Juicy piece of gossip

Writers: Chelle, Paula
Date Posted: 19th August 2013

Characters: Corowal, Sarban
Description: Corowal and Sarban exchange news while working.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 2, day 25 of Turn 7
Notes: L'cor and D'ale (not by name), Zathris, Erassa, Reven, Arippa,
Felyna (who they didn't mention, those gossips).

Corowal and Sarban were going through the day's mail. Reading a letter from
Amber Hills Hold, Corowal suddenly started to chuckle. "Oh, that's so
rare!" he burst out into full laughter.

"What's that?" Sarban enjoyed getting the news, though more and more it
seemed like folks were relying on the firelizards to get their messages
quickly instead of sending letters anymore.

"Remember Lady Yanley? The one Lord Golansin divorce a Turn ago, because
she couldn't get pregnant? Well, she _is_ pregnant now," Corowal was openly
smirking at the other Lord Holder's misfortune.

"Yanley is Amber Hills Blood....so who is she married to now then?" Sarban
asked offhand, not really expecting an interesting answer.

"Well, that's when it get interesting...she ain't married. It appears her
baby's father is some dragonrider," Corowal grinned.

"Oh shells.....and what does Zathris have to say about that?" Sarban was
grateful it wasn't any of their women getting herself into such a
situation. There was respectability to consider and usually breeding won
out. Hold women knew not to do such a thing.

"He's trying to convince her to move to the Weyr. Shards, something like
this will create a lot of talk! My kissing Erassa is nothing compared to
this. Golansin is so going to hear about it in the next Conclave!" Corowal
gave Sarban a playful nudge.

"Hmmm so obviously he's not trying to create an issue with the Weyr then,
trying to avoid it instead. Because frankly for a dragonrider to knowingly
affect a Hold Bloodline like that...." Sarban thought such reckless
behavior was grounds for punishment at least though there was nothing to do
about it now.

"Well, I wouldn't want to anger the Weyr. I rather not had burrows on my
fields," Corowal said and put the letter away.

"Yeah I know, but surely they wouldn't like the way it looked either. I
mean if I was Weyrleader, I wouldn't want my riders going around and
creating issues with the Holders. They might cut my tithe or something."
And therein Sarban hit on something, but it was Zathris' decision, not his.
"Either way, it's a good thing we don't have riders coming around here all
the time and trying to woo our women. At least Dolphin Cove knows better.
Speaking of which, how's your kid doing?"

"We don't have Vintner Hall's Tavern to attract many dragonriders." Corowal
replied with a shrug. They had a Tavern but it wasn't nearly as famous or
popular as the one in Vintner Hall. "He's doing well, getting lessons from
various members of Amber Hills' Blood."

"Ah no, I meant the other one." He scratched his nose, hoping Corowal would
pick up on the fact that he meant the new bronzerider.

"Oh, him. He's doing fine too. He should be practicing flying, if I'm not
mistaken," Corowal replied with proud grin.

"Maybe it's a good thing then we don't advertise our tavern. Promoting
loose women and all that. Keep it small. I will say though the runner
station is doing well now that we have the small settling party at Verdant
Grove." They were making progress. It was small steps surely, but progress.
It was close enough too that Sarban could keep an eye on the place and keep
them supplied with what they needed.

Corowal nodded. "Now, if we can only get Giffin to keep his greedy hands
off of Merry Brook's timber..." he said, picking up another letter. "Or
find a good holder to take care of Merry Brook. Take a look at this man, he
might have potential," he handed the letter to Sarban. "Do a background
check on him, will you?"

"I'll have Zandan look into it," he replied as he read over things.
"Usually the ones with a lot of family do better though." Not that single
men didn't deserve a chance, but it was easier when they had built in
support.

"A man with a family has usually established himself and is more reluctant
to uproot his family and leave to settle a border hold. A young, ambitious
man is more willing to leave and carve his fortune in the world. Family
would get into the picture later. At least we now have Reven safely
married."

"Oh I don't necessarily mean a wife and children. Brothers, cousins...you
know folk to help." He smiled softly, thinking in his head **Like me**.
"They tend to stick around. Yes, Reven is taken care of as long as he keeps
a good head on his shoulders and manages to get some good crafters."
Hopefully the young man would be fine. Arippa had the training to keep the
Hold itself domestically managed.

"We could ask Harper Hall to spread the word that we are looking for likely
Holders," Corowal said thoughtfully.

"Anyone have any second sons that won't inherit?" That was always a
possibility, though Sarban couldn't keep track of the Bloodlines. That was
Felyna's world.

"Probably. I know Onyx Hills has and Lazur Lake...although since Golansin
doesn't have a direct heir, he might want to keep his kin close so he can
choose an heir from them," Corowal mused.

"Well bring it up at the next Conclave or even if you go to visit. Once we
get Verdant Grove worked out, I think it'll just be a few more months until
we would have the resources to try and bring Merry Brook back. We could
work on the buildings and such then." Sarban wanted to focus all their
resources into the first venture.

Corowal nodded his agreement. "Verdant Grove was once such a beautiful
hold. The main building was something of an architectural wonder."

"Well it will be again or my name isn't Sarban by Faranth." It made him
feel good when he could do things like this. Not only did it strengthen
Emerald Falls as a whole when they had more minor holds producing and
active in the area and less vacant room for holdless to occupy but it gave
a chance to hardy folk to carve out a life for themselves which was what
Holding was all about.

"Careful with your promises, Sarban," Corowal said with grin. "Or I slap
the Hold on you."

"Maybe when Corofel comes back and is ready to be steward..maybe. If I can
get myself married, it would be good for my children to have something like
that to look forward to."
It wasn't as if they hadn't discussed it before. And in the capacity of a
minor holder, Sarban could be more of a support for Corowal. And anyway,
didn't it make more sense of Emerald Falls territory to be populated with
family he could trust to a point?

"That's still far off," Corowal said.

"Good thing, that." Sarban said before going back to what he was doing.

Last updated on the September 6th 2013

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Juicy piece of gossip