There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth… not going all the way, and not starting.
Taala trailed them from what she thought was a safe distance. Wearing the hauberk of the East Mark and her cloak pulled down over her face, she must have looked like a man, albeit short and slight of build. It had been that way for days now, and as each one past, the distance at which she followed the young girl holding the hand of the boy, who had not yet seen three winters, lessened. Her eyes never left the pair as she carefully awaited an opportune moment to take back her son.
The men who seized her gave her no stead. She was disarmed, beaten and still cursing when they knelt her before her step father. “You have gone too far this time Taala, you recall my words to you if you were to set foot in Snowbourn again do you not?”. Afol looked upon Taala with utter disdain, not one ounce of affection remained for the wretched girl before him. Her fate was sealed with a grim nod towards the men holding her. Defiant as ever, Taala spat in his face as she was lifted struggling to her feet and dragged towards the door...
Afol did not expect to see his wife on the other side of the door when it was opened. Afol rounded on her “Esther, you will not interfere in matters that no longer concern you!” Esther countered, “How might the matter of my own daughter's fate not concern me husband?”. Afol gave an upward singular nod to the men who continued to drag Taala away, it was then that Esther's father stood before the men, blocking the doorway. Despite his advancing years, Aelfhere was the respected patriarch of his family. “Release my Granddaughter” he commanded with no small measure of authority, the men obeyed without question. “Leave us!” he instructed, the men looked to Afol, who gave them a reluctant nod.
Aelfhere addressed Taala sternly “Child, you have caused naught but unrest and hindrance to this family", he would cast a judgmental glance towards Esther before setting his gaze back on Taala "but you cannot be blamed entirely for the shameful circumstances of your birth”. “Your blood will not be spilled, not whilst I have breath in my body, but neither will you remain here and cause further tumult to this family”.
Aelfhere paced a few steps drawing level with his granddaughter, his breath reeking of tobacco “Your crimes are countless Taala, most contemptible your fatuity towards your sister, that you would lie with her betrothed out of malice and bear him a child. Then you would attempt to snatch that child from those whom have nurtured him? Would you be so selfish that you would deprive him of a life of privilege where he would want for naught?”
Taala lifted her eyes , looking straight into his, a snarl in her voice, “Yet you would deprive him of the mother who birthed him?” Taala challenged, not expecting the back of his hand in response, she held her glare, the taste of blood on her lips.
Afol and Esther looked on, neither of them wished to lose the comforts they had grown accustomed to. Esther was Aelfhere's heir and that was the only card she had left in her hand to protect her daughter, whom she still held some semblance of care for, but overall, none conspiring in that room would dare anger the Gods and be known as kinslayers.
“Esther, you will make preparations at once to send that bastard of yours to the scoundrel that took advantage of you”. “It would seem sending her to Eaworth was not far enough” Aelfhere raised his hand abruptly to ward off any protests. “We are not so hard of heart that we would cast her out with naught, your blood flows within her Esther, surely there is some goodness within her, but it is clear her wanton and wicked behavior is borne from the seed of this dishonorable man who will shirk his responsibilities no longer”. Gesturing forth with an outstretched arm, Aelfhere continues, unrelenting “Send her to him, let it be seen if Hardoleth of Beggars alley, might succeed where we have failed, and if he would turn her away let him answer to the Gods for it”.
Aelfhere paced the floor as he barked orders to all assembled “write a missive to this Hardoleth, choose your words wisely, offer him a generous allowance, I am quite certain a man like him will care only for the colour of coin. Make no mention of Tagen, make haste she will leave at Dawn”...
