Slacking Off

Writers: Chelle, Eimi
Date Posted: 9th August 2010

Characters: Sarban, Yonber
Description: Sarban catches one of his subordinates having a less-than-great morning.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 10, day 12 of Turn 5

Sitting in his office, he got up from his chair and walked next door to
the workroom where his understewards were supposed to be hard at work.
It was time for the daily meeting and he wanted to make sure everyone
was making progress.

Yonber was sitting at his desk, one hand on his aching head as he tried
to concentrate on the piece of paper in front of him. His brain was
just too fuzzy still. On top of that, his stomach still felt like it
had something down in it. He kept a trash box next to him just in case
he threw that up too. His mind wandered from the information on the
page to trying to remember just how much he had to drink the night
before, but after a certain point, he couldn't remember anything. He
had told himself it was just going to be one pint with the boys, but, as
usual, one turned into two, which turned into three...

Coming into the room, Sarban stopped. "Good morning everyone. Time for
staff meeting. First, anyone have anything to report?" He looked around
at the faces.

**Oh Faranth**, Yonber thought as he heard the Steward's voice. He had
forgotten there would be a meeting already and hadn't finished any of
the things he had been assigned. Most of the morning had been spent in
front of a toilet getting rid of the contents of his stomach.

A couple of the other people went first. The Harper Hall construction
was on schedule. Sarban's messages to the minor holders had come back
for tithes. Then it was Yonber's turn.

The assistant steward looked up at Sarban with a dazed look on his face.
"I'm sorry, what?"

"Your report, Yonber." He didn't have exactly a patient look on his
face, but he wasn't going to crawl over the tables and deck him either.

"Oh." He was afraid of that. "Well... I think things are going well.
No problems have come up since yesterday. I think... Nothing really to
add to the conversation."

Sighing, he moved on to the next item of business. "Of course the
hatching is coming up at the Weyr. As such, we have agreed to send a
little bit of extra tithe. Also, Relaw was supposed to speak with the
Riverboats about maybe setting up a transportation agreement? And
Yonber, you were supposed to give me an update on the progress out at
Red Rush Hold with the fire."

"Oh yes, Red Rush Hold..." Some reports had come from the Hold, but he
couldn't remember a thing that was in them. Had he actually read them?
Or had he put that off for the morning? "Things are progressing. The
Hold is rebuilding and they hope to... get back on track as soon as
possible."

"And the newly appointed minor holder we put in charge?" Sarban watched
him carefully, thinking something wasn't right.

"He's..." Oh shards, why does he have to keep asking all these
questions?! Yonber's head was thrumming now. "He's settling in and
taking a look at the situation and... He's committed to rebuilding."

Giving him a break for awhile, Sarban asked some questions and they
discussed some of the new types of equipment they had agreed to try to
improve farming. When it was over, he walked over to Yonber. "You really
need to drink some redfruit juice mixed with milk and wherry eggs before
you come in here like that."

"Oh, no, it's just... a stomach thing," Yonber said with an unconcerned
wave, though he wondered just how much Sarban knew.

"If you don't get over it, see the healers." The order was clear, though
it was given in a voice that wasn't too loud. Sarban moved around the
room, mingling with the other understewards. Some of them had finished
their assignments.

**Phew,** Yonber thought as he turned back to his pile of work on his
desk. He didn't want to get intro trouble again for being hung over at
work. Now if only he could concentrate on what he was doing. He rubbed
at his eyes. Now that his stomach was starting to settle down, all he
really wanted to do was sleep...

The former seacrafter wasn't a fool, but he wouldn't push it. However,
if it became a habit and a problem, he would give the man a strong word.

Last updated on the August 13th 2010

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Slacking Off