Tobias was not looking forward to the night. His head ached, though not from drink, but from the conversation that was to come. He never should have spoken with Frederick that night, not when he had the crazy look in his eyes. He was heartbroken with grief and had dragged Tobias in with him. If only he hadn't seen that rat.. he would not be in this mess.
His newly wedded wife would not be pleased with the agreement he found himself in. Alys was a simple woman. She enjoyed a comfortable life, with roads and a market of foods nearby. She could not garden very well. Her brush with the itchy ivy was a testament to that. He couldn't subject her to a life without comforts, not when he had promised her them by the dozens.
To be fair though, he was already having trouble keeping his promise. He was not the best worker, his job as a barkeep was poor in wage. He was not much of a merchant either now, ever since most of his contacts had moved away after his father died. They were poor, but surviving.
His newly wedded wife would not be pleased with the agreement he found himself in. Alys was a simple woman. She enjoyed a comfortable life, with roads and a market of foods nearby. She could not garden very well. Her brush with the itchy ivy was a testament to that. He couldn't subject her to a life without comforts, not when he had promised her them by the dozens.
To be fair though, he was already having trouble keeping his promise. He was not the best worker, his job as a barkeep was poor in wage. He was not much of a merchant either now, ever since most of his contacts had moved away after his father died. They were poor, but surviving.
Alys was resting in the sitting room. A book lay discarded next to her. She was often resting these days, yet itchy to find something to do. They had not been married long, yet every week she was convinced she was with child. She was taken with sitting at every moment she could, and resting her hand on her stomach in anticipation. His normally level headed mother was beside herself, excited at the thought of a grandchild.
So when he sat beside her that evening and prepared to tell her about his friends insane plan, he was unsure about how she would respond. Would her wild hormones grow even more insane?
So when he sat beside her that evening and prepared to tell her about his friends insane plan, he was unsure about how she would respond. Would her wild hormones grow even more insane?
She smiled at him. "Hello, my love. How are you?" she asked sweetly. His heart slowed down a beat. She was his beautiful, understanding wife. She would hear Frederick's plan, and understand that it was.. crazy. She would never agree. Then he couldn't go, Frederick would understand, see that his plan was insurmountable. Tobias would finally be free of this madness.
"Dear?" Alys prompted, furrowing her brow in light concern. "You haven't said a word. You've just been making faces.." She trailed off.
"Oh yes, um.." He stammered. He cleared his throat before beginning, "I have something very important to tell you. Frederick has been crazy the past few days and he's come up with this idea. It's madness, really. I mean, really." She nodded solemnly. "Frederick wants to leave. Eastdelle. He wants to leave and start a new life." Words were flowing out his mouth now, unstoppable. "A new place, far from any town or people. He wants to get away and he's brought in some other people. A drunk found him in the bar and invited himself." He took a deep breath. "He wants me to come along as well. Which- Which means you as well..." He trailed off.
Alys was quiet for a moment. "Leaving?" She asked. He nodded. "Away from the cities and towns?" She furrowed her brows. He nodded again, waiting for her thoughts to gather. "Well that sounds wonderful!"
"W-What?" He sputtered.
"Well it's perfect!" She grinned. "We'll be away from these filthy places. I used to love being on the farm. There was so much fresh air. It'll be great for the baby." She sat back, ticking off a mental checklist. "We'll need some animals of course, and some food for the trip. Will he have to build a home? If so, we'll need some tools. The saw's so rusty-"
"But you hate nature!" He exclaimed.
She sighed and closed her hands. "I don't like nature, but I sure like it a lot more than a smelly city. I grew up on a farm, don't you remember?"
"But the itchy ivy. You didn't know.."
"I never said I was good at the whole farming and gardening thing. I was good at cooking and embroidery. Things girls did. My brothers did all the outside work. But I loved it. I loved it so." She sat back again and sighed. Apparently it was decided.
It was morning when they sat down to tell his mother. Tobias was still unsure about the entire situation. He himself did not want to go, yet it wife did. He could have sworn she loved the city, and hated farm life, yet he was wrong. How many things had he been wrong about before? That was a thought he did not want to think about.
Matilda Drayton was silent through his speech, which included many mentions of Frederick's madness. She nodded and frowned at times but no sound came from her. When Tobias finished, Alys made her argument, which included lots of plans and lists for things to buy and keep. Again, Matilda remained silent until she finished. When the table fell silent she laid down her spoon and began to speak.
"Frederick Wille wishes to leave the city with a band other others, to seek refuge in a place with good health and prosperity?" Tobias nodded. "Then why would you call your friend mad? He's a right smart man, he is. You want to make sure that nothing happens to his friends like his sister. The poor thing. He's lost so much."
"Mother-"
"Don't you 'mother' me, boy. You know it's the right thing to do. It's not right to have a little one grow up where it's not right. Now you go and find Frederick and tell him you two are going, and so am I. I won't hold you back and I can help, even if there's not much time for me to do so," she finished proudly.
Tobias started at his cereal bowl quietly. The women in his life had some good reasoning, but the man was supposed to make the decision. He didn't feel much like a man now. The women were right though. He had to find Frederick.
Matilda Drayton was silent through his speech, which included many mentions of Frederick's madness. She nodded and frowned at times but no sound came from her. When Tobias finished, Alys made her argument, which included lots of plans and lists for things to buy and keep. Again, Matilda remained silent until she finished. When the table fell silent she laid down her spoon and began to speak.
"Frederick Wille wishes to leave the city with a band other others, to seek refuge in a place with good health and prosperity?" Tobias nodded. "Then why would you call your friend mad? He's a right smart man, he is. You want to make sure that nothing happens to his friends like his sister. The poor thing. He's lost so much."
"Mother-"
"Don't you 'mother' me, boy. You know it's the right thing to do. It's not right to have a little one grow up where it's not right. Now you go and find Frederick and tell him you two are going, and so am I. I won't hold you back and I can help, even if there's not much time for me to do so," she finished proudly.
Tobias started at his cereal bowl quietly. The women in his life had some good reasoning, but the man was supposed to make the decision. He didn't feel much like a man now. The women were right though. He had to find Frederick.