Living With Burdens
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: AL, Eimi
Date Posted: 3rd June 2008
Characters: Benaroy, Zathris
Description: Benaroy puts Zathris back on his own duties.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 10, day 6 of Turn 4
Zathris stood before the door and stared at the dark wood for a moment before rapping upon it. He waited until he was given leave to enter, then did so, crossing the threshhold into the Lord Holder's office and offering Benaroy a small congenial smile. "My Lord...I have some reports for you."
"Ah, Zathris, good." The Lord Holder waved at a chair. "Please sit."
Zathris did as the Lord Holder bade him and put a stack of papers upon the desk - save one. "I'm afraid I've nothing new to report on the lost tithe. It's as if it never existed in the first place."
"Yes, I think it might be a hopeless case," Benaroy sighed. "So let us not talk about it. What else is there to report? What of our new tithe wagon? Have we enough gathered?"
"Yes, we do, though just barely." Zathris looked at the Lord Holder's tired expression and echoed Benaroy's sigh, though inwardly. He wished there was more he could do to help him. "It's ready to be sent as soon as you give the word."
"I want a guard escort, this time. We should coordinate that with Kelton." They could not afford another tithe wagon being lost!
"Of course, I thought as much." Kelton hadn't seem to pleased with him last time, but that would have to be pushed aside. "I'll speak with him this evening and hopefully we should be ready in the next day or two." Maybe sooner. "Do you wish me to persue the lost tithe any longer, my Lord?"
"Have we _anything_ left to go on? What about these thefts that you had spoken about before?" If there was still even a _chance_ they could recoop their loses it was worth persuing.
"I'm afraid, not really, except for it seems to have been done by someone who is familiar enough with the route that the guards take." Zathris shook his head. "It was done sometime between the time a guard went by and then passed by again while doing his rounds."
Well, that could be just about anyone with half a brain and some time on their hands. "And none of our people have reported any strangers trying to sell anything unusual?"
"I'm afraid not." It seemed odd, so very odd. Zathris wish he had more to go on and more to offer his Lord in answers. "I'm sorry I've not been very successful in either instance."
"Ah, well, this is not all on your shoulders." His guards also seemed to not be able to find any leads in this matter. It was rather frustrating. Whole wagon trains were rather hard to make disappear! "But we have other Hold matters to attend to. We cannot waste our time chasing after shadows."
"Yes sir." Zathris nodded. Life hadn't been easy for the Lord Holder as of late, and it had him worried. Zathris respected the man, and, of course, he worried for Benani too. She hadn't liked the way things were going with her father, with his health. All this stress couldn't be good for him. "Shall I return to my normal duties then?"
The Lord Holder considered it a moment. It sounded like there were no real leads, no real reason to persue this matter much further. "Yes,"
he finally nodded with a resigned sigh. "Perhaps its time."
Zathris lifted a hand and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry I couldn't do more, sir. I truly am. I had hoped..." He trailed off. He had hoped that he could have found the tithe and relieved Benaroy of some of his burden. That, however, did not happen. Life, sometimes, just wasn't very fair.
"The burden wasn't yours, Zathris," the Lord Holder assured him.
"It shouldn't be yours to bear alone, my Lord." Zathris stated firmly, jaw setting. "Son, when you've been a Lord Holder as long as I have, you learn to live with burdens. We have enough for a second tithe. It could be much worse." A few turns ago, they would have had to have thrown themselves at the mercy of the Weyr. At least they would not have to suffer that humiliation.
"I still wish I could do more." Zathris managed a half smile for the Lord Holder. "Perhaps you should take some time to relax once the tithe has arrived at the weyr. I know Benani has been talking about spending more time with you. She's missed you in all this craziness that's kept us so busy."
"And I have missed her. I hope we will have a chance to meet soon." Benaroy had been relieved that his daughter had found such a stable man who obviously cared for her. If only he had been able to do the same for his Royani... "Well, sir, let me know if there's anymore I can do." Zathris suggested with a small smile, standing. "If I have your leave, there are some things I'd like to get taken care of." Some small fires to put out that he certainly didn't want to trouble Benaroy with.
"By all means. Give my love to my daughter." The Lord Holder's mind was already shifting to a few small fires of his own.
Last updated on the June 7th 2008