Differing Reports

Writers: Jane, Vix
Date Posted: 24th March 2008

Characters: Tarehg, Mahantan
Description: Tarehg brings his reports about the apprentice dolphineers to Mahantan and the two find that they have differing opinions.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 9, day 12 of Turn 4

The master dolphineer made good time down the corridor despite the limp and the stick he leaned heavily on in a seemingly futile effort to keep the poorly healed hip from causing him too much pain. Under his free arm were a bundle of reports - apprentice reports which he had signed off and needed to pass back to the Master of Apprentices. Since very few of his comments about the apprentices were positive Tarehg doubted that the interview would be a short one, but if he was lucky (and he had timed this trip to coincide with meal time) the man's office would be empty and he could just drop the reports and run.

Limp.

Mahantan knew that he should go to lunch, could feel his stomach growling, but there was still so much to do. He glanced over still another recommendation from one of the journeymen as to what one of the senior apprentices needed in order to move on, to swim the pod to the next level. So many of them were close, and yet still not ready. He glanced at the clock on the shelf, considering that he could go to lunch first, but deciding to finish just this stack.

"Ahh. Mahantan," Tarehg said, finding the other man ensconced behind the desk. "Apprentice reports."

**Just what I _don't _ need,** was Mahantan's immediate thought, though he admitted that it could have been worse had Tarehg showed up when he had a full stomach and soured his dinner within it. "Of course," was his verbal response. "What else would the Master of Apprentices be doing?"

"I meant, I have these apprentice reports you are _sure_ to be wanting," Tarehg said, dropping the pile of papers on the other man's desk with a feeling of satisfaction.

More work. Mahantan knew that he could leave these reports for later, but he had seen Tarehg's work on other occasions and these might bear explanation. "I've been considering recommending a few apprentices to move up. Your information on them will go far toward that decision."

"Perhaps in one case, but I doubt it in the rest." Tarehg was perfectly prepared to stand by what he'd written, but wasn't prepared to stand while he did so. He moved across the room to a chair and sat himself down.

The Apprentice Master held back a sigh. "Suppose you start by telling me which apprentice is worthy to hold journey rank and why."

"Rowenden. He's more than capable in my specialities and takes the craft seriously. The others -"

"Rowenden?" There was incredulity in Mahantan's voice. "He wasn't even one that I was considering."

"He's a very clever young man," Tarehg insisted.

"He's also very limited in his abilities. I need those who are well-rounded and can do at least adequately in all aspects of our craft."

"What are you saying he _can't_ deal with?" Tarehg asked, eyeing the other master with suspicion.

Mahantan sighed. "Salvage, rescue, communication, history - just about anything that does not relate directly to maps or weather."

"I find that a little hard to believe," Tarehg protested.

"The reports of his other instructors say little to recommend him."

"Well some of _them_ are idiots. Have you actually seen his work in other specialties? Or is this based only on reports?"

The Master of Apprentices bristled at that suggestion. "I observe all of the apprentices and teach classes for them on my own. My evaluation of his work is that he does the minimum required or less, showing little enthusiasm or care for most areas."

"Except _my_ specialities?"

"So it would seem."

"Perhaps I'd better come and see this for myself," Tarehg said. After all, once he had seen for himself he could argue the case more forcefully with the Master of Apprentices.

"If you'd care to observe these apprentices - all of them - in other classes, you may do so, " Mahantan conceded, "with the permission of the other instructors, of course."

"I'll do that. What about the other apprentices? Do you want to go over my reports on them now?"

"I suppose that we should," remarked the other dolphineer, though he doubted that they concurred with the reports of other instructors.

Tarehg sighed. He had the feeling this would take a while.

Last updated on the March 29th 2008

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Differing Reports