A Step Up

Writers: Suzee, Len
Date Posted: 4th March 2013

Characters: Halah, Benani, Ralmina
Description: Benani offers a promotioon to Halah
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 12, day 4 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Lyranel, Sofea

Benani

Benani sat on her bed with Banaris while the boy's milk mother Ledhir
fed Zathan. She tickled his toes and rubbed his belly and played silly
games as only a mother can with a baby. All for the reward of a smile.
Finally after all that work the little boy tried to coo at her. "Oooh
big boy," she said back to him and looked around the room at the
others. "Did you hear that?"

Her maid would soon be departing the main hold to live in a cot with
her husband and she would be training her replacement. Zelanka had
promised to send a likely young woman to her to choose for the
position. She knew the drudges that normally waited on them and
devoutly hoped Zelanka wouldn't send her someone like Sofea.

There was a soft knock at the door. One of the hand maids stood up
and opened it, letting in a small, plump drudge.

Ralmina chuckled at Lady Benani and her babe. Then turned as the door
opened. "Ah Halah," she had discussed the possibilities with Zelanka
when she'd found she wouldn't continue as Lady Benani's personal maid.
The girl had a good head on her shoulders from what she remembered.
Not like that silly Lyranel who'd turned the Steward blue.

"M'Lady? This is the girl Zelanka suggested."

Benani looked up to see the girl who'd helped her occasionally in the
past. "Oh, hello Halah."

"Hello Lady Benani." She curseyed before the young woman and eyed the babe.

Benani wasn't certain how much Zelanka may have said to the young
woman but she hoped Halah would take the position she was planning on
offering.

"Halah," she smiled. "I have a bit of a problem that I'm hoping you
can help me with."

"Yes, Lady?" The girl leaned forward, wondering what her Lady had in
mind for her.

"It seems that as married women do, our Ralmina will be having a
baby." She smiled her own joy of motherhood at Ralmina. "But that
presents me with a problem."

"Oh, I won't be doing that." Halah looked alarmed at just the thought
of having children

Benani almost laughed at that. "In any case, she said. "I will need a
new maid to be trained. Zelanka seems to believe you would be up to
the task."

"Really?" The girl's face lit up at that thought.

"Really," she replied. "You've assisted Ralmina in the past. Do you
feel you could do the job?"

"Oh...yes!" Did that mean no more drudgery? No more endless washing?
No more long nights cleaning up kitchens and rooms and cots? Her
face lit up with just the thought.

"Alright then," she looked at Ralmina who had been an excellent maid.
"Ralmina will train you and when she feel's you're ready, you can take
over the job."

Ralmina recognized the subtle sign of dismissal from Lady Benani and
dropped a small curtsy touching Halah on the arm to urge her to do the
same. "Thank you my Lady," she murmured and turned toward her small
domain, the Lady Holder's dressing room.

"Oh...okay." Halah gave the departing woman a sad look. What
happened to person like her, once she was dismissed? Her uncertainty
was clear on her face.

"Come with me Halah," she said in a soft whisper. She turned into the
room that served to hold the Lady Holder's clothing. "Here is where
you will care for Lady Benani's wardrobe." She pointed to the places
where various things were hung. "In here are her night things." She
opened some drawers and closed them again. "Here is her day gown for
tomorrow, and here is the gown she will wear this evening for the
banquet." The gown was in hold colors and she'd coordinated with Lord
Zathris' man to make certain they would coordinate.

"O...okay." Halah blinked at all the information. Just the thought
of having your clothes planned out seemed odd to the young girl who
had nothing of any worth beyond the lovely hair combs given to her.

Ralmina smiled and nodded at the girl. "Lady Benani selects her
clothes a day in advance so we can make sure they're clean and ready
for her use. We need to get all the wrinkles out from their time in
storage. Of course we clean and brush them when she returns them."

Halah nodded, she could do this. It was all a matter of memorising,
something she found very easy to do. "Anything else?"

"Not much," she said. "You just make sure that what ever she wants
gets done. Whether you hand it off to an appropriate person or do it
yourself doesn't matter. But if you hand it off... you still follow up
to make sure that person gets it done." Ralmina wasn't certain the
girl got the importance of that last bit but she didn't want to scare
the poor girl so she smiled. "Clear? Do you have any questions for
me?"

The girl shook her head. "When do I start?"

"Right away," she smiled. "I'll be leaving the Hold soon and you'll
want to ask questions now if you're wanting an answer from me. The
Headwoman wants you trained before I go."

Last updated on the March 23rd 2013

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