Textual Records & Archives
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Francesca, Sia
Date Posted: 2nd May 2024
Characters: Arrilon, Aleriand
Description: Aleriand has the latest books to give to the archives.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 7, day 24 of Turn 11
Arrilon was almost a candlemark into a two candlemark shift at the front desk of the archives and, so far at least, not much had happened. He had just helped a few apprentices find what they needed and put back a stack of records dropped off by a senior journeyman. It was always exciting when a harper from a Weyr visited, or someone from Emerald Falls Hold, but it didn’t happen every day. As he sat, he read a record, looking up every minute or two to see if he could be of any assistance.
Aleriand could have gotten a Journeyman to bring the box of books to the Harper Archives. Shells, he could have gotten an apprentice to do it, but the last time the apprentice had returned with half the box still full with a report that the Archives was refusing to take it. And so it was a master printer that interrupted Arrilon's quiet shift.
"Latest publications from the Printer Hall, for the Archives." Aleriand said brusquely, setting the box on the desk with an audible thump.
Arrilon immediately put down his reading material, eyes widening at the size of the box. “Master Aleriand,” he said. He had never really interacted with the other man, but knew who he was. The Journeyman had been trained to take in new items but had never had to do so on his own. And this looked like a sizeable number of items. He began looking for the intake form and luckily found it in the second drawer he opened.
“All right. It will just take me some time to write down information on each item, and I’ll create a receipt for you as well,” he explained, more for himself than the Master. “How often do new publications come to the archives? Monthly?” He realized he didn’t know much about the printing presses or the publication process.
"I'm trying for monthly. Usually it's very few months, which is probably why this looks so unfamiliar to you." Aleriand said with a (mostly) well-meaning grin. "It's been a long road getting us back to where we used to be, before the fire. And before the flooding." It wasn't the first time he wondered why anyone continued to live around Dolphin Cove territory.
Arrilon nodded, taking a stack of books from the box and beginning to write. “I’ve been finding research difficult, due to all the missing records. It’s exciting to have new items to add to the archives though.” Although, he wasn’t sure how many would find the first book, “Fishing in the Sea of Azov,” interesting.
"That's what I'm here for." Aleriand said. "We can't replace what was lost, but we can continue recording." And usually that meant he could sneak in the steamier weyr fiction in with the rest of the dry nonfiction.
The next few were biographies. “Are any of these commissioned texts?” He assumed there were rich holders who could pay someone to write about them, or create a story to their liking.
"Of course. The Healer Hall one, I think, and the Amber Hills one." Aleriand pointed them out. "Some history scholar is going to need to go through that healer one and see just how much 'creative license' that guy took."
Arrilon nodded, continuing to write. He was maybe a quarter of the way through the box when he came across one with an interesting title: “Romancing the Lord.” Then, “Leather Dreams,” and, a few books later, “Chosen for Pleasure.” Feeling a mix of embarrassment and amusement, he tried not to smile.
"Chosen for Pleasure features a greenrider, of course." Aleriand said mildly as he watched Arrilon's expression. "They sell so well that we've had to get used to it."
“I was at a Weyr until almost a Turn ago,” Arrilon admitted, trying to feign nonchalance. He remembered late nights in the Candidate Barracks, with the other boys reading excerpts of similar books and bragging about their own experiences. “I guess the archives should have all kinds of books.” He was a little surprised they were permitted though.
"We can worry about being selective once our Archives are full again." Aleriand said, a little too vehemently. "We lost so much in the fire. It's important for future generations to know that we could publish stuff like this, and that there's an audience for it."
“Of course,” the Journeyman said quickly, not wanting to get on the wrong side of a Master. Luckily, the next book had a more innocuous title. “Do you have a favorite in this box?” Arrilon asked. “Do you have to read them all?” It seemed best to stick to safe topics.
"Nah, I can't keep up with it." Aleriand said. "We do have folks editing and approving for publication though, so there's all kinds of eyes on them. Myself and a few others have the final say of what finally makes it through the printers." He considered the box for a moment. "The Amber Hills biography is pretty good." He added, diplomatically.
“I don’t usually read biographies, but I have been reading through some old ones about harpers to learn more about what teaching looked like before the plagues and how the plagues changed things.” Arrilon shared his attempt at a research project. “Usually teaching isn’t the focus though, so I haven’t had much luck.”
"Not with the records the way they are." Aleriand agreed. "Have you reached out to any of the Journeymen posted out in the countryside with the research? The elders in the cotholds would remember when a Harper visited."
Arrilon shook his head. “Someone else suggested talking to some of the older harpers in the Hall to see what they remember. I hadn’t thought beyond that though. Thanks.” He had, perhaps naively, hoped that someone who spent most of his time with books would know of a secret text that would give him all the information he needed. It was looking more and more like he would need to start interviewing people, or give up and figure out a new project.
The Journeyman took down the name of the final book, “Secrets of Seacliff Hold,” which he guessed was a mystery. “That’s all of them. Here you go,” he said, handing Aleriand the receipt.
"Thanks." Aleriand took the receipt, folding it and tucking it in a pocket. He picked up the now-empty box. "Good luck with the research. I hope you're able to find something out."
“Thank you.” Arrilon took a final look at the stacks of books, then went in search of one of the archivists. Hopefully they would be happy to have the latest publications.
Last updated on the May 9th 2024