Are You Up for the Challenge?

Writers: AL, Ames
Date Posted: 17th November 2010

Characters: Wirnan, Zathris
Description: The new Steward, Wirnan meets Lord Holder Zathris for the first time
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 12, day 5 of Turn 5

Wirnan

Zathris

With his hand raised, Wirnan knocked on Lord Zathris' door. He'd only
arrived a scant few hours before, but Wirnan knew that the first order of
business was to meet Lord Zathris. An invitation to do just that had been
waiting for him even as he'd been shown to his own quarters. He waited now,
hoping Lord Zathris was still in his office and not off seeing to other
business.

"Come in!" The voice boomed through the door easily, quite a feat
considering that it was a fairly thick door. Zathris looked up when Wirnan
entered and the solemn expression upon his face was broken by a warm,
friendly smile. "All, Wirnan, good, sit down." One hand motioned to one of
the two chairs that sat before Zathris' desk. "I've just been looking over
your credentials and references."

"Lord Zathris," Wirnan said, inclining his head in respect as one does when
first greeting a Lord Holder. He entered the room and moved to the seat that
was offered him. "I hope they are still to your liking. I am anxious to get
started here at Amber Hills and see if I can make a difference in the Hold."
It didn't hurt that he would also get to spend more time with his sister,
his nephew and new niece. Wirnan knew there would be a lot he would need to
learn about the Hold and the best person to learn that from would be
Zathris, as well as the Steward staff that had been running the Hold in the
absence of a head Steward.

"Yes, of course." Zathris picked up one of the pieces of parchment and
leaned back in his chair. "I see you've held the position of assistant
steward in a couple holds." The Lord Holder's eyes dart between parchment
and man, then back again. "So you definitely have experience. So tell me,
why Amber Hills?"

"Well," Wirnan said, relaxing a bit as he felt more comfortable already,
"truth be told, my sister and her family are here. I grew up at Amethyst
Cliff, actually, after my da moved us there." Wirnan left out the reasons
behind the move and how grief stricken his father had been over such loss.
"I actually wanted to be a beastcrafter, but my size and spirit didn't seem
to sit well with the creatures. Still have a bit of a limp from my one
attempt to corral the creatures. So, I made my way about working as Steward
wherever the winds took me."

Wirnan, whose face up to now had shown nothing but good spirits, changed.
"After the quake though, things changed. I realized I wanted to be with my
sister and nephew more. Family is important," he looked to Zathris to see if
the Lord Holder agreed. "It took some doing as I had to be fair to my
previous post, but finally the time was right, and so here I am."

Zathris nodded form time to time, indicating that he was listening to the
story of the man's life. He didn't drag it out, gave important points
without going into tedious details. The response to the mention of family
being important was a more enthused nod than the others. "Well, I will have
to warn you, as a large hold your responsibilities will be multiplied
compared to what you're used to. Do you think you're up for the challenge?"

"I do, Lord Zathris. I have no qualms with hard work. I hear there is quite
a staff of assistants as well to help with various duties. That is something
I've not had as much of in my previous posts. One assistant perhaps but not
many." Wirnan had noticed the man's reactions to his words. He liked the
Lord Holder already. That would bode well for their working relationship.
"May I ask whose been keeping charge of the majority of the Steward duties
since your last Steward left." Wirnan knew there had been a short time when
the Hold had gone without a formal head Steward.

"There are several, yes." Zathris grinned broadly. "So you wouldn't be
alone. I've been actually keeping charge of dolling out responsibilities
and what not, sifting them between the assistants. We have many good
assistants but...I wasn't sure if any were quite right. Then I received
your recommendation. I think you are the man I've been looking for. So...I
would like you to start tomorrow. I did my best to keep up and as I said,
the assistant stewards are quite good but I'm afraid some things have gotten
behind. You'll have some work to catch up on."

"I am pleased you think so highly of me," Wirnan said, a smile on his face
even as he sat higher, prouder in his seat. "I will not disappoint you Lord
Zathris. I am ready to begin immediately. Is there anything that I should
see to first?" Wirnan wanted to know what Zathris' top priorities were and
if there were any pressing matters that needed tending to, so he could be
sure to see to them before he spent time trying to get caught up on the
other Hold matters.

"We've been having some things missing from various storages." Zathris
states, leaning back in his seat and lacing his hands together. "It's
possibly an oversight, but I'd like you to look at records and make sure
something didn't get mis-recorded. Or something else. Of course, the
matters of domestic affairs that are not under the Headwoman's jurisdisction
will be yours to attend to as well."

Things missing? Hmm...Wirnan would see to that immediately, and hopefully
get to the bottom of the problem right away. "Yes, sir. I can handle that.
I'll see to it first thing in the morning." Wirnan wondered if he would
develop a friendship with this man. He had been lucky enough in some of his
other posts to become close to the holders and it made the job more
enjoyable. Zathris seemed a likable man for sure. "Is there anything else,
sir?" He asked, not wishing to take up his time if Zathris had other tasks
to see to.

"Not that we haven't discussed." Zathris shook his head and stood. He
moved around the desk and held out his hand. "Welcome to Amber Hills,
Wirnan. It's good to have you on staff."

Rising, Wirnan accepted the proffered hand. "Thank you Lord Zatrhis. I'm
very glad to be here."

Last updated on the December 16th 2010

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Are You Up for the Challenge?