A Little Walking, A Little Talking

Writers: Eimi, Avery
Date Posted: 11th February 2006

Characters: L'pin, Almonteo
Description: L'pin catches up with the Hallmaster for a chat
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 4 of Turn 3

Almonteo

L'pin had wanted to meet the Harper Hallmaster for some time, but he hadn't been able to find time. What with settling in, though, the demands on him had lessened, and he had finally found some time. So he went in search of the Hallmaster.

He wasn't sure where to find the man, nor even why he was seeking him out exactly. He just wanted to see the man and speak to him- loyalty to his own craft, and admiration for the kind of person who could move a Crafthall from the Hall near a Hold to a Weyr of all places. He thought it was a good move, but unconventional, and the man who could run a Hall with a Weyr so close... well, he must be special indeed.

Finally he spotted the man who he believed was the right one. Looking at the knots, he realized he was right. "Hallmaster Almonteo?" he queried quietly. "I hope I'm not interrupting you in the middle of going somewhere important?"

"No, rider, not at the moment," the Hallmaster smiled. "Just needed to get out of the Weyr for a little walk. I still haven't gotten used to the lack of windows."

"I can understand the feeling. It's been Turns, but I remember how expansive and airy the Hall was, and going to a cave-hewn Weyr was definitely a shock for me." L'pin admitted with a slight smile. "Other then the lack of windows, are you finding it easy to adjust?"

"I believe so. There are differences, as I assume you know." The Hallmaster looked at the rider's knots and smiled. "Searched from the Hall?"

L'pin nodded. "I came from the Hall and was posted to a weyr. My name used to be Luurpin about 27 turns ago, when I was a junior Journeyman-
an Archivist. Then my blue, Chaneth, found me. I wasn't really expecting to Impress." He smiled at the memory. "I was somewhat shocked by Weyrlife as well, at first, but I settled in fine once I realized I couldn't leave. Sometimes I miss being able to spend my whole time in the Record Rooms, I loved them." He looked seriously at the Hallmaster.
"Most of them were burned, weren't they?"

"We did lose a lot of our Records. But it was the instrument worship that had suffered the worst damage."

"That's horrible!" L'pin said, remembering the Hall as it was when he'd last seen it. "Are all of the Harpers working overtime to replace things?"

Almonteo nodded. "We are all working hard, but we are not pushing harder than they are willing to go at this point. They have been through enough."

"I can see why. I'm glad the Hall's moved to this Weyr. That was one of the reasons I agreed to transfer, you know. It's nice to see so many Harpers around. Though it does make me miss my Craft a bit. Are many of the others uncomfortable at the Weyr?"

"Oh, it will be a long adjustment," the Hallmaster sighed. "Some are trying, some refuse, and there are rumors that some have adjusted a little too well."

"Ahh, I see." L'pin said. "Are any of your harpers standing? Has there been any sort of decision made on that? I'm sure some will want to, at the least."

"Only some. We wanted to make restrictions or every boy would want to stand." He knew more boys _wanted_ to stand, and the Weyr could use as many candidates as they could get, and so they had found a happy balance between the needs of the Hall and the needs of the Weyr he thought.

"I can imagine they would- our Craft hears so much of dragonriders that there becomes this illusion of what it is. It isn't all the tales, though." L'pin reflected. "They'll learn soon enough, I suppose."
"Speaking of apprentices," he added after a long moment, "has the Hall changed its acceptance policies at all? Now that you're at a Weyr, I mean."

"We are at the Weyr _because_ the Hall changed it policies," Almonteo said with a sad shake of his head. "Apparently some of Lord Enrizial's men burned down the Hall after they learned they had accepted a female apprentice."

L'pin's eyes widened. "I had not been aware that the Hall sought female apprentices now." he remarked. "It makes more sense, now, as to why the Hall was burned- I hadn't known, being so far away from the event. Do you have any now? Are any more females applying?"

"We've receieved several applications. And we will continue with the policy. It would be a shame if we lost our Hall _and_ our backbone,"
the Hallmaster smiled.

L'pin nodded. "It makes sense. I'm glad you allow females now- the Craft ban has never made much sense to me. And I was Hold and Hallbred, too.
It's good to see things finally changing. Do you think they ever will anywhere else?"

"No everyone has forgotten the time when women were apprenticed alongside men," Almonteo said with a far off look. He could still remember those days. "But we are losing more and more people wo remember. I hope things are changing."

"Perhaps even as we lose those who remember, there will be more who _want_ to change things." L'pin said. "It's good that the harpers are here, I think, in that you're the craft that speaks to people the most, and maybe if the Harper Hall is seen accepting females, things will change."

"I hope so," Almonteo nodded. "And I hope that we can eventually move into a true Hold again. That is where we could do the most good. Here is is easy for people to assume we are under the Weyr's influence."

"That's true. I hadn't considered it that way." L'pin admitted. "But I think it will be good regardless. No matter what or why, it's good to see harpers around the halls of the weyr."

"It was certainly kind of the Weyrleaders to invite us here. We will forever be grateful, yet again," the Hallmaster smiled. They would never forget the gratitude all Pernese shared for the dragonrider's and their protection.

"I don't know the Weyrleaders that well," L'pin admitted, "but it's in the nature of almost every dragonrider to help people in need, no matter what they're like on the surface. I think it might be one of the characteristics the dragons look for- but now I ramble." he said with a laugh. "And I fear I've taken up too much of your time."

"Well, it was time well spent... I'm sorry, I don't know your elided name."

"L'pin, of blue Chaneth." he said quickly and apologetically. "If you ever need anything, whether from a rider or from a former Archivist, be sure to ask for me." he added. "If I can ever be of help I will be."

"Thank you. I will keep that in mind." The Hallmaster reached out his hand to the bluerider. "I'm pleased to meet you, L'pin."

"It was a pleasure to meet you, as well." L'pin replied, clasping his hand. "Thank you for the time you spent speaking with me, sir." he added.

Last updated on the February 13th 2006

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A Little Walking, A Little Talking