Williams swallows, "No - Allon -"
Williams half reaches toward her, "Don't. Please."
Allon looks at Williams with suspicion. Was this another ploy? "I don't know what's going on, Williams, but I suppose you're better than facing that crowd. I'll stay, for now." She returns to her seat.
Williams says nothing, and then finally takes another sip of his wine. Williams finally says, "Thanks."
Allon comments, "Don't thank me, I'm hardly the best company you'll find."
Williams swirls his wine.
Allon wears a small smile as she sips her wine, despite the cheap taste.
Williams looks up a little, "Please, go on?"
Allon remarks, "About what? I got a bit distracted, I'm afraid." Allon inquires, "Do you mean about Trevor?"
Williams looks up, "Is he all right?"
Allon states, "He's been better, but it's mostly overwork. There's a lot to do, and your brother, if you don't mind me telling you, takes on far too much. It's all I can do to take some of it myself."
Williams looks visibly more relaxed, "That's good. I . . . I worry about him."
Allon eyes his glass of wine. "So I see."
Williams looks up, "Please? Keep - keep asking?"
Allon inquires, "Fine, I'll ask you this. What have you got against Trevor? Why don't you ever let up on him?"
Williams says, "I . . . can't talk about it. I . . . I don't hate him." Williams says, "I want to protect him. I wish I could."
Allon stands up suddenly and towers (as best she can) over Williams. "Protect him!? You haven't done a damn thing for him! How are you protecting him?"
Williams straightens his shoulders a little, "I said, I wish I could."
Allon places her hands on her hips. "I wish you could too. What do you think you're protecting him from?"
Williams sighs and sounds bitter, "I'm not protecting him from anything. I can't protect him. I can't. Fine? I'm helpless, I'm hopeless. I just wish I could."
Allon queries, "Agh! You're a frustrating man, Williams." She drops into the chair again. "Why can't you ever give me a straight answer?"
Williams laughs bitterly, "I can't even tell you that. I just can't."
Allon comments, "Fine, fine. I'd like to know why, but I bet you'll just give me the same runaround."
Williams pauses a bit and winces, "I . . . could try."
Allon asks, "What do you mean?"
Williams says, "Exactly what I said. I could try." Williams looks up at her, "What do you want from me?"
Allon comments, "That's easy. To leave Trevor the hell alone. He's got enough problems, he doesn't need you trying to make them worse."
Williams sighs, "I can try. It's not really in my hands much any more." Williams bites his lip a little and then drinks again, "Ask away. Though it might be better to be talking somewhere more private."
Allon looks suspiciously. "I'd be willing, but do I have any reason to trust you?"
Williams stands and sways a little, "I won't stop you if you tried to kill me." Williams says, "There's a library, or we could go to my room. There's no rug in my room. Better if you'd kill me there."
Allon smiles. "And not have the stain as a trophy? How poorly you know me, Williams."
Williams says, "The floor's wood. It'd stain. The rugs are antique and I don't want you ruining any books." Williams finishes his glass and takes it and his wine. Williams says, "This way."
Allon says, "I'll take your advice, then. So long as I have access to a weapon and wine with nothing in it. Trevor's had enough to worry about, I'd hate to have to bother him with an annoyance like your death."
Williams walks out of the ball, glances back at her, "Sometimes, I'd be happier dead." Williams waits in the hall and says, "My room's this way." Williams points up the hall.
Allon states, "Not exactly easy to get to."
Williams says, "It's just down the hall and up the stairs." Williams leans against the wall.
Allon questions, "Hmm. Maybe you've added something to my wine after all, then. Are you all right?"
Williams laughs drily, "I'm always fine." He rubs at one wrist a little, "This way." Williams heads toward his room. Williams opens the door to his room, and steps in. It's a barren little room - more of a roomy closet. There's a bed, a table, and a window. A fencing sword leans against one wall, and there's a chest with a shirt folded on top of it.
Allon divulges, "Not much here. I must say, I didn't expect this sort of place from you."
Williams pulls out a chair for Allon, "It's what the Duke allowed me." He sits on the bed and sets his wine and glass nearby.
Allon remarks, "Really?" She looks around, then moves the shirt and perches on the chest. "He's not nearly so generous as he lets on."
Williams shrugs, "He's very giving to me." He pauses and sounds flat, "The Duke is my friend." He leans over and pours himself more wine.
Allon interjects, "Some friend."
Williams blinks. Williams says, "He - he - he wishes the best for . . . his interests."
Allon questions, "Interests? What interests?"
Williams winces and swallows, "He worries about the Peers. And his kingdom."
Allon is a little suspicious of that. "His kingdom? What kingdom is that?"
Williams says, "That which he controls." Williams winces more visibly, "That which he is the master of. Like this area. His duchy."
Allon divulges, "Huh. I don't think the man deserves control over anything at all. He might be your friend, but I can't say I like him."
Williams says, "I didn't say I liked him. Why would you not like him?"
Allon shrugs. "He just rubs me the wrong way. The fact that he's your patron doesn't help."
Williams smiles and sips more wine.
Allon states, "So why are you being so social to me? I thought you hated me."
Williams blinks, and swallows, "You hate me - and - and I wanted you to know the . . . the - truth."
Allon questions, "The truth, eh? Am I any closer to it now than when I got here?"
Williams tips his head, "I . . . I'm not sure. Maybe." Williams swallows, "Just - keep asking. It doesn't hurt you."
Allon remarks, "So what should I ask about? Let me see..."
Williams waits looking tired and thin. He sets his wine aside and rubs his wrist again.
Allon states, "How long have you been with this Duke, anyhow? Trevor said it had been a while."
Williams says, "He's a family friend, the Duke is. Trevor and I - we visted since we were big enough to travel." Williams shivers, "Every summer and winter.
Allon questions, "I don't mean when you were kids. I mean when you went to work for him. You weren't working for him when you were a child, were you?"
Williams blinks, "The Duke and I have been close since I was small." Williams says, "I - I've been here since - since that . . . incident in the Moors."
Allon divulges, "Fine, fine. But that's not the same thing now, is it? You were a normal kid."
Williams laughs softly.
Williams sips his wine, "Prove it."
Allon raises an eyebrow. "I'd rather stay here, thanks."
Williams looks at her and then looks back down again.
Allon questions, "So what made him decide to use you as an Envoy, anyway?"
Williams says, "That was the army's decision."
Allon queries, "Fair enough. But you were still working for the Duke. Why you and not Trevor?"
Williams says, "I'm the heir. Trevor's the bastard son even if he'd make a better envoy and heir then me." Williams says, "That's why I was the Envoy."
Allon questions, "I don't really care about that so much. You're working for the Duke now, though. And you were before. Why would the Duke take you first?" Allon interjects, "After all, you both visited."
Williams says, "I was the one that was chosen." Williams swallows, "You might say that I fit the Duke's needs perfectly." He sips his wine.
Allon states, "I hate to say what that made me think when you said it. But having a fellow Noble on his side must be useful."
Williams chuckles bitterly, "What did it make you think of? And yes, my aid is useful." Williams looks down, "And your hunches are likely true. Just ask, and I can try to answer." Williams clenches his free hand.
Allon relates, "Uh. Are you sure? I don't think most people would admit to something like that, even if it wasn't ridiculous."
Williams says, "Admit? I can't admit. All I can do is hope you ask. Remember? I'm helpless." Williams sips his wine, and then hisses a little for no appearent reason and clenches his hand a little tighter.
Allon questions, "Williams, you sound very strange. Is something going to happen to you?"
Williams asks, "Going to happen?"
Allon asks, "You sound like you want to talk about something because you might not get another chance. Are you expecting someting?"
Williams says, "You might kill me, and I've got a chance now. You're listening."
Allon divulges, "Williams, you have an unhealthy fascination with me killing you."
Williams shrugs.
Allon states, "And I don't believe it's simply because you're in a foul mood."
Williams sips his wine, and says in a flat but rather bitter voice, "I'm perfectly happy here."
Allon questions, "Happy? I'd be surprised if that's true." She waves her arm around the room. "You go to balls you hate, you drug yourself just to get some peace, and when you do, you're stuck in a cell I wouldn't throw a thief into. How can you be happy here?"
Williams says, "I'm always happy. I'm always fine." Williams shivers. He looks around a little, and says softly, "I've been worse places, Allon."
Allon interjects, "To hell with that. Why haven't you gone elsewhere, Williams? You know you could take your pick of Nobles to work with."
Williams says, "Duke Yonathen is a family friend."
Allon divulges, "So what? I didn't think you Nobles were any more loyal than starving dogs."
Williams refills his glass carefully. His hand is shaking, "The . . . Duke is my friend."
Allon divulges, "What kind of friend is that? The Duke treats you like you're a slave, it looks to me." Allon fumes.
Williams laughs softly, and says flatly, "The Duke is my friend."
Williams shivers again.
Allon grabs Williams by the shoulders. "Are you listening to anything I'm saying? The Duke is taking advantage of you."
Williams winces and tenses. He almost drops his wine glass and looks up at her, "I'm l - listening, lady."
She lets him go and turns to the door. "I've got a good mind just to leave you to your fate, but I know it would pain your brother. What is the problem here, Williams? What's making you worried?"
Williams sighs and sounds quiet again, "I can't tell you." Williams sets his glass down carefully and hugs his arms around himself.
Allon asks, "Is somebody threatening you?"
Williams says, "Define threat."
Allon looks slyly at him. She's onto something. "Fair enough. If you told me what your problem is, would someone hurt you?"
Williams swallows and closes his eyes. He clenches his hands and opens his mouth. Williams makes no sound. Finally he sighs, "Will. Not would." Williams says, "It's a question of will they. Not would they."
Allon wants to know, "Let me try that a different way. Will you be in trouble if you give me your secrets?"
Williams says, "I - I . . . I -" He winces again, "I can't answer that."
Allon questions, "Hmm. Let's try this another way." She sits down again. "Let's say you were me. And let's say you knew what the trouble was. What sort of question would you ask then?"
Williams shivers a little and curls a little on himself, "Define trouble. You mean - punishment?"
Allon queries, "Good question. How about, would you get hurt in some way?"
Williams winces more obviously and says quickly, "I can't answer that. I meant - what did you mean by trouble?"
Allon interjects, "That's what I meant. Trouble meaning that you would be hurt somehow."
"I don't think there's a way you could ask about - about that," Williams whimpers very softly, "I'm sorry. Please - try again?"
Allon remarks, "Let me think. I'm not really very good at this." Allon asks, "All right, then. There's obviously something over your head that's giving you problems. I don't know what that is. But how long has it been like this?"
Williams swallows and grits out, "I - was not happy when I was eight."
Allon ponders this. "So what you're saying, no don't bother to deny it, is that you were like this ever since you were a child. The same time the Duke apparently set you to work. Interesting. What would you do if I gutted the Duke?
Williams thinks a little, "He might ask me to stop you."
Allon laughs. "I should say so. But what would you do if he didn't actually say anything?"
Williams uncurls a little, "I wouldn't stop you."
Allon smiles at Williams. "You know, I suddenly don't dislike you as much as I did."
Williams pauses, "Unless if you were in the library. You might get blood on the books."
Allon asks, "You like those books a lot, don't you?"
Williams nods and looks oddly nervous, "Yeah." Williams reaches for his glass and carefully sips. He looks at her and then back at his bed again. He seems to be avoiding her gaze - has been since she ran into him.
Allon interjects, "What's the attraction? I've never been much for books. They remind me too much of work."
Williams shrugs a little, "I . . . like to translate them. The Duke has a lot of rare books - some are unique, I think. He . . . won't let me copy them though. I spend a lot of time in the libary." His voice has a little more life in it.
Allon divulges, "He keeps you on a short leash, doesn't he? So those books are the rest of the world to you."
Williams whispers, "They - are all the world I have." Williams sets his wine down carefully and hugs himself again. He tucks his knees up and doesn't look at Allon.
Allon says, "That explains your languages. I've met very few other people who can speak Mainlander as well as you do. It took me forever to pick up Dexian."
Allon inquires, "Do you want more world than your books?"
Williams swallows, and sounds a little choked, "That was why I was sent here. So - so the Duke could teach me."
Allon says, "Doesn't sound like he taught you much that was any use to you."
"Use to him." Williams sounds bitter again and he sniffles a little. Though that may be Allon's ears playing tricks on her.
Allon interjects, "I still don't feel too good about what use an eight year old has to a man like him. I'm not sure I want to know."
Williams shivers again.
Williams sounds almost snide, "Allon, what would you know about the sorts of things a noble could do to a child."
Allon divulges, "Nobles are people with too much power, Williams. I know what they're capable of."
Allon sounds every bit as bitter as Williams.
Williams shivers, "You cannot guess. You have no clue. Your life was not like mine." Williams pulls his knees up and hugs them.
Allon slowly and deliberately gets up, walks over to Williams, and slaps his face. "You're damn right it wasn't. It's none of your cursed business, either. My life is /my/ pain. But I'm going to find out yours, if I have to tear it out of you, do you understand me?"
Williams whimpers and suddenly curls up and starts shaking. He sounds like he's mumbling something like 'sorry.'
Allon interjects, "Grow up, Williams. If you've got anything left that your cursed 'friend' hasn't killed in you, now's the time to use it. Tell me what he's done to you."
Williams starts crying.
Allon waits until he stops. Then offers him wine. From her bottle.
Williams shivers and curls tighter. He opens his mouth and then starts shaking.
Allon waits patiently for him to calm down enough to take the wine.
Williams doesn't calm down.
Allon asks, "Williams. Listen to me. What is your favourite book?"
Williams suddenly relaxes, "The seven poems of the garden." He shivers.
Allon wants to know, "What language is it in?"
Williams blinks at her looking a little dazed, "Midoranian."
Allon remarks, "What's it about? Besides a garden, that is."
"It's about - a prince. He's writing about his lover," Williams pauses and swallows, "It's beautiful."
Allon inquires, "Okay. Now, can you take a sip of wine while you think of how it starts?"
Williams shivers, "That's not my wine." Williams takes the glass anyways.
Allon interjects, "Sure it is. You gave it to me."
Williams takes a sip and swallows. He hands the glass back. He's still shaking a little.
Allon interjects, "That's better. I guess I did the wrong thing. I'll not do it again."
Williams blinks, "It's all right. It doesn't matter. I . . . don't like answering that question. If - you want to know - you can ask again."
Allon interjects, "Maybe I'll try later, then. Let's see, why don't we try that other way again. If you were me, what question would you ask next? Something a little less provocative, perhaps."
Williams looks at her, and then sighs, "Ask me who my master is." Williams sounds exhausted.
Allon looks directly at Williams. She speaks with a commanding voice. "Williams, who is your master?"
Williams shivers, "The Duke Yonathen is."
Allon questions, "Williams, when did Duke Yonathen become your master?"
Williams makes a harsh sound and curls up. Williams finally whispers, "January thirteenth."
Allon wants to know, "What happened that day, Williams?"
Williams shivers and says in a slightly higher voice, "I entered into the service of my master." Williams sounds rather pained.