Hopes and Dreams

Writers: Chelle, Len
Date Posted: 21st December 2014

Characters: Relik, L'fael
Description: Relik meets Lafael whilst getting his runner beast, and gives him advice on becoming a cabin boy
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 10, day 27 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Taril

The dark bay may have been one of the smaller runners in the stable but, with his sleek hide and the small star on his forehead, Lafael thought him a fine beast indeed. Certainly finer than any of the runners he had groomed in his years as a Trader's drudge.

Luckily he had been assigned the stables today. Which was just as well. Between the Fall that had happen this morning and the rain that was coming down in sheets now, the small drudge was more than happy to be inside. And the company of the runners was much more preferable to that of humans. The stable head had said to get the runner ready to go for his owner, but Lafael still had time to bury his face in the beast's black mane and smell deeply the comforting scent of runner.

Relik was slower on land than he was on the water and today with its bad weather was no exception. The Hallmaster should have already left but he had no desire to get caught in the rain. However, he did need to get back. His wife had said something about talking about what to do with their son and there was the meeting with the construction foreman. Sighing, he walked down the center aisle and then stopped when he saw the stall Batten was in. There was a young man in there with him and Relik assumed it was a groom. Perhaps he was already saddled which would be a chance of luck. The Hallmaster would need to fill his backs with the carisak he had. "You there, is he ready for travel?"

Lafael visibly jumped at those words. "Uh, no sir, I'll get right to it, sir, sorry."

Taking this to mean he was going to have to wait further, the Hallmaster set his carisaks on the ground and then walked down the aisle, drinking the water from the skin on his belt. He wasn't looking forward to the trip back-not at all. "Aye well take your time. Maybe the rain will let up."

"I wish." Lafael ducked out of the stall and walked behind the man, since the saddle and reins were where the man was going. "I'm beginning to think all it ever does here is rain. This has been going on for almost a month, it seems."

"At least when it rains, that means no Threadfall. It also means better crops." Relik smiled to himself. As it was, it didn't bother the old seaman when he was on a boat. Traveling overland without cover though wasn't fun in a downpour. "Course weather like that is normal for a coastal Hold."

Lafael nodded at the man's words as he got the saddle and went back to the runner to put it on the colt's back. He glanced over his shoulder as he did so, at the man's knots. That was something the boy was terrible at reading. As a traveler's drudge, it hadn't been something he had to worry about. But now, in this Hold, he found it was something he really needed to get better at reading. "Sir? Where were you from again?" Hopefully, the man wouldn't mind him asking and then he could place the knots for future reference.

"Ah the seacraft hall, my boy." Usually people marked him a sailor by the grit in his voice. Most would do so by his weathered appearance. Over the turns, the sun had done its work. "I'm the Hallmaster, Relik." Of course he didn't have as much common business in the Hold yet so he wasn't here often. He saw more of Citrus Bay or Avian Point due to his location.

"Oh!" Lafael clamped his hand over his mouth and stared wide eyed at the man. "So are you in charge of all the ships then?" Already his mind was spinning, as it was so soon after his talk with Taril about going to the ships.

"Well I'm not the Masterseacrafter but...as far as the ones going in and out of my Hall and the ones that come through here regularly...They deal with me yes." Unlike other crafts, the seacraft was a bit different. Every Captain was autonomous on his own ship so they had the authority at sea. However, Relik was the one that trained their men and built their ships so out of respect he held some deference.

Trying to appear casual, Lafael asked, "Does anyone take on new ship mates? L-like, do they need any cleaners or helpers?"

"There's always room for a cabin boy or two." Relik shrugged, knowing many of the young boys ran off to join a ship crew, especially in a seahold. It was an easy way to travel and see the world without disappointing fathers. A seaman could make a respectable living off the water.

"A cabin boy?" The way he said it made it sound like Relik was talking about him becoming a bronzerider. Lafael's face lit up. "What sorts of things do cabin boys do?"

"Help cook, run errands, run messages, assist the Captain, trim sails, and whatever else is needed. Eventually you would learn how to stand watch and other things, depending on need." A ship's cabin boy was meant to transition into other things as he became older. It was the way people usually started though, especially if they weren't trained apprentices. Relik scrutinized the boy, judging him. Looked like he needed some food on his bones. **Would he even be able to run from bow to stern once without dying?** Then again, the skinny ones were usually faster.

"And do you just show up? How do you get taken in?" Lafael led the colt out as he asked. He may have been absentminded but the runner's coat gleamed from a good brushing, as did the leather of the saddle.

"Captains post crew vacancies on the boards at the docks, or in the Harbormaster's office. If they have one, you present yourselves to them and if they want, they take you on." Relik took a look at Batten. Satisfied with his readiness, he began to load his carisaks into the runner's saddlebags. He didn't feel the same kinship with the animal as he did his helm, but he appreciated the ease of convenience while traveling on land than being dependent upon trader caravans or other means. Besides, as his property, the animal would be cared for regardless.

That sounded easy enough. "So when I'm ready, can I just go to your office and then see what's around?" The docks was a bit of a scary place for the boy, it would be better if he knew there was someplace he could go to first.

"Well my office is quite far from here. The harbormaster here would be able to tell you though." Relik pulled on his heavy coat and pulled the hood over his head. Older in turns, he still was nowhere near his Uncle decades. The Hallmaster made short work of getting ready, grunting as he drank from his skin. It had a bit of alcohol in it to warm him.

Last updated on the December 26th 2014

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Hopes and Dreams