A Schedule to Keep
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, Cali
Date Posted: 13th December 2009
Characters: Zathris, Isily
Description: Zathris and Isily set out on a trip to the holds.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 6, day 4 of Turn 5
"I'll be leaving you after Skybroom Cothold." Zathris announced as he double checked his gear. He smiled over at Isily. "But that will be a sevenday into your trip at least. Got everything you need?"
"Our bags are packed." Isily patted the back of her runner, the two saddle bags held a few clothes and personal items, but mostly wiring and other replacement equipment that might be needed when they visited all the various cotholds in Amber Hills on their annual maintenance check. "If we forgot anything, Rulio's little brown firelizard is pretty good about fetching little things for us."
"That's good to know." Zathris leaned against his own runner and the creature snorted and rubbed his head against the Lord Holder. "Garen should be along soon - he had to check on a couple of things."
When all four of them were situated on their runners she watched as Garen took the lead. She followed Rulio's dull brown mare and settled herself in for the half day ride to their first stop.
Zathris hovered behind them all for a few moments before pulling alongside Isily. "This your first time going around to all the cotholds?"
"Yes, but I've been to several of the closer ones." Most of those that they could reach within an few hours ride they were skipping as those were easy enough to do at a later date.
"I'm afraid one of my visits won't be very pleasant." Zathris confided with a shake of his head. "A bit of a dispute between it and a neighboring cothold."
Isily was once again glad to not have that sort of responsibility. "What's the dispute about?"
"One hold's children are running amok and stealing the other hold's nuts...nuts that are their livelihood." Zathris couldn't understand why the parents let their children do such things. "I sent a letter, but evidently that wasn't enough."
She shook her head, amazed at something so little could cause such a large problem. "But surely a few nuts can't be causing that much damage. Certainly nothing to bring to the attention of the Lord Holder?"
"Normally I'd just send one of my assistant Stewards," Zathris stated by way of agreement, "But there are a couple of holds on the way that I need to visit and they're close enough that I might as well take care of the issue myself. It also seems to be more than a few nuts from what I understand."
"Hmmm." She just mumbled agreement as she watched Rulio turn and fidget with the pack behind him on the runner. She hoped he'd insulated everything well enough, it wouldn't do to have some of the equipment damaged en route. "Well, I hope you can work it out."
"I hope so to. I don't really look forward to the possibility of disciplining someone." Zathris had thought a letter from him would do the trick, but evidently not. Had they thought it was forged, even with the stamp? Who knew. "How long did you say your trip would last?"
Isily shrugged. "Depends on what problems we find. It could be a sevenday or it could be a month. I'm hoping for closer to the former and not the latter."
"A month is a long time to be away from home." Zathris knew he would have to travel at times and be away from Benani, but that didn't make it enjoyable. "I guess there's no real way to tell."
"Traveling with friends makes it not as bad." Isily replied with a smile. Her mood about taking this trip had improved greatly when Zathris had told her he was coming along.
"It certainly helps." Zathris agreed. He wondered if he'd be able to take Benani along with her on trips he'd have to make. He'd take her on as many as he could. "You probably don't travel much outside of this sort of thing, eh?"
Isily shook her head. "No, not really. Not much opportunity to travel when you're an apprentice."
"Do you ever plan on traveling? Perhaps Amber Hills wanes on you?" Zathris teased lightly. He hoped she never would, but as a journeywoman, it was always a possibility.
She shrugged, "I don't know, maybe. I like it at Amber Hills, and options for female technicians are kind of limited in the South. I wouldn't mind going to a Weyr sometime maybe, but there weren't any openings when I was posted."
"I don't mind having you at Amber Hills." Zathris wasn't nearly as stiff about such things as Lord Benaroy had been. "And things will improve for women crafters, it will just take some time."
"Well I'm glad you 'don't mind'." Isily said with a grin. "I'd hate to feel unwanted around here."
"Now why would a lovely, charming young lady like yourself be unwanted?" Really, the idea that women shouldn't craft was foolishness. If Zathris ever heard of someone being unkind to Isily, or to any of the other women crafters...well, the one other, he'd take care of that right quick.
Her face darkened a moment then cleared again as she kicked her runner a bit to get him to catch up to Rulio and Garen. They'd fallen behind while chatting and she didn't want Rulio complaining that she was the reason they were late. They _did_ have a schedule to keep, and there would be plenty of time to talk with Zathris over the next sevenday.
Zathris lingered behind for a moment, startled by the way Isily had suddenly pushed ahead. Had he done something wrong? Zathris couldn't fathom what, if anything, so he merely urged his runner faster and remained silent. He'd ask about it later.
Last updated on the December 20th 2009