Keys

Writers: Paula, Vix
Date Posted: 11th May 2007

Characters: Corowal, Vanea
Description: Corowal fulfills one of his first duty as Lord Holder, appointing Vanea Headwoman.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 3, day 8 of Turn 4

**As if I didn't have enough to do,** Vanea grumbled to herself as she made her way down the corridor. She had been working in the kitchen storerooms, taking inventory and making out a list of needed supplies, when the summons had arrived, calling her to a meeting with Lord Corowal. Since the resignation of the Hold's Headwoman, many of these tasks had fallen to her and though she had taken them on willingly, she hated being interrupted in the middle of _anything_.

One of his first acts as Lord Holder, Corowal knew, was to nominate new Headwoman and new steward. He already knew who he wanted as headwoman, based on the previous headwoman's recommendations and his own experiences with her. But he had no idea who could replace him as steward. He was playing with idea of calling one of his half-brother's from Coral Bay, or maybe Ofelia's little brother.. what was his name again.

She had trudged up the steps, lamenting that this trek was drawing her so far from the work that needed done. However, at the door to the Lord Holder's reception room, she paused, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.

"Please, enter," Corowal called. He smiled at the woman when she step inside. "Greetings, Vanea. I apologize for pulling you out from your work."

She entered tentatively. "It's alright, Steward. . . Lord Corowal." She blushed at her mistake.

"It's allright, it takes time to people to get used to it. I only have one simple question for you to answer: Do you want to be the Hold's Headwoman?" Corowal said and sprung his surprise. He enjoyed watching their face when he just blurted out major questions like that.

Vanea stared at him blankly, her mind fogged by her verbal blunder and by the work that still waited in the kitchen. "Do I want to be. . .?" She stared at him, eyes narrowed as she tried to decide whether he meant it. "I've never been a Headwoman, even at a smaller hold - only an assistant."

"I know. I also know you have got very good recommendations and from what I have heard, you're already doing most of the Headwoman's duties," Corowal said. He picked up a large, heavy keyring from his desk. It was the Headwoman's keyring that had keys to almost every door in the hold. It was also kind of unofficial badge of the position. "Don't tell me you don't want to wear this?" he made the keys jiggle.

She almost said no, but the keys caught her attention, mesmerizing her. If someone else wore those keys, the person would need to learn how the Hold was run. That person might change some of the practices that Vanea had worked so hard to put in place, practices that helped to organize what was done. That person might ignore her suggestions for other changes, changes she had in mind to further streamline the tasks in kitchen and elsewhere in the Hold. And whatever that person did, Vanea would have to live and work with those procedures, whether they made sense or not. "Yes." She answered without consciously making the decision and reached for the keys.

Corowal gave them to her. "Congratulations, you're now the hold's new headwoman."

"Thank you, Lord Corowal." At least she had used the correct honorific this time, though she felt as if she were moving in a haze. "I'll . . . Are there any special instructions you have for me?"

"Well, my family and I need to move to Lord Holder's quarters. If you would assign few sturdy lads to help?" Corowal asked.

"I'll do that immediately," she told him, already assessing which of the drudges were the most reliable and discrete. In the back of her mind the thought surfaced that she would also be moving to new quarters but she shoved that concern aside, knowing that the needs of the Lord Holder came first, as well as the organization of her new office. "The rooms have been kept clean, but I'll send a crew to freshen them and to see that all is well." Of course, she would also inspect the rooms before a single item was moved into them.

"Good. I leave it to your capable hands, Headwoman," Corowal said.

"Yes, my Lord. Thank you, my Lord." With a slight bow and clutching the key ring tightly in her hand, Vanea exited the room, wondering exactly what she had taken on.

Last updated on the May 14th 2007

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Keys