Solving a Puzzle

Writers: Ainsley1, Yvonne
Date Posted: 20th July 2007

Characters: Mariss, Evaleine
Description: Mariss and Evaleine find that their impressions of their new home do not necessarily line up with one another
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 5, day 2 of Turn 4

Mariss snuck away from the dining hall after dinner had ended. Sometimes so many people, so many _strange_ people, grated on her nerves. The songs were strange, the food was flavoured with herbs that were slightly different than those at Amethyst Cliff Hold, and the stares of the other Hold residents were often rather hostile. She was the Steward's daughter. The misfit. The woman who didn't know her place.

Most of the time she could deal with it - there were enough friendly smiles from the refugees and friends from home that made it bearable. But sometimes... Mariss sighed as she found a padded bench against a wall and sat down. Sometimes she just wanted to go _home_.

Trouble appeared, chirping, and settled onto the bench next to her. Mariss smiled and gave his head a little scratch before tucking her feet beneath her and drawing a mess of interlocked rings from her pocket. Her father had bought it for her at the last market day. The vendor had sworn they'd come apart, but she hadn't believed him until she'd made Journeyman Larstad take them apart for her. He'd done it, but then he'd put it back together again and told her (quite sharply) not to bother him until she could figure it out for herself.

That had been two days ago. **Stupid puzzle,** Mariss thought dourly, letting the rings slide through her fingers. **Why isn't anything here easy?**

"Why I haven't seen one of those in some time," Evaleine said softly, hoping not to startle the young woman. She had seen Mariss exit the dining hall and take a seat on the bench as she was walking by. Noticing the younger woman looked rather forlorn, Evaleine decided to stop and see if she could offer any solace. They had never officially met, but she knew this was the steward's daughter.

"This is the first one that I've ever had. It's driving me mad." Mariss held the rings out to Evaleine. "Do you want it?"

Evaleine chuckled and accepted the rings as she took a seat next to Mariss. "Well, not to keep, but I wouldn't mind giving it a try. It has been a very long time. Though I seem to remember that they can be frustrating, I rather enjoy the challenge of a new puzzle. Not unlike having to settle into a new place, don't you think?"

Mariss's expression stilled. "I'm sorry, but I don't recognise you from Amethyst Cliff Hold."

"I don't believe we ever met, my name is Evaleine. I came to Amethyst Cliff just before the earthquake to take care of my aunt who was ailing. Some time ago, she was one of the head cooks at Amethyst Cliff Hold, Eboinya," Evaleine explained.

"Ah. I'm sorry." Eboinya hadn't made the move to Amber Hills Hold, and had instead been buried near her home. "I guess you arrived at a rather rotten time."

"It has been hard. Interestingly enough, I think I'm going to stay on here at Amber Hills, rather than run home to Coral Bay," she stated while maneuvering the rings in her hands.

"Really? Why?"

"For a few reasons. For the most part, I see Amber Hills as a full of potential. The Hold is being redefined and I think it could be exciting to be a part of that."

The younger woman snorted. "'Redefined'? I wouldn't quite put it that way." Redefined implied a sense of purpose, and as far as she could see Amber Hills Hold was desperately trying _not_ to be redefined. Maybe Evaleine was an optimist. Mariss felt old beside her.

Evaleine cocked an eyebrow at the younger woman, "With the merging of two people's how could they _help_ but redefine themselves? Oh, I know there are going to be those set in their ways and clinging to the way things were, but really how is that possible? It is no secret that the Lord Holder was most anxious to build his numbers and repopulate his Hold, and now it is fairly bursting. That simply has to have some ramifications...for those who wish to craft...and for women."

"Think of it, women like you and me," here Evaleine's light green eyes sought out Mariss's hazel one's and took a chance, as she really did not know the other young woman at all, "Who actually have a care for more than knitting and fancy needlework, have the opportunity to influence the station of women in this hold for the next fifty turns."

"Lord Benaroy is in favour of a population boom, not seeing women crafting or doing much outside traditional roles," Mariss replied. "And he wants _his_ Hold, not to see an amalgamation of the two. This is primarily an economic grab for him." She smiled, slightly. "And that's supposing that Lord Benaroy lasts to the end of the turn. He seems to be more of a forward thinker than some of his sons."

"I could be wrong, but I think Lord Benaroy is a man who favors that which he sees as necessary. He allows female technicians, because technicians of any sort or needed. I don't think he is as so much hidebound as doing what he sees as crucial to maintaining the Hold and I think the influx of people will change things. Of course you may have a point in his successor, I have not had the chance to even meet all of his sons, there are so many of them."

"Maintaining the Hold... perhaps he and you have different interpretations of what, exactly, the Hold is," Mariss said dryly. "Tradition counts for something, here, and... I think you're right that Lord Benaroy favours necessity, but he also can remember a time when women Crafted regularly.
But his sons don't, and most of his Holders don't either. And part of being a Lord Holder is pleasing your Hold."

"There is no doubt in that, but you have to balance pleasing them with leading them into the future. Lord Benaroy has to be giving this consideration as he decides whom he will name heir. Most of this pass is still to come, and that in itself requires dramatic change. Now, with merging the Holds, there simply has to be change. Whether that is change for the better is of course yet to be seen, but I am hoping to be instrumental in making it good. You said that part of being Lord Holder is pleasing your Hold, well I plan on being one of those he is striving to please, and the more people I can influence towards more forward thinking, the more credence the ideas will hold with those in power."

She wanted to be instrumental. Perhaps she was angling to marry one of Lord Benaroy's sons - how else could she gain the ear of someone who would have influence? But Mariss bit down on her reply - if Evaleine was going to be idealistic, then who was she to burst her bubble? It wasn't even a gender thing, anymore - it was all about class. "You solved the puzzle!
You'll have to show me how to do that."

"I would be more than happy to. It really all comes down to how you look at it," Evaleine replied with a smile.

Last updated on the July 22nd 2007

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Solving a Puzzle