Hynes Family/Alois/Goodbyes/RP27

"Alois!" he hollered from his place at the bow, waving one arm frantically in the air. Even from back on the dock, Alois could hear him laughing.

Alois raised his hand, acknowledging the greeting, smiling himself, as the dock crews hurried to anchor the ferrie. As soon as the Dock Crews had the ramp set, passengers and crewmen began swarming off the boat by the dozens, laden with gear and baggage. He came waddling down the plank with the last of them, a great fat man dressed in a velvet suit that looked stretched near to bursting, and dragging a wooden trunk behind him.

Pate fought with all his strength not to giggle. "That's him?" he asked, chuckling.

Alois grimaced. "Yes. My father can be quite a character when he is excited."

"Seems a rather excitable fellow."

Alois nodded. "Aye."

He dropped the trunk, letting the great weight smash against the wooden planks, and moved to embrace his Alois. At least he still has his strength, Alois thought as he struggled to get his arms around his father's girth. When he finally broke the embrace, he pulled off his flat cap and wiped at his brow with a hankerchief.

Alois, smiling, turned to Pate and nodded at the trunk. "Load it up," he ordered. Obediently, the squire did as he was told.

His father waited until Pate was well away before saying anything. "That's the boy?" he asked, jerking his chin towards Pate as he struggled away with the chest. "God, he's almost grown!"

"He's a good boy. A little troublesome sometimes, but that's fixed with a good clout."

His father laughed. "I guess I taught you boys how to raise a child properly, at least." He stopped to wipe his forehead again, looking around the dock, absentmindedly moving the rag up to wipe the top of his head where his hair had begun to slowly dissapear. "Nice city," he said with a satisfied nod. "I like them small, myself. Too many people fray my nerves." He stopped and looked at Alois. "Why would you want to leave all of this, for a bunch of barbarians?"

"Have you gotten everything prepared for the boy?" Alois asked quickly, wishing to change the subject. He turned and began to walk, and, slowly, his father followed.

"Nearly. The gold you've sent has helped a lot." Stooping to pick up a rock from the shore, he turned and threw it, skipping it across the water's surface. "In these matters, sometimes the wheels need greased in order for everything to run smoothly."

"You have enough for him, still, yes?"

"Oh, yes, more than enough. A handful of Gold here, there, but not enough to make a dent in what you've sent us."

"Thank you, father." Reaching into his own doublet, he pulled out a small sack of gold coins and handed it to his father. He took it without comment or hesitation and slid it into a pocket of his own. "It's for the boy," he said quietly. "Nothing more. Understand? Anything should happen to me, I want him to be well equipped."

A long, silent moment passed before his father said anything. Finally, turning to Alois, he asked, "Why not take him with you?"

"He's still uncouth, totally lacking in the basic manners of civility. He already has a taste for drink and women-" A loud guffaw caused Alois to pause for a moment. When it passed, he continued, "-and I fear if he accompanies me he'll only grow worse. No, I would much rather give him to you, and let Mother teach him what I can't."

"He has a taste for drink and women, and you're sending him home in the hopes of breaking that?" He snorted. "I'll try, but no promises."

"Also," Alois continued, "I can't keep him a squire forever. He craves Knighthood, lusts after it, and I would rather his youthful temperment be tempered by manners, lest he ends up like. . ." Alois shrugged, letting the last of his words go unspoken.

"Like. .. some of our lest reputable relations? I understand." Replacing the cap on his forehead, he turned and looked out towards the sea. "Everything will be taken care of soon. A stamp here, a signature or two there, and it's done."

Alois cast a sideways glance at his father, studying him and his massive girth, smirking. "You look ravished."

Chuckling, he lay his hands on his belly and smiled. "Aye, I am. Shall we remedy that?"