For Hire

Writers: Cali, Jane
Date Posted: 24th August 2008

Characters: Zandreu, Barthella
Description: Zandreu comes to Barthella about a distressing accusation.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 11, day 17 of Turn 4

"BARTHELLA!" the Tavern Master roared across the noise in the kitchen.

She looked up from where she was inspecting several plates of food about
ready to go out. One was supposed to have mashed tubers instead of
baked, so she handed the plate to one of the girls and instructed them
to correct the error. "You know, while it might be a bit loud in here,
the kitchen is not that large and you could have easily just walked over
here and gotten my attention quietly instead of roaring it from across
the way."

"In my office," Zandreu growled, turning on his heel and heading back
toward the door through which he had just entered. "Right now!"

The Head Cook quickly went through a mental list of all her duties and
responsibilities, as well as those of her staff, but she could think of
no large enough reason of fault for him to be that upset about it.
Since it couldn't have anything to do with her, it must be something
outside the Tavern walls, so she hurried after him, hoping the news
wasn't that horrible.

Zandreu was pacing around the small office when Barthella appeared.
"Shut the door. I don't want the whole building hearing this."

"Well then perhaps you shouldn't have brought so much attention to
yourself by yelling for me across a crowded room," she reminded him as
she did as she was instructed.

"I _called_ you, I didn't yell my business across the room," he
grumbled. "I've just had a very unpleasant interview -"

"About?" she prompted when he paused, if it was bad news she'd rather
hear it straight up than have him try and pad it for her.

"About our female workers here - being 'for hire'."

Barthella just looked at him for a moment, she was expecting something
along the lines of a plague, or flood, or bad threadfall, or something
of the sort. "What do you mean, you mean 'for hire'- as in 'favors'?"

"Yes!" He was annoyed at the woman's acceptance. "Sexual favors," he
said, so that there could be no mistake.

Her lips were a hard line as she tried to slowly exhale the breath she'd
been holding through her nose. "Which of the girls?" While the
practice of selling oneself at the tavern was strictly forbidden, it
wouldn't be the first time something like that had happened at this sort
of establishment.

"No, no. Nothing like that. The suggestion was they _all_ were - that
that was the kind of women we employed here. I _don't_ want people
thinking that, much less passing Holders coming in here to tell me that
this place is immoral. If I have to have all male workers here to stop
such talk, I will."

"Now don't get hasty, Zandreu" Barthella said hastily, most of the women
employed here depended on those marks to keep their families fed. "One
person's passing comment will not be the end of the tavern. Just who
told you this anyways, maybe we can figure out what precipitated this
and nip it in the bud."

"It wasn't even a man from here - but from one of the minor Holds -" He
rustled around on his desk for the paper he had been writing on when the
man had appeared. "Holder Ceern from -" He squinted but couldn't make
out the name of the Hold. "I can find out where he came from. Upriver,
I understood."

"If you'd like, I can talk to the girls, make sure it's a false
accusation for one thing, and if it's not...well, I can find out what
exactly is going on." she suggested. She sincerely hoped it _was_ a
false accusation.

"If it's false, then we shall have to make sure it's seen to be false.
Yes, do investigate. But if it's true ... Well, it's not going to be
happening in my Tavern, that's a certainty."

Barthella nodded, "Agreed. This tavern can't be seen to sanction that
sort of behavior."

Zandreu nodded, pleased that they were in agreement. Then, thinking
back, he said: "I'm sorry I shouted."

She smiled, having already forgotten his earlier behavior. "You're
forgiven. Now, I'd better go, the evening rush is in full swing."

"Yes. I'm sorry about dragging you away from that, too. Tell 'em all
that I apologized," he said shamefacedly.

Barthella chuckled as she walked away, "I'm sure they're all cursing your name as we speak."

Last updated on the August 24th 2008

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