A Satisfactory Deal

Writers: Vix, Yvonne
Date Posted: 28th August 2007

Characters: Larstad, Hartam
Description: Hartam visits Larstad to retrieve the new tools he has ordered.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 5, day 5 of Turn 4

**Hopefully he'll be in a better mood this time,** Hartam told himself as he
approached the smith's workroom. He reached out and knocked on the door
frame. "Journeyman Larstad?"

"Hmm?" The Smith stood up from where he'd been kneeling behind a tangled mess
of machinery and glanced at the hacked together, bare-faced clock on the
wall. "Either you're early, or the clock stopped again."

The harper also looked toward the clock and then back at the smith, puzzled.
"Had we set a definite time?"

"You're earlier than I anticipated," Larstad explained. He found an oily rag
in his pocket and wiped his hands methodically. "I take it you're here for
the borers?"

Hartam nodded. "If you've finished them. If not, I can return at another
time."

"Of course I'm done. If I was going to be late with them, I'd have sent you a
message. Wait here." The Smith put the rag back into his pocket and
disappeared into a nearby closet, leaving Hartam alone in his workroom. Aside
from the usual tools of a Smithy, there were things more associated with a
Technician's Craft hanging on the walls, and several half put together
projects that were obviously commissions - a telescope, a lantern with
coloured glass, a wrought-iron fireplace poker. After a moment Larstad
returned carrying a canvas bag, which he handed to Hartam. "This should meet
the specifications you sent me. I have a few sample cores drilled with it
too, if you'd like to see those before committing any marks."

The harper had waited, almost afraid to move, not wanting to do anything to
further upset the smith. He took the bag eagerly and nodded to Larstad's
offer. "I'd like to see them. Not for the marks - you've earned those - but
so that I can see how they performed and decide if I have any questions about
the use of these."

"Mmm." Larstad selected two long, thin, square blocks of wood from a pile on
a nearby tabletop. Both had long holes drilled down the middle and a row of
smaller openings along the top. He handed them to Hartam. "You can keep them
if you want. The long borer needs clamps and a steady hand to get the job
done properly, but it's not difficult. And I wasn't sure if you had something
to finish the interior already or not, so I didn't make you anything."

"I have a few tools that might work for that," Hartam told him, though his
attention was on one of the blocks of wood, which he had raised to eye level
and was cocking his head to view. He nodded and glanced toward the smith. "If
I find that I need a special tool, I'll contact you - if that would be
alright with you?"

"Of course." Larstad spread his arms wide. "That's what I'm here for. And if
you aren't able to get a straight hole, contact me and I'll do what I can for
help."

"The wood will definitely need to be clamped tight, but that shouldn't be a
problem." The harper smiled at the smith. "The hold in this is already pretty
smooth. Have you sawed any of the samples to see if the opening stays even?"

"Already done. It does." The Smith rummaged around some more until he found
the piece he'd halved. "It went fine until it hit a knot. Just be sure of the
grain of your wood."

Again the harper inspected the sample. "This is even enough to resonate
properly." He ran his finger over the portion of wood that had been bored.
"And fairly smooth. It would need very little sanding."

"Then you are satisfied?"

"Extremely." Hartam reached into his pouch and extracted the agreed-upon
amount of marks. "I will also recommend your services to others, should I
hear of a need."

Larstad grinned in spite of himself - he was a sucker for flattery. "Thank
you kindly, Harper. And I ought to make it over to the Tavern at some point
to hear you play those instruments of yours. I've been avoiding it for Lord
Benaran's sake, but what he doesn't know won't offend him."

The harper waved his hand dismissively. "The Lord Holder's son seems to think
that our tavern takes business from the Hold, but there's plenty of business
for two taverns here. Come on over and I'll buy you a drink and sing you a
special song."

"I can't say no to a free drink. Perhaps tomorrow evening I'll stop by, or
the day after."

"I'll be watching for you." Hartam bowed slightly to the smith. "But for now
I'll take my leave. I want time to experiment with these before tonight's
duties."

"Good luck, then," Larstad said, and watched as the Harper left him alone in
his workshop. Good. There were things to be done... "Like winding that
sharding clock!"

Last updated on the September 2nd 2007

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A Satisfactory Deal