Currying Favour

Writers: Emma, Kaysea
Date Posted: 14th April 2007

Characters: K'reyel, Samtran
Description: K'reyel visits the Tannery at the Tannercraft Hall
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 3, day 2 of Turn 4

K'reyel

Somehow he never got down to the Tannery as often as he liked, what with drills, fall and the hidework required of a Wingsecond... Especially when your Wingleader was your Weyrleader and father, there seemed to be more responsibility and more time taken up.

But today was different, he'd specially set aside time to go and select some new leather for a new set of straps, a double set for him and Mai to make life easier for them when they went places together.

"Can I help you?" Samtran came out of the stripping shed, wiping his hands on an old rag. It was good to get out in the fresh air occassionally, but the smell was all pervasive around the Hall. He saw the young bronzerider approaching, and had hoped to be the one who greeted him, if he did well by the rider, at some stage he may get to meet his dragon.

"Perhaps," he said. "I need some good leather, something suitable for making a set of straps that are used for show, that can take two people rather than for threadfall."

"In any particular colour?" Samtran, held out his arm, "Please, come this way, we have a selection of thicker leathers that you can choose from."
Avoiding the stripping shed entrance, he guided the rider away and towards a more aesthetically appealing building further alone the pathway. "You will find all manner of leathers inside, but the thicker, supple hides we keep separately. I'll take you out the back of the store and show you that selection." Samtran was pleased to see the look of surprise and envy on other faces as they watched the pair walking towards the leather store, this would be something to talk about during the evening meal!

"Something unusual." It would take a long time to produce something like he had in mind, but it would be worth it. Rather than the dark leather he usually used, he wanted something light. It wasn't going to have any fancy sewing on it, but he was going to use some fancier buckles that he had traded for at a gather in the last turn, waiting for a time such as this to use them. "Do you have any that have been dyed?"

"We have some available, mostly darks for the beast carts. They blend better with the brasses that are so popular on the harness sets." Samtran opened the door and stood back to allow the rider entrance. "But we do have some in red and even one lot in pale gold, well, it _looks_ gold, but it'd just a very pale leather that we have burnished with some new waxes."

"The pale gold might do well against Erdenth's hide," mused the bronzerider.
"Can you tell me how it was treated?"

"Instead of being soaked in bovine brains, which whitens the skin, we omit that phase of the tanning and later, using a mixture of oils and wax the skin is polished until it gives a beautiful sheen to the hide. - Come, you'll see, just beautiful!" Samtran beckoned the rider through to the storage area. "See?" he threw his arms wide, showing row upon row of hanging hides, in all hues from the darkest of browns to the palest golden colour.

"Hmm," the bronzerider studied the hides in front of him, before stepping into the storage area and running a hand down one of the hides. The colour was beautiful, and whilst the hide was light there seemed to be a hidden strength in the material.

"Can you tell me what was used to curry this piece?" asked K'reyel, his Journeyman skills coming through.

"Ah! I see you know a bit about the process then?" Samtran asked, warming to the rider. "We used the best packtail oils we can get, and the never ending supply of tallow is of a good quality, naturally. You'll notice the deep shine - and our guarantee that this leather can withstand immersion in the heaviest rains, if needed."

The bronzerider shifted slightly to make sure his knots came into view, those that showed Senior Journeyman Tanner being hidden slightly by the one that indicated Wingsecond. "Indeed I do, he said smiling. "The slicker was glass?" he asked, running a finger down it.

With the shifting of the riders knots, Samtran felt the heat rise to his face, he stammered an apology, "I...oh.. I didn't realise..." he had been so intent on showing the rider of a braonze dragon his craft, that he had been less than observant. "..err, yes, the slicker was of glass.." he mumbled in answer to the riders question.

"That's good," he said ignoring the stammer. "That's what given it the finish? Right?"

"Yes, smooth, creamy.. the gold is a beautiful hue, too, don't you think?"

"And it would look stunning on Erdenth."

"Erideth? Your bronze?" Samtran felt his pulse quicken. "Would you like... err, we could taken the leather outside, to your dragon, if you would like to compare..." he could barely contain his enthusiasm, at the mention of the dragon.

"Erdenth," corrected K'reyel. "But yes, we can see how it looks against his hide if you'd like."

**This crafter wants to see you, don't show off too much,** sent K'reyel to the dragon.

}:Just so long as you don't either,:{ teased Erdenth as he made the short journey over to the tannery.

He couldn't believe he'd misheard the dragons name, what a dunderhead the rider would think him, but that hadn't stopped him from agreeing to take the leather to match it to the dragons tonings. Samtran's pulse quickened, he was going to meet one of the great protectors of Pern, and not just a green, but a _bronze_. He hoped that he could be seen by the Hall at large.

"Tell me which one you would like to match." Samtran waved his arm expansively towards the many hued hides.

"This one I think." It was a soft looking leather, one that would complement his bronze no end. "This will go well against his hide."

"We shall soon see." Samtran drew the hide from the rack above their heads, and carefully rolled it, before slinging it across his shoulder. "Lead the way, bronzerider."

Which he did. Soon the pair were outside, the magnificent bronze dragon sunning himself for their admiration.

Samtran made his way cautiously up to the great bronze. Nervous excitement caused him to trip as they got closer. "He is magnificent, isn't he?"
Samtran's awe wasn't simply for the beast himself. He gazed in envy at the dragons hide, how he wished he could emulate the colour during the tanning stages of the hides. "Absolutely beautiful..." he said, breathlessly.

"He is indeed, and this colour will only complement him."

"So you'll take the hide?" Samtran asked eagerly. His eyes shining - he couldn't draw his gaze from the bronzes hide, the sun glistening off it.

"You like it?" he asked of his dragon, speaking aloud for the Tanner's benefit.

The dragon lifted his head and looked at the man, }:Tell him yes.:{ "He says he likes it, so we'll take some."

"Wonderful! Wonderful!" Samtran beamed happily, pleased with the outcome and happier still that he had had the honour of dealing with the bronzerider.
This would be worth a sevenday of evening tales, he thought to himself.

"Trust me, it'll look spectacular on him, and I'll make sure my wingmates know who to come and talk to to get good hides for their own straps."

"Thank you, bronzerider, thank you." the little man all but bowed to the rider in his earnest thanks. "You are welcome, anytime..anytime."

Last updated on the April 14th 2007

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Currying Favour