An Innocent Question

Writers: Cali, Jane
Date Posted: 31st July 2009

Characters: Leisenn, Trellyn
Description: The Hallmaster consults one of her journeymen about a senior apprentice.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 3, day 17 of Turn 5

"Trellyn - a moment of your time, if it's convenient," Leisenn called as she caught sight of the journeywoman disappearing into one of the offices that the journey-ranked dolphineers shared.

She gave the Hallmaster a small smile and nodded, "Of course, what can I do for you?"

"Answer a few questions, if you would. Is this a good time?"

Trellyn hesitated, even though it had been a few months, when people made queries like that, she had a moment of guilty panic that they had discovered what she'd done. That they knew about her trip /between/ and were going to expose her secret. "Sure, I was just going to put down some notes about morning's class."

"It's about one of the apprentices," Leisenn continued. "Ednan."

Trellyn swallowed hard, trying to keep herself from freezing solid. He _was_ in her sailing class, perhaps it was about something unrelated to her. "What about him?" she asked, pleased that her voice managed to sound somewhat casual.

"He's a very - hmm - mature? For an apprentice? He's been here a long time, I believe, and I'm sure you know him well."

She just nodded as she waited for her to continue. Her statement walked the line she had hoped she would stay well away from.

Leisenn sighed. "He's been working hard to overcome the problems that have been holding him back from walking tables, and I'm fairly sure he would continue working on those issues even after he becomes a journeyman. Would you agree with that?" the Hallmaster asked. She wanted the opinions of the people who knew the young man better than her own passing knowledge of him.

"Well yes, I believe so." Trellyn hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath until she felt relief from expelling it. It _was_ a professional matter after all.

The Hallmaster nodded. "So, would you have any reservations about him walking tables?"

Trellyn hesitated, she wanted to say no right away, things would be so much easier between them if he _was_ a journeyman, but she knew she needed to be objective. If he'd been younger, Trellyn would have probably recommended Ednan stay on another turn to wait until he was improved; but at his age, it was really the only thing that was keeping him from contributing. They needed Dolphineers, especially at Topaz where the restoration and salvaging was still going on. Perhaps now wasn't the time to be so choosy. "As long as he continued to address his diving problems, then I see no reason why he can't walk now and become a productive journeyman."

"Mmm. Yes, there are a lot of things he could do perfectly well that he's being kept from as an apprentice. Good point, Trellyn. I'll be having a talk with the other masters and journeyfolk but thank you for your input. Obviously I don't want him to know we're considering this in case some reason does come up in discussion that suggests he's not yet suitable for promotion, so I'd appreciate it if you kept this conversation confidential."

"Of course." Trellyn would like to fool herself into thinking it would be hard not to tell Ednan, but realistically she knew it would be all too easy. Ever since she'd gone /between/ to abort Ednan's unborn child, she'd placed a unconscious wall between them. She was afraid of him finding out, of blaming her, of hating her; so she'd hid herself away from him and hardly saw him any more. By committing an act in order to be able to keep him, she'd ended up pushing him away and risked losing him completely.

"Thanks for your time, Trellyn," the Hallmaster said with a smile and a nod for the journeywoman.

Last updated on the August 1st 2009

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An Innocent Question