Making Arrangements

Writers: Chelle, Jane
Date Posted: 1st September 2009

Characters: Sarban, Lineal
Description: Lineal and Sarban finalize a contract between the Sungazer and the Hold.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 4, day 16 of Turn 5

Sarban took a bite out of the muffin he'd brought with him. "Mmm marshberries." Unlocking his office, he left the door open as he stepped inside and went to work setting the klah pot to brewing.

"Am I too early," the riverboat captain asked arriving hard on the heels of the Hold's steward.

He looked up. "Ah no actually." Sarban gestured to the klah. "I'd offer you some but it'll be some time before it's ready."

"I just finished my breakfast," Lineal admitted. "So I'm in no hurry."

Nodding, the former sailor toddled around and opened a drawer, taking out a hide. Laying it straight on the desk, he gestured to Lineal. "This is what Corowal and I came up with."

Lineal picked up the hide, reading through it, wincing a little at the option to move breeding animals. Wretched things. Couldn't be stacked one upon another, needed special care from the crew, and special unloading requirements. And they could be more than a little smelly. "Well, that looks ... fair."

"Anything you'd like to negotiate?" Sarban knew anyone smart enough wouldn't accept things at first reading.

"No, not really," Lineal began. "Oh, unless you'd like to swap this live animal shipping for something that's more value for the cargo footprint you've got."

"I don't know. Corowal mentioned something about Aivorn's ovines possibly being sold and the meat is at a premium right now." Wrinkling his mouth, he finally poured some of the klah.

"Have you smelled those things up close?" Lineal demanded, though his expression was amused.

"Aye I have. I have the misfortune of having to talk to the beastcrafters when they have disease or there are too many." Sarban smiled sardonically. "As it is, though, if there are no other objections, we can both sign it." He knew Lineal had places to be so he wouldn't hold him up further.

With his own copy of the signed contract in his pocket Lineal left the main Hold building and headed back to the docks where the Sungazer was tied up. He hadn't negotiated with much enthusiasm because right now the Sungazer didn't need to. When they had carried the extra crew from the Moonflower they had got a little 'ahead' of their predicted financial position and they could afford to allow a few deals go through that favoured the other party.

It was a short term loss that often bought long-term gain, as it stuck in people's mind that the Sungazer gave very good value for marks.

Of course, the children were having mixed reactions to the arrangement. Nalin was quite pleased, but then the boy was always interested in learning and the opportunity to stay at the Hold with its electric plants and the Weaver Hall close by was an attraction to the Lineal's eldest son.

The 'little girls' (as they were called) were not so happy. They complained that they'd had their punishment in being left at the waypoint for a couple of sevendays and had been _good_ ever since. No amount of explanation could convince the youngsters that this wasn't another punishment (and, besides, the first had been completely of their own making) but an opportunity to check that they were learning well on the riverboat.

Although the riverboat was now his home, Lineal had travelled widely in his younger days and shared Rahona's determination that their children (Lihona as well as the boys) were going to have the best possible opportunities to make their own lives wherever they wanted, and for that they needed to have a good grounding in harper classes. Since he couldn't make arrangements such as the one folded neatly in his pocket for his own children and neglect the other youngsters on the Sungazer they would all have to spend a month at Emerald Falls.

Regardless of how each child felt about it, he was sure it would do them all good.

Last updated on the September 2nd 2009

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Making Arrangements