Nice Talking to You

Writers: Eimi, Rylie
Date Posted: 30th March 2006

Characters: Nyblek, Otrina
Description: Otrina meets Nyblek while delivering a message
Location: Smith Hall (NPC)
Date: month 10, day 15 of Turn 3

Otrina was always been reticent about venturing into the hall, but the
message for Daynar had come via dragonrider, so she thought it was
important enough to seek out her father. She had been unsuccessful in
locating him thus far, however, so when she came across the tall
apprentice, she decided to ask about the hallmaster's whereabouts.

"Pardon me, do you know where I might find Hallmaster Daynar?"

"Um, yeah," Nyblek said with a shy smile. "He's in the chemists'
storeroom. If you go down the hall, take a left, then a right at the
intersection, another left until you hit the lab, then round the
corner..." He could see a look of slight confusion cross her face.
"Would you like me to deliver it for you? I wasn't doing anything
important."

"Oh, well, thank you," Otrina said, but held the message tight. Though
her father did not like her venturing into the hall, she had to believe
he'd be more upset about her giving an important message to the first
person she met. "Perhaps you could take me to where he is?" she asked
demurely, thinking that the apprentice was quite handsome. He was tall,
and broad-shouldered, he must be one of the older boys.

"Of course. Right this way," he said using his most polite manners.
Nyblek knew who Otrina was. Hopefully, he could just point the door out
and run before Daynar caught him with his daughter. He had great
respect for the Hallmaster, but also knew he was protective of his
little girl.

"My name is Otrina," she said quietly as she hurried after the
apprentice. He probably knew who she was, but it seemed polite, and she
had few chances to talk to people. "What is yours?"

"Yeah. I know your name," the apprentice replied with another shy
smile. "My name is Nyblek. I'm an apprentice. But you probably
already know that." Shards, but he just didn't know what to _say_ to
girls.

A bashful smile tugged at Otrina's lips. "I figured. For how long?" she
asked, her longing for a little conversation overcoming her own shyness.

He shyly offered her his arm since that's what boys were _supposed_ to
do as he had been taught. "Um... Well, I've been an apprentice here
about two or three turns."

Her big brown eyes widened slightly in surprise, as she took his arm. She
would have guessed him to have been older. He had such nice manners and
he seemed taller than many of the junior apprentices. "And what about
the Smith Hall do you like best?"

"I like jewelry classes," he said a bit more confidently. They were
steering into a bit more familiar territory. He could talk all day
about that. "Journeyman Jarthir is working with me and teaching me some
of his techniques."

"Oh, I've seen some of his work, it's beautiful! I think learning how
to create something so lovely is wonderful."

"Yes, that's exactly it," Nyblek smiled. "I want to make something
beautiful. Not something pretty, but something truly _beautiful_, like
Jarthir can make."

Otrina's eyes sparkled in admiration at such aspirations. "My mother
had a piece made by one of father's colleagues who has passed away now.
It is magnificent! You wouldn't believe the detail in the setting and
the stone is cut just perfectly."

"What kind of stone?" the apprentice asked curiously as he steered her
around a corner.

The girl followed his lead with a light step. "An opal. It has the
most brilliant colors! I think the smith who crafted it was rather
sought after in his day," her brow wrinkled in concentration then shook
her head, "No, I can't remember the name, but you should see it. It is
a true work of art."

"Was it Master Kinkar? Or Master Mainor?"

"Oh, Kinkar, yes I'm quite sure that was it."

"Oh, yes, Master Kinkar was very famous," Nyblek nodded thoughtfully.
"We still study his technique for gem cutting and learn his method of
gem selection in our jewelry classes. He was from the _Main_ Smith Hall
in the South."

Otrina nodded with interest. It was nice to be spoken to like an
intelligent person. Her father would no more discuss gem cutting with
her than suggest she apprentice somewhere. "Have you seen other of his
work?" Otrina was seldom allowed to spend time in the crafthall so she
did not know what might be available for the apprentices to examine.

"I've only seen one piece that he actually made himself. It's locked
tight. But I've seen a few well done replicas." He searched his
memory. "Nothing with an opal, though. I bet it's just beautiful."

"Oh, it is. My mother treasured it," Otrina said, wishing that she could
show it to the young apprentice, knowing that he would truly appreciate
the workmanship. His step slowed and she looked at the room before
them. "Is this where we are headed?" the blonde asked softly as she
reluctantly released Nyblek's arm.

"Yes ma'am, this is the chemists' storeroom," Nyblek nodded with a shy
smile. He knew he should leave before her father saw him talking to
her. "Well, it was nice talking to you."

"It was nice talking with _you_ Nyblek," Otrina answered, offering a
winning smile, "I hope we meet again sometime." Somehow she would make
certain that they did.

Last updated on the April 11th 2006

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Nice Talking to You