Signet Rings and Bandagings

As Lieve entered the Pony, she saw Lord Ventris sitting in a chair, writing letters and drinking a glass wine. He looked up, recognising her and invited her to sit with him, buying her a glass of wine. Mr. Baywillow was also there, but seemed to be busy serving customers so she could do little more than give him a wave and a smile. Lord Ventris was speaking to her, asking her about her father. She forced a smile, trying to be polite, then explained her father's plan of marrying her off to an associate. He balled his fists at her story. looking very forbidding, though noble. 'No one should ever be forced to marry against their will!' he insisted. He seemed to understand her plight, telling her that his wife had been in the same situation, had actually been married to the man in question for ten years! Lieve felt ice in her heart at the thought. Just then Mr. Baywillow came to them, asking if they wanted a refill. Lord Ventris tried to hush the conversation but Lieve insisted it was alright. 'Mr. Baywillow knows all my secrets,' she said. Lenwood spluttered a bit at that, saying 'Fer cryin'! before taking their order and getting new wine for them. She recounted her adventure with the captain in Celondim and how her father had beaten her when he got her home. After she was finished, Lord Ventris sat deep in thought for a while. His proud face was testimony enough to show that he was deeply disturbed by her tale. After some deliberation he took off his signet ring, giving it to her while saying 'Give this to your father and tell him I insist he stops his brutality and let you marry whom you like.' She nodded, uncertain it would help, but ready at this point to try anything. They sat a while longer, discussing the merits of the wine they were drinking when she saw that Mr. Baywillow was favouring his arm. Thanking Lord Ventris, she excused herself to him and went over to see what had happened to Mr. Baywillow. At first, he pretended there was nothing wrong. But she could clearly see he was hurt, the way he kept moving his arm and wincing was a dead giveaway. Again, she insisted he tell her what the matter was. At last he relented, rolling up his sleeve to reveal a nasty gash on his bicep. Shaking her head, Lieve told him to hold still while she tended to it. It did not seem to need sewing, so she fetched clean water and bandages, then tied one firmly around it. Then, after quite a bit of coaxing, he told her how he had got it. First he made light of it, joking and making up stories of how it happened. But in the end he told her the true story. She was very surprised. But slowly, he explained why, finally making her understand. To look at him, you would never think he had such depth. He finally made her promise never to tell anyone what he was up to, which she readily did, if in return he would stop flexing his injured arm. Grinning sheepishly, he agreed. Glancing out the window, she realised it was high time to go home. Making sure his bandage was still firmly in place, she took her leave and rushed out the door. Upon arriving home, she showed her father the signet ring and repeated to him Lord Ventris' words. Muttering to himself, he took the ring, looking it over. 'You sure you didn't steal this?' he accused her. 'No, of course not! Lord Ventris himself gave it to me!' Scowling, her father threw it back at her. 'He should mind his own business!' he shouted. Lieve quailed, afraid he would start hitting her again. But he did not, merely stamped out of the room, leaving her behind, trembling.