(1866-11-24) A Pair of Blessings and a Curse
A Pair of Blessings and a Curse
Summary: Thomas has a short visit with Claire after the birth of her twins.
Date: 24 Novembre, 1866 IE
Related: Any Sealing of Rikton!
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Claire  Thomas  

Rikton - Lower Rikton - Great Hall - Tarris Manse

The white stone of the outside yields to a darker wood that lines each wall of the great hall, while the stonework above is painted a warm umber. Dominating the great hall itself is a large stone fireplace, with enough room before it for a few richly appointed chairs and further room for dining given the large dark wood table and the chairs surrounding it. The stone floors of the ground floor are appointed with rugs for warmth, while a sweeping staircase near the entrance leads to the upper level and the private quarters above.

With doors leading off deeper into the residence on the lower level, kitchens, servants quarters and stores are accounted for while on the upper level a private study is nestled amidst the private rooms of dark wood and umber.

24 Novembre, 1866 IE

Two days have passed since the events of that bloody, frightful midnight. Two days and yet, the day has not come. The sun has not been felt upon the skin of any in Rikton, only the evil, glaring blood red moon. Thomas Chandus himself has felt that blood personally; the same night as Claire appeared in the manse, the nobles fleeing from the high feast were ambushed in front of their refuge and the Marcher Baron took a point blank shot from a hand cannon to the chest. That he wasn't immediately rendered unconscious was incredible. In fact, he not only wasn't rendered unconscious, but managed to dress his wound then and there and then rise again to help deliver a killing blow on one of the brigands attacking them.

Of course, this doesn't come without a cost. Chandus has been largely bedridden these last two days, tended to by the rather hurried healers present. He's gotten up every few hours to supervise work at the Tarris manse - fortifying, stock taking, creation of a defensive plan… but he's exhausted. He looks it, now, as he walks into the wooden great hall with a cane, his face sheet white.

When Claire arrived, it was with a shock and then concern as she and the only people who woke up with her began looking around the manse. While prepared for undoubtedly her brother's arrival, he was not to be found. Nor has he been. Not even when the labor began, which might have been a result of whatever means landed herself, Margret and Meri here in Rikton.

Allowed out of bed only today, finding a wet nurse was of import when her children were born. That was a challenge in and of itself, looking to the manses first and fortunate in that aspect. But now? There are stores of healing supplies that need to be shored up. And it's from there that the Viscountess, now Duchess makes her way with the large Elementi in tow. The children are here within the Great Hall near the hearth as a source of warmth. Defendable? She's not certain yet, from what she's learned from her husband.

"Lord Chandus?" She's heard of those injured and in what degree. Her brother's lady was ranking high on her list to visit. When she can.

Thomas smiles wanly at Claire and bows his head, the exhaustion shining through his attempt at good manners. Going with those good manners, he doesn't correct her on the title. "Your Grace. I have come to see how you were doing. And to see the… well, congratulations, your Grace. God be good, how are the children?"

Meri patters forward, letting her muzzle poke at Thomas' side while Claire smiles even as one hand points at a nearby chair. "Sit. You look ready to topple over," she says, the new title still not clear to her ears. Lady to Viscountess to Duchess. "Lady Claire will do and the children are fine," she says while Meri circles the man once before returning to the cradles where both Romante boys are undoubtedly enconsed. "A nap right now but they have been rather well behaved… be that their temperament or this situation we're in."

At the slightest hint of a relief to his present, upright situation, Chandus hobbles over to sink into the nearest comfy chair. The pain and discomfort that had been in the background of his expression fade away almost immediately and he briefly closes his eyes. "Thank you, Lady Claire. I am so glad to hear that. I worried for them. I had not expected you; I doubt many of us had been. That you are safe and your children hale and healthy is truly a blessing of the One."

"We were not expected to arrive here either," Claire points out wryly as she drifts close to the cradles with yet another glance towards both sleeping boys for what must be the umpteenth time. "I suppose that in darkness, there is always light? But, tell me about you. How were you injured and who is seeing to you?"

"I was shot in the chest, my Lady. By some knave who said something about attacking you and your child. Well, children, but I suppose he did not know that." Thomas is wearing a loose fitting tunic right now with a cloak over hit. He lowers its loose neckline to reveal a large dressing. "Some Sokar healers are tending to me, right now. I do feel better, but it is… painful. I had been graced by flash powder propelled balls before, but never hit directly. They… It felt like the hammer of a demon hit me in the chest. How I did not fall unconscious, I do not know."

"I can take a look at the injury and make adjustments to their treatments," Claire offers without coming closer just yet, giving her sons another fond glance before looking back to Thomas. "Before the boys awaken, of course. I can send Margret to get the things we managed to put together into a manageable healer's set. If you are still upright and moving, I would say nothing vital was hit. Just… enough to make it hurt like the Abyss."

"I am forcing myself to be upright and moving, or else little would get done. I dislike saying this, but between you and I, Lady Claire, our fellow blue bloods are quite unable to fathom what is going on and of course, their retainers follow suite, of course, as without strong direction the commons have great difficulty organising themselves into anything more than a mob. I must forge order out of this chaos… our safety depends on it. Your healing touch would be… well, I would be eternally grateful." Thomas bows his head slowly, before admitting, "I too haven't a clue of what is going on out there, but I will apply my skills as best I can."

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