Missing (1 of 14)

Writers: Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 11th September 2007

Characters: Benaroy, Larstad
Description: Lord Benaroy has a special request for Larstad
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 5, day 21 of Turn 4

The summons had come at an inopportune moment, and Larstad had brushed them off for as long as he was able. Unfortunately, however, the Lord of Amber Hills Hold could not be ignored forever, and he had to set aside the delicate cogs and wheels he'd been working on and go see Benaroy in his office. Sullenly he knocked, and he didn't smile when he was asked to enter. "You wanted to see me, Lord Benaroy?"

"Ah, Larstad," the Lord nodded, pushing his chair back from the desk.
"Take a seat."

"Hopefully this won't take long? I'm in the middle of a project,"
Larstad said, finding a semi-comfortable chair for himself and stretching his long legs out across the carpet.

"Forget your project," Benaroy said as he tossed a scroll across the desk towards the smith. "You'll find this far more interesting. An unsolvable mystery. One I doubt even you will be able to figure out."

"Nothing is unsolvable. Things don't happen for no reason." Larstad reached for the scroll in spite of himself. It had the Barley Hills Hold seal - a minor Holding in Lord Benaroy's territory. "What do they want?"

"Help. They want me to send my best guard to help them deal with his matter, but..." Benaroy waved at the scroll in his hands. "I honestly can't waste a guard on such a foolish errand. I only bring it to you because I know you enjoy a good puzzle."

**He couldn't waste a guard, but he'll happily waste my time.** The Smith frowned, feeling nettled, and unrolled the scroll. "To the Lord of Amber Hills Hold... blah blah... ah. We have recently discovered the theft of thirteen casks of brandy from a locked room, and have had very little success in determining who was brazen enough to steal from our ageing room. Barley Hill lost some of its brandy?"

"As it says," the Lord Holder said with a nonchalant shrug. "There are more details to follow, but as I stated before, I wouldn't waste time on it. It's an impossible case. Those rooms are built and guarded like a fortress. Not even a tunnelsnake could enter them undetected, let alone escape with entire casks of the stuff. I say the only way someone could steal brandy from a Barley Hill cellar is that they would have had to have had the key. End of mystery. But they insist it had to have been an outside job. Like I said, I only bring it to your attention because it seems the kind of challenge you enjoy, but you can take or leave it as you like. I'm through with it."

"If they lose thirteen casks of brandy, then you lose a sizeable tithe," the Smith pointed out dryly. Barley Hills' brandy was renowned, and one of their only exports. "Does Cyrek know about this?"

"Of course. He has been alerted to the change in their tithe status," Benaroy nodded. "It is unfortunate. We could use the tithe marks."

"Mmm." The Smith re-read the scroll. "I heard a rumor that they whip thieves at Barley Hills Hold."

"They do what they must to maintain law and order," Benaroy nodded.
He personally found the practice distasteful for his own people, but considering the history of Barley Hills, it seemed a firmer hand was needed there.

"Seems barbaric." Even though Benaroy had confirmed it, Larstad found the practice hard to believe. Pern was too modern for something that brutal.

"So is stealing food from the mouths of babes," which, considering what their financial situation had been for turns, was exactly what thieves were doing by stealing the source of a Hold's livelihood.

"So you want me to go, then. It's a two day ride."

"You're not interested?" Benaroy asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise. "I figured you of all people would love the chance to solve the unsolvable mystery."

"I--" Benaroy had him there. What was really keeping him? Winter was fast approaching, and as soon as it snowed he'd be Holdbound. This was the opportunity to do something new and see something strange --
was he getting old, that he had hesitated?! "I'll be leaving in the morning. Any projects that you've requested from me will just have to wait until my return - you can tell that to your Steward." The Smith rose from his chair and nodded curtly. "If you'll excuse me, I had better go pack."

Benaroy sighed resignedly. "If you really want to take the time, I won't stop you."

"Oh, and one last thing..."

"Yes?"

"Keep Zelanka out of my workroom!" "Yes, sir." The Lord Holder said, picking up a random hide from his desktop as the journeyman took his leave. Hearing the latch click he smiled. Reaching for a fresh sheet of paper and his pen he scribbled a quick note to the Holder of Barley Hills. "As promised, I am sending my best man to you." Benaroy paused, wondering if he should warn them about the whirlwind he was sending their way. **Nah,** he finally decided.

**Why spoil the surprise.**

Last updated on the September 13th 2007

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Missing (1 of 14)