Post by Aloysius d’Brézé (I) on Apr 18, 2008 10:11:12 GMT -5
I had just risen from my desk in order to see what the fervent knocking at my study door was all about. The household should have known that this was my time set aside for my studies. Servants knew that they could leave whatever they wished on the table just inside the door. They were inconspicuous enough that I paid them no mind as I studied, and the food and drink were often needed.
This however was no servant. They never knocked and I would like to think if they did it would not have been so loudly.
Reaching the door I opened it just enough to look out. My father stood there, fist raised to knock upon the door once more.
"Ah good, you've finished." he said matter-of-factly.
"Actually father, no, I haven't." I muttered, allowing the door to swing the rest of the way open. He wouldn't simply go away now that he had my attention. "I am simply taking a break away from my important studies in order to speak with you."
He acted as if my emphasis had missed his ears completely. That was my father, I suppose. "Isi..." he started, and oh how I hated that nickname. It bastardised my name entirely and sounded like I had suddenly startled a teapot. "...I think it is time that you gave up simply studying all the time and went to the City. You must learn the workings of Court if you are to take my place."
Take his place...why did he always make it sound like he was going to die in mere minutes, as opposed to what could possibly be years?
"Father, I am studying so that I may be worthy of your position. Learning how to run an estate is no small thing, you know that. Accounts, inventories..." We had people that maintained these records for us, but it was something of a family point of pride that we personally checked each of them over.
"You have learned all you can from ledgers and books, son. It is time to learn by doing. You still have a great deal to learn, and I am not certain how long you have to learn it in."
That little pin-prick hurt. More than perhaps he intended. A great deal to learn? What does he think I have been doing for the past five years?
"I know full well how to do you job father! I have been perfecting it for over a year. Getting down the finer points. I daresay I'd be almost as good as you are at doing it."
This time it was my turn to draw blood. If only I had realised at the time that this was precisely what he was trying to get me to do in the first place.
"I see. So you would be ready and willing to go to the City of Elua, in my place, and attend Beltane?"
Oh how well he had trapped me. If I backed out now he would claim that I had too much to learn indeed. If I did go, I would be admitting that he was right, and I had much to learn.
Pride was an ugly thing. It was no wonder that I was born and bred Azzallese.
"Yes, father. I shall go to the City of Elua. I will pack and leave first thing in the morning."
He gave a nod that had me grinding my teeth behind the smile I offered. He was good, and even I had to admit that I had much to learn.
This however was no servant. They never knocked and I would like to think if they did it would not have been so loudly.
Reaching the door I opened it just enough to look out. My father stood there, fist raised to knock upon the door once more.
"Ah good, you've finished." he said matter-of-factly.
"Actually father, no, I haven't." I muttered, allowing the door to swing the rest of the way open. He wouldn't simply go away now that he had my attention. "I am simply taking a break away from my important studies in order to speak with you."
He acted as if my emphasis had missed his ears completely. That was my father, I suppose. "Isi..." he started, and oh how I hated that nickname. It bastardised my name entirely and sounded like I had suddenly startled a teapot. "...I think it is time that you gave up simply studying all the time and went to the City. You must learn the workings of Court if you are to take my place."
Take his place...why did he always make it sound like he was going to die in mere minutes, as opposed to what could possibly be years?
"Father, I am studying so that I may be worthy of your position. Learning how to run an estate is no small thing, you know that. Accounts, inventories..." We had people that maintained these records for us, but it was something of a family point of pride that we personally checked each of them over.
"You have learned all you can from ledgers and books, son. It is time to learn by doing. You still have a great deal to learn, and I am not certain how long you have to learn it in."
That little pin-prick hurt. More than perhaps he intended. A great deal to learn? What does he think I have been doing for the past five years?
"I know full well how to do you job father! I have been perfecting it for over a year. Getting down the finer points. I daresay I'd be almost as good as you are at doing it."
This time it was my turn to draw blood. If only I had realised at the time that this was precisely what he was trying to get me to do in the first place.
"I see. So you would be ready and willing to go to the City of Elua, in my place, and attend Beltane?"
Oh how well he had trapped me. If I backed out now he would claim that I had too much to learn indeed. If I did go, I would be admitting that he was right, and I had much to learn.
Pride was an ugly thing. It was no wonder that I was born and bred Azzallese.
"Yes, father. I shall go to the City of Elua. I will pack and leave first thing in the morning."
He gave a nod that had me grinding my teeth behind the smile I offered. He was good, and even I had to admit that I had much to learn.