I Have Questions for You
IC Date: Day 15, Month 8, Turn 2, 7th Pass
Players: Master Ysidro (NPC), Vanya
Location: Vanya's Room
Synopsis: Vanya is interviewed by Master Ysidro, E'sere's Harper advocate. It's not a pleasant chat. Warning: Some profanity & adult themes. (Ysidro NPC'd by E'sere.)
Vanya's Room,
There isn't much a person can do to disguise the fact this room is little more than a cave. The walls are stone, smoothed by hand or by some long-forgotten or long-gone machine used by those who first built the weyr. The door is solid wood, sturdy, the fixtures utilitarian. The basic furniture is all there -- bed, table, two chairs, wall shelves and a wooden storage chest. Simple. As is the occupant, since there is little in the way of fancy knickknacks or personal possessions. The bed has plain sheets, two down-filled pillows, and a warm, woven blanket in dark green. The chest holds clothes, and more blankets as a bastion against the cold, High Reaches winter. A glow basket hangs from the wall over the bed, another sits on the table, glows replenished whenever needed by those unseen people who perform this task.
On a shelf above the table are a bottle of ink, writing instruments, sand and some already prepared hides. Very rare and precious paper documents are carefully arranged on another shelf, held down by a polished stone collected from some place. Yet another shelf holds vials and bottles of lotions, astringents, and other containers of herbs and oils. The only luxurious thing here, if it can be called that, is a hand-made rug that lies beside the bed on top of a thick layer of reeds. Stone floors are notoriously cold on bare feet. A black cloak hangs on a peg by the door, as does a gittern, the instrument carefully wrapped in a protective bag. A basket, leather satchel and two pairs of boots sit on the floor beneath.
It's early evening, and Vanya has returned from the Gather, having gone there to try and find a few things at a much cheaper price. Going through her purchases, she's almost startled to hear a knock on her door. Setting aside the various packets of dried herbs she found, the healer moves to the door, opening it. Confronted with a man she does not know, her head cocks to one side. "May I help you, sir?" she queries, standing in the opening, a questioning expression on her face. "Are you in need of a healer?"
Ysidro knocks several times fast, and before Vanya can get to the door, he knocks again. When the door swings open, he still has a hand raised to knock more, impatient. "Journeyman Vanya," he greets her as he steps forward, moving to brush past her inside. Two journeyman flank him, but they know the drill: they don't follow, only looking sheepish as they stand outside the door. "Master Ysidro," is the brusque introduction the harper offers. "I have questions for you."
Vanya blinks as Master Ysidro brushes past her, startled just a bit by his brusque manner. "Of course, sir," she says, gathering her wits and glancing at his two Journeymen. "I will answer what I can." She doesn't quite know whether or not to close the door, so leaves it open as she moves to the table, hastily removing a couple of books from one of the chairs, and replacing the herbs in a basket. "Please, won't you sit? I'm afraid I have nothing to offer as refreshment." She seems a little nervous of this visit, but speaks in that calm, professional tone of voice. "What is it you wish to know, sir?"
Ysidro, turning, eyes the door a moment, then deliberately steps back to shut it. The two journeyman are left outside, staring at it and taking up guard-like positions at it. Ysidro then turns to seat himself, crossing his legs, one foot tapping quickly. "This is not a pleasure visit," he notes, waving off her offer of refreshments. "E'sere tells me you're close to him. Tell me about the night Yevide died, and we'll go from there."
There's a hint of color on Vanya's cheeks as she moves to take a seat at the table. "It was a party, and I was sitting to the side. E'sere entered with the Weyrwoman, and spent a few minutes with her, just standing and ... well, being noticed by a lot of people. A few didn't seem to be happy to see them together, but I didn't know why, then. I'd only been at the weyr for about two sevens, at that point." She takes a deep breath. "I saw E'sere fetch the Weyrwoman a drink, and then he bowed and excused himself from her. I'd promised him a dance, and he came to collect. We went to the dancefloor, and were dancing when the Weyrwoman collapsed. I really hadn't noticed that, but there was an outcry, and ... and I followed E'sere over to her, thinking a healer might be needed."
"And?" Ysidro prompts. He's writing all this down in an illegible scrawl, taking notes as fast as he can.
"There was a crowd around her, and E'sere helped me through it. Another healer, Journeyman Medina, was already kneeling by Yevide's body, and I'm ... well, it gets a little confusing there. R'vain, the Weyrlingmaster, was there. I /think/ was talking to Yevide when she collapsed. The Weyrleader approached shortly after she collapsed. And ... a few others, mostly wingleaders and others I didn't know at the time. Essdara, who'd been a friend of Yevide's. And ... G'thon -- Ganathon," she corrects. "He came up a few minutes later, saying how the weyr had let this happen. He was most upset, and left shortly after he spouted off. I was fairly upset, and when Medina indicated the death wasn't ... natural, I asked if she'd been eating or drinking anything at the time."
"Tell me more about Ganathon," instructs Ysidro. "What was he doing before the murder? Did he speak to the Weyrwoman, give her anything--have any contact with anyone who gave her anything?" Pause. He's scribbling still, pausing to question again. "What happened after they said it was murder?"
Vanya closes her eyes again, dredging up those horrible moments. "It was rather confusing, with people crowding around Yevide. E'sere and some others forced the crowd back a little, and there was generally shock and anger when Medina indicated hers wasn't a natural death. She asked me to get the glass Yevide had been drinking out of at the time of her collapse, which I did. It never left my hands after that, until I delivered it to J'cor -- the Weyrleader -- the next morning." Another pause. "Ganathon approached the group around Yevide, saying, 'The Weyr has been watching this all along,' and crying. He then said, 'The Weyr has watched this for half a turn and done nothing to stop it!' and then he left." A pause. "Again. He'd left the party before she collapsed, I saw that as E'sere was leading me onto the dancefloor. I'm not sure when he came back, though. I wasn't watching."
Ysidro nods absently throughout, thin lips pursing. He rakes a hand back through his reddish hair as he glances up at the healer again. "That's exactly what he said? Interesting. Hearsay, of course, but interesting hearsay. You spent the night with E'sere," he prompts next.
"Yes, sir, exactly what he said," Vanya replies. "I have what the Healers call an eidetic memory, meaning I can remember things written and said pretty much verbatim. "And, yes, I did. After things calmed down, and E'sere fetched the bottle he'd poured Yevide's drink from, the Weyrleader and Medina told me to keep hold of the evidence. And then everyone left me there, alone. I admit I was frightened, since I figured anyone who had the nerve to kill a Weyrwoman wouldn't hesitate to kill me if they wanted that evidence. No means were offered to protect me, /or/ the evidence, sir, save for E'sere. It was, admittedly, awkward, since he was considered one of the prime suspects, but he was concerned for my safety. He sent a guard to inform the Weyrleader and guard captain that I was being taken to his weyr, since no one could approach without Morelenth's knowledge." She sighs. "Upon reflection, perhaps not the wisest of moves on his part, but I cannot fault E'sere for his gallantry."
"Yes, yes, he's very gallant," Ysidro agrees, snorting. "So you spent the night with him. Where was the evidence all night? Did either one of you touch it? I assume no one else can back either one of you up. Hmph. You had sex with him," the harper assumes.
Now her cheeks are bright red. "The evidence was in a bag, and left within my sight. No one save myself touched it that night, sir. I'd stake my reputation on that, since it was in the identical place I set it in the morning. There is an inkwell on E'sere's desk, and I set the evidence next to it. I'm a good judge of distances, and it wasn't moved. I'd swear to that. I'm also a light sleeper. If E'sere had left the bed, I would have known." As for the rest. "No, sir, I did not have sex with E'sere that night. We talked a long time, and he was kind enough to let me share his bed, but there was no sexual contact between us ... save for a few kisses." She looks down at her hands. "My relationship with E'sere was merely friendship." A brief pause. "At that time. We did not become lovers until sometime later. After." A glance up at Ysidro. "Is that an important factor in this, sir? I would not think so, personally."
"You're screwing him," Ysidro notes, not one to watch his language even in polite--and female--company. "Makes everything you say questionable. /I/ don't even believe the two of you, and I'm defending the man." He rolls his eyes. "Seems like you've got quite a reputation for being a whore around here already, from what I hear. You know all this is going to get dragged out at trial." Not a question.
Vanya's face pales. "I am not a whore, sir, and I resent the implication. What I do in my personal life has been subject to conjecture and gossip, yes, but if you look around, I hardly have the worst reputation in this weyr." She takes a deep breath, her manner now decidedly cool toward the advocate. "If it's brought out at the trial, then it is. I've don't nothing wrong." She pins the Harper with an icy stare. "I can count on one hand the times I've been with E'sere, and there has only been one other man I've been with." There is barely repressed anger in her tone. "If you have further questions, please ask them. Sir."
"Good, that's good," Ysidro says, smirking. "Righteous indignation is a good start. But if you can tear up a little at it, it'll go over even better. Now tell me about when E'sere got poisoned."
Vanya's brow creases a little, but she takes a deep breath and calmly describes the night she requested a meeting with E'sere in her room. How Aivey -- who she only knew as Vey -- offered to take a message to him, and how she'd been upset at something which had happened earlier in the day. "A kitchen girl brought a tray of food, and I should have questioned it then, but I was rather disconcerted by what I'd been told by ... this other person. I thought E'sere should know what I'd learned, and figured he could, if anyone could, help put a stop to the troubles." She pauses. "He came late in the evening, and we were talking. I pointed out the food for him, and expressed curiosity as to why or who would send such to /my/ room. E'sere said it was likely Aivey, since she'd done so before, though the girl who brought the food was decidedly /not/ Aivey." Another short pause. "He ate while we spoke, and then grew pale. After a moment, he collapsed, and I sought help to get him to the Infirmary."
"What happened earlier that day? What did you tell him?" presses Ysidro, scribbling this down, too.
Here Vanya hesitates. "A rider I know came by and ... well, D'ven told me things were coming to a head, and suggested I might want to get away from the weyr until it was over. He was extremely evasive, and rather ... I don't know, he made it sound like he wanted me gone so I wouldn't be in his way. The conversation between us was unusual, in the fact D'ven isn't usually like that." She looks down at her hands again. "I jumped to the wrong conclusion, and thought D'ven was behind it all. I've since straightened it out with him, and realize I was wrong about his motives. He was distracted and was thinking only to protect me from being hurt." A sigh. "At any rate, I wanted to talk to E'sere about what D'ven had said to me, and maybe warn him, or at least voice my concerns. We never finished the conversation. Essdara fortunately came to see me, and helped me get E'sere down to the Infirmary, where I administered herbs to rid his system of the overdose of aconite he'd been given. It was, I can say with all honesty, a close call." She stops, then adds, "If I'd eaten that food, I wouldn't have been able to save him. If Dara hadn't dropped by, I could not have gotten him to the Infirmary in time."
"You think D'ven is the guilty party," Ysidro notes, more slowly than his usual clipped words--he's writing this down verbatim. "Why? And save all the guilt stuff for the witness stand."
"Thought, past tense," Vanya corrects. "There were a number of things which /could/ have pointed to D'ven, but I'd failed to take in other facts which would seem to discount my theory. I was wrong about him, and have not leveled any accusation against him. It was mostly circumstantial evidence." Vanya fidgets with her skirt, smoothing the material over her knees. "I did speak with Aivey, briefly, and she admitted to me that she's twice tried to poison E'sere. Once with the aconite, and a previous time when she attempted to get him addicted to fellis -- though it was E'sere who told me that. It happened before I arrived at the weyr." Another brief pause. "She told me she acted on her own, and seemed quite proud of that fact. She also said, oddly enough, that E'sere was a good man, and what she did she felt was for the good of the weyr, mentioning how 'they' had imported foreign queens and such here."
"I want to know why you thought he was guilty," Ysidro says flatly, lips thinning as he refuses to let her distract him with Aivey.
Vanya takes a deep breath. "I have no facts upon which to base the assumption I made, sir, just a series of ... circumstantial evidence. Gossip and rumor led me to believe D'ven had misrepresented himself. After Yevide's death, some people speculated he /might/ be a suspect simply because he wasn't present at the party. You must understand, Master Ysidro, a great deal of fear ensued when the Weyrwoman was killed. It was ... very difficult to separate truth from fiction, and I fell prey to the general sense of ... confusion. D'ven was the one to fetch me to the weyr from Fort Hold, and --" She stops. "-- the anodyne plant, from which aconite is made, grows in abundance near Fort. I jumped to the wrong conclusion, since D'ven is a brewer, and could have gotten the raw ingredients from Fort and distilled them easily. There was, to my knowledge, no substantial amount of aconite missing from the Infirmary supply."
Ysidro nods slowly, scribbling again. "Good, good," he says when he finished, though his tone is never particularly encouraging. "Now, tell me more about Aivey. That wasn't all she said, was it."
"I asked her if she'd poisoned E'sere, and she replied with, 'You kept him in there so long I couldn't finish the job,' then, 'I did. Twice, as a matter of fact. He's a strong man. I think I should've used more.'" Vanya's voice shakes a bit, but she gives Ysidro the answer in great detail. "She then told me she'd made another attempt, saying she was disappointed she failed both times. It was difficult for me, as a healer, to hear what all she said, I admit that, and I asked her if she did it out of anger. Aivey said, 'I didn't kill out of anger. I killed because I had to, because the situation called for it. All those other people I talked with, I didn't kill. I could have but I didn't.'" There's a shake of her head. "She's very open about her deeds. Like she's proud of killing."
"I'm interviewing her next," Ysidro notes. "And we'll see if she supports all this. Why did she try to kill E'sere, personally? What made him a target in all this other mess?"
"I don't know," Vanya answers honestly. "She was willing to answer all my questions, but there were distractions. Aivey did tell me if she'd known how much E'sere meant to me, she wouldn't have harmed him, which ... I'm not certain why it would have mattered to her. She said she liked me, but I don't really know her. I just dressed a cut on her hand one night, and answered how I felt about E'sere as possibly becoming the next weyrleader. That's really the extent of my knowing her." She shrugs. "Let me think a moment, remember what else she told me..." Vanya closes her eyes, trying to recall the exact words said. "She said, 'Tell him he can thank me - no, better yet - tell him I'm really sorry about his accident.' At that point, I noticed she was favoring her side, and found she had a wound that wasn't healing properly. She let me look at it, but there was nothing I could do for her. The rest of the conversation was pretty much about that, though she did say the weyr was one big, open wound, and no amount of healing would save it."
"And how do you feel about E'sere becoming Weyrleader?" is Ysidro's next question, as he copies everything Aivey told Vanya down. His expression never varies to give away what he thinks on those particular words.
"One more thing before I answer that question," Vanya says, her forehead creased. "She was very upset that people thought she was working with E'sere, and got angry when I told her what was being said. She told me to make sure everyone knew it was her, and her alone. Very insistent on that point." Vanya takes a breath. "I feel he has good ideas and would be good for the weyr. I felt that way even before we became involved, and I still do, although this mess has damaged his reputation in some circles. He cares for this weyr, and the people. He has never told me otherwise, and I agree. Someone has to take the reins and fix what's wrong here. Even if it's not E'sere, there has to be a stronger leadership and preferably someone who can be trusted to put the weyr's needs above their own."
"She wanted all the credit," Ysidro agrees as he adds that to his notes. "All right. Now tell me some more about your relationship to him. Because that's going to be the first thing the prosecution is going to want to do to discredit you, so I'm going to make sure I don't have any surprises." Pause. "Also," he adds after a moment, almost thoughtfully, "I'm probably going to shred you when you take the stand, just because. Make sure you cry--tears are very convincing."
Vanya blinks. "E'sere has always treated me with respect and kindness. He's spoken to me at length regarding ideas I have for preventative measures in regards to injuries, and has even has his wingsecond instigate a program of warm-up exercises I developed." She pauses. "Yes, we're lovers, and we've done our best to be discreet regarding that aspect of our relationship. I've told no one of this but you, sir. People may speculate all they wish, but there has been no confirmation of our intimate relationship from him or from me." There's a stubborn lift of her chin as she says this. "I'm not ashamed of having deep feelings for E'sere, nor am I ashamed of being his lover. People may make of it what they will, and put it in whatever foul light they wish. I can look myself in a mirror without shame." She pauses, moistening her lips again. "I do not know if my feelings are returned by E'sere. We have not had much time together since he was poisoned, but I believe he does care for me. He has given me certain indications to that end."
"Indications like what?" And now Ysidro is just being nosy: the nitty-gritty details are certainly no value in a trial.
"Certain things he's said to me, which I cannot see have any bearing on this case, sir," Vanya replies, her expression rather neutral. "What little time we've managed since his arrest has mostly been spent in the presence of his guards, and I have no desire to air my personal feelings for their entertainment. Suffice to say, E'sere has indicated our relationship is real, and that he has not lied to me regarding it. I accept that, and am content with that knowledge." But there's a faint hint of reluctance in her as she continues. "My feelings for E'sere are not likely to change, even should he be found guilty of the charges against him. It will hurt to know him capable of doing such things as he is accused, yes, but I believe him."
"So you think he is guilty?" Ysidro asks, pen poised above the hide. "Or don't you? You think the verdict of this trial, innocent or guilty, is automatically the right response?"
"I think, sir, those in power here are looking for someone to blame, and will find someone to blame even if it's the wrong person," Vanya responds without hesitation. "There is pain, and people want the pain to end. I will hope the truth will out, but I honestly don't hold much faith in that. Not if someone who has openly confessed to the crimes has not brought about E'sere's release." She pauses. "There is a young man, a weyrling, who has in a round about way, indicated he has evidence to produce against E'sere. Condemning evidence, apparently, since he is under guard. He has not told me /what/ evidence he has, but exhibits concern that I will be hurt when the truth comes out at the trial. I've not asked him what this is, as it is not my right. The very fact he has a guard would seem to indicate the leaders here consider it important."
"K'rom," Ysidro supplies the name, nodding sagely. "E'sere mentioned him to me as one person who might be saying things about him. E'sere wouldn't fuck him, so now he's making up lies to ruin him. I'll take care of him." Ominous words, perhaps, but Ysidro doesn't linger on them. "Is there anything else--anything at all--you can think of that might be relevant to my defense?"
Vanya nods, relieved at not having to give the boy's name. "Nothing much, sir, really," she says, shaking her head. "I keep hearing everyone talking about how what they're doing is for the good of the weyr, but I cannot see how removing one of the most respected, dedicated riders like E'sere is for the good of anything. Save, perhaps, the good of those self-serving individuals who are afraid of him. Or jealous. Or whatever. That was one thing that made me suspect D'ven, in fact. He said that what he does, even though he didn't want to, was for the good of the weyr." She shrugs. "I don't believe D'ven is behind this anymore, but there are those would would be well-served if E'sere were out of the picture. On that, I can guarantee." She pauses. "If E'sere is guilty of anything, I believe it's caring too much for the weyr, and wanting to see things set right."
Ysidro nods once, folding his copious notes and putting them away, along with his pen, as he stands. "Good. I'll give you that much, at least," he notes. "That will be all. I'll be back if I have any more questions. And if you think of anything else yourself, I have quarters just down the hall in a guest suite. Good day." He turns for the door then, brusque as ever.
Vanya rises as Master Ysidro takes his leave. "Good day, sir," she says, nodding to him as he heads for the door. "I can be found here, or in the Infirmary," she tells him moving toward the door with him. "If I think of anything else, rest assured I will contact you immediately." She seems a bit unsettled by the interview, and a few things still don't sit well with her. "And, I'm certain I'll shed enough tears while on the stand. Have no doubt of that." And, they'll likely be real tears, too, not pretense.
"Good," is all Ysidro says on that subject as he strides out. His journeymen are still waiting, looking bored; they straighten as he exits, and fall in step in his wake as they head down the hall.
Players: Master Ysidro (NPC), Vanya
Location: Vanya's Room
Synopsis: Vanya is interviewed by Master Ysidro, E'sere's Harper advocate. It's not a pleasant chat. Warning: Some profanity & adult themes. (Ysidro NPC'd by E'sere.)
Vanya's Room,
There isn't much a person can do to disguise the fact this room is little more than a cave. The walls are stone, smoothed by hand or by some long-forgotten or long-gone machine used by those who first built the weyr. The door is solid wood, sturdy, the fixtures utilitarian. The basic furniture is all there -- bed, table, two chairs, wall shelves and a wooden storage chest. Simple. As is the occupant, since there is little in the way of fancy knickknacks or personal possessions. The bed has plain sheets, two down-filled pillows, and a warm, woven blanket in dark green. The chest holds clothes, and more blankets as a bastion against the cold, High Reaches winter. A glow basket hangs from the wall over the bed, another sits on the table, glows replenished whenever needed by those unseen people who perform this task.
On a shelf above the table are a bottle of ink, writing instruments, sand and some already prepared hides. Very rare and precious paper documents are carefully arranged on another shelf, held down by a polished stone collected from some place. Yet another shelf holds vials and bottles of lotions, astringents, and other containers of herbs and oils. The only luxurious thing here, if it can be called that, is a hand-made rug that lies beside the bed on top of a thick layer of reeds. Stone floors are notoriously cold on bare feet. A black cloak hangs on a peg by the door, as does a gittern, the instrument carefully wrapped in a protective bag. A basket, leather satchel and two pairs of boots sit on the floor beneath.
It's early evening, and Vanya has returned from the Gather, having gone there to try and find a few things at a much cheaper price. Going through her purchases, she's almost startled to hear a knock on her door. Setting aside the various packets of dried herbs she found, the healer moves to the door, opening it. Confronted with a man she does not know, her head cocks to one side. "May I help you, sir?" she queries, standing in the opening, a questioning expression on her face. "Are you in need of a healer?"
Ysidro knocks several times fast, and before Vanya can get to the door, he knocks again. When the door swings open, he still has a hand raised to knock more, impatient. "Journeyman Vanya," he greets her as he steps forward, moving to brush past her inside. Two journeyman flank him, but they know the drill: they don't follow, only looking sheepish as they stand outside the door. "Master Ysidro," is the brusque introduction the harper offers. "I have questions for you."
Vanya blinks as Master Ysidro brushes past her, startled just a bit by his brusque manner. "Of course, sir," she says, gathering her wits and glancing at his two Journeymen. "I will answer what I can." She doesn't quite know whether or not to close the door, so leaves it open as she moves to the table, hastily removing a couple of books from one of the chairs, and replacing the herbs in a basket. "Please, won't you sit? I'm afraid I have nothing to offer as refreshment." She seems a little nervous of this visit, but speaks in that calm, professional tone of voice. "What is it you wish to know, sir?"
Ysidro, turning, eyes the door a moment, then deliberately steps back to shut it. The two journeyman are left outside, staring at it and taking up guard-like positions at it. Ysidro then turns to seat himself, crossing his legs, one foot tapping quickly. "This is not a pleasure visit," he notes, waving off her offer of refreshments. "E'sere tells me you're close to him. Tell me about the night Yevide died, and we'll go from there."
There's a hint of color on Vanya's cheeks as she moves to take a seat at the table. "It was a party, and I was sitting to the side. E'sere entered with the Weyrwoman, and spent a few minutes with her, just standing and ... well, being noticed by a lot of people. A few didn't seem to be happy to see them together, but I didn't know why, then. I'd only been at the weyr for about two sevens, at that point." She takes a deep breath. "I saw E'sere fetch the Weyrwoman a drink, and then he bowed and excused himself from her. I'd promised him a dance, and he came to collect. We went to the dancefloor, and were dancing when the Weyrwoman collapsed. I really hadn't noticed that, but there was an outcry, and ... and I followed E'sere over to her, thinking a healer might be needed."
"And?" Ysidro prompts. He's writing all this down in an illegible scrawl, taking notes as fast as he can.
"There was a crowd around her, and E'sere helped me through it. Another healer, Journeyman Medina, was already kneeling by Yevide's body, and I'm ... well, it gets a little confusing there. R'vain, the Weyrlingmaster, was there. I /think/ was talking to Yevide when she collapsed. The Weyrleader approached shortly after she collapsed. And ... a few others, mostly wingleaders and others I didn't know at the time. Essdara, who'd been a friend of Yevide's. And ... G'thon -- Ganathon," she corrects. "He came up a few minutes later, saying how the weyr had let this happen. He was most upset, and left shortly after he spouted off. I was fairly upset, and when Medina indicated the death wasn't ... natural, I asked if she'd been eating or drinking anything at the time."
"Tell me more about Ganathon," instructs Ysidro. "What was he doing before the murder? Did he speak to the Weyrwoman, give her anything--have any contact with anyone who gave her anything?" Pause. He's scribbling still, pausing to question again. "What happened after they said it was murder?"
Vanya closes her eyes again, dredging up those horrible moments. "It was rather confusing, with people crowding around Yevide. E'sere and some others forced the crowd back a little, and there was generally shock and anger when Medina indicated hers wasn't a natural death. She asked me to get the glass Yevide had been drinking out of at the time of her collapse, which I did. It never left my hands after that, until I delivered it to J'cor -- the Weyrleader -- the next morning." Another pause. "Ganathon approached the group around Yevide, saying, 'The Weyr has been watching this all along,' and crying. He then said, 'The Weyr has watched this for half a turn and done nothing to stop it!' and then he left." A pause. "Again. He'd left the party before she collapsed, I saw that as E'sere was leading me onto the dancefloor. I'm not sure when he came back, though. I wasn't watching."
Ysidro nods absently throughout, thin lips pursing. He rakes a hand back through his reddish hair as he glances up at the healer again. "That's exactly what he said? Interesting. Hearsay, of course, but interesting hearsay. You spent the night with E'sere," he prompts next.
"Yes, sir, exactly what he said," Vanya replies. "I have what the Healers call an eidetic memory, meaning I can remember things written and said pretty much verbatim. "And, yes, I did. After things calmed down, and E'sere fetched the bottle he'd poured Yevide's drink from, the Weyrleader and Medina told me to keep hold of the evidence. And then everyone left me there, alone. I admit I was frightened, since I figured anyone who had the nerve to kill a Weyrwoman wouldn't hesitate to kill me if they wanted that evidence. No means were offered to protect me, /or/ the evidence, sir, save for E'sere. It was, admittedly, awkward, since he was considered one of the prime suspects, but he was concerned for my safety. He sent a guard to inform the Weyrleader and guard captain that I was being taken to his weyr, since no one could approach without Morelenth's knowledge." She sighs. "Upon reflection, perhaps not the wisest of moves on his part, but I cannot fault E'sere for his gallantry."
"Yes, yes, he's very gallant," Ysidro agrees, snorting. "So you spent the night with him. Where was the evidence all night? Did either one of you touch it? I assume no one else can back either one of you up. Hmph. You had sex with him," the harper assumes.
Now her cheeks are bright red. "The evidence was in a bag, and left within my sight. No one save myself touched it that night, sir. I'd stake my reputation on that, since it was in the identical place I set it in the morning. There is an inkwell on E'sere's desk, and I set the evidence next to it. I'm a good judge of distances, and it wasn't moved. I'd swear to that. I'm also a light sleeper. If E'sere had left the bed, I would have known." As for the rest. "No, sir, I did not have sex with E'sere that night. We talked a long time, and he was kind enough to let me share his bed, but there was no sexual contact between us ... save for a few kisses." She looks down at her hands. "My relationship with E'sere was merely friendship." A brief pause. "At that time. We did not become lovers until sometime later. After." A glance up at Ysidro. "Is that an important factor in this, sir? I would not think so, personally."
"You're screwing him," Ysidro notes, not one to watch his language even in polite--and female--company. "Makes everything you say questionable. /I/ don't even believe the two of you, and I'm defending the man." He rolls his eyes. "Seems like you've got quite a reputation for being a whore around here already, from what I hear. You know all this is going to get dragged out at trial." Not a question.
Vanya's face pales. "I am not a whore, sir, and I resent the implication. What I do in my personal life has been subject to conjecture and gossip, yes, but if you look around, I hardly have the worst reputation in this weyr." She takes a deep breath, her manner now decidedly cool toward the advocate. "If it's brought out at the trial, then it is. I've don't nothing wrong." She pins the Harper with an icy stare. "I can count on one hand the times I've been with E'sere, and there has only been one other man I've been with." There is barely repressed anger in her tone. "If you have further questions, please ask them. Sir."
"Good, that's good," Ysidro says, smirking. "Righteous indignation is a good start. But if you can tear up a little at it, it'll go over even better. Now tell me about when E'sere got poisoned."
Vanya's brow creases a little, but she takes a deep breath and calmly describes the night she requested a meeting with E'sere in her room. How Aivey -- who she only knew as Vey -- offered to take a message to him, and how she'd been upset at something which had happened earlier in the day. "A kitchen girl brought a tray of food, and I should have questioned it then, but I was rather disconcerted by what I'd been told by ... this other person. I thought E'sere should know what I'd learned, and figured he could, if anyone could, help put a stop to the troubles." She pauses. "He came late in the evening, and we were talking. I pointed out the food for him, and expressed curiosity as to why or who would send such to /my/ room. E'sere said it was likely Aivey, since she'd done so before, though the girl who brought the food was decidedly /not/ Aivey." Another short pause. "He ate while we spoke, and then grew pale. After a moment, he collapsed, and I sought help to get him to the Infirmary."
"What happened earlier that day? What did you tell him?" presses Ysidro, scribbling this down, too.
Here Vanya hesitates. "A rider I know came by and ... well, D'ven told me things were coming to a head, and suggested I might want to get away from the weyr until it was over. He was extremely evasive, and rather ... I don't know, he made it sound like he wanted me gone so I wouldn't be in his way. The conversation between us was unusual, in the fact D'ven isn't usually like that." She looks down at her hands again. "I jumped to the wrong conclusion, and thought D'ven was behind it all. I've since straightened it out with him, and realize I was wrong about his motives. He was distracted and was thinking only to protect me from being hurt." A sigh. "At any rate, I wanted to talk to E'sere about what D'ven had said to me, and maybe warn him, or at least voice my concerns. We never finished the conversation. Essdara fortunately came to see me, and helped me get E'sere down to the Infirmary, where I administered herbs to rid his system of the overdose of aconite he'd been given. It was, I can say with all honesty, a close call." She stops, then adds, "If I'd eaten that food, I wouldn't have been able to save him. If Dara hadn't dropped by, I could not have gotten him to the Infirmary in time."
"You think D'ven is the guilty party," Ysidro notes, more slowly than his usual clipped words--he's writing this down verbatim. "Why? And save all the guilt stuff for the witness stand."
"Thought, past tense," Vanya corrects. "There were a number of things which /could/ have pointed to D'ven, but I'd failed to take in other facts which would seem to discount my theory. I was wrong about him, and have not leveled any accusation against him. It was mostly circumstantial evidence." Vanya fidgets with her skirt, smoothing the material over her knees. "I did speak with Aivey, briefly, and she admitted to me that she's twice tried to poison E'sere. Once with the aconite, and a previous time when she attempted to get him addicted to fellis -- though it was E'sere who told me that. It happened before I arrived at the weyr." Another brief pause. "She told me she acted on her own, and seemed quite proud of that fact. She also said, oddly enough, that E'sere was a good man, and what she did she felt was for the good of the weyr, mentioning how 'they' had imported foreign queens and such here."
"I want to know why you thought he was guilty," Ysidro says flatly, lips thinning as he refuses to let her distract him with Aivey.
Vanya takes a deep breath. "I have no facts upon which to base the assumption I made, sir, just a series of ... circumstantial evidence. Gossip and rumor led me to believe D'ven had misrepresented himself. After Yevide's death, some people speculated he /might/ be a suspect simply because he wasn't present at the party. You must understand, Master Ysidro, a great deal of fear ensued when the Weyrwoman was killed. It was ... very difficult to separate truth from fiction, and I fell prey to the general sense of ... confusion. D'ven was the one to fetch me to the weyr from Fort Hold, and --" She stops. "-- the anodyne plant, from which aconite is made, grows in abundance near Fort. I jumped to the wrong conclusion, since D'ven is a brewer, and could have gotten the raw ingredients from Fort and distilled them easily. There was, to my knowledge, no substantial amount of aconite missing from the Infirmary supply."
Ysidro nods slowly, scribbling again. "Good, good," he says when he finished, though his tone is never particularly encouraging. "Now, tell me more about Aivey. That wasn't all she said, was it."
"I asked her if she'd poisoned E'sere, and she replied with, 'You kept him in there so long I couldn't finish the job,' then, 'I did. Twice, as a matter of fact. He's a strong man. I think I should've used more.'" Vanya's voice shakes a bit, but she gives Ysidro the answer in great detail. "She then told me she'd made another attempt, saying she was disappointed she failed both times. It was difficult for me, as a healer, to hear what all she said, I admit that, and I asked her if she did it out of anger. Aivey said, 'I didn't kill out of anger. I killed because I had to, because the situation called for it. All those other people I talked with, I didn't kill. I could have but I didn't.'" There's a shake of her head. "She's very open about her deeds. Like she's proud of killing."
"I'm interviewing her next," Ysidro notes. "And we'll see if she supports all this. Why did she try to kill E'sere, personally? What made him a target in all this other mess?"
"I don't know," Vanya answers honestly. "She was willing to answer all my questions, but there were distractions. Aivey did tell me if she'd known how much E'sere meant to me, she wouldn't have harmed him, which ... I'm not certain why it would have mattered to her. She said she liked me, but I don't really know her. I just dressed a cut on her hand one night, and answered how I felt about E'sere as possibly becoming the next weyrleader. That's really the extent of my knowing her." She shrugs. "Let me think a moment, remember what else she told me..." Vanya closes her eyes, trying to recall the exact words said. "She said, 'Tell him he can thank me - no, better yet - tell him I'm really sorry about his accident.' At that point, I noticed she was favoring her side, and found she had a wound that wasn't healing properly. She let me look at it, but there was nothing I could do for her. The rest of the conversation was pretty much about that, though she did say the weyr was one big, open wound, and no amount of healing would save it."
"And how do you feel about E'sere becoming Weyrleader?" is Ysidro's next question, as he copies everything Aivey told Vanya down. His expression never varies to give away what he thinks on those particular words.
"One more thing before I answer that question," Vanya says, her forehead creased. "She was very upset that people thought she was working with E'sere, and got angry when I told her what was being said. She told me to make sure everyone knew it was her, and her alone. Very insistent on that point." Vanya takes a breath. "I feel he has good ideas and would be good for the weyr. I felt that way even before we became involved, and I still do, although this mess has damaged his reputation in some circles. He cares for this weyr, and the people. He has never told me otherwise, and I agree. Someone has to take the reins and fix what's wrong here. Even if it's not E'sere, there has to be a stronger leadership and preferably someone who can be trusted to put the weyr's needs above their own."
"She wanted all the credit," Ysidro agrees as he adds that to his notes. "All right. Now tell me some more about your relationship to him. Because that's going to be the first thing the prosecution is going to want to do to discredit you, so I'm going to make sure I don't have any surprises." Pause. "Also," he adds after a moment, almost thoughtfully, "I'm probably going to shred you when you take the stand, just because. Make sure you cry--tears are very convincing."
Vanya blinks. "E'sere has always treated me with respect and kindness. He's spoken to me at length regarding ideas I have for preventative measures in regards to injuries, and has even has his wingsecond instigate a program of warm-up exercises I developed." She pauses. "Yes, we're lovers, and we've done our best to be discreet regarding that aspect of our relationship. I've told no one of this but you, sir. People may speculate all they wish, but there has been no confirmation of our intimate relationship from him or from me." There's a stubborn lift of her chin as she says this. "I'm not ashamed of having deep feelings for E'sere, nor am I ashamed of being his lover. People may make of it what they will, and put it in whatever foul light they wish. I can look myself in a mirror without shame." She pauses, moistening her lips again. "I do not know if my feelings are returned by E'sere. We have not had much time together since he was poisoned, but I believe he does care for me. He has given me certain indications to that end."
"Indications like what?" And now Ysidro is just being nosy: the nitty-gritty details are certainly no value in a trial.
"Certain things he's said to me, which I cannot see have any bearing on this case, sir," Vanya replies, her expression rather neutral. "What little time we've managed since his arrest has mostly been spent in the presence of his guards, and I have no desire to air my personal feelings for their entertainment. Suffice to say, E'sere has indicated our relationship is real, and that he has not lied to me regarding it. I accept that, and am content with that knowledge." But there's a faint hint of reluctance in her as she continues. "My feelings for E'sere are not likely to change, even should he be found guilty of the charges against him. It will hurt to know him capable of doing such things as he is accused, yes, but I believe him."
"So you think he is guilty?" Ysidro asks, pen poised above the hide. "Or don't you? You think the verdict of this trial, innocent or guilty, is automatically the right response?"
"I think, sir, those in power here are looking for someone to blame, and will find someone to blame even if it's the wrong person," Vanya responds without hesitation. "There is pain, and people want the pain to end. I will hope the truth will out, but I honestly don't hold much faith in that. Not if someone who has openly confessed to the crimes has not brought about E'sere's release." She pauses. "There is a young man, a weyrling, who has in a round about way, indicated he has evidence to produce against E'sere. Condemning evidence, apparently, since he is under guard. He has not told me /what/ evidence he has, but exhibits concern that I will be hurt when the truth comes out at the trial. I've not asked him what this is, as it is not my right. The very fact he has a guard would seem to indicate the leaders here consider it important."
"K'rom," Ysidro supplies the name, nodding sagely. "E'sere mentioned him to me as one person who might be saying things about him. E'sere wouldn't fuck him, so now he's making up lies to ruin him. I'll take care of him." Ominous words, perhaps, but Ysidro doesn't linger on them. "Is there anything else--anything at all--you can think of that might be relevant to my defense?"
Vanya nods, relieved at not having to give the boy's name. "Nothing much, sir, really," she says, shaking her head. "I keep hearing everyone talking about how what they're doing is for the good of the weyr, but I cannot see how removing one of the most respected, dedicated riders like E'sere is for the good of anything. Save, perhaps, the good of those self-serving individuals who are afraid of him. Or jealous. Or whatever. That was one thing that made me suspect D'ven, in fact. He said that what he does, even though he didn't want to, was for the good of the weyr." She shrugs. "I don't believe D'ven is behind this anymore, but there are those would would be well-served if E'sere were out of the picture. On that, I can guarantee." She pauses. "If E'sere is guilty of anything, I believe it's caring too much for the weyr, and wanting to see things set right."
Ysidro nods once, folding his copious notes and putting them away, along with his pen, as he stands. "Good. I'll give you that much, at least," he notes. "That will be all. I'll be back if I have any more questions. And if you think of anything else yourself, I have quarters just down the hall in a guest suite. Good day." He turns for the door then, brusque as ever.
Vanya rises as Master Ysidro takes his leave. "Good day, sir," she says, nodding to him as he heads for the door. "I can be found here, or in the Infirmary," she tells him moving toward the door with him. "If I think of anything else, rest assured I will contact you immediately." She seems a bit unsettled by the interview, and a few things still don't sit well with her. "And, I'm certain I'll shed enough tears while on the stand. Have no doubt of that." And, they'll likely be real tears, too, not pretense.
"Good," is all Ysidro says on that subject as he strides out. His journeymen are still waiting, looking bored; they straighten as he exits, and fall in step in his wake as they head down the hall.