The Perfect Companion

Writers: Kaysea
Date Posted: 17th July 2007

Characters: Taia, Corder
Description: Corder is annoyed and concerned that Taia has given her canine away.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 4, day 25 of Turn 4

He glanced up from the hides he was working on, watching from his office vantage point for Taia to appear in the cavern, she had been missing all day. Her assignment had been for the stock fields a candlemarks walk away, he had expected to see her first thing this morning when she came to check her days assignment, but she hadn't appeared and there'd been no note from her, to say she was ill.

He bent his head to his task again, but his mind wasn't on his work. He stood and made his way out into the main cavern. "Anyone seen Taia this morning?" he called out to no one in particular, just hoping that someone in general would have seen the journeywoman.

"She left early today." he heard a voice, from the back stalls of the cavern, call out. Altrino popped his head over the stall door, "She had assignments in the far stock fields this mornin' so she left at the crack of dawn."

"First thing? How'd she know?" Corder asked strolling down the aisle so he wouldn't have to shout out the conversation for all to hear.

"Dunno." Altrino shrugged, "but she was in here until late last night."

"She was? Why?" Corder's forehead creased in a heavy frown. "She wasn't supposed to be, she was supposed to be out training that canine she ended up keeping from that last litter we had here."

"Oh...didn't you hear?" Altrino asked, once again turning back to the craftmaster. "She gave the canine away."

"What?" Corder rocked back on his heels. He had told Taia she was taking too much on with the canine, but only because it had been getting underfoot, running loose around the cavern while she was working. "I..I didn't mean for her to give it away."

"I don't think it was you..." Altrino answered, "Anyway, you can ask her yourself..." he nodded towards the cavern entrance. "She's back." He turned his attention back to his work, sensing the Master had more important things to discuss now.

"Taia!" Corder called and walked towards the approaching journeywoman. "You left early this morning, and you were here until late last night?" Though she was normally a good worker, there was something unusual in her behaviour and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.

"Oh Corder, I'll have the reports finished later today, but yes, I left early this morning, I need to get the assignment over and done so I can check on something."

"Alright, now I'm confused. Worked late, left early. No canine. _What_ is going on?" he took her arm and steered her towards his office. "Look, I know I was grouchy a little last week and told you you'd taken too much on, but, I didn't mean for you to get rid of the canine."

He pulled out a chair and sat her down, then sat on the edge of the desk in front of her. "Now, tell me.."

"Okay, yes, I did work late last night. I had to do something to fill in the empty candlemarks before I went to bed, and figured I'd get my hidework up to date. I saw that you'd planned for me to work out in the fields today, so thought I may as well go out early this morning, so that I can check up on Livvy this afternoon."

"Livvy?"

"The canine." she answered, with a sigh.

"You got rid of her because I told you off, once?" he asked.

"No, I found someone who needed her more than I did." she answered quietly.
"And I want to go check on both of them before I have to go out again this afternoon." she said, finally meeting his glare with one of her own. "You said I really didn't have time for a canine, and that she couldn't always be following me around, so - I did what I needed to do."

"Shells Taia. I didn't mean for you to get rid of her." Corder said exasperatedly. "I just meant that until she was out of the 'getting-under-my-feet-puppy-stage' you should have asked the headwoman for a candidate or drudge to take care of her."

"Well I don't need to now, I know she is with the right person; this was someone who never would have come down looking for a pet."

"Can I ask who? Maybe they would be willing to give her back to you. She would have been a useful companion in another turn or so, once she had been well trained. Her breed makes excellent herding canines."

"I know." Taia answered, beginning to calm down in the face of Corder's obvious disappointment. "But she will be more useful where she is, both now and in the future. And her herding instinct will be put to use, different use but just as important."

"Okay, now you have me really confused." Corder scratched his head, perplexed by her explanation. "Care to elaborate?" he asked.

"Come to the dining cavern and you'll see for yourself." she said, standing finally, a small secretive smile on her lips.

Corder stood and waved her ahead of him out the door and into the cavern. "I'll be back in a candlemark." he called out to the on duty journeyman, "If I'm needed, I'll be in the dining cavern."

* * *

"I can't believe you brought a canine into the dining hall." he muttered, following Taia through the entrance way.

"Why not? Firelizards eat here all the time, and besides, when you see who has her now, you'll understand why." she manoeuvred her way through the dining tables towards the servery and picker up a plate and mug. "Get something to eat." she nodded to the fully loaded trestle.

Once they had their food, Taia turned and surveyed the cavern. "This way." she nodded and started wending her way through the occupied tables to a small alcove, where an elderly uncle sat with his carer.

"Winton, do you mind if we sit with you?" Taia asked.

Corder could see right away that the old uncle couldn't see. His milky white pupils a give-away to the cataracts that covered his eyes. the carer sat taking a mouthful of food for himself, and then feeding Winton a mouthful as well.

Winton's deeply tanned, wrinkled hand scrabbled across the table to a small plate of diced up fresh meat, but there wasn't a firelizard in sight. But Corder didn't miss the small, wet nose that poked over the edge of the table.

"Taia?" the old man's voice croaked out, pleasure evident in hearing Taia's voice, a smile split his face, still white teeth flashing brightly. "Sit sit!" he encouraged. A"And who is that with you?" he asked, tipping his head at an awkward angle.

"It's me, Winton - Corder." Corder replied, everything finally falling into place.

"How's she doing?" Taia asked, smiling, and ducking her head below the table to look at the pup sitting excitedly by the old man's side. "You're doing well, she's not trying to paw the table today."

"Tempon helped with that," he turned his head towards the carer, who nodded agreement, "we've been practising up in my quarters and she seems to be better."

"You'll have her trained in no time." Taia smiled, and looked at Corder across the table, winking at him, all trace of her earlier taciturnity had disappeared.

Corder shook his head, partly amused partly annoyed, but fully understanding her motives. Winton had been a herder, had known canines and beasts all his life, what better companion for him now that his eyesight had all but gone. He may not be able to train the canine for the work she should be used for, but a better companion, and possibly breeding canine, couldn't be found.

"I can't thank you enough Taia." the older man said, his eyes misting with grateful tears. "You don't know how much she means to me..."

"Well Winton, when she's of an age, I'd appreciate you considering me for one of of her pups? That would be thanks enough." Taia replied, her own eyes misting too.

"You pick her mate, and you can have pick of the litter."

Last updated on the July 18th 2007

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The Perfect Companion