Prospects

Writers: Danielle, Eimi
Date Posted: 24th March 2006

Characters: Benaroy, Benamil
Description: Benaroy has a job and a prospect for his son Benamil
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 10, day 25 of Turn 3

Benamil

He stood outside his father's office door trying to calm his nerves. The old man always had that effect on him, and had ever since he was a small child. Somehow, he never felt that Benaroy was proud of him, no matter how hard he tried. And he did try, very hard. He just...got distracted sometimes.

"Ah, Benamil," the Lord Holder said as his son finally walked into the room. "I need to know _exactly_ how many herdbeasts Shastin has in his herd. You know, the ones he allows to graze along the entrance to the valley. It seems one of the Amethyst Cliff cotholders claims we have been stealing some of his herdbeasts. Its the same age old dispute."
Benaroy sighed. They had been fighting over that land for longer than he had been Lord Holder.

With a bow to his father, he stood before the desk and gave his report.
"Shastin has fourty-three beasts. Twenty two of those are bovine, twenty one are ovines. I have the counts and lineages of the herds from the past few turns. I doubt Shastin would steal any herdbeast- he takes superb care of his animals. Besides, there is the distinctive coloring of his bovines, a side effect of limiting new blood into his herd. And the ovines...well..." He trailed off when he saw the look on his father's face. He was rambling again.

"Son," the Lord Holder said patiently, "the ovines have never been disputed. They graze in the lower field. I just need to know about the bovines."

"Oh, er...well. Twenty two herbeasts, father. I have their records here if you'd like to see them...."

"All right, that's fine. Please bring the records to me later. We will need them. But we can discuss that later." He indicated a chair.
"Have a seat, Benamil."

Inwardly, the young man groaned. Not because of the assignment- that was something he could handle. But because of the lecture he had a feeling was coming. Better, by far, to get it over with, even though he suddenly wished himself miles and miles away. "Yes, sir," he said, and sat, as he was bidden.

"Do you remember Lord Koyutu at Gully Edge Hold? The one who raised the fine runners we admired a few turns ago?" He was sure his young son would remember the animals if nothing else.

He was more than a little surprised at the comment. "Oh! Yes...they were quite fine. Well bred with long legs- no too thin, mind you, good for racing. Especially with their deep chests- when points too good endurance. Excellent for racing, blending speed and endurance. Remember, there was that exceptional black, with the white off-fore leg and the blaze? The markings were a little off, not quite perfect, but that mare would have made superb breeding stock..." Oh, dear...he was rambling again.....

"Yes, yes, that's the Lord Holder of whom I speak," Benaroy said, raising a hand to stop the young man. "What I want to say is that he has a daughter who is now of a marriageable age, Yukoti. I hear she is a fine rider and a great lover of living things, and I thought perhaps she might be a fine marriage prospect for you."

"Oh?" At that he did perk up. A girl...and one who rode...and _liked_ nature? "Truly? Oh...I suppose it couldn't hurt to meet her." Maybe she'd be different from the last one. Who ran screaming from the hall when one of the canines dropped a dead tunnel snake at her feet, which bled on her slippers. Benamil thought the gesture of the canine was nice- he was presenting her with a gift. Then there was the one who adamantly refused to go anywhere near the stables because it smelled.
And refused to go anywhere near him since he had just come from the stable...

His father also remember the previous disasters. At least his son wasn't opposed to trying again. "That's fine then. Perhaps you could go to their Hold for a visit? I wouldn't mind acquiring one of their breeding studs if possible, and I think you would be a good judge of their quality." And his son had a good way with people. He could broker a deal favorable to his Hold while also leaving the dealer feeling satisfied. Now if only that would translate to his relations with women...

Women weren't herdbeasts. That was the difference. The general male population seemed to think that they were. And treated them as such. Of course, he didn't think of herdbeasts as beasts either. He had more of a respect for humans and animals. That's what made him different. "To their..Hold? I suppose I could, if that's your wish, Father. I could negotiate for a stud, to be sure..." It wasn't _that_
part that made him nervous. "And while you were there you could also meet the Lord Holder's daughter," Benaroy said with an encouraging smile. Perhaps it would be easier for his son if he was not the one with the burden to entertain on his shoulders.

"Of course...sir. As you wish," Benamil tried to smile.

Last updated on the March 24th 2006

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