Holder and Healer

Writers: Kate, Avery
Date Posted: 6th June 2007

Characters: Kaefen, Ishek
Description: Ishek welcomes a new Healer, Kaefen, to Garnet Valley Hold.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 3, day 6 of Turn 4

Ishek had, of course, been to the Hold Infirmary before. A Lord Holder
went everywhere in his Hold at least once. If he needed information
about
the Infirmary he went right to the Master's office, assuming that the
Master hadn't come to him first.

However, a new Healer had come to his Hold. Ishek always liked to
welcome new people.
Besides, he needed a distraction. That was why he came into the
Infirmary and smiled at
the apprentice he saw. "Can you find Journeyman Kaefen for me?" he
asked and watched the
apprentice scurry off.

The apprentice came up behind Kaefen, stating that Lord Ishek had
asked for him. Setting
down the hides he had been browsing, he dismissed the apprentice and
went to greet the
man. Turning the corner outside his office, Kaefen smiled and held out
his hand in
greeting.

He wasn't expecting a visit from the Lord, but knew that he would have
to meet him sooner
or later, since he was contracted by Hold itself. "Good morning, Sir.
I am Journeyman
Kaefen."

"Good morning, Journeyman." Ishek said, taking his hand. "I'm Lord
Ishek. How are you
doing? Settling in well, I hope?"

Kaefen nodded. "Settling in very well actually. My wife is very happy
with the move,
which is very helpful. And I have enough here to keep me busy for
quite some time." He
paused, glancing behind him to make sure the apprentices were still
somewhat working.

"I'm glad. I hope there's nothing too different from what you're used
to? If not in the
Infirmary, then in the Hold itself. I know it took me some time to
adjust." he admitted.
He was feeling like a fish out of water now more than ever, with all
the unpleasant
flashbacks and worries that he shouldn't be here.

"It's very different from the Hall, but I was Hold raised, so it
somewhat feels like
home." He smiled reassuringly. Kaefen had heard rumors about the Hold
and was trying not
to express his hesitancy about simply being there.

As a Healer, even a Junior Journeyman, he knew he would be submitted
to much of the
Hold's activities and was bent on keeping a level head about what he
had heard and what
he thought had and would go on.

"That's fortunate." Ishek said. "Tell me a bit about yourself, if you
have the time. I
enjoy knowing about those who live here."

Kaefen was a bit surprised at the genuine interest of the Lord Holder
and happily
obliged. "Well, this is my first stationing at a Hold as a Healer. My
wife and I, we felt
we needed to get away from the Hall for a bit, if not just to get away
from her parents."
He smiled then, even though he wasn't sure if the man would quite understand.

"You're a traveler, then, rather than a man who likes to stay in one
location?"

Kaefen nodded and grinned. "When I was younger, I would have preferred
it. But, Isuel has
made sure that I don't feel that way now." He paused. "I'm sure always
feel the urge to
move somewhere new every once in awhile, whether I'll act on it is
another thing all
together."

"I happen to hope you'll stay some time." Ishek said. "Of course, I
know the feeling
myself. Sometimes, a place just isn't big enough for you." And
sometimes a place was too
big, too scary, too much responsibility. Ishek just wanted somewhere
small, somewhere
home.

Agreeing silently, Kaefen replied. "Have you been here long? Or has
Garnet Valley always
been home?"

"I'd only been to the main Hold a few times before I was appointed
Lord." Ishek admitted.
"I believed I would be our minor hold's Steward while my brother was
its Lord. It was
strange to come here, but I think it's home now."

"As long as if feels like home." Kaefen nodded, understanding now how
the man would
understand his predictement. Being moved to a new place, with nothing
but the knowledge
that you have a job to do. It was comforting in a way.

"So you wanted a Hold assignment. Did you pick here, or was it
assigned?" Ishek wondered.
Sometimes that affected people's temperaments.

"I was assigned here, but still very happy with the arrangement." He
said, running a hand
through his hair. "I get the feeling that my wife and I will be for a
long time." Kaefen
smiled. "Even though we have been here for such a short time, so far,
we are very
content."

"That's news I like to hear." Ishek said sincerely. "So, do you
specialize in any part of
the craft, or are you a general practicioner? I'm sorry I don't know
more about how it
works. I never had the chance to craft."

Kaefen nodded. "General practice. Learned a little about practically
everything, which I
believe will come in handy here at the Hold. In case of more urgent or
complicated
incidences, I will alert the Hall and get the help I need."

"Sound like you'll fit in nicely. Know anything about animal
wounds?"Ishek asked.

"I've never worked with animals before, but depending on the
condition, I might be able
to make a diagnosis, since many of the things that ail us, also ail
the animals." He
smiled and shrugged slightly. "Though, I'm not sure the animals will like me."

"Oh, no, we have beastcrafters for that." Ishek shook his head. "I was
being unclear. You
see, we have a feline problem. So far it's confined to animals, but
people might be hurt
soon, and they'll be brought here for treatment." he explained. "I
don't know if you were
briefed on that."

"Oh." Kaefen laughed lightly at himself for his misinterpretation. "In
that case, yes, I
would be able to help. Since it's a feline problem, depending on the
severity of the
wound, a simple washing with antiseptic and a salve to keep out
infection should be
enough." He paused for a second, thinking. "How long
have the felines been a problem?" He was worried that if they are
carrying bacteria, that
that might also become an issue.

"Several months. They're killing animals. I have no idea how bad it
would be with people."

Kaefen folded his arms, musing for a minute. "If I get anything
suspicious through here,"
He motioned at the Infirmary behind him, "I'll let you know as soon as
possible."

"I appreciate it." Ishek said. "Other then that, it's the typical
injury you might
expect. Scraped knees, small cuts, all the accidents of normal life."

Nodding, "That's good to hear." He was very glad to hear that it wasn't
normal for severe incidents. Another reason he was happy to be
stationed at a Hold with a
smaller population. Kaefen knew that if he had been sent to a Weyr, he
would have been
swamped with patients every day, and seeing his wife would difficult.

"Is there anything else you want to know? Either about the job or the
Hold or something
else?"

"I don't think so. Not right now at least. I'm sure as I go I'll have
questions and
such." Kaefen said. "I haven't gotten many patients as of yet, which
is a good thing.
Been trying to get things tidied up and such lately."

"That's a very good thing indeed." Ishek smiled at the new transfer.
"Feel free to call
on me anytime, Kaefen." he said. "I'm always available to those at my Hold."

"Thank you very much, Lord Ishek." Kaefen replied, nodding slightly,
before heading back
to his piles of hides and ointments.

Last updated on the June 19th 2007

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Holder and Healer