Flying Bookmobiles
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: Shawna, Sia
Date Posted: 24th July 2024
Characters: Zariah, Aleriand
Description: Zariah signs up to help with the bookmobile project
Location: Printer Hall
Date: month 13, day 1 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: Aikley
As soon as Zariah heard about a potential new side job that gave her an excuse to be out of the Weyr, she jumped on it. She’d never been to the Printer Hall before, and hadn’t been to the Harper Hall since before construction began, so when she arrived, she had Relsath land somewhere politely out of the way and decided to take a little look around before heading in to inquire about their need for a dragonrider. It seemed like a nice place- if much louder than she would ever have imagined, and she recognized some of the fancy new upgrades she’d seen at Barrier Lake Weyrhold.
After a stroll around the campus, she headed to the noisy brick monstrosity of a building and walked into what seemed to her like utter chaos.
Was fixing the old machines what Aleriand was supposed to be doing today? No, but Aikley couldn't watch him every waking candlemark. He passed his tools over to the hovering Journeyman as he caught sight of the unfamiliar woman at the door and grabbed a rag to wipe the ink off his hands. "Can I help you, ma'am?" He asked over the sound of the machinery. A glance at her shoulder knots had him self-correcting. "Greenrider."
Zariah got closer, though she kept her hands behind her back, as if worried she was going to accidentally set some machine in motion by brushing against it. “I heard you needed some dragonriders for deliveries? I thought I’d volunteer for the job,” also checking his knots, she added a polite, “Master…?”
"Aleriand." The hallmaster said, looking visibly more pleased than he had just a second ago. "Yes, we're looking for dragonriders to run book deliveries further than Emerald Falls. It's not great pay at the moment; probably about as much as you'd make running regular deliveries, but you have access to the library and a discount in the bookstore." He gestured for them to walk back out of the building. "I didn't catch your name, greenrider…"
“Zariah,” she fell into step with him, “oh, I don’t have a lot of use for marks other than to spend them on books, so the discount is worth it. Everything in the Weyr library winds up smelling like firestone and stained with klah,” she joked. “Relsath and I would be happy to make your deliveries. How often are you looking for?”
"We're going to start monthly, now that we have a catalogue and enough presses running." Aleriand said as they walked. "Folks pay a small fee for the service, and we'll swap out with the latest publications each month. We'll charge extra fees if they decide to keep any books, or if they come back klah-stained." He did look a little pained at the joke, but continued on. "It'll save us time if you can check inventory when you do deliveries. We'll keep a tally of any extra fees owed and send a message along in the next delivery. How's your math?"
“Good enough for this, I’m sure. Contrary to popular opinion, they do teach the greenriders math and reading,” she was grinning when she said it, though. “I just need to know the basics. Which I'm sure someone else important could tell me. I assume you're very busy.”
"You'd be surprised at the quality of wingriders Dolphin Cove sends me, then." Aleriand said with a chuckle. "Usually eager weyrlings happier to explore than read the job description. The Journeymen at the library will be able to get you situated with everything, though I'll probably be around the first few drop-offs." Aleriand looked up and around the open courtyard. "Where did you leave Relsath?"
“Oh, there was an empty area on the other side of that building with the darker colored doors?” She described an out of the way area near the edge of the compound. “Everyone is either excited or alarmed when a dragon drops by, and I figured it was working hours, no reason to cause a fuss. I can have her join us.”
A moment later, a green did in fact appear flying low over the roof of a nearby building
"Oh they're always a fuss, but not an unwelcome one. Unless you happen to be on Search." Aleriand said good naturedly, "We were at the Weyr for a few turns, so dragons in the square don't stress most folks out. Relsath's welcome wherever she likes."
The green landed lightly a polite distance away from them, and Zariah moved closer, automatically reaching out to touch her nose affectionately. “As far as I know, Rel has no aptitude for search, so no worries there. Is that a problem you’ve been having?”
"Dolphin Cove took one for the last hatching." Aleriand said mournfully. He took a respectful distance away, nodding politely at Relsath, "But the kid Impressed, so I guess it's all right. I don't have enough staff to not feel it when kids get whisked away to the Weyr. Is she friendly? Folks here have gotten a little too comfortable with dragons sitting in the square."
“Well, congrats to the kid. Relsath’s friendly enough that no one is going to bother her, not so friendly that she’ll cause a disruption.” Lowering her voice to a mock whisper, she said, “She’s a little vain, so she might preen some of anyone gives her attention.”
The green almost immediately stopped posing, snorting at her rider disapprovingly.
Aleriand maintained a straight face. "We know the type." He replied in a mock whisper. Then, back to normal volume, "The library's just over this way. They should have everything set up for you, but I think I'll accompany you anyway. The pressroom deserves a break from me once in a while."
“Well, I appreciate your time,” Zariah said, heading for the library, “and I can't wait to see the library.”
Last updated on the July 31st 2024