Curiosity Attracts

Writers: AL, Sia
Date Posted: 12th January 2025

Characters: Aleriand, Claranel
Description: The two meet at at the Printer Hall's library.
Location: Printer Hall
Date: month 2, day 9 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Leranek (NPC)
Takes place before "Hide and Seek"

Aleriand

Claranel

Just as Leranek had said, there was plenty to do - or rather see at the Hold. Not wishing to make a nuisance of herself, Claranel kept a good distance between herself and those working hard at their jobs. After traversing down to the stables and marveling at all the runners, she continued down the path. Unlike her cothold, the trees here were thin and gathered together in small clusters, hardly the forest that she had called home for all of her life. Still, she set her mind to explore them, but continued on down the road. Something else sparked her curiosity, for he wished to see her very first Hall.

From what she understood, most did not take female crafthers, at least originally, and certainly not since long before her birth or even the birth of her parents. Her grandpa had mentioned that before the disease which had devastated the South, women crafters not only existed, but were quite common. Since then, however, the tides had changed. At the Weyrs, women crafters were common, but not so in Holds and Halls - but that was beginning to change. While still rare, some had begun to accept females into the craft, and the Harper Hall even had a female Hallsecond.

Although she had never before considered it, doing a craft did intrigue Clara, and she couldn’t help but wonder what it might be like. Other than teaching the children lessons and creating songs for both education and entertainment, she had no other knowledge of Harpers, and wished to know more, for wouldn’t it be prudent to consider all options?

As she continued on, two buildings came into sight, side by side. From what she had heard, the Printer Hall was a fairly new establishment, but she couldn’t say which was which, only that it had only recently separated itself as both a part of the Harper Hall, and yet independent. At first glance, the buildings were quite different. One constructed of stone and brick while the other just from stone, its roof featuring tiles. She had no idea which was which, and so, upon approaching, stood to look from one building to the other. Finally, she made a choice and entered the one made of two different substances.

Stepping indoors, she blinked in the dimmer light, but immediately her eyes drew toward a door swung wide open. Anyone and everyone who passed by could see inside quite easily, and immediately, it caught Clara’s attention. Almost without thinking, she turned in the direction and stepped across the threshold, finding herself in a room filled with books.

Aleriand was where he shouldn't be, yet again. At least this time it was a block of mostly unassigned time that he probably should be spending reviewing contracts or overseeing maintenance on the presses, but instead he was caught roaming the library and making a general nuisance of himself to the few Journeymen and apprentices stationed there. It was at least a busy enough time that none of them seemed to have reported him to Aikley or Shassene just yet, and the apprentices shelved faster if only to get out of the Hallmaster's exacting gaze.

"Come in or get out." He called to the girl that lingered at the doorway. "Children's books are to your left."

At first, Claranel didn’t respond. Instead, she remained hovering in the doorway, her eyes wide, mouth open as she stared at the shelves upon shelves of writings, all upon actual paper, all bound together in single volumes. Letting out a long sigh, she finally took a step forward, her wonder lighting up her face and brightening her already vibrant green eyes. “So many books!” She breathed, somehow meandering closer to the man who had spoken to her, as if the demand had drawn her right to him. Stretching out a hand, she gingerly ran her fingers along the spines of several within reach. “I’ve only ever seen one before! How many are there in here?”

Aleriand watched her, momentarily confused, then made the assumption that this was a new arrival to Emerald Falls from the far edges of the protectorate. "Several hundred. I'm sure we have the exact number somewhere. The Printer Hall makes copies of most everything we print, but it's not all out for folks to read. Not a lot of people want to read the latest treatise from the Smithcraft on the history of dirt." He said seriously, "Are you new to Emerald Falls?"

“I’m new to the hold, yes, but I’m from within the territory.” Clara didn’t even look at the man as he spoke, for she only had eyes for the books, seeking out the writing upon the spines and marvelling and what they might contain. “We live in the cotholds north, the ones that provide the main source of wood for the hold.” Her eyes glittered bright as she stepped to the side in order to peruse a new section. “The only actual book I’ve ever seen is one my grandfather gave me. Oh!” Her eyes found something that caught her interest, and carefully she withdrew it from the slot, opening it to reveal a mixture of pictures and print discussing various plants and their uses.

"A good choice, if a little dry." Aleriand observed. "You're welcome to take a look around. "We no longer have an agreement with the Hold for free books, but you're welcome to read while you're here. Apprentices get free rein of the books too, if that interests you."

“I don’t know.” Claranel answered honestly, but even so, her eyes remained fixated upon the book and its contents. She paused a moment, turned back a couple of pages, then forward, but evidently didn’t find what she had expected. “It’s in alphabetical order…” She murmured almost to herself.

"It's a reference book." Aleriand said as if that explained it. "The farmcraft contracted us to print it for them, and we keep some to sell or loan ourselves. Harper stories are a few aisles down, if that's more your speed."

“It’s missing a couple though. Where’s the lizardwort?” Harper stories were always fun, but this had certainly caught Claranel’s interest. She saw many of the flora she was familiar with, much she wasn’t, but a couple that should have been present but weren’t.

"I print what they send me. Check the index in the back." Aleriand said, "Maybe it has a different name elsewhere and it's ordered by that. Or it's omitted. We only edit for grammar and syntax for books like this."

Flipping to the back, Claranel reviewed the list, but nothing she saw indicated that the weed was there. Odd considering it was really useful for stomach aches. “I suppose if the farmcrafters wanted it, they wouldn’t be interested in some things you find in the forest.” She commented as she continued to flip through the book. “I’m finding others that aren’t here, but if that’s the case, then it makes sense why they aren’t.” She paused and turned her gaze up to finally _look_ at the man. “Would I be able to borrow this?” He had said she could read there, but borrowing was a different matter. “Oh! I’m Claranel, by the way, new foster to Journeyman Healer Leranek at Emerald Falls.”

"Master Aleriand." He offered, then shook his head. "Emerald Falls folk are welcome to read them here, but can't take them out. You're welcome to purchase it or buy a subscription, or convince Master Leranek to do so."

It was only after he introduced himself that Claranel’s eyes sought out the knots and landed upon them, unknowingly speaking to an actual Master. Bobbing her head, she grinned at the man. He was rather gruff, but she had known all sorts of people, those who lived at the cots, and those who came up and down the river. His gruffness didn’t bother her. “I’ll ask, thank you.” Carefully tucking the book beneath her arm, Clara sought out and found an open and available chair. Nodding to the man again, she beamed a smile at him, then turned to aim for the chair so she could curl up and take a good long look at her chosen book.

Last updated on the January 15th 2025

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Curiosity Attracts