An Auspicious Beginning
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: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 30th November 2005
Characters: Almonteo, Traelyn
Description: Almonteo meets with the Weyrwoman to discuss the upcoming Harper Hall Welcome
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 22 of Turn 3
Almonteo knew his wife would kill him if she knew he handed the Weyrwoman the schedule for the Harper Hall welcome with lunch stains all over it. He tried to recopy it as fast, but as ledgible as possible. **I do hope the Weyrwoman will find some excuse to be late...**
Unfortunately for the Hallmaster, Traelyn was right on time. She knocked politely on his door and waited patiently for a reply, tucking a stray lock that had escaped her braid back behind her ear.
"All right, all right, come in!" he called, sighing as he set the half copied schedule to the side. "Come on in Trae and have a seat."
"And how are you today, Almonteo?" she asked with a smile, coming over to sit in the chair across from him.
"Hurried. I... Well, I spilled stew all over your copy of the schedule and I was trying to recopy it for you, but you came too soon." He held up the hide covered with dots and smears of food all over it piteously.
She peered at the hide closely, biting her lip, trying not to laugh at him. But when she met his gaze, her own was glinting with amusement. "Hungry, were you?" she asked, her tone a deceptive mask of neutrality.
"Weyr food is rather good," the Hallmaster replied, trying to maintain his serious face. "Good enough to share, it seems."
She couldn't help it. Trae began to laugh.
Almonteo joined her. "This event is off to an auspicious begining, isn't it!"
"Very auspicious," she replied, grinning. "Really, Almonteo, hasn't Carmora reminded you not to eat while looking over hides?"
"Here's a secret," he said as he leaned forward conspiritorially. "I love my wife. I _adore_ my wife. I cannot live without my wife. But I don't always _listen_ to my wife."
Her dark eyes widened in feigned shock. "Are you serious, Hallmaster? Ohthat's sad. That's very sad indeed. What would she _say_ if she heard that coming from you?"
"Oh, but she'd _never_ hear that coming from _me_," he said with an emphatic shake of his head. "I would be sleeping on the couch the rest of my life."
Traelyn covered her mouth with a hand, her gray eyes gleaming mischeviously as she looked at him. "Then I'll be sure not to breathe a word of this conversation to her. I wouldn't want you to suffer through the long nights alone."
"I suffered through a week on the couch once. That was enough." He smiled a secret smile, though, as he remembered the welcome his wife had given him on his return.
"Mmm. I'm sure it was, Almonteo." She scooted closer, peering down at his desk where the new hide with the same instructions were hurriedly scrawled down on it. "What does that say?" she asked, pointing to a particular line.
"Hmmm... You know, I can't tell." He consulted the stew stained hide. "Ah. Yes, it says 'A newly comissioned piece by Senior Journeyman Tarney in honor of the occassion.'"
She raised her eyes to his. "Has this journeyman finished the commission? Have you heard it?"
"We've been practicing it for days," Almonteo smiled. "Can't get it out of my head, in fact. I think you will like it. He came from the Weyr originally, you know. His brother is a bronzerider even. Not here, at River Bluff. But still, he seemed like the perfect person to write a piece for us."
Traelyn smiled. "I'm looking forward to hearing it."
Almonteo's eyes lit up. "I'm looking forward to the dancing. You might not believe this about me, but even at my age, I am a very good dancer."
Her smile turned into a grin. "You're the Harper Hallmaster, Almonteo. I'd be shocked if you _weren't_ a good dancer! I love to dance too... It's my favorite thing to do at Gathers and Hatchings..."
"Well,then I will have to claim you for a dance then!" he grinned. "That is, of course, unless you would be ashamed to stand up and take a turn with a man old enough to be your father."
"Oh hush," she laughed. "I'd love to dance with you!"
"Well, you know, I wouldn't steal you away from your Weyrleader for the whole evening..."
"How polite of you, Almonteo," Traelyn grinned.
"But I do promise it will be an unforgetable night," he grinned. "With that many harpers in one place, how could it _not_ be?"
Traelyn couldn't disagree with him there!
Last updated on the December 1st 2005