Chapter 46 - the Searching V
The oxen followed Ryeamund's gentle wish to meet him for a quiet word. A short time later, the Oxen looked around conspiratorially, and began meandering around individually. It didn't last long however, and they slowly coalesced together in Ryeamund's sleeping room alone with him.
Arroch smiled, and asked Rye what he wanted.
"Aye. I would ask my Heyermannen, and my brothers, of their opinion."
"Ryeamund. I'm really not your Heyermannen anymore. You're a… steward of your own district. More than a Heyermannen, really."
"Ah. You will always be my Heyermannen, Arroch. You need men, I'm a man for you. And? We all did well like that, did we not? And you men… I would tell you, I think of you as having more experience at being a Kingsman than I do. To me? It is to me, the natural order of things. So who else would I ask advice of."
"What would you have advice on, Rye?"
"That old man, visiting for Shan."
"What of him."
"I am losing my helmet, it feels like. Yet… he would be my father. He reminds me so much of the man? It's… unsettling. He looks like him, he acts like him. He speaks like him. He says things I imagine father would say if he were here. My helmet must be gone. He even smells like him, I swear."
"I… thought you looked happy, sitting and talking with him."
"I am. I decided… I would enjoy, what might well be madness. I hope it passes. Is it wrong to enjoy what would seem to be my father, for a short time? This is the advice I need."
Arroch took a gentle lead.
"Rye… you can ask the other Oxen their thoughts. Yet for mine? I would ask. If you simply enjoy having a short time with your father, is that so bad? What is the harm. Men?"
"Aye. I might agree. The old man, is hardly around. If on some rare moment, you are reminded of your father by the man, and no harm ever comes of it? It sounds harmless."
"You were not in madness before then, he appears for a quick time with Shan and is always gone off. I would not plan on you being mad after he passes through."
Arroch looked around at their faces, and took stock.
"It would seem, the general guess of us, is that it… is a harmless and fun thing, that will pass with no harm."
"I was worried, if I am fit to continue… stewardship. A mad farmer? It could be amusing, I would suppose. Yet, a mad steward? Unthinkable."
"You say this is enjoyable, aye?"
"Very much."
"We were already staying with you until after the festival. If the old man goes on, and this passes, and you have enjoyed it? All will be well."
"I am happy to have you all here. What troubled me, was that some men get unruly, in their madness. I would fear harming one of my pickles in such a state."
"Those men, in their madness? Are taken by anger. Rage. Suspicion. You… seem to be taken by… gentle calm, and love."
"All right. Yet, watch me and satisfy yourselves. That my helmet is sound when this ends. I would have you men stay as long after the festival as I could manage anyways. This, simply makes it practical."