Romance and Reality

Writers: Estelle, Sia
Date Posted: 24th April 2024

Characters: Jayala, Aleriand
Description: Jayala and Aleriand have a regularly scheduled check-in
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 9, day 25 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: N'vanik, Eilomar, Talmune

Jayala

Aleriand

It was a hot summer's day, and Aleriand might have missed it entirely
without much thought. He'd been so caught up in the latest issue with
the new jobbing press- aptly nicknamed "the little press" by most of the
apprentices- that if it wasn't for Journeyman Haysha reminding him of
the time he might not have even made it outside until sunset.

Still, he appeared at the threshold to Jayala's office with his sleeves
rolled up to the elbows and ink stains on his hands, a sour look on his
face. "Someday, it's going to print _right_." He groused, without much
thought about explaining exactly what. "And we're going to be able to
write letters on 'Harper Hall' branded paper."

Jayala looked up from her work, the arrival of her fellow master drawing
a rare smile to her face. "I look forward to that day. Please, come in,
Master Aleriand." She took in his expression, and the ink stains, and
surmised that it had been a difficult morning. "You look like you could
use some klah?"

"You read my mind." He said. "It shouldn't be that hard. It just needs
to print on a small piece of the paper. We're not even trying to use the
cylinders for it. It's just a flatbed." He continued to complain for a
bit longer as he settled in. He realized, belatedly, that he was a mess,
and pulled out a similarly stained handkerchief to try to wipe away the
worst of the mess. "And how are _you_ doing, Jayala?" He asked.

"Not so bad. I've been working on selecting music for the Turn's End
concert, which is a pleasant change from the usual paperwork." Not to
mention dealing with the reports of unrest in Emerald Falls, though she
didn't mention that out loud while an apprentice brought in a fresh jug
of klah. "That reminds me, how soon would you need the final list to
print up some programmes?"

"How nice do you want them to look?" Aleriand asked as he poured himself
a mug of klah. "Promotions are two months in advance if you want us to
design something new for you. I can maybe swing a month if you want to
use last turn's artwork. Do you want any other items printed? Handbills,
posters?"

"Oh, yes - that's a good idea. We can have the apprentices hand them out
at the Hold when there's a market, and send some around the nearby farms
and cotholds." She thought ahead, counting the dates. "I can have the
main items on the programme ready in a few days, once I've agreed them
with Master Eilomar. I was thinking of a full performance of 'Silver in
the Skies' for the second half." The opera told of the return of Thread
and how the Weyrs had risen to meet it over Emerald Falls. It was
popular with the holders since it featured their home, and had some
challenging solo roles which should please the master vocalist. Above
all, Jayala thought a reminder of what they owed the dragonriders would
be no bad thing.

"Send them along with the runners, too." Aleriand added, "Lots of
opera-loving dragonfolk that would prefer a show over whatever the
Dolphin Hall is doing this turn. Encourage hold & weyr relations and
stroke their egos a bit." He considered Jayala a moment as he took a
gulp of klah. "How are you handling Eilomar these days? I'm overdue a
row with him myself." The printer apprentices kept a tally of how many
days went by without their voices carrying across the two campuses,
which Aleriand pretended to not know about.

"Our truce is holding, thus far," Jayala replied with a hint of a smile.
She, too, had had her disagreements with the Vocal Master, though they
respected one another's abilities. Generally these were on the subject
of hours devoted to singing versus instrumental training for the
apprentices. "Last time, I suggested that if he found my timetabling so
unsatisfactory, I would be happy to hand over the duty entirely to him.
For some reason, he has never mentioned it since."

"Hah! Good." Aleriand said, "I'll wait until he demands I print a
songbook on the best quality Telgari paper. It's only a matter of time.
Let me know if he decides to give you any extra grief. And how's the new
batch of apprentices settling in?"

"I haven't heard of any incidents yet," Jayala said dryly. "Master
Talmune seems contented enough. There are three new girls, and they seem
to be holding their own, though I'd hoped for more." She worried that
the unrest in the hold might be discouraging parents from sending their
daughters to the Hall. "There are a few seniors who are interested in
joining a printing class, if you've got any space. A couple of artists,
and one who's thinking of specializing in instrument-making."

"We'll make room." Aleriand said easily. "If they've taken any before,
we'll slot them in an appropriate class. If they haven't taken any, warn
them we're going to stick them with the babies. The teens are always
_shocked_ when they show up and they're the oldest of the class by about
four turns. The Printer Hall has two new girls. Not much, but there's
fewer of us."

"Yes, and we harpers had the tradition of admitting girls as students."
Jayala knew that some parents saw singing and playing instruments as
more 'ladylike' than some of the other crafts, which sometimes helped to
convince them. "With luck, we'll continue to attract more - that's if
the Weyr doesn't entice them away on Search," she added in mock
exasperation. "I still haven't quite forgiven them for Dessa. She was
one of my best musicians."

"That _Search_." Aleriand said dryly. "Have we considered being _less_
welcoming to dragonriders? Maybe they'll stop appearing to grace our
apprentices with the dream of dragons if they had to see my sour face
each time." He made a mocking grimace that looked too much like his
regular resting expression. "I hear you poached an apprentice from the
Weyr recently, so at least you've given them a taste of what they do to us."

"I've brought several to the Hall over the Turns. Journeymen, too,"
Jayala said, not without a hint of pride. The opportunity to study at
the Harper Hall, with some of the finest facilities for the craft in the
South, was a powerful attraction, and not everyone had ambitions to
become a dragonrider. "Still, having harpers riding dragons isn't
without its advantages." Dragonriders heard a lot in their travels, and
could pass that information back to their old Hall.

"It saves time when assigning placements, at the very least." Aleriand
left off that it often meant that there could be a sudden vacancy, too.
"How is Dolphin Cove these days? The Hall was abuzz after the Weyrleader
left."

"He seemed to be in a good mood. There are eggs on the Sands, which
ought to be hatching any day now, and that lifts everyone's spirits. I
paid them a return visit to arrange entertainment for that, and for
their own Turnover celebrations." Jayala had kept close-lipped about the
other purpose of their visits, since she certainly didn't want that
becoming Hall gossip - but Aleriand was one Master she felt she could be
more forthcoming with. If anyone could help her turn the tide of hold
opinion against the conspirators, it was the printers. "The weyrfolk
appeared to be cheerful, but they're understandably nervous given what
happened at Panitath's last Hatching."

"As they should be. Nasty business. I hope they're tightening the
security up there. Can't imagine whoever it was would try it again so
fast, but that doesn't mean they'd attempt someone else destructive in
the chaos."

"That's what worries me. Whoever is behind it isn't foolish enough to
try the same method twice - it's different each time. First an attack on
a bronzerider, then tainting the hatchlings' meat." She'd spent uneasy
hours trying to put herself in their position, to think of weak spots,
but her imagination failed her when it came to the mind of someone who'd
attack the Weyr. "Hopefully when that deranged Master Weaver was caught,
it took out the ringleader, and the others have crept back into their
holes to hide, like tunnelsnakes. But they are out there. He wasn't the
only one."

Aleriand shook his head. "I don't think they're _deranged_." He said,
"Angry, maybe. Disenfranchised. Getting enough supplies to taint the
meat suggests that they're organized. These people are thinking and
talking, and banding together. Whatever hole that catching the weaver
caused is going to be filled, and quickly."

"And by someone even better at concealing themselves, no doubt. Until we
know more, we'll have to work on cooling down the resentment, so it's
harder for them to find followers. I'll speak to the Hallmaster. And
perhaps..." Jayala smiled. "A few more tales printed about dragonriders
heroically fighting Thread and saving holders, rather than abducting
innocent maidens?" Though she'd never admit to touching one herself,
she'd confiscated a few such books from the apprentices in her time.

"You know as well as I do those books end up being more 'pro' Weyr than
any heroic drivel I could publish." Aleriand said mildly. "And a bit of
fantasy is fine, but I won't turn the printers into a propaganda machine
for the Weyr any more than I'll turn it onto one for the holds. The
printers remain impartial."

"Of course. As do the Harpers," Jayala replied solemnly, but amusement
glinted in her eyes. This was a well-worn debate and she didn't expect
either she or the Master Printer would back down any time soon. "But a
little less complete nonsense would be welcome. After all, _you_ know as
well as I that any dragonrider who did kidnap a woman would earn a
tongue-lashing from his Weyrleader and spend the rest of his nights
shivering on watch duty. I'd like to see someone write _that_ story."

"Oh, but wouldn't that add to the intrigue! Make the poor misunderstood
dragonrider look all that more appealing in the eyes of his love, the
protagonist." Aleriand said with a laugh. "All for the romance, of
course. The reality of the situation would certainly be too boring to sell."

The Hallsecond raised her eyes to the heavens. "We'd better draw this
meeting to a close before I give you any more ideas, Master Aleriand.
Unless there's anything else you wanted to discuss?"

"I have nothing else. The novel is writing itself." Aleriand said as he
collected his things and stood. "I'm sure I'll be back again soon."

Last updated on the April 26th 2024

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