Taking A Break

Writers: AL, Cali
Date Posted: 27th July 2009

Characters: Zathris, Isily
Description: Zathris finds Isily in the gardens and the two chat.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 3, day 24 of Turn 5

Zathris

The gardens were deserted - or so it seemed. Benani was busy and Zathris was too. Of course, that didn't mean he wasn't going to step out and get some fresh air. He had been stuffed in his office all morning. When it came time for lunch, he had decided to go down to the kitchens and grab a few meatrolls and a couple of pieces of fruit and make his lunch a walking one. There was only so much he could take at a time - he needed breaks. The hold was still recuperating from the death of Benaroy, but all the most pressing matters had been attended to. If anything had truly been urgent, he wouldn't have dared stepped out until it was dealt with. For the moment, things could wait until he had a chance to relax a bit.

He traversed the paths, making short work of the meatrolls as he did so. Most people were probably having their lunch indoors. It merely meant there was less of a chance of someone trying to flag him down in an effort to corner him. He was all alone - or so he thought. As he came around the corner, Zathris spied a familiar figure. Now this was somone he didn't have to worry about avoiding. The Lord Holder grinned and approached the young woman. "Tired of being inside too?"

Isily looked up, realizing as she saw Zathris just a few feet away that she shouldn't let her mind wander so much that someone could sneak up on her like that. While it might only be Zathris this time, it could have been someone not quite as friendly just as easily. "I needed the fresh air." she replied with as much smile as she could muster, putting the barely picked at roll in her hand down onto her napkin.

"Is something wrong?" The expression upon her face had troubled Zathris. He settled into a position beside her, eyebrows arched. "You don't look too happy."

She looked down again at her roll, embarrassed that her feelings were so easily read. "Oh, nothing's wrong. I just didn't think I'd have much of an appetite if I ate in the Hall... with someone I didn't get along with. It's not a big deal."

"Did something happen?" Zathris had the feeling she didn't want to talk about it, but he'd ask. If she didn't after that, he'd drop it.

"No." Nothing ever happened, that was the problem. "You know how it is, sometimes you just don't like people is all. What brings you out here? I'd imagine you'd have plenty of people to share your table with at mealtime."

"I'm sure there are, but I just wanted to get out and get some fresh air." Zathris waved his arm around, indicating their surroundings. "I've been in that stuffy office all morning. I needed a break _out_side, not in."

Isily smiled. "I could always hit you up as an escort again when I need to go to one of the cotholds if you need an excuse to get out of the Hold."

"There's an idea." It was tempting, Zathris had to admit. "I could make it an official visit that just happens to coincide with a request for a Technician."

She patted the bench she was sitting on, realizing late that she hadn't invited Zathris to sit with her and he was still standing like the gentleman he was. "I guess you always have to have a reason for doing something now don't you. One of the downsides of the new job huh?"

"Yes, I suppose that's way of looking at it." Zathris crossed the rest of the distance between them and sat beside her. He offered her one of the two redfruits he had procured before taking a bite out of the other. "How have you been? Haven't seen much of you lately, but considering how busy I've been, that's really not surprising."

Isily frowned at the redfruit and politely refused, if the roll on her lap wasn't appetising, the sweet fruit certainly wasn't. "No, not surprising at all. You _have_ had a entire Hold to aquaint yourself with. I think the better question would be how have _you_ been?"

"Pretty well. Getting used to things. I've been a part of Hold management for a while, but this is the first time I've been a Lord." Zathris couldn't say he didn't have his doubts. He kept those feelings hidden, however, only Benani a witness to him and she was always such an encouragement and comfort to him. "I'm sure I'll get used to things eventually. You didn't answer my question though."

"I'm fine." Isily replied with a slight smile and gave his knee a quick pat with her empty hand. "You worry too much you know that? But then again, I suppose that's what makes you such a good friend."

"I do try." Zathris finished off his redfruit and tossed the core. He pondered the second one then evidently decided to wait on it. "Been keeping busy?"

Isily brighten quite a bit, "Oh yes, a couple of us have been tinkering with the wire setups down at the Hall, I think we might have found a way to include additional units without over taxing the system. Of course, we'd have to test it to find out for sure..." she said with a momentary frown, "but we wouldn't try unless we were confident."

"How do you go about testing for that sort of thing?" Zathris was glad he didn't have to worry about such things. Call a Technician, get it taken care of and he could go on his way. He found the craft fascinating, but he also knew he'd never had an inclination for it.

Her mood had lightened, easily forgetting for the moment the scene she'd witnessed in the Dining Hall. "Well... there are a few different ways. If you're really interested, when it comes time to trying I could let you know and you could come down. Flip the switch and all that if you want."

"That could be interesting." Zathris mused as he tossed his redfruit between his hands. "As long as I don't have to do any of the technical stuff. I'm likely to blow up the entire hold. That would be just what I need for my reputation, wouldn't it?"

Isily laughed lightly, "No, I don't think that would do at all. I'll keep you away from anything too explosive though just in case."

"Then it might be all right." Zathris didn't think he'd really blow up the hold, but there was always the possibility of fire. That certainly wouldn't go over well. "Any idea on a time table?"

She thought hard for a moment, furrowing her brows as she imagined a possible timetable of events. Looking up, she shook her head. "It could be next month, or next turn. It just depends on how things go. We've got to lay out some lines and do some safe tests firsts before we do anything real interesting. I'll let you know though, promise."

"Well, I'll be looking for you then." Zathris finished off his second redfruit and threw the core in the same direction as the first. "In the mean time, I suppose I should get back to work."

"Have a good day, Zathris." Isily stood with the Lord Holder and dusted off the back of her skirt from where she'd sat on the dusty bench.

"You too Isily. Don't be a stranger. Feel free to come by and rescue me from my cave some time." Zathris gave her a salute, then turned upon his heel and walked off.

Last updated on the August 2nd 2009

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Taking A Break