Uneasy Partnership

Writers: Chelle, Vix
Date Posted: 10th October 2008

Characters: Vanea, Sarban
Description: Sarban and Vanea discuss working together.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 12, day 19 of Turn 4

Making his rounds, Sarban knew he had to meet immediately with the Headwoman. Of course he already knew Vanea from his previous residency and even his work as Understeward. "Now we'll be working together closely, won't we?" he muttered to himself as he crossed the halls to reach her office, hoping she would be there to call upon.

"Too much to do and it keeps mounting up," Vanea muttered to herself as she approached her office. She turned to shove the door open with her hip, only to almost lose her grip on the ledgers she carried when her elbow jarred against someone.

Reflexively, Sarban moved to cradle her load, trying to prevent her from dropping it. When he saw she had things in hand, he smiled slightly. "Sorry, I was coming to see you."

As she regained balance of the record books, the Headwoman nodded and started into her office. "Come in and have a seat." She deposited the books onto a table already holding several other tomes.

He looked about, then picked the only seat that seemed readily available. Sarban sat down, and stretched out his legs, a habit leftover from his seafaring days.

She sat in her own chair and regarded him critically. "You're not going to change everything, are you?"

He looked at her, then a big grin broke out on his face. "Now why would I do that? However, if there are *some* things that could be done better, then I will attempt to do them better." He liked that she just said what she was thinking.

Vanea nodded. "_Some_ things could definitely benefit from change. Others need to be left as they are. For my part, I prefer to know what will be changed and why. Some of what happens around here has good reason behind it, though not all are aware of the reasons."

"Which is why only a fool would go off half cocked, thinking he knew everything." Sarban's voice had a hint of humor in it. He was no hardened sailor, rather the jolly variety, but he did have the same sense of survival and love of working on a crew. "I plan to hold a meeting soon with you, me, Miranek, and Cousin Corowal to see what needs be done and how we can accomplish it together. I was wondering when might be a good time for you."

She tapped her fingers on the table as she thought. "Afternoons are best – early, while those in the kitchens are still washing up from the noon meal. After that I need to be available to supervise preparations for that evening."

"Swell." Sarban made a quick note of that. "In the meantime, Headwoman, what do you need from me presently?" Everyone had different expectations and it was good to be familiar with them.

She shifted the papers on her desk as she thought about her reply, then looked up to meet his eyes. "Don't consider the work within the Hold to be a punishment for everyone who shirks duties. Too often I've had so-called 'workers' sent here to wash dishes and teach them a lesson, and they require too much of my time to make their 'help' worthwhile."

Sarban nodded. "Makes sense. Now, I have a favor to ask of you." He smiled, hoping that she wouldn't think he was already asking her to do his work for him. Obviously she hadn't had good experience with other stewards in the past.

She pursed her lips, expecting the worst. "I suppose I can listen to your request."

"I'd like to set up a standing meeting time every sevenday to get together and go over things. Also, if you could possibly give me new copies of the supply lists so I can start identifying which traders and crafters we get everything from and at what prices?" Sarban was hoping he could find ways to cut costs so he could use the excess to augment current needs.

Vanea patted one of the ledgers before her on the desk, a book made thick by several additional pages placed inside the cover. "This one has most of the information that you'll need, though I need to add some entries. I'm still trying to find suppliers who truly satisfy our need for some items so I've been comparing."

"I understand. From now on, I shall try to take care of that for you. All I need is an inventory every two sevendays of what you need. I appreciate you handling it for the time you did. Do you have any notes anywhere else or is it all in here?" He hoped that he could make her life easier. Without there being a Steward, she had had to take on extra duties.

She blinked at that suggestion. For her entire time as Headwoman and before that as an assistant, the supplies had fallen to her. However, giving up this task would leave more time for other jobs. She nodded to him. "As you wish."

"That's all I have for now, then unless there's something you have to bring up?" Sarban looked at his notes, his eyebrow lifted.

"Nothing at the moment," she told him, "but I'll certainly let you know if I think of anything."

Last updated on the October 11th 2008

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Uneasy Partnership