Delivery

Writers: Noola, Paula
Date Posted: 22nd February 2010

Characters: Ariavin, Zelanka
Description: Ariavin makes a pre-Gather delivery.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 7, day 20 of Turn 5

Ariavin didn't usually deliver the wine and spirits his barrels, kegs
and casks contained. Usually, the vintners took care of that. But
today was different. It was the day before the Gather and everyone was
hard at work making sure the Hold was stocked with enough wine,
spirits, brandies, beers and liqueurs to satisfy the onslaught of
holders, crafters and even dragonriders who would be milling about
looking to trade goods and marks for fine beverages. Even several of
the non-crafting support staff and residents of the Hall were helping,
sorting, labeling, packaging. It was a busy time as the Hall worked to
fill the massive orders the Hold made and, on the side, individual
Vintners feverishly worked to get their own personal stock ready to
tempt Gather goers with.

He, himself, rarely sold anything during Gathers. He would spend a few
candlemarks peddling specialty casks and storage barrels. They were good for
holding more than wine after all - in fact, a couple of Gathers ago he
had sold a score of large oak barrels which were to store feed grain
to a cotholder from the southern edge of the Hold. However, most of
his income had already been made. He was, of course, contracted with
the Vintner Hall and most of his work went to fullfilling the needs of
the Hall in general. However, Vintners wanting to sell their own
personal stock were his also customers and very lucrative ones at
that. Even after he paid out the percentage required to his own
Crafthall and covered his materials, he still wound up with a tidy sum
just on what the individual Vintners wanted. So, after a little while
tomorrow, he would pack up whatever hadn't sold and simply enjoy the
Gather.

For today however, he was pitching in to help get the Hold's order
delivered. As he approached the service entrance with several barrels
of wine and kegs of beer, he drew up on the reigns of the draftbeast
pulling the cart and hopped off, looking for whoever was going to be
inspecting and accepting the delivery.

"What's have we here?" Zelanka asked, comming out of the kitchen,
drying her hands to a towel. Her cheeks were red after running around
and peeking into the stew pots, wisps of hair escaping their
confinement, forming golden halo around her head.

Ariavin spotted the Headwoman and was relieved he didn't have to go
hunt anyone down. As busy as everyone likely was, finding someone
might have been more work that loading and unloading the cart.
"Headwoman," he greeted with a nod and a small smile. "I've got two
barrels of red here and two of white as well as three kegs of dark
lager. This should be the last delivery from the Hall, unless those
apprentices they sent earlier hasn't arrived yet." Three senior
vintner apprentices had been sent with a larger load a few candlemarks
earlier with the bulk of the goods. The ones he had were simply what
wouldn't fit in that wagon.

"Oh, good. I've been waiting for those," Zelanka smiled. She picked a
note-scrap and pen for her pocket and crossed over an item from her
list.

The cooper's smile grew a bit, "They would have come with the rest,
but there was concern about the wagon. It was decided it'd be better
to send it in two lots rather than risk breaking an axle and dumping
the load halfway here."

"Yes, very sensible. As long as they are safely here. I'll call few
lads to unload it," she nodded.

Ariavin went to pull the canvas tarp off the barrels so the lads the
Headwoman was waving over would have easier access to them for
unloading.

"Are you going to attend the Gather?" Zelanka asked when the men
arrived and started to unload the wagon. She stepped aside so not the
get on their way.

"Yes, ma'am. Wouldn't miss it." He might be spending the first part of
the day on business, but was also looking forward to simply enjoying
the Gather. Maybe he would do a little shopping himself, find
something to surprise his wife with. Ariavin shook himself out of his
musing and called out to one of the lads lifting a barrel of wine from
the cart, "Careful with that. You drop it, it'll be an awful mess."

He returned his attention to the Headwoman, though he kept an eye on
the unloading process as well. "How about yourself?"

"Of course, I couldn't stay away even if I wanted to," she snorted a little.

He acknowledged her point with a wry grin and a nod before asking,
"But will you have a chance to enjoy it or is it going to be all work
for you?"

"Oh, I shall have make sure I have time for myself and my family,"
Zelanka assured.

"That's good! I'll be stuck in a booth for the early part of the
Gather myself, but I plan on enjoying the rest of it with my family as
well. What's the point of a Gather if you have to work the entire
time, eh?"

"Exactly," Zelanka nodded affirmatively.

Ariavin watched as the men finished unloading the barrels from the
cart and began carrying them inside one by one. He was glad he'd only
had to drive the cart and not carry those barrels, they were heavy.
"Looks like they're almost done with that," he returned his attention
to the Headwoman. "Did you want to send any message back to the Hall
or anything?"

"Just send them my thank's," the headwoman replied. Her smile was bit tired.
"It was nice to chat with you. I still have thousands things to do
before the Gather."

"Yes, ma'am." Ariavin smiled before heading back to his cart, adding,
"Don't work too hard. Won't do you much good to be free for the Gather
if you're too tired to enjoy it either."

Zelanka just laughed and waived him off. **Nice man,** she thought
absently when she returned to the kitchen.

Last updated on the February 28th 2010

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Delivery