A Whole Hall of Jealous Vintners...

Writers: Bree, Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 11th October 2005

Characters: Jio, Cinale, Talrian
Description: Jio introduces the new Healer to the wonderful (and single!) cook of the Vintner Hall
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 8, day 8 of Turn 3

Cinale

"And so I found the raspberry wine complemented the flavor of the herbs far more than the grape," Jio explained to the Healer as he followed him into the kitchens. They had both become so engrossed in their talk of herbs and remedies that they were surprised to find their stomachs growling, and themselves too late for the evening meal. "Ah, Cinale, do you have anything for two poor hungry straglers?"

The cook turned around from her spice cabinet to look at him. "Jio, Jio, Jio... Caught up in your work again, were you?"

"Yes, but now I have caught this poor healer in my trecherous lair," he laughed. "Cinale, this is Journeyman Talrian, our new healer. Talrian, this is the most wonderful cook on Pern, Cinale."

Cinale stuck out her hand (which wasn't covered in flour, for once) to the new healer. "It's good to meet you, Talrian."

Talrian caught the cooks hand and gave it a gallant kiss. "The pleasure is all mine... especially since Jio forgot to mention that he kept me locked in his office through lunch as well! If you don't feed me soon, I may faint dead away."

She grinned at him. "You're lucky I haven't turned off the ovens yet!
Now why don't you both have a seat and I'll get you a couple plates full of food."

"Make sure mine is heaping," Jio teased as he took a seat at the table.
He turned to the healer and pushed out the seat across from him with his toe. "And who says it was all my fault? I rather think you had me a prisioner in my own office with all the questions you were throwing at me!"

"Well..." Talrian sank into the chair and grinned. "That's what I get for telling my daughter I'd find my meals at the Hall today! Without someone to stop me, I sort of got a little out of hand..."

Cinale tsked as she placed the heaping plates in front of the men. "You men need to take better care of yourselves... Now, would you like klah?
Or wine?"

"Klah, please." Talrian grinned at Jio. "If I try to drink wine before I've finished my supper, I might disgrace myself. I know better than to drink it on an empty stomach!"

"Yes," Jio smiled, "I think Cinale will be happy when I finally find someone to take care of me. It will take some of the burden off of her.
Klah for me too, please."

The cook snorted as she went to the counter to grab two mugs. "I have the weight of the Hall one my shoulders, Jio," she grinned, her tone teasing him as she gave them each their hot mug of steaming klah.

"This one takes care of us all," he said with a nod in Cinale's direction. "If you ever feel drained and you need a cup of klah and a chat, come find our wonderful cook and she'll throw in a meal or a treat and a few kind words and suddenly all is right with the world. I don't know what will do when a man finally steals her away from us."

"So talented, and no man has gotten you yet?" Talrian grinned at Jio.
"She must be beating the men away every time she turns around!"

"When the right one comes around, I'll know," she told them cheerfully, taking a seat on the bench.

Jio chuckled. "Well, when you find him, let me know so I can chase him off. I can't afford to lose you!"

She grinned. "Oh come now, hon. Surely you don't want me to end up an old maid, hmm?"

"Don't worry. I'd marry you before it came to that," the vintner teased. "Don't be getting any ideas, Talrian. I tasted her cooking first!"

Talrian took a sip of his klah and sighed happily. "I don't know... I think I'm bigger than you, Jio. I could shove you in a closet and get away with her."

"Ah, but I'm younger and faster," Jio retorted with a finger wave for added emphasis. "I'm confident I could catch up to you if you're carrying away our cook!"

"Depends on how well I locked the door, doesn't it?" Talrian replied with a grin. "Though I suppose I'm being greedy... I already have a lovely daughter who makes fabulous klah and cooks for me. I suppose I should share the lovely cook with less fortunate men."

"Why, thank you, Talrian! How generous of you," Cinale smiled, propping her chin up in her hands.

"It's not generosity, Cinale. It's fear - pure fear," Jio said with a sideways smile directed at the healer. "No one wants to face down a whole hall of jealous Vintners, now do they!"

"If a man had the will, he just might!"

"The only man I can thinking that might be strong enough to carry a woman and fight a hall would be..." Jio gave Cinale a sly look. "I bet our Hallsecond could do it."

Deciding not to comment on that, Cinale took a drink of her own klah instead. Then she smiled at Jio. "Our Hallsecond is a strong man."

Talrian quirked an eyebrow as he watched the two of them. "What's this, then? Are my plans for luring in a wife foiled already? Does Daigoro have a prior claim?"

"Not that _I'm_ aware of," Jio said, flashing Cinale an accusing look that quickly turned into a smile. "Hadn't you heard, Talrian. Our Hallsecond is the most eligle bachelor in the Hall. He has been getting letters from fathers far and wide who are trying to make a good match for their young daughters. Does your daughter happen to need a husband?"

The healer snorted. "Yes... but perhaps one who is closer to her own age instead of mine? Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I think she should have some say in the matter as well."

"I don't know, it sounds rather _revolutionary_ to me," Jio chuckled.

Talrian lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Revolutionary, Jio? This from the man who dazzled a female master healer with his knowledge in this very Hall?"

"Shhh, don't blow my cover," Jio whispered with a wink. "Cinale, can I have some more tubers?"

She grinned, shaking her head as she grabbed his plate. "Of course, hon, but these'll be the last of them... Talrian, did you want any more before Jio scarfs them all up?"

Talrian held out his plate. "Yes, please? Jio may be a growing boy, but he can't have _all_ of them!"

She laughed and took his plate as well before retreating to the counters to pile more onto their plates.

Jio grinned at Talrian. "See, I told you. Cinale takes care of us _all_."

Last updated on the October 13th 2005

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A Whole Hall of Jealous Vintners...