Post by Lisa on Apr 3, 2010 15:21:24 GMT 10
Title: Irreconcilable Differences
Rating: PG
Length: 536
Character: Wyldon
Summary: It’s not their first fight, and it won’t be their last.
Notes: For Mandi, an animal-lover like me.
Kel frowned deeply at the news Wyldon gave her. “And this is in one month’s time?”
“Yes.”
“Good. That gives me time to request an assignment elsewhere.”
“You can’t – I need you here for this.”
“I can,” she insisted forcefully. “Because I won’t stay in Cavall if you intend to hold a fox hunt.”
“Keladry, this is a Cavall tradition. You’re the Lady of Cavall now.” His lips were pressed together in a tight line she associated with disappointment. Grave disappointment.
But she would not budge. “It’s cruel. I refuse to take part in anything of that nature.”
“Be reasonable. Cavall is the premier breeder of horses and hounds. The hunt represents my father’s and my lives’ work in this field.”
“Your work is represented by terrifying a creature for miles until your dogs can rip it to shreds?”
“Foxes are a menace to the local farms. Do you realize how many complaints I have from local farmers about surplus killing? They kill dozens of chickens while they eat only one. This is a way of protecting the livestock.”
“Build better hen houses,” Kel said firmly. “I’m not staying.”
“This is Cavall’s first hunt in the last five years.” Since Vivenne’s illness. He didn’t have to say it for Kel to make the connection. “This is important to me.”
“And since Lady Vivenne took part in such atrocities, you think I should, too? Without considering my feelings?” she asked stiffly. She was not fond of the implied comparisons that were always made between her and Wyldon’s deceased wife, even when she understood why they were said.
“That’s not what I meant to insinuate at all,” he growled. He did not lose his temper often, but Kel realized that she had pushed the right buttons. Not that she cared.
“Whether you meant to or not,” she snapped. “It’s what I took from you.”
“You’re intent on thinking the worst of me.”
“Perhaps that’s because I spent so many years of my training insisting on thinking the best of you.”
“When I didn’t deserve it,” he icily finished the thought for her. “Do you think I didn’t regret the decisions I made?”
They glared at each other in a battle of wills.
After a long moment, Kel spoke. “I can’t take part in a hunt like that, Wyldon.”
“I know that.” He turned away from her, looking out the window toward the kennels. “It won’t do any good for me to forget the very essence of who you are, just because it conflicts with who I am.”
“I won’t ask you to stop it, if it’s a tradition.” Even though the thought of it made her sick to her stomach.
“And I won’t ask you to be here.” Though she knew how much he wanted her to be.
Kel didn’t like the hollow feeling in her heart. They’d had longer, louder arguments, but something about this exchange made her feel worse. “I don’t think the worst of you,” she said softly, taking his hand and pulling him into her arms. “For what it’s worth.”
He kissed her forehead. “I know. And for what it’s worth,” he said softly, “I wasn’t meaning to compare you to Vivenne.”
“I know.”
Rating: PG
Length: 536
Character: Wyldon
Summary: It’s not their first fight, and it won’t be their last.
Notes: For Mandi, an animal-lover like me.
Kel frowned deeply at the news Wyldon gave her. “And this is in one month’s time?”
“Yes.”
“Good. That gives me time to request an assignment elsewhere.”
“You can’t – I need you here for this.”
“I can,” she insisted forcefully. “Because I won’t stay in Cavall if you intend to hold a fox hunt.”
“Keladry, this is a Cavall tradition. You’re the Lady of Cavall now.” His lips were pressed together in a tight line she associated with disappointment. Grave disappointment.
But she would not budge. “It’s cruel. I refuse to take part in anything of that nature.”
“Be reasonable. Cavall is the premier breeder of horses and hounds. The hunt represents my father’s and my lives’ work in this field.”
“Your work is represented by terrifying a creature for miles until your dogs can rip it to shreds?”
“Foxes are a menace to the local farms. Do you realize how many complaints I have from local farmers about surplus killing? They kill dozens of chickens while they eat only one. This is a way of protecting the livestock.”
“Build better hen houses,” Kel said firmly. “I’m not staying.”
“This is Cavall’s first hunt in the last five years.” Since Vivenne’s illness. He didn’t have to say it for Kel to make the connection. “This is important to me.”
“And since Lady Vivenne took part in such atrocities, you think I should, too? Without considering my feelings?” she asked stiffly. She was not fond of the implied comparisons that were always made between her and Wyldon’s deceased wife, even when she understood why they were said.
“That’s not what I meant to insinuate at all,” he growled. He did not lose his temper often, but Kel realized that she had pushed the right buttons. Not that she cared.
“Whether you meant to or not,” she snapped. “It’s what I took from you.”
“You’re intent on thinking the worst of me.”
“Perhaps that’s because I spent so many years of my training insisting on thinking the best of you.”
“When I didn’t deserve it,” he icily finished the thought for her. “Do you think I didn’t regret the decisions I made?”
They glared at each other in a battle of wills.
After a long moment, Kel spoke. “I can’t take part in a hunt like that, Wyldon.”
“I know that.” He turned away from her, looking out the window toward the kennels. “It won’t do any good for me to forget the very essence of who you are, just because it conflicts with who I am.”
“I won’t ask you to stop it, if it’s a tradition.” Even though the thought of it made her sick to her stomach.
“And I won’t ask you to be here.” Though she knew how much he wanted her to be.
Kel didn’t like the hollow feeling in her heart. They’d had longer, louder arguments, but something about this exchange made her feel worse. “I don’t think the worst of you,” she said softly, taking his hand and pulling him into her arms. “For what it’s worth.”
He kissed her forehead. “I know. And for what it’s worth,” he said softly, “I wasn’t meaning to compare you to Vivenne.”
“I know.”