Brian's Adventures Ch. 07

"What's that Jealile?" Pellenica inquired, but her face hinted that she knew what the impending discussion was about.

"Well, we all risked our necks to save Brian, shouldn't we take turns with him, each night?" Jealile said to the group rather than anyone in particular. Silently there was agreement among the other ladies except for Felleona.

"Perhaps after a few days, but not just yet." Felleona said with a quiet, yet authoritative tone.

"Of course you wouldn't like it." Pellenica said with an ever so quiet snarl in her otherwise calm voice.

"Don't want to share him with anyone else do you?" Valencia interjected quickly.

"IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!" Felleona roared. "He was supposed to have been whipped ten times! Anyone else would be in the healer's care for a few more days! He can't be seen anywhere for a few more days otherwise people will wonder." Felleona said and fell quiet. There was an aggravated silence that fell upon the group that quietly, one by one, begrudgingly accepted Felleona's logic.

"In a few days then. I still say that we each deserve some time alone with him at some point." Jealile said quietly, the disappointment she felt, saturated her voice.

"I'm not denying that." Felleona said with a sigh. "I also think that's fair, but for right now he needs to remain here, unseen by anyone other than our group. Too much is at stake for him to be seen gallivanting about this soon." Felleona finished with a worried look in my direction and I nodded in agreement silently.

I remained silent during this whole conversation, not wanting to add more to an already difficult conversation. But at this point I felt the need to speak up and say something to these women who meant a great deal to me.

"Listen my dear ladies." I said as I surveyed the group around the table. "You all mean so much to me. I can't tell you how grateful I am to each and every one of you for what you've done for me." I sighed and paused again. "I hope that in the near future I may be able to spend some time alone with each of you. For now though, Felleona is right. I must keep a low profile and not leave this place for the next few days at least." I finished with a smile and looked into the eyes of each lady at the table.

"That doesn't mean that we all can't visit here each night!" Felleona said with a happy grin, and the faces around the table brightened at that thought.

We drank, ate and talked late into the night, and by the end of it the ladies that left were quite tipsy. They had to hold on to one another for support as they walked home. The next three days followed the same pattern. Felleona would go work in the morning and I would sleep the morning away, get up in the afternoon. Urealla and I would chat and visit until the evening and Felleona would come home with the other ladies in tow. We would all drink and chat up a storm until late and they would leave tipsy. Felleona and I would make love late into the night and pass out from exhaustion.

It was on the evening of the fourth day that a most interesting visitor arrived in the early evening. The dinner had been consumed and the drinks and conversation was in full swing at this point when the knock was heard at the door. Felleona naturally answered the door and looked over the small boy, barely a man who stood in the open doorway.

"I'm here to speak to Brian Westlock on official business of The Council." The small, almost a man said as he tried to stand as tall as he could.

It was clear that he was trying to look larger than he was, puffing himself up as it were. I surmised that he was a student of the Sergeant-at-Arms, possibly one of his subordinates. He stood a little over five feet tall and was small and thin with blonde hair and blue eyes. He still had many of his boyish features as he stood in a similar uniform that the Sergeant-at-Arms wore but not as decorated.

"What kind of business?" Felleona asked with an unimpressed look.

"That's for me to discuss with Mr. Westlock isn't it?" He said with a superior attitude and sneer.

"What makes you think he's here?" Felleona asked curiously as she leaned in and towered over the small man.

"It's The Council's business to keep tabs on Mr. Westlock. Now be a good dear and fetch him will you." The man said with a dismissive look and tried to look past her into the room.

Everyone in the room other than this poor little man knew that was not a smart thing to do. You have to understand that Felleona isn't a woman that is used to being talked down to or dismissed so easily. I tried to rush to the door and stop her from doing something rash but I was too late. Almost immediately after his words left his mouth did her arm leave her side.

In one quick movement she grasped him by the throat and lifted him up so that he was eye level to her. I still remember seeing his little legs kicking and flailing as he tried to get a foothold on something but they found nothing but air. His face soon started to turn red and he croaked out his protest and indignation but no coherent words could be heard.

"I AM NOBODY'S SERVING WENCH! I AM THE CAPTIAN OF THE GUARDS AND THIS IS MY HOME!" Felleona roared into his little red face with the fire of her indignation burning in her eyes. I would not have wanted to be in his shoes for anything. I had never seen her that mad and I never wanted to anger her myself to that degree.

"Sorry." I think I heard come from the flailing legged small man now suspended more than a foot above the floor by his throat.

"Felleona dear, I don't think he really meant any disrespect. Let him down please." I said as respectfully as I could as I tapped her on the arm. With a growl and one last scowl she roughly let him down and he inhaled deeply and coughed a bit as he tried to compose himself.

"You need to keep that one on a shorter leash I think." He said to me with a glare at Felleona. She growled again and moved to grab him again but I stayed her arm with a touch.

"You foolish man! She is the Captain of the Guards and is due respect!" I snapped at him after rolling my eyes at his stupidity. "It would be wise to treat your betters with more respect." I finished with as calm a voice as I could.

"Point taken Mr. Westlock." He said as he rubbed his throat. "I am here to deliver you a message." He finished and straitened up and tried to look superior again.

"Well, what is it?" I inquired, a little put out by the theatrics of it all. "You are to report to the 'Estate Clerk's Office' First thing tomorrow morning. Your application for the Kincaid Estate will be reviewed at that time. Don't be late, it wouldn't look good." He finished and waited for a response.

"Thank you, I'll be there." I said as I bowed ever so slightly to show respect to The Council.

"A little uppity for a delivery boy I think." Felleona said to me loud enough for the man to hear. He glared back at her for a moment and then turned to leave, saying nothing.

"Not the brightest lad on the island was he." Valencia said with a chuckle after the door closed.

"You'd think after taking one look at Felleona he'd keep a better tongue in his head." Jealile laughed and the group joined her in hearty laughter.

"I know the type." Felleona groaned grimly "The last Harvest Festival must have been his first. He probably picked a bunch of mousy little 'yes-women' and thinks that all women will grovel at his feet."

"I still think he's stupid though." Valencia said with a chuckle.

"True enough." I said after the laughter had died down somewhat. "I just have one question though. Does anyone know how to find the Estate Clerk's office?" I asked the group in general.

"It's in the Council Building on the third floor." Jealile said calmly. "I have the day off tomorrow and I'll go with you." Jealile finished with a warm smile.

"So will I." Yeoline added with a smile.

"Sounds delightful!" I replied in a cheery tone. "We can make a day of it. After the meeting, you can show me the sights, if there is time." I finished and with a smile and nod from each and the day was set.

"We'd love to join you but some of us have to work." Pellenica said with a slight sneer and disappointed look as she indicated Valencia, Felleona and herself.

"Well why don't you meet us at the Inn by the docks after your shifts, you know, 'The Rolling Wave'." Jealile suggested with an excited look, just as the idea had hit her.

"Now there's an idea!" Valencia shouted in enthusiastic agreement. "I'm curious to know about Kincaid, I must admit."

"I didn't know you actually applied for it Brian?" Jealile inquired curiously.

"Well, I didn't, it must be Palpetone's work. He said he would get me Kincaid and it looks as though he's done it." I said with quiet astonishment that he had been true to his word.

"What did you promise him in return again?" Pellenica asked untrustingly.

"Well, nothing actually. It was a gesture of friendship I suppose." I replied with slight astonishment.

"I don't trust him, you never know what he'll ask in return down the road. You might find the cost is more than you wish to pay." Pellenica said shrewdly.

"You may be right, but for now I have little choice." I replied with a calm tone, fearing she may be right.

I was only happy that I was close to being able to call something my own on the strange island. I had never seen Kincaid but the thought of being the Master of an Estate seemed like a privilege that I wanted. The irony of wishing to be a glorified farmer so far from my home was somehow lost on me at the moment. The night ticked away too slowly for my tastes, I wanted the morning to come, sooner than it did.