Inexplicable Incidents: Day 6

Word Count: 36,017

Summary of Events:

Étienne was given twenty strokes of a hardwood cane for losing his temper at Comte Everard, as well as assigned to do penance for giving in to anger, one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Aline returned home from church to find Joanne — who'd been too sick to attend — in medical distress; she fetched the doctor, who later informed her Joanne was fine, but she had miscarried her baby. Étienne, having heard nothing on whether the Comte's suggested 6-month ban from seeing his wife was going to be enforced, went to the Commandant to plead that it be struck down . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

Commandant Bouchard looked at him with an air of superiority, but also of impression, as if he were shocked to see Étienne on his knees begging him.

After a few moments he lowered his gaze to his desk and Étienne heard the scratch of a pen on a piece of paper.

Étienne felt earnest desperation within himself, he wanted Commandant Bouchard to answer him already.

“The circumstances did not reflect well on you,” Commandant Bouchard finally said, still looking at his desk and writing. “However, recalling your arguments, and seeing that you are so earnest in your proclamations, I am inclined to believe your word. Furthermore, there is your reputation, which is not small and insignificant, in fact, I am surprised that you are of such youthful countenance considering all that I have heard of you. Some believe le Saint-Esprit must have been upon your mother while she carried you, making you blessed and invincible, considering your record of uninjured service.”

Such had not escaped Étienne, prior to his assignation to this unit he’d actually had a priest who’d called him Saint-Étienne le Vivant, which had mortified him, for although religion was ingrained into him as a habit, he couldn’t say he ever wanted portraits of him hanging in churches and cathedrals, or to have such places named in his honour or something, as he was the first person to deny his possession of exceptional piety — which was a fixture of the Saints’ biographies.

“Nevertheless, I see a significant weakness in you,” Commandant Bouchard continued, lifting his gaze to look at Étienne. “You have a weakness for your wife.”

“Why is it wrong for a man to love his wife?” Étienne asked, confusion and distress surging within him.

“It is not a bad thing to love your wife,” Commandant Bouchard replied.

“Then how is it a weakness?” Étienne asked.

“You do not love her with moderation,” Commandant Bouchard replied. “And in this I mean the action, not the feeling.”

“Is not once a week moderation?” Étienne asked.

“You are a chevalier,” Commandant Bouchard replied. “Any man of the army is asked to put his wife second to his duty to Le Protecteur. I do admire your resolve to that as Interim Commandant , however, I do believe that two weeks should not be as much a challenge to you as your present desperation to see your wife would suggest.”

Étienne said nothing, he was starting to understand.

“I have not seen such a weakness for relations in a man of Arbrienne, not even a man of Tiède Arbrienne*, although I have seen far worse in l’Hérétiques*,” Commandant Bouchard said. “If you were not married I might consider it your Grand Défaut.”

“You will maintain the punishment?” Étienne asked, feeling fearful.

“Not entirely,” Commandant Bouchard replied.

Étienne felt relief, it wouldn’t be six months. “How long?”

“I don't know,” Commandant Bouchard replied. “I will not have an answer today. Be about your duties, I will summon you when I have reached a decision.”

“Merci beaucoup for your consideration mon Commandant,” Étienne said.

“You're welcome,” Commandant Bouchard said.

Pronunciations:

Bouchard: booshahrd

le: luh

Saint: sah'

Esprit: ehspree

Vivant: veevah'

Chevalier: shehvahlyeh'
Protecteur: prohtehktuhr

Tiède: teeehd

l'Hérétiques: l'ehrehteek

Grand: grahn'

Défaut: deefoh'

*Tiède Arbrienne is Le Protecterat d'Arbrienne de l'Est's name for Arbrienne, as they consider themselves to be the real Arbrienne; l'Hérétiques is what they call the Mardeaux.