The Way Your Mind Works

Writers: Vix, Yvonne
Date Posted: 2nd September 2007

Characters: Benaran, Cyrek
Description: Benaran isn't sure if he likes the way Cyrek does his work
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 5, day 6 of Turn 4

The Lord Holder's son paused in the doorway of the Steward's office, his eyes taking in the hides on the desk and the familiar writing upon them. His voice was tightly controlled, not betraying his anger.
"Don't you have enough work to do without checking mine?"

Benaran didn't sound angry but Cyrek wasn't oblivious to the challenge in his voice. The Lord Holder's son was looking for a fight, and with everything else he had to do, the Steward was in no mood to indulge him. He suppressed a sigh and set his pen aside. "Good afternoon to you as well, Benaran. Is there a problem?"

"Yes, there's a problem," the other man told him. "Trust. You don't trust me to do those reports and feel that you must check over everything I do."

"It's not a matter of trust, but rather of doing my job thoroughly. I check over everyone's reports, Benaran, not just yours. And there were two small errors that needed correcting, so I fail to see where the problem is."

"Errors?" Proud of his skill with figures, Benaran leaned on the desk to see the reports. "What kind of errors?"

Cyrek suppressed another sigh and reached for Benaran's report.
Apparently Benaran hadn't bothered to look over his corrections before storming into his office to confront him. "On page two, you wrote a nine instead of a six here," he said, pointing at one of the columns. "This means that we're thirty bushels of wheat over our projected harvest from the South-south West field, which may mean that we're out thirty bushels for the Hold after tithes and trades are completed. Your second error was here..." he flipped two pages on to point at the projected yields from Ergam's Elbow Small Hold. "I'm not sure if you were aware of this, but their mill broke and they're behind on their flour production. We cannot expect a full shipment from them until next month, which means that I'm going to have to find the Hold flour from somewhere else to tide us over."

Benaran took a deep breath. He had heard something about a damaged mill, but had not connected it with the one mentioned in this report.
As to the other mistake, it was truly his mistake - one that he should not have made. "Yes, well, I'm glad that you caught them." He cleared his throat and went on in discomfort. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." The beginnings of a headache were forming between Cyrek's temples. Benaran had been reasonable, but it still rankled that even after all these months as Steward, his motives were still suspect. It wasn't easy living in Shayven's shadow. "But like I said, Benaran, you're not being singled out. I go over everything."

The man nodded but his eyes remained on the Steward. "And when you do find mistakes - do you report on that to my father?"

"That depends on the nature of the mistake." His heart beat a little faster.

"And what determines whether or not you tell him?"

"Whether it was malicious, careless, or simple error. Why do you ask?"

"Because I want to know how your mind works." Benaran straightened and walked a few steps away from the desk. "There are some who delight in running to him with every mistake."

**Sort of the way that you did to me?** Cyrek bit his tongue. Living in Amethyst Cliff Hold with Lady Jerandra, for all of her despicableness, had taught him diplomacy at the very least. "Well, if that's settled, could you get the corrected reports back to me by the end of the week? I would be most grateful."

"Of course." Benaran picked up the pages from Cyrek's desk, still glaring at the other man. "I'll go back and fix the mistakes right now. You can continue poring over everyone else's work."

"Among other things." The Steward smiled pleasantly - another manufactured expression. "My door is always open whenever you wish to speak with me."

"If I wish to speak to you, I _will_ seek you out." The Lord Holder's son turned sharply and left the room, his stride reflecting his anger.

Last updated on the September 8th 2007

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The Way Your Mind Works