Meaty issue

Writers: Paula, Vix
Date Posted: 31st January 2008

Characters: Vanea, Corowal
Description: Vanea and Corowal talk about a problem with the Hold's food deliveries.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 8, day 23 of Turn 4

The Headwoman carried a ledger and a pen as she knocked on the open door of the office. "Lord Holder? Are you ready for our meeting?"

"Yes, I am, please get in and take a seat Vanea," Corowal replied. He was just putting some books back to the shelf.

She entered the room and placed the ledger on the desk, seating herself opposite the Lord Holder's usual chair. During the months since she had been appointed Headwoman, these meetings had become slightly more comfortable for her, but she still worried that her work would not be considered satisfactory and she still waited for him to take the lead.

Corowal took his own seat. "So, what's in for the today?" he asked.

She opened the book and glanced over her lists, though she was already familiar with the information. "The laundry problems have been solved.
The mix-ups in delivery of clean clothing to the correct quarters were due to carelessness on the part of two of the workers. Those two no longer are assigned together and their new partners are not as prone to become involved in chatting and to forget their duties."

"Good to hear," Corowal said and tried his best to not look bored. These things really belonged to a Lady Holder, but he had no wife.

"Little has changed as far as accommodations or assignments for those who clean them," Vanea continued. "And the kitchen is functioning well, both the equipment and the staff. However, there have been a few problems with provisioning."

"What kind of problems?" Corowal wanted to know.

"The meat that has been delivered to us," she explained. "Much of it seems old or lean, and is very stringy and tough. We need to cook it for much longer, something that isn't possible for all of the roasts we have, at least not with the number of them that must be prepared."

"Who's been delivering them?" Corowal asked.

"I never really paid much attention." She frowned as she spoke, seeking to remember. "It's been the same journeyman the past several times.
Gastar. . . Gasten. . . something like that.

"Not a holder?" Corowal checked. Sometimes holder thought that they could get away with their tithes by sending the worst of their lot.
Mouldy grains and oldest beasts. When he had been Steward, he had dealt with such problems many times. He made note to himself to check with the Steward's staff the quality of the tithes they received from their holders.

She shook her head. "The meat I've seen being brought in has come directly from the Hold's beast pens, and usually a crafter delivers the haunches, though he may have an apprentice or two toting them."

"Hhmm, we should probably ask from master Aivorn about it then," the Lord holder said thoughtfully.

"I'd appreciate your help in this," she told him. "After all, the workers of the Hold are much happier and more productive when they're well-fed."

"It is an important thing," Corowal said.

"It is, but I hate to bother you with matters that I feel I should be able to handle on my own."

Corowal just shrugged. "Let's hear what master Aivorn had to say in the matter."

She nodded to that. "Yes, Lord Holder."

Last updated on the January 31st 2008

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Meaty issue