this to be kept as a secret... a secret that should not have been divulged to anyone, till the Narag made it public", he says, casting a stern glance at Ranol, before fixing his gaze again on the silversmith. "So do not come to me office in yer high horse, and dare to hint accusations of wrongdoing on my part!", he adds, as a heavy fist strikes the wooden desk with a BAM! Braldor takes a couple of seconds to regain his temper, before adding, "Why the narag have not made it public yet I do not know. Perhaps to prevent retaliation from barazin to Zinbar, or to the individual involved... I know not. Yet, i assure ye that the Narag are very thorough in everything they do, be it slay orcs, or investigate a crime as hideous as this one. All I ask is for yer silence on the matter, till the Narag choose to inform the barazin Steward and elders of the matter, and then all the other dwarves of this realm".
[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin is completely silent as Braldor launches into his own tirade, but his face and person are animated. His breathing becomes forced and comes in stunted inhalations through his nose, for his teeth and lips are clamped tightly shut. His hands remain behind his back, but the fingers ball into fists. His eyes narrow when Braldor's hand strikes the desk.
"-I- am not the one shouting, -Braldor-," Frarin grates out, dropping the formal 'lord'. His words come out stunted, spoken through clenched teeth. "I -apologise- if you considered my defense of my own bloody clan to be my 'high horse', but when I learn that there is a supremely good chance that the destruction that has been done to Barazin was -deliberate-, I am apt to be a -little- agitated. And when I learn that not a -single- member of my clan has been told of this, not even of the existence of an investigation, when the Thane Bundazanul and his huskarl are -both- aware, then I am apt to be a little -more- agitated."
"The will of the Narag is its own, Braldor, and I hold it as responsible as you. I had -hoped- that the leader of Clan Bundazanul, for all of his pride and conceit towards Barazin, would at least feel duty bound to insist to the Narag that his clan's -ally- be told of such an investigation. Barazin's Steward, at the very least! I will be discreet with this knowledge, but -I- at least will have the -bloody decency- to inform my Steward that not all is as it seems."
[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor looks coldly at Frarin now. "-I-, for one, acted on the instructions of the Narag, who had me swear an oath to keep all of this secret, once they knew I had been informed", Thane Bundazanul says, his voice as cold as his face. "And I -know- that in Barazin they would regard this so, that when one swears an oath, one -keeps- such an oath, even if ye like not its consequences", he adds, and then sits back. For a moment again he remains silent, and then he turns with stern face to Ranol. "Huskarl, please escort Master Frarin to Barazin, to make sure he arrives safely. It seems to me all that can be said -has- been said. Master Frarin, know that the Narag will -not- like, not one bit, if any of this is made common knowledge, even among Barazin", he says, his eyes on the silversmith now. "Good day", he adds, his tone clearly indicating that this visit has come to an end.
Ranol lets out a slow breath, feeling more on edge as the argument continues. When Braldor drives in the point about oaths and secrets the Huskarl lowers his gaze to avoid drawing any further ire from his thane, his cheeks red as he flushes in embarrassment. He's almost relieved when the order is given to escort Frarin back to Barazin, though he suspects that Braldor making such a specific request will likely anger his friend further. Frarin certainly doesn't -need- any kind of escort. "Aye, my lord." Ranol isn't going to argue it, though. He moves for the door, quite in favor of a swift retreat.
[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin finally unclasps his hands and points violently at Braldor. "I am -not- making this bloody common knowledge! I intend to inform my Steward and none other, as you and the Narag should have done from the very start."
"You let your hatred of me affect your judgment," he growls. "But this isn't about me, Braldor, it is about my clan. Which is a deeper crime in your eyes, I cannot honestly say. But when this is made public, those who have lost family will be discovering the truth at the same moment as every other dwarf in this mountain. Consider if -you- had had family killed in such a terrible thing."
He glances sharply at Ranol when the huskarl agrees to Braldor's order. "Don't you dare," he says, voice lowering, then looking back at Braldor. "I don't need a bloody escort like you, Braldor. There is not a single place in this mountain that I am more happy and adept at leaving than this place." Turning on his heel, he stamps for the door, holding up a hand to keep Ranol from following. "Stay with your owner. Your conscience is no doubt guiltier towards him than towards me."
[Braldor(#30149)] "Close the door after the Barazin leaves", Braldor commands to Ranol. "If he does not wish yer company, -I- certainly need to discuss something with ye... and urgently". His eyes betray no emotion as he regards Ranol, yet some of the coldness directed at frarin remains in his voice.
Ranol draws back at Frarin's angry tone when he goes to open the door, his face drawn with regretful sympathy for his friend. He'll never know why he expected the conversation to go reasonably, but for some strange reason he thought it would. That was a poor judgement call on the tail of an even bigger error.
When the Barazin makes the cheap shot about ownership, though, Ranol's shock is abrupt, and his temper flares. He clenches his fists, looking very much like he might actually take a swing at Frarin, but restrains himself. "The thane asked you to leave." He says in a voice that is similarly as cold as Braldor's.
[Frarin(#31050)] Eyes narrowed in bristling anger, Frarin wrenches open the door. "Yes he did," he growls back at Ranol, barely glancing at him. "You learn quickly." And with a derisive snort, the silversmith is gone with a slam of the door.
[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor waits until Frarin leaves, his demeanor now calm as the silkversmith makes an exit. "Close the door", he says to Ranol, "and then come take a seat". He waits for the huskarl to comply, before speaking again.
Ranol watches Frarin storm out, the door slamming and then swinging open again slightly when it fails to catch. At Braldor's command he moves forward and slowly pressing it closed. The huskarl takes a long moment to let his anger settle, then turns and moves to take the seat. His face is a mix of concern, regret, and betrayal.. though he does meet the thane's gaze this time.
[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor keeps silent for a moment, his fingers entwined and his hands on top of the desk. "Do ye realize the trouble ye have put me in, son of Ranor?", he then asks. "Have ye realized that ye have shared something that was supposed to be kept secret, and all the trouble that this might entail?", he asks, his voice calm, yet there is a flash in his black eyes. (RE)
"Yes, my lord. I do." Ranol answers in a quiet, level tone. The guilt is on his face again, as he clearly understands that his desire to feed his friendship has created a larger problem than he foresaw. "I am sorry.. and I will tell the Baruk Narag that it was my doing."
[Braldor(#30149)] "Very well then", Braldor says, as he leans back on his chair, making it creack, while he regards Ranol intensely. "Then, ye will agree that this is somethng that should not be let to pass, for it has grave bearing in our relations with Barazin, as well as with the narag?", he adds.
"Let to pass? What do you mean? It's already done.." Ranol says carefully, confusion on his face as he shifts apprehensively. "I shouldn't have told him. He asked specifically what I was hiding and I didn't want to keep it from my friend, that was my mistake."
[Braldor(#30149)] "A mistake it might have been, yet again, I ask.. should we let such a mistake just pass and go unpunished?', the Thane asks, and now he leans forward once more, looking at Ranol straight in the eye. "Should that act that endangered our clan and yer Thane go unpunished, Huskarl? What say ye?"
"No.. of course not, Lord Braldor." Ranol answers, though his face is looking bleaker by the moment as the full impact of his error is still settling in. "It was a foolish thing to do and there's no way that I can correct the situation. I was lax in my duty." His gaze settles on some random point on Braldor's desk, the shame returning to his features again.
[Braldor(#30149)] "That ye were, and I'm glad ye're not denying it", Braldor replies, nodding to Ranol. "So, son of Ranor... what shall I do with ye? What do ye think is the appropriate punishment for such a lapse in yer duties to me and the clan?"
"My lord.. I.. " Is there ever a worse torment for an honest person than to have them evaluate their own form of punishment? Ranol's brows furrow and his gaze grows distant as he tries to consider his transgression from his thane's point of view. He's quiet for a long time, but eventually shakes his head. "I do not know. I cannot think objectively, my mind is too distracted."
[Braldor(#30149)] "Yet, I am asking ye to -think-, Master Ranol", Braldor replies, and his eyes remain fixed on the Huskarl. "If ye were in my position, what would ye do? No more evasions, please... I want a honest answer", he adds.
"If I were in your position, I would be wondering if I could trust my huskarl in the future. I would be questioning where his greatest loyalties lie.. and what I gain, and what I would lose were I to remove him from his position." Ranol answers, shaking his head. "I cannot decide where your trust lies in me, my lord. I have made mistakes before, to the detriment of the clan."
[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor hurumphs! as the Huskarl finishes speaking. "Well then... lets see. There is, of course, the option to throw ye out as Huskarl and clan-karl... yet, I see no advantage for me of the clan in doing so. Also, there is the option to demote ye, and become a clan-karl again, after all this....", he adds, and now he lays a hand on the desk and begins to drum his fingers.
Ranol listens quietly, watching Braldor closely now as the thane mulls it over. He looks calm at a glance, but there are small nuances in his posture and demeanor that hint at the nervousness gripping him. He's deliberately gripping the arms of the chain to keep from fidgeting, his breathing is quicker than normal. There's nothing relaxed about the Huskarl right now.
"Lord Braldor, you yourself have said you will not tolerate any in your service that are not completely devoted. My mistakes have proven that my judgement is hindered too often by my personal feelings."
[Braldor(#30149)] "I expect nothing less than perfection for those who serve Bundazanul", the Thane replies, nodding. "Yet, I also acknowldege that wisdom can only be acquired by making mistakes, and learning from them. -That- is how we reach perfection", he adds. "So... ye shall serve in the night shift for a month, and if ye're required, ye shall also be available upon request during the day. Moreover, ye will be guarding the door to Bundazanul for a month, and that will be yer only duty during that time. Ye shall appoint two clan-karls to be at my disposal, while ye're away. And once the month has passed, we shall sit together, so as to ascertain that ye have learned from this mistake. If ye have not... ye will be immediately thrown from service to the clan, and go back to ply the craft ye learned from yer father. is this clear?', he asks, his black eyes boring on Ranol.
Ranol takes the decision well, sitting stoic and unmoving. He swallows once, the movement barely noticable behind his thick black beard. When Braldor has finished speaking he nods, "Aye, my lord. Very clear. I will inform the clan-karl's this afternoon at the shift change, if that is acceptable." He adds after moment, still looking thoroughly ashamed, "I am sorry that I disappointed you, Lord Braldor. Would you have me tell the Baruk Narag myself?"
[Braldor(#30149)] "I shall deal with the Narag myself", Braldor replies. "Now, please leave me alone" And then the Thane grabs the parchment he was reading when Ranol and Frarin came, a clear indication that he won't talk to Ranol anymore... at least fior the moment.
The huskarl bows to his Thane, "Good Afternon, Lord Braldor. Frarin is here to speak with you.."
[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin follows behind Ranol, dressed as if having been working on the repair work in the mountain for most of the day. There are thin bandages about both of his palms. His face is a mix of emotions, head tipped forward slightly, either wary or tired. From the frown beneath his beard and the hollow look of his eyes, he looks almost haggard, or in temper, whichever.
[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor is, indeed, in his office, sitting behind his ornate desk. His arms show some scrapes, a testament to his work in helping remove the debris caused by the cave-in, yet he's now leaning back on his chair, reading a parchment as Frarin and Ranol come in. "Greetings, huskarl", the thane replies, puytting the parchment down and leaning forward now, looking at his guests, "and Master Frarin. How may I be of help?"
"I told Frarin about the business with the mine collapsing, my lord." Ranol offers as a buffer to prepare Braldor for the upcoming conversation. "He has some questions regarding who's been informed and what's being done.." The huskarl steps further into the room, setting down his shield and warhammer in a corner, figuring this meeting might take a while.
[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin nods to Braldor, then belatedly bows as well. Not that he is usually particularly warm around the Thane Bundazanul, but today he does not even attempt a forced smile. He does not, however, look angry either. He looks rather stricken actually, though with a grim silence on top of that. He nods at Ranol's explanation and comes closer to Braldor's desk, hands clasping behind his back. "Aye, lord," says the silversmith. "I wished to know if anyone within Barazin, other than myself now, had been informed of this investigation. I had heard nothing of it before speaking with Ranol."
[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor leans back, his dark eyes fixed on Frarin, and then he nods. "I see that ye know of all this... mess", he says after a moment of silence. "The Narag have investigated all this, and came with a suspect. mind ye, he /is/ a suspect still, for I think that this will go to the King himself, for him to hear everyone involved and pass judgement, as is his right and duty", he adds. "No one besides the Narag, and us three, have heard about this yet, but I think it will be made public soon".
Ranol stands off to the side, looking between the two slowly. At Braldor's response his face crinkles a bit. He already knows that Frarin isn't going to like that no one else has been informed yet.
[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin listens with a static expression, lines deep upon his brow and under his eyes. Only at Braldor's last comment does the silversmith's face change, for he straightens a little and takes in a sharp breath. He looks tense, and does not answer for a time. "Made public soon," he repeats as a statement. His eyes flick to the ceiling. "It has been nearly three weeks, my lord. Three weeks, twenty-seven Barazin dead, and hundreds of florins worth of damage to our clan halls. And today I learn that it was foul play. Did you--" he takes a breath "--did you perhaps consider it pertinent to inform -anyone- in Barazin that this had been an -attack- on them rather than a natural disaster?"
[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor remains silent for a moment, regarding Frarin intently. "I thought you would react so, and lo!, I was not mistaken", he says, as he shakes his head a bit. "It is not within my power, Master Frarin, to divulge these news, as the Narag themselves asked this to be kept as a secret... a secret that should not have been divulged to anyone, till the Narag made it public", he says, casting a stern glance at Ranol, before fixing his gaze again on the silversmith. "So do not come to me office in yer high horse, and dare to hint accusations of wrongdoing on my part!", he adds, as a heavy fist strikes the wooden desk with a BAM! Braldor takes a couple of seconds to regain his temper, before adding, "Why the narag have not made it public yet I do not know. Perhaps to prevent retaliation from barazin to Zinbar, or to the individual involved... I know not. Yet, i assure ye that the Narag are very thorough in everything they do, be it slay orcs, or investigate a crime as hideous as this one. All I ask is for yer silence on the matter, till the Narag choose to inform the barazin Steward and elders of the matter, and then all the other dwarves of this realm".
[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin is completely silent as Braldor launches into his own tirade, but his face and person are animated. His breathing becomes forced and comes in stunted inhalations through his nose, for his teeth and lips are clamped tightly shut. His hands remain behind his back, but the fingers ball into fists. His eyes narrow when Braldor's hand strikes the desk.
"-I- am not the one shouting, -Braldor-," Frarin grates out, dropping the formal 'lord'. His words come out stunted, spoken through clenched teeth. "I -apologise- if you considered my defense of my own bloody clan to be my 'high horse', but when I learn that there is a supremely good chance that the destruction that has been done to Barazin was -deliberate-, I am apt to be a -little- agitated. And when I learn that not a -single- member of my clan has been told of this, not even of the existence of an investigation, when the Thane Bundazanul and his huskarl are -both- aware, then I am apt to be a little -more- agitated."
"The will of the Narag is its own, Braldor, and I hold it as responsible as you. I had -hoped- that the leader of Clan Bundazanul, for all of his pride and conceit towards Barazin, would at least feel duty bound to insist to the Narag that his clan's -ally- be told of such an investigation. Barazin's Steward, at the very least! I will be discreet with this knowledge, but -I- at least will have the -bloody decency- to inform my Steward that not all is as it seems."
[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor looks coldly at Frarin now. "-I-, for one, acted on the instructions of the Narag, who had me swear an oath to keep all of this secret, once they knew I had been informed", Thane Bundazanul says, his voice as cold as his face. "And I -know- that in Barazin they would regard this so, that when one swears an oath, one -keeps- such an oath, even if ye like not its consequences", he adds, and then sits back. For a moment again he remains silent, and then he turns with stern face to Ranol. "Huskarl, please escort Master Frarin to Barazin, to make sure he arrives safely. It seems to me all that can be said -has- been said. Master Frarin, know that the Narag will -not- like, not one bit, if any of this is made common knowledge, even among Barazin", he says, his eyes on the silversmith now. "Good day", he adds, his tone clearly indicating that this visit has come to an end.
Ranol lets out a slow breath, feeling more on edge as the argument continues. When Braldor drives in the point about oaths and secrets the Huskarl lowers his gaze to avoid drawing any further ire from his thane, his cheeks red as he flushes in embarrassment. He's almost relieved when the order is given to escort Frarin back to Barazin, though he suspects that Braldor making such a specific request will likely anger his friend further. Frarin certainly doesn't -need- any kind of escort. "Aye, my lord." Ranol isn't going to argue it, though. He moves for the door, quite in favor of a swift retreat.
[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin finally unclasps his hands and points violently at Braldor. "I am -not- making this bloody common knowledge! I intend to inform my Steward and none other, as you and the Narag should have done from the very start."
"You let your hatred of me affect your judgment," he growls. "But this isn't about me, Braldor, it is about my clan. Which is a deeper crime in your eyes, I cannot honestly say. But when this is made public, those who have lost family will be discovering the truth at the same moment as every other dwarf in this mountain. Consider if -you- had had family killed in such a terrible thing."
He glances sharply at Ranol when the huskarl agrees to Braldor's order. "Don't you dare," he says, voice lowering, then looking back at Braldor. "I don't need a bloody escort like you, Braldor. There is not a single place in this mountain that I am more happy and adept at leaving than this place." Turning on his heel, he stamps for the door, holding up a hand to keep Ranol from following. "Stay with your owner. Your conscience is no doubt guiltier towards him than towards me."
[Braldor(#30149)] "Close the door after the Barazin leaves", Braldor commands to Ranol. "If he does not wish yer company, -I- certainly need to discuss something with ye... and urgently". His eyes betray no emotion as he regards Ranol, yet some of the coldness directed at frarin remains in his voice.
Ranol draws back at Frarin's angry tone when he goes to open the door, his face drawn with regretful sympathy for his friend. He'll never know why he expected the conversation to go reasonably, but for some strange reason he thought it would. That was a poor judgement call on the tail of an even bigger error.
When the Barazin makes the cheap shot about ownership, though, Ranol's shock is abrupt, and his temper flares. He clenches his fists, looking very much like he might actually take a swing at Frarin, but restrains himself. "The thane asked you to leave." He says in a voice that is similarly as cold as Braldor's.
[Frarin(#31050)] Eyes narrowed in bristling anger, Frarin wrenches open the door. "Yes he did," he growls back at Ranol, barely glancing at him. "You learn quickly." And with a derisive snort, the silversmith is gone with a slam of the door.
[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor waits until Frarin leaves, his demeanor now calm as the silkversmith makes an exit. "Close the door", he says to Ranol, "and then come take a seat". He waits for the huskarl to comply, before speaking again.
Ranol watches Frarin storm out, the door slamming and then swinging open again slightly when it fails to catch. At Braldor's command he moves forward and slowly pressing it closed. The huskarl takes a long moment to let his anger settle, then turns and moves to take the seat. His face is a mix of concern, regret, and betrayal.. though he does meet the thane's gaze this time.
[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor keeps silent for a moment, his fingers entwined and his hands on top of the desk. "Do ye realize the trouble ye have put me in, son of Ranor?", he then asks. "Have ye realized that ye have shared something that was supposed to be kept secret, and all the trouble that this might entail?", he asks, his voice calm, yet there is a flash in his black eyes. (RE)
"Yes, my lord. I do." Ranol answers in a quiet, level tone. The guilt is on his face again, as he clearly understands that his desire to feed his friendship has created a larger problem than he foresaw. "I am sorry.. and I will tell the Baruk Narag that it was my doing."
[Braldor(#30149)] "Very well then", Braldor says, as he leans back on his chair, making it creack, while he regards Ranol intensely. "Then, ye will agree that this is somethng that should not be let to pass, for it has grave bearing in our relations with Barazin, as well as with the narag?", he adds.
"Let to pass? What do you mean? It's already done.." Ranol says carefully, confusion on his face as he shifts apprehensively. "I shouldn't have told him. He asked specifically what I was hiding and I didn't want to keep it from my friend, that was my mistake."
[Braldor(#30149)] "A mistake it might have been, yet again, I ask.. should we let such a mistake just pass and go unpunished?', the Thane asks, and now he leans forward once more, looking at Ranol straight in the eye. "Should that act that endangered our clan and yer Thane go unpunished, Huskarl? What say ye?"
"No.. of course not, Lord Braldor." Ranol answers, though his face is looking bleaker by the moment as the full impact of his error is still settling in. "It was a foolish thing to do and there's no way that I can correct the situation. I was lax in my duty." His gaze settles on some random point on Braldor's desk, the shame returning to his features again.
[Braldor(#30149)] "That ye were, and I'm glad ye're not denying it", Braldor replies, nodding to Ranol. "So, son of Ranor... what shall I do with ye? What do ye think is the appropriate punishment for such a lapse in yer duties to me and the clan?"
"My lord.. I.. " Is there ever a worse torment for an honest person than to have them evaluate their own form of punishment? Ranol's brows furrow and his gaze grows distant as he tries to consider his transgression from his thane's point of view. He's quiet for a long time, but eventually shakes his head. "I do not know. I cannot think objectively, my mind is too distracted."
[Braldor(#30149)] "Yet, I am asking ye to -think-, Master Ranol", Braldor replies, and his eyes remain fixed on the Huskarl. "If ye were in my position, what would ye do? No more evasions, please... I want a honest answer", he adds.
"If I were in your position, I would be wondering if I could trust my huskarl in the future. I would be questioning where his greatest loyalties lie.. and what I gain, and what I would lose were I to remove him from his position." Ranol answers, shaking his head. "I cannot decide where your trust lies in me, my lord. I have made mistakes before, to the detriment of the clan."
[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor hurumphs! as the Huskarl finishes speaking. "Well then... lets see. There is, of course, the option to throw ye out as Huskarl and clan-karl... yet, I see no advantage for me of the clan in doing so. Also, there is the option to demote ye, and become a clan-karl again, after all this....", he adds, and now he lays a hand on the desk and begins to drum his fingers.
Ranol listens quietly, watching Braldor closely now as the thane mulls it over. He looks calm at a glance, but there are small nuances in his posture and demeanor that hint at the nervousness gripping him. He's deliberately gripping the arms of the chain to keep from fidgeting, his breathing is quicker than normal. There's nothing relaxed about the Huskarl right now.
"Lord Braldor, you yourself have said you will not tolerate any in your service that are not completely devoted. My mistakes have proven that my judgement is hindered too often by my personal feelings."
[Braldor(#30149)] "I expect nothing less than perfection for those who serve Bundazanul", the Thane replies, nodding. "Yet, I also acknowldege that wisdom can only be acquired by making mistakes, and learning from them. -That- is how we reach perfection", he adds. "So... ye shall serve in the night shift for a month, and if ye're required, ye shall also be available upon request during the day. Moreover, ye will be guarding the door to Bundazanul for a month, and that will be yer only duty during that time. Ye shall appoint two clan-karls to be at my disposal, while ye're away. And once the month has passed, we shall sit together, so as to ascertain that ye have learned from this mistake. If ye have not... ye will be immediately thrown from service to the clan, and go back to ply the craft ye learned from yer father. is this clear?', he asks, his black eyes boring on Ranol.
Ranol takes the decision well, sitting stoic and unmoving. He swallows once, the movement barely noticable behind his thick black beard. When Braldor has finished speaking he nods, "Aye, my lord. Very clear. I will inform the clan-karl's this afternoon at the shift change, if that is acceptable." He adds after moment, still looking thoroughly ashamed, "I am sorry that I disappointed you, Lord Braldor. Would you have me tell the Baruk Narag myself?"
[Braldor(#30149)] "I shall deal with the Narag myself", Braldor replies. "Now, please leave me alone" And then the Thane grabs the parchment he was reading when Ranol and Frarin came, a clear indication that he won't talk to Ranol anymore... at least fior the moment.
Players: Ranol, Frarin, Braldor
Located in: Erebor
