Fresh Arrival

Writers: Avery, Eimi
Date Posted: 15th February 2006

Characters: Ishek, Kiomo
Description: Lord Ishek welcomes a new Holder to Garnet Valley
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 10, day 4 of Turn 3

There was a new Holder arriving in today, or so Ishek had heard. The younger son of a distant Lord Holder, if he remembered right. He didn't know much about the man, only rumors- he was of the Blood, and well-connected. **An asset to Garnet Valley.** Ishek hoped. He could use them.

He stood outside, awaiting the man. Yes, he could have waited indoors, but where was the good in that? He preferred to be out and about, not indoors at a desk all of the time. Sometimes he thought being the Lord Warder wasn't so good of a job afterall. But then he reminded himself that he was the Lord Warder, and if he wanted to be out and about for most of the day, doing practical work, who could fault him? He still got the hidework done- he just didn't devote his day to it, that was all.

He stood and waited for the new arrival, idly wondering if this was how Penryn and Thalia and others had felt when awaiting _his_ arrival.

The brown dragon erupted into the above and saluted the Hold with a brassy trumpet. Backwinging gently, he came to rest in front of the Hold, in the exact same spot Ishek had arrived weeks before, and the rider along with a tall, slender young man slid down to the ground. The holder shook the dragonrider's hand with a friendly smile and shouldered his bag. Together they walked towards the Hold to be greeted by the Lord Warder.

"Lord Ishek?" the brownrider smiled. "I am Z'dass, rider of brown Diradorth, and I was instructed to deliver this man to you. The Weyr sends its greetings to you, sir."

The young man flashed Ishek a warm and friendly smile. "Good morning, sir. I am Kiomo, son of Bireki, former Lord Holder of Ancient Stones Hold and younger brother of it's current Lord, Lord Bireden."

Ishek nodded to the brownrider. "My duty to your dragon and my greetings to your Weyr, brownrider." he said formally.

Then he turned to the new arrival. "Welcome, Kiomo, son of Bireki." he said politely. "I am Lord Ishek, and am very pleased to meet you. How was your trip?"

"Wonderful. Diradorth is a fine brown, and Z'dass as fine a man as they come," Kiomo said with a friendly clap to the shoulder of the brownrider.

"Your new holder is too kind," Z'dass laughed. He gave the Lord Warder a respectful bow. "Forgive me, sir, for not staying, but duty calls be back to the Weyr."

"No trouble, rider. Safe journey back!" he said politely and stepped back. "Let's give him room to take off." he said quietly to Kiomo.

"What would you like first?" Ishek asked Kiomo. "To see your rooms, or be taken on a tour, or is there anything on your mind in particular?" He had nothing to do that day- nothing that he wanted to. Spending time with someone who seemed like he would go far in the Hold seemed like a good idea.

They both waved as the brownrider took to the sky and blinked back into /between/ before Kiomo turned towards the Lord Warder. "Well, if there is a place to stash my things, I would love to have a tour of the Hold, if you can spare the time. I wouldn't want to disrupt your day."

"No, it's fine. I have only hidework I'd rather escape, and I'd rather be getting to know someone new here." Ishek explained. "Showing you to your rooms will be easy, and after that a tour is fine. Any questions you have I can answer. Besides, if I help you, I can let my Steward work in peace."

"Ah," Kiomo chuckled. "You're not too keen on the hidework side of things, are you?"

"I'll admit that I prefer to be active." Ishek admitted. "I do my hidework, but that's not the place of a Lord, to be sealed away in his office- or so I think, anyways. I know others opinions may differ."

"My father was just like that," the young man remembered with a far away, fond look in his eye. "He was more of a hands-on type of a Lord.
One who wanted to be with the people rather than shut up in some lofty tower." Kiomo laughed. "I guess that's why he recruited me to do a lot of his hidework for him. I didn't mind it so much, actually. It gave me a chance to really understand the Hold and what all it took to keep it prosperous."

"That's good, though. I wish I had the patience for the hidework. But I haven't yet had my work suffer, so I'm content in taking such an active role." Ishek explained. "You did much of the hidework for your father, then?"

"Yes," the young man nodded. "Father thought it would prepare me for when I lead a Hold of my own. I'm glad he decided to give me that opportunity. My older brother did it for turns before me, but when I reached an appropriet age, he took Bireden out with him while I learned about budgets, tithes, annual yields, projected yields, projected populations, inter-Hold politics, Hall management and the like. Perhaps it wasn't the most exciting stuff for most people, but I found it an interesting challenge."

Ishek smiled. "Excellent. That does make you well-prepared for a Hold, I'd even say exceptionally well prepared." he said approvingly. "So what brings you here in particular?"

"I heard of the recent tragedies that had befallen Garnet Valley. My own Hold suffered an unexpected loss a few turns ago when my father died. Though not quite as devestating, I could sympathise with Garnet Valley. I want to help. But I must admit," the young Holder said with an almost apologetic smile, "I have selfish reasons as well. A Hold in transition holds several possibilities for advancement for those with ambitions. And I know myself to be an ambitious and capable man."

"I can use ambitious and capable men." Ishek answered. "With the Hold's power structure shaken up, and people moving into new positions- well, there are plenty of places where you can lend a hand here. Prove what you can handle, and find yourself given more."

"Just give me a task and you will soon see what I can handle." Kiomo's smiled exuded confidence.

"What sort of tasks would you say you want?" Ishek asked. "It's not like there aren't plenty. Oh, and you'll need to meet my Steward soon enough." he added.

"I'll do anything you ask of me, sir. But, if it were my choice, I would like to assist _you_ as much as possible. I have a lot of experience in Hold management. You have as yet no personal assistants as far as I know. If you have need of one, I would like to offer myself to assist you."

"Personal assistant?" Ishek asked in surprise. **He's a bold one-
admirable trait in small amounts.** "I have the assistance of my Steward, but were you meaning something different?"

Kiomo nodded. "Yes sir. In the way that I was an assistant to my father. A steward has their own duties, and their own assisants.
Sometimes a Holder can find it helpful to have someone who can help with the paperwork, organization, time management and the like."

The young holder studied the Lord Warder a moment before continuing.
"And I know this is rather bold of me, and forgive me for being frank, but I understand you come from a Minor Hold. While I do not question your qualifications, sir, I do know that there differences between Major Hold and Minor Hold management. Major Holds have relationships with Halls, Weyrs, Conclaves, Traders, Minor Holds... You will learn quickly enough for sure. But you might find it helpful to have someone who was trained in Major Hold management, and has observed it closely all their life, who you can use as a resource."

"Frank, indeed, but I appreciate simple straightforward talk." Ishek informed him. "And you are correct, I have never dealt with the expanded duties of a Major Hold before. Your advice would indeed be invaluable to me."

"I left the Hold of my father after his death, and I have spent the past few turns searching for a new home. I hope to find one here, sir. And if I have to start in the kitchens or the fields, you will find me just as dedicated to the work."

"I am glad for that." Ishek said. "This Hold is beginning to settle after what happened, but we need new blood here- regardless of what others might think. I believe in tradition, but I also believe in the prosperity of a Hold, and if we need a hundred new men like yourself to move in and assist- well, then that's what we'll have." He was being remarkably expressive, but he liked the man.

"Don't worry, sir," Kiomo smiled at the Lord Warder. "Together, we will all make this Hold great again."

"I hope so." Ishek said. "Here are your rooms." he added as he stopped before them. "Will you be needing the time to settle in?"

The new holder nodded. "A couple candlemarks, if that's all right."

Ishek nodded. "Perfectly." he said. "Shall we speak later, then?"

"Thank you sir," Kiomo smiled and gave the Lord a polite bow. "I will come find you after I've settled."

"Excellent." Ishek said. "I await you then."

Last updated on the February 16th 2006

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Fresh Arrival