A Whole Half Mark
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: Emma, Jane
Date Posted: 3rd November 2009
Characters: K'sedel, Zharesti
Description: Zharesti calls in on K'sedel to collect on their wager.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 5, day 22 of Turn 5
Zharesti had tip-toed into the Weyrleader's office and put the little sketch on his desk late the evening before.
It showed the pair of them, with the Weyrleader counting a huge mound of eggs. (An absolutely _huge_ mound, exaggerated for effect since that was the point the Weyrwoman was making.) The little Zharesti figure, her cheekbones and slanted eyes exaggerated so it was clear who she was, had her hand out. And around the outside of the picture was a border of eggs, each with a number inside it, and after the forty-fourth egg was a half-mark piece.
The Weyrwoman had carefully placed the sketch centrally on the desk, on top of the work left there. He must have found it.
She arrived that morning with a pile of papers that she had looked over and signed. They were his, really, being about the fighting wings - the one part of the Weyr she couldn't legitimately stake a claim to - and he would arrange for them to be disseminated or archived in the records room.
She arrived with an innocent expression and dark eyes alight with amusement.
"Good morning Weyrleader," she said as she sailed into the office without knocking.
"Weyrwoman," came the return greeting. "I believe this may be yours," K'sedel said, pointing to the drawing.
"Oh no," she protested with a smile. "It's for you."
"And you've come to stake your claim to the winnings?"
Zharesti patted the pile of papers. "To bring these back, actually, and just _perhaps_ get an acknowledgement that I did win the wager. _That_ wager."
"Ahhh," understanding dawned. "A whole half mark."
"Yes." Zharesti was cautious with her marks and quite pleased she hadn't lost anything - so far. "You don't have to hand it over right now," she offered, though usually she did like to get her marks and enjoy seeing her winnings in tangible form, "since we agreed to wager on the number of greens hatched if I won, didn't we? Do you still want to do that?"
"I think we did agree on that," a half smile crossed the Weyrleader's face. "I could get my money back."
"I could double mine." Her dark eyes were still gleaming with amusement. "So, forty-four eggs. How many do you think will hatch green?"
"I think..." K'sedel thought for a moment. "I'll say twenty one, almost exactly half."
"Twenty-five - Better make that twenty-four," Zharesti said, again choosing a number that meant there could be no tie. "Closest takes the marks."
"Agreed." The Weyrleader held his hand up, ready to shake on the bet. "May the best rider win."
Zharesti clasped the bronzerider's hand in hers and shook on the deal. "I'm sure she will."
This man - her Weyrleader - was competent and easy to get along with and she appreciated that. In her previous tenure as Weyrwoman she suspected she had experienced the extremes of leadership and it made her value what she had in K'sedel.
And, she acknowledged, it couldn't be easy for him dealing with a new Weyrwoman. That wasn't something that changed nearly as often as Weyrleadership.
"Now, about your paperwork, K'sedel," she said, placing the pile on his desk, "here it is. All back safely." She suspected people worried about papers going into her office since the place was full to overflowing with the stuff. One day she would sort it all but in the meantime she was happy to let it sit in piles on every flat surface in the room.
"I never had any doubts in that matter, if I thought those hides would come back covered in klah stains...."
"Not in my office," she assured him. "I really do know where everything is."
"I believe you. Although some may doubt it when they see your office."
"As long as they don't do their doubting in my hearing," Zharesti said with an emphatic nod. "Is there anything else we need to sort out this morning?"
"Nothing that springs immediately to mind."
"I'll leave you to it, then. Veyeth's keen to see me this morning so I'd better spend some time." Her lifemate didn't mind her absences from the Hatching Grounds, but she did object if they became prolonged.
"Have her call Nikornath if she needs anything."
"I'm sure she will."
Last updated on the November 15th 2009