Mutual Misery|Clan Fira, Naurorod

[Kender Bard]

Thelon teleported to Clan Fira with the children; Flame in his arms and Libre standing to the side, hands shoved into pockets and trying to spot his friends in the clan.

~Tres?~ Thelon calls out softly. ~I'm here. I brought the children. Can we talk?~

[Northen Light36]

There was something very odd about the Fira today. No one was giving the family the usual warm smiles or waves of greeting. Instead most people near them shot them uneasy or uncomfortable looks before busying themselves in their work or finding somewhere else to be.

'Go away, Thelon,' Tres thought back. Her thoughts were coloured by an extreme mix of emotions, even in that brief mental contact. Shame, regret, grief, confusion, rage, despair, joy, love, hate, fear... All were present in an impossible, confusing tangle.

"Thelon..." Artica walked up behind her brother-in-law, looking vaguely uncomfortable. She'd been alerted to his arrival by some of the clan. "We need to talk."

[Kender Bard]

Thelon was already tense from the manner of greetings he saw. He held his daughter closer and pulled Libre closer as well.

"Dad I want to go play," Libre murmured.

"Not just yet," Thelon answered and leveled a suspicious look on Artica. "What's going on, Artica?"

[Northen Light36]

"Uh, we should go somewhere a little more private, Thelon," Artica replied, well aware they were being watched and uncomfortable with it. "Let's go to my hut and I'll explain what you've missed."

The walk to Artica's hut wasn't long, but her unease and the looks the group was getting made it feel a great deal longer then it actually was. When they reached the hut, Artica gestured for Thelon to take a seat, then asked bluntly, "Did you know Tres was planning to challenge Ann, Thelon?"

[Kender Bard]

Thelon blinked, taken aback by the question. "What? No, I didn't." He paused for a moment before setting Flames down. "Libre, take your sister and play just outside but don't go farther than that."

"But-"

"Do it," Thelon ordered firmly, and Libre reluctantly took his sister's hand and leaves.

Thelon studied Artica with a frown. "Did she?"

[Northen Light36]

"Yes, she did," Artica replied grimly. "After screaming at Ann for running off and not listening to her and for having the grace and decency to acknowledge she's been a poor Leader and giving people the chance to challenge her early if they really felt she didn't deserve her leadership."

Artica sighed and shook her head. "I was ashamed to call Tres my sister, Thelon," she remarked, disgust creeping into her tone. "She was so damn arrogant in her challenge and her screaming fit had made it plain to everyone that her challenge had nothing to do with Ann's fitness as Leader and everything to do with Tres' need to control the girl." She sighed again. "She lost, thankfully, and Ann's kept her title. But it's cost Fira the prestige of hosting the Honoured Leader and the Heir, since Ann has taken her daughter and moved to Char." Artica grimaced and glanced out the window as she continued, "That was the last straw for the clan. I think they'd have thrown Tres out on her ear if Ann hadn't interfered. Efil knows, I wanted to disown her. Or strangle her. Anyway, Ann convinced Fira to let Tres stay, though she's been stripped of Eldership for now. If, in six months, Tres can regain the respect of the clan, she'll be reinstated as elder..."

[Kender Bard]

Thelon listened quietly. A part of him wanted to rant and rage, either at his wife or on behalf of her, but that part was easily smothered beneath the rest of his analytical mind as he considered Artica's words carefully. He sought his words with care and his voice was tight with control, but not overly emotional one way or another. "You've known her longer than I have," he remarked. "So tell me this, then. Is this sort of... reaction... normal for her?"

He knew he could stand to learn a lot more about his wife, and now his guilt in not having taken the time to do so was pressing down against him. But at the same time, what he did know of her left him surprised at her actions towards Ann. Tres was stubborn, yes. Thought she was correct, yes. He could see Tres getting into a yelling match with Ann over decisions and things. But this ambitious grab for power... this overwhelming attempt to control... it grated against him. He didn't think it fit. Something felt off about all of it. Of course, it could just be as simple as, yes, this was completely like Tres and he just had never seen that side of her. Or it could be Tres trying to control Ann because she had failed to do so of Gemma. Thelon just wasn't sure and it irked him that he wasn't.

[Northen Light36]

Artica frowned slightly, closing her eyes in thought. "Tres has always been proud and slow to change her mind on anything..." she replied. "And after our parents' death, well she's always disliked situations she can't control. All three of us do, I guess. And Tres and Zap can both hold a grudge to the grave and beyond, but..."

Artica opened her eyes and looks seriously at Thelon. "This isn't like my sister, Thelon. Tres is rash, hot-tempered and as stubborn as the sun is hot, but she's not... like this."

[Kender Bard]

Thelon let out his breath slowly. Something tight in his chest eased, if only a tiny bit. "Then we need to figure out what has changed," he remarked lightly. "My first thought is that she is still reacting to Gemma's leaving us."

[Northen Light36]

"Maybe a little..." Artica murmured. "She adores Gemma, but... Even her reaction to Gemma's desire to leave was a little odd... Not as... extreme... as how she's behaved with Ann, but it did strike me as unusual..."

Artica grimaces and added, "But maybe she's just changed and that was normal for her. Thelon, I love my sister and she loves me, but we haven't been particually close to each other since we were small girls. Zap would have a better idea of what Tres is like as an adult then I really would. Those two have always been incredibly close."

[Kender Bard]

"Too bad I haven't the slightest idea of where he is," Thelon answered simply. "I guess there's nothing left but to talk to her about it and see if I can discern some sort of answer. Where is she now?" He could have tried to figure it out for himself but that seemed a needless waste of time and energy.

[Northen Light36]

"Zap's in Sparkstrike," Artica murmured. "We got a letter from him just before this mess with Ann. As for Tres... I haven't seen her since yesterday, Thelon."

[Kender Bard]

Thelon let out a deep sigh and ran his hand through his hair. "What do you think would work best then?" he asked. "I can go take a little trip to talk to my dear old brother-in-law or I can play hide and seek with my wife."

[Northen Light36]

"Ask Tres if she wants to talk?" Artica suggested with a shrug, not knowing Tres had already told Thelon to go away. "She's not talking to me at the moment, but she has no reason to be angry with you, so she might be more open. If not, you could see if Zap knows what's going on."

[Kender Bard]

"She doesn't want to talk to me," Thelon murmured. He gave a small snort. "I actually came here to talk to her about my problems." A problem that all evidence seems to point as mere truth. That hurt him, deeply. He ignored the pain. "So a trip to Zap it is. I don't suppose you want to come along?"