Unofficial Business

Writers: Aaron, Estelle, Heather
Date Posted: 25th June 2024
Series: The Hunt for Gil

Characters: Jayala, Corofel, Reven
Description: Jayala visits the new Lord Holder and Warder to inform them of the situation at White Hollow Hold
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 10, day 20 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: Corowal, N'vanik

Jayala

Corofel

Reven

The disappearance of the Lord Holder had caused a great deal of shock
and dismay at the Harper Hall, and to no one more so than the
Hallsecond. It had been only a few months since she had reported the
matter of White Hollow Hold to him, and she couldn't help wondering if
the two events were related. How far had he got in preparing to act
against the quarry hold? Had anyone else known? What would happen now?

If she wanted to find out, she'd realized, she'd have to talk to his
heir, or at least to the Warder. Corowal might have left notes, but if
he hadn't or they'd not been found, his replacement would need to know.

She'd sent a message with an apprentice asking for a meeting to discuss
the upcoming Turn's End celebrations - what had worked well as a cover
story to meet the Weyrleader would do just as well for the Hold. It was
accepted more quickly than she'd expected given how much the new Lord
must have to deal with, which made her think they did know something at
the Hold. The apprentice told her the Weyrleader had visited, which
might explain it.

She walked over from the Hall, choosing a busy time of the day when
there were plenty of people about. Jayala wished she didn't feel so
vulnerable in her own home, but after the watchrider's death and the
keening that they'd heard all the way to the Hall, she had the
uncomfortable feeling that a female harper might be next on the list.
When the main Hold came into view and she approached and introduced
herself to a guard, she couldn't help letting out her breath in relief.

The guard recognized Jayala and nodded to her.

"He's in the study," he said. It was still too strange to call it _his_
study when the proper Lord Holder could return any day. "Would you like
an escort?"

"If it won't take you from your duty, that would be welcome - thank
you." She knew the way to the Lord Holder's study, but given recent
events she thought it prudent not to wander around the Hold unaccompanied.

The guard nodded and then escorted the Harper to the Lord's study, where
he presumed it was quite likely both Corofel and Reven were at work. He
knocked.

"Pardon me, milord. Harper Hallsecond Jayala is here to speak with you."

Corofel peered at Reven.

"Please, come in," he said.

As he had in other meetings, Reven stood just behind Corofel and to his
left. A meeting with the harper hall's second was sure to be of
interest, he thought.

"Lord Corofel." Jayala entered the office and gave the young man a
respectful nod. She hadn't seen him since before he'd been fostered,
when the Hall had not long since returned to Emerald Falls, and he'd
been a young boy then. "Warder Reven. Thank you for seeing me, though I
wish it were under happier circumstances."

"Thank you, Hallsecond Jayala. To what do I, um. Owe the pleasure of
your company?" Corofel asked. He refused to believe his father was dead.
They would find him.

"My official business here is to ask whether you'd like the Harper Hall
to provide musicians for Turn's End." The Hall had always arranged a
performance and dance music before, though unless the Lord Holder was
found safely she imagined any celebrations might be muted this Turn.
"However, there was another matter I wanted to make sure you were aware
of, concerning a hold called White Hollow. I spoke to Lord Corowal about
it only a few months ago, but I don't know whether he would have left
any records of that conversation."

For a brief moment, Corofel had been thrilled to speak about arranging
music for Turn's End, considering the plans to invite the minor Holders.

"He..." Corofel sighed. "If he left any records of this kind, they are
well hidden, and he had no opportunity to pass on their location before
he... Well. I had a brief conversation about the matter with N'vanik of
Dolphin Cove, but I would most certainly appreciate hearing about it
directly from you."

"Of course." Jayala recounted what she'd told Lord Corowal about White
Hollow - the use and mistreatment of prisoners in the quarry, the large
numbers of guards and their training, and the troubling conversation her
spy had overhead. "Since this was first reported to the Lord Holder, the
dragonriders captured a man who used to work there, who told them the
same story - that Obriel, the Holder of White Hollow, and his relatives
have been involved in plotting attacks on the Weyr. The Weyrleader
offered his assistance in picking up the conspirators, but before Lord
Corowal could make his move...he disappeared." Her gaze was firm, but
not without sympathy. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Lord Corofel.
It may be nothing more than a coincidence, but the timing is convenient
for Obriel."

"Obriel." This was the first time he had heard the White Hollow Holder's
name. He hoped the similarity between his name and his own guard
captain's name was a coincidence. Surely, it would not be a potential
point of confusion going forward, either way...

"It has certainly crossed my mind that my father's disappearance was no
coincidence," he said. "Although we still haven't found any leads in
that regard. I daresay there must be some connection between White
Hollow and the man who murdered my watchrider."

Corofel wished he knew what to do. He did not want any of his Holders
believing that he would betray his own, but neither could he simply let
one of them get away with horrible crimes. While these secret reports
had not been among his father's public records, there _had_ been records
of a recent trial. And his father had not let these things go. There had
been justice done with him as the judge.

But Reven would hear what she had to say, and they could discuss courses
of action after Jayala left.

"I have plans to call the Minor Holders here soon for Turnover. And
shortly after, I will begin visiting them out in the protectorate. I
have advice from my Captain Oriel â€" no relation to Holder Obriel to the
best of my knowledge â€" but advice on which Holds are safe for me to hold
these meetings. I would _strongly_ prefer to be ready and able to take
legal action against White Hollow _before_ the meeting they should be
attending. I presume you can provide or otherwise... lead me to discover
the evidence I would need to support issuing a warrant, something that
would hold up under scrutiny should the other minor Holders or the
people of White Hollow doubt my decision.

"I'm sure you can see why more experienced Holders might assume I might
be vulnerable to manipulation or prone to making ill-considered
decisions. I need to be as unassailable as possible."

"Of course." Jayala's eyebrows rose a fraction. She'd half expected
Reven to reply on the young man's behalf, much less such a considered
response, and she had to admit she was impressed. "There's a witness,
the man at the Weyr. He used to be a guard at White Hollow, but
apparently offended Obriel and ended up in the quarry, from where he
escaped. You could speak to the Weyrleader if you want to question him.
I wouldn't suggest relying on his testimony alone, but if the holder's
been exploiting his people then others may come forward."

She thought for a moment. "I could share with you a report which details
what we know about White Hollow. It was written by a trustworthy agent
of the Harper Hall. However, if it can be avoided, I'd rather not have
that sort of activity become widely known about."

A trustworthy agent of the hall... The wheels turned in Reven's mind
and he wondered if the 'agent' in question was the journeywoman that
had accompanied Renette to Green Valley to investigate the fires....
What had her name been? **Tasni, that's right.** Reven would fill
Corofel in on that later.

"I can keep my mouth shut," said Corofel. "And if it comes down to me
not being able to find anything else to... um..." He hated it when he
had to ponder a moment to remember a word. "To corroborate the report,
I'll err on the side of keeping the Hall's sources protected. My father
must have had sources of his own, but... for the time being, I have yet
to resume contact with any of them, and I'm somewhat wary anyway of
trusting anyone who claims to have played such a role for him. Anyone
can _say_ it. And it's not safe for me to trust just anyone."

"I understand. It is generally wise to be cautious, and particularly so
in the circumstances." Jayala could well imagine his reasons. If Lord
Corowal had had his own agents, or even sent someone to White Hollow -
could one of them have been caught, or betrayed him? What better way to
arrange a disappearance, she thought, than to lure the victim to a
secret meeting... It was a theory to consider, though as yet without
evidence.

"I'll see that report gets to you. And if the Harpercraft can assist in
_any_ way, Lord Corofel, we are at your service." She met his gaze. "We
remember how your father welcomed us back to Emerald Falls and supported
the rebuilding of our Hall. We want nothing more than to see his safe
return - or failing that, to find whoever is responsible for his
disappearance."

"Thank you," said Corofel. "You'll continue to see the same support from
me for as long as I'm responsible for the protectorate." Even if he did
not already think that was a wise idea, he was loath to upset the status
quo in any way he did not have to.

Jayala nodded. Though her expression didn't show it, she was relieved
that the young man seemed to share his father's respect for the Hall and
its female crafters. "If I may suggest - once you've seen the evidence,
we could meet again, with the Weyrleader. He also has an interest in
dealing with White Hollow. Then, we can decide what steps to take."

"I appreciate the suggestion," said Corofel. Nevertheless, he would
reserve judgment on whether to include N'vanik directly. He might
genuinely need his help, but if he did not, he would prefer to execute
any and all searches and arrests without the Weyr-- especially given
the fact that the last attempt N'vanik made to arrest one of these
malcontents resulted in the death of a dragon and his rider.

"We'll confer with my guard, and I'll make any and all decisions
after." We, being he and Reven, of course.

Reven's look remained as stoically pleasant as it had the entire
meeting, but on the inside he was whooping with pride over Corofel's
smart, measured response. It was always good to play one's true
intentions close to the vest while being outwardly polite and
responsive.

"Of course." Jayala inclined her head in a polite response. "Now, before
I leave, I'd best not forget to ask about the Turn's End entertainment.
We usually stage one of the major ballads at the Hall in the afternoon,
and in past Turns we've sent a small group of musicians and singers to
the Hold for the evening. The circumstances are different this time,"
she added, sympathy in her voice. "But music can lift the spirits, and
bring us together."

"I don't want anything somber or mournful; this isn't a funeral," said
Corofel. "My father isn't dead. Everything we usually do, do thatâ€"
unless you want to make it bigger."

"All right. If you have any requests, or...anything else you'd like to
share, don't hesitate to let me know." It was still possible something
might turn up in Corowal's private records. Jayala got to her feet. "I'd
best be getting back to the Hall. I'm sure you and the Warder have much
to discuss."

"Thank you again for your visit, Master Jayala." Reven opened the door
and gave a nod to the guard. "He will escort you."

Jayala followed the guard out, her journey back to the Hall occupied
with thinking over what they'd discussed. One important fact she'd
learned was that although the new Lord Holder was young and his position
difficult, he appeared to be a force to be reckoned with.

Last updated on the July 1st 2024

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