Healing Tools

Writers: Chelle, Paula
Date Posted: 27th September 2015

Characters: Olwinna, Asley
Description: Olwinna has a commission for the printer.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 18 of Turn 8

"You're the printer? Journeywoman Asley?" Olwinna asked. The tiny healer
stood
at the doorway, holding a book that had seen better days. She studied the
printer's
workshop with the curiosity of intelligent mind.

"Aye I am. Who's asking?" Turning around and pulling up her goggles, Asley
faced
Olwinna. The tall printer's blonde hair was tied back but wisps came out
around the
headgear. It had a magnifying lens attached to it as well. Straightening up,
she removed
her gloves and saw the knots. Curious as to why she had drawn such a
visitor, she
moved forward slightly

"I'm Journeywoman Olwinna, one of the Weyr's healers. I have a commission
for you,"
Olwinna replied and walked in.

That was interesting news indeed. "Very well, journeywoman. What may I do
for you?"
She crossed over to get to her worktable. Here, a clean hide was procured
along with a
stylus. Asley saw this as a good sign-more orders coming from the Weyr's
residents meant
steady work.

"We need more copies of this book," Olwinna replied and placed the one she
was carrying
on the table in front of Asley. "The Basics of Healing-the first book an
apprentice is given
when he or she joins healercraft. We tend to keep the book to ourselves
after apprenticeship
so we need constantly new ones for new apprentices."

"How many do you require?" Asley turned over the manual, gauging the
thickness of the paper
and the binding. There were illustrations which meant it would take time to
get everything ready.
Still, it wasn't entirely impossible depending on how fast the healer needed
it.

"60 copies for starters," Olwinna replied with a smile. "There's some
detailed illustrations that
have to be copied with utmost care. You don't want your healer to mistake
your liver with your spleen."

"No I wouldn't imagine so. You'll receive a proof copy to look over before I
print the final." That way
any errors would be caught before they multiplied. "And may I ask if you
want these easy to carry
or heavy and durable?"

Olwinna looked at her own copy when she considered. "I think durability is
more important. Oh, I
think the Printer Hall had ready templates for this book when they were
here," she replied.

"Maybe. I'll have to look. I fished out everything from stores that I could
find but they took some
things when we left so it may not be here anymore." It could very well be at
the Hall since they hadn't
expected to work at the Weyr anymore when they left. Picking through the
examples of paper and bindings,
Asley made her choices and then scribbled it down. "And what form of payment
are you planning on?"

"Well, you don't look like one in need of healer's services," her gaze
roamed over Asley's body. "So,
with hall-stamped marks," she smiled.

"One never knows...I could easily get a finger smashed in the press
someday." Asley had seen that happen
and guarded carefully against it. She also wore very heavy gloves after
setting. "Or split with glass. Let's hope
not, though. Marks are just fine." Scribbling up an estimate of the cost,
she handed it over. "I'll give you a final
bill when the proof copy is approved and we start on the final printing.
That way I know exactly how much ink I
had to use."

"Please, do not smash your finger," Olwinna said fervently. "When you have
the final bill and proof copy, you
can send them directly to Weyrhealer for approval," she continued. "I'm just
a messenger," she grinned. "Not
that I mind running errands. It gives me an opportunity to meet people. Were
you here when the Hall was stationed
in the Weyr?"

"I was. I started my training at the Hall at Topaz Seahold. Then when
everything happened we moved here."
She set everything in a neat pile on her shelf of to-dos. "When the time
came to go to Emerald Falls, I went
so I could finish my training. I like it here better than the Hold though."
And now she could work at her own pace
in her own space.

"So you're already familiar with this place," Olwinna said with a smile.
"And I agree with it being better here.
Although I really don't have much to compare to, since I'm weyrbred and
never lived anywhere else."

"Ah hm...if I was a man I might feel differently. I remember what it was
like up north. That was probably the only
thing better. Here, though, you have dragons." She shrugged and tried not to
think about South Boll. Then again, as
the child of drudges her life there hadn't been full of the advantage she
had now.

"Yes, we have dragons," Olwinna said. She made a sympathetic noise and
continued: "Still, even here there are
certain expectations how women should live and behave and if you deviate
from them, you risk becoming an outcast."

"As long as I have work I don't think I mind being left alone." That wasn't
entirely true but when it came to men it was.
Asley didn't care to make the distinction though, even with a healer.

"Nobody should be alone all the time, it's not good for your mind," Olwinna
said. She flashed a charming smile, "Aaand
I'm letting my craft to speak again. I should probably get going and leave
you to your work."

"Thanks Journeywoman. I'll get to work on it as soon as possible." She had a
few things left to finish and to her delight, the
pile was growing. Eventually, she might be able to take on an apprentice.

Last updated on the September 29th 2015

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