Other Paths We Could Have Taken

Writers: Avery, Heather
Date Posted: 23rd January 2016

Characters: Yusanis, Benamil
Description: Yusanis meets someone while exploring the Hold.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 3, day 8 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Zelanka, Zathris, Benani

Benamil

Yusanis had settled his belongings into the temporary quarters given him
by the Headwoman, and now he was out exploring Amber Hills. It was a
pleasant day so he was outside by the stables. He'd been before as a guest
for Gathers, being a huge fan of the runner races. But if he was going to
be here for quite some time, he wanted to get a feeling for the place, to
reaffirm to himself the decision was a good one.

Benamil was out in the stables, as usual, sleeves rolled up to his
forearms, hat tilted down over his eyes as he carried out put up the large
metal file he'd used on the runner's hooves. Trimming hooves had to be one
of his least favorite things to do as a beastcrafter, but it was necessary.

"Hello there." Benamil said jovially to the man standing near the stables
as he came out, took off his hat, wiped his forehead on his sleeve and
deposited the hat back atop his head
"Hello there. I'm Yusanis," he greeted.

"Well met, Benamil." He stuck out his hand.

Yusanis shook it. "Pleased to meet you. Beastcrafter, I see. You involved
in the racing runner line here at all?"

"Yes, I help with the jockey training and such. More than anything I lose a
lot of marks on betting at the races." Benamil smiled good-naturedly,
luckily for him he had plenty of marks to lose.

"I love watching the races here. Your runner stock is truly outstanding. I
always wanted an Amber Hills bred of my own," he admitted.

"Thank you, Amber Hills takes great pride in it of course. It started under
my father." Benamil said.

Yusanis' own father was of the age where death was possible, so he'd
retired in favor of his heir so he could be an advisor. He wondered how
Benamil felt about his loss.

"He was a wise man."

"In many ways, yes, in some ways no." Benamil admitted. "So what brings you
to Amber Hills?"

"I heard about the open Stewards position and wanted to see if there was a
place for a solid understeward like myself. I'm visiting with my cousin
while I wait."

Benamil's eyebrow arched curiously, "Who is your cousin?"

"Corran, a guard here. He wrote to me saying if I was tired of waiting
around Malachite Gulch, Amber Hills had openings and promises. And it's
certainly a better area to ride."

"Ah, Corran, he's taken my fair share of marks in dragonpoker."
Benamil often stopped by the guards barracks and had a game with the
other men.

It sounded like him. "He and I are the stable folk of the family. He's
been trying to sell me on coming here for at least a Turn. I think it
was hard to adjust after Amethyst Cliff, but he seems happy here. I'm
tired of the fact that Malachite Gulch is saving the top position for
the Lord's other son. Somewhere like here looks great. Any advice you
have about living here?"

"Yes," Benamil's voice was dry, "don't tell anyone you're single or
you'll have the entire Hold trying to set you up. Amber Hills is a
tight knit place and _everyone_ knows _everything_ that is going on."

Yusanis laughed at that one. "Inundated in more dates than you ever wanted?"

Benamil rolled his eyes and dropped his head back, "Yeeessss, you have
no idea. The most horrible dates you could ever imagine. Now," he
snapped his head back up to look at Yusanis, "I'm not saying there are
_no_ nice, eligible women at Amber Hills but.... You might want to
send off for one."

"As long as I don't send off to my home hold. My brother wants me to
marry someone from there, 'keep the Lord's bloodline going', even when
he doesn't want me home."

"I don't know why my family is so insistent that I find a wife. After my father died Benani marrying Zathris made it so that neither me nor any of my brothers will ever inherit Amber Hills. Which is just fine by me." Benamil enjoyed working as a beastcrafter.

"I suppose they want the bloodline to keep going, in case something happens to Benani's heirs?" Yusanis guessed. "With your father having had many children, it meant many options to keep it in the line. Or perhaps one of your children will wind up inheriting somehow."

"I have enough siblings to make up a ball team. The likelihood of any of my offspring ever inheriting Amber Hills is about as real as me being the next Dragonsfall Weyrleader." Benamil grinned.

He snorted at the image. "Who'd want that job?"

"A masochist, I would imagine." he replied.

"I'm glad I was never Searched. I'd have said no to it. I rather like my job and being on the ground. Runners are the most speed I want."

"I'm in agreement with you there." Benamil tipped his hat back on his head. "I'd better get back to work. It was nice meeting with you, though. Good luck with the position."

"Thank you. If I'm hired on I'll be seeing you around," Yusanis said.

Last updated on the January 27th 2016

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Other Paths We Could Have Taken