Redfork Menace

Tapestry of Torment

Martyn was in a near panic by the time dinner rolled around. Shanda had not shown her face the entire day and whatever 'plan' she had hatched didn't seem to be working. Everyone was drinking merrily and he couldn't think over the roars of laughter coming from every table. And what exactly was her plan? There seemed no point in it the entire thing now, the marriages were complete and soon a mass bedding would take place. His stomach rolled at the thought. He was no green boy when it came to showing a woman a good time but this was different. Alysanne was not exactly his type and he was quite frankly a little scared of the woman. She sat beside him, drinking half the men under the table while he brooded over what it all meant.
The firelight cast shadows around them and Martyn felt uneasy in his own skin. His eyes were constantly scanning the room, looking through every nook and cranny for any sign of his sister. When he came up empty again, he sighed, running his hand through his hair. He then cast his gaze on Royce who was sitting a table over from him, halfway down. He was like a new person since he had started spending time with his betrothed. He could see the two had their heads pressed together, talking quietly and intimately despite the raging chaos of celebration around them. He was glad for his brother, he deserved some happiness in his life. Beyond that Lyla was the only heir to Blantree and as such gave Royce a boost in social standing. He could see the resentment and frustration melting away from him hour by hour in her presence. Maybe he would finally get out of the stables now as well. When Martyn's eyes fell on Lord Elmo he had almost completely resolved himself to cause a scene and demand the lord produce his sister. Elmo was twice as happy as he had ever seen him and his resolve melted away for a second.

"Supposedly can hit a field mouse a mile out."

"And I can piss holy water! Don't be daft, love."

The cold splash of beer on his shoulder and neck alerted Martyn to his wife's antics. He swore, turning his attention to the woman beside him. She gazed up at him, half sloshed, her eyes glazed over.

"There you are! This man says you're a terrible shot. Come on, let's go to the archery range and prove him wrong." She grabbed his arm, attempting to drag them both up but only hiccuped and weakly tugged on his sleeve.

Martyn sent a withering glare at the man sitting beside his drunken wife.

"No need to prove ourselves to this bunch. This good ser was just going to bed." He bared his teeth at the man when he began to protest and watched in frustrated annoyance when he quickly left their table.

He turned his attention back to the hiccuping bride beside him, snatching the goblet out of her hands before she could turn it up again. She looked at him with such utter bewilderment it almost broke his sour mood. Her cheeks were flushed red and several strands of curls had stubbornly escaped her elaborate updo.

"You need to keep your head about you. Plenty of eyes watching." He leaned in to whisper, inclining his head in the direction of several interested parties he'd noticed intently watching the married couples. His stress level was only growing steadily as the night wore on and he did not want to have to carry Alysanne through whatever came. He wasn't sure why he was being watched, only that he continuously felt eyes on him. He thrust a few pieces of bread at her, his eyes still searching the room. Surely Alysanne wouldn't be getting drunk unless their plan had worked, right? He suddenly wished he had taken her to the archery range, if only for him to get a fresh breath.

"We should've shown that guy up." She pouted, tearing off pieces of the roll and eating them.

Martyn hardly heard her, he was making up his mind to confront Elmo after all when the doors to the room swung open loudly, banging against the wall as they did. The music stopped at the sound and every pair of eyes in the room turned towards the noise. A cry of relief erupted from him at the sight of his sister. She looked perfectly fine as the two walked into the room. Shanda's eyes met his across the hall as the music picked back up.