Fear of Inadequacy

Writers: AL, Anaria
Date Posted: 22nd June 2011

Characters: Zathris, Numen
Description: Zathris deals with a Cotholder who's tithes are insufficient
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 2, day 1 of Turn 6
Notes: Notes: Precedes Melancholy Babe

Zathris

Numen scowled as he rode his runnerbeast slowly towards the main Hold
of Amber Hills. He'd been summoned by Lord Zathris to discuss some
discrepancies that had come up regarding his cothold's recent tithes.
This wasn't the first time he'd been summoned by the Lord Holder, and
he doubted that it'd be the last.

"Sharding demanding arse fool," he muttered under his breath. "Doesn't
realize how hard it is for a working man to keep food on the table for
7 daughters."

Numen hadn't had the good fortune of some of his neighboring
cotholders. He didn't have the benefit of numerous strong sons to help
out. And since his wife had passed in childbirth a turn prior, it
didn't look like he ever would see a proper son.

Entering the Hold, he was directed to the Lord Holder's office, where
he would meet with him.

"Come in!" It was never difficult to hear Zathris, even through the
thick doors. He knew how to get his voice to carry and be heard. He
looked up as the door open and nodded politely to the holder who
entered. "Good day, Numen." One hand motioned to one of the two
chairs that flanked the desk opposite him. "Thank you for coming.
Please have a seat."

The cotholder nodded greeting, and sat down in the requested seat. He
fidgeted anxiously with the hem of his tunic as he waited for the Lord
Holder to speak. He knew that he was to be punished - he'd been
punished before for their lack of proper tithes. He just wanted to get
it over with and be on his way.

"I've been going over some of the records and have found a
discrepancy." Zathris wasn't going to beat about the bush - it was
best to get it out and settle the matter. "Actually, several
discrepancies and after going back through earlier records, I found
it's been happening for the last several turns." A little here, a
little there, but it had been much more the last time. He'd found the
notes from the assistant steward and former steward who had evidently
broached the problem, but evidently the problem still hadn't been
fully resolved.

"Well, what sort of discrepancies are we talking? I mean, I've been
telling the traders who bring the tithes into the Hold that we've been
having problems for turns. I run my cothold by myself. I have seven
daughters, no sons to help me work my land. I do the best that I can
with what I have," Numen said.

There are at least two other cotholders who are in a similar
situation. One has no children at all, the other, four daughters, no
sons, and those girls are younger than yours." Zathris pointed out.
He sifted through the records that he had kept out for reference.
"They not only give the proper amount of tithes, but always make sure
they're done on time. The amount that the tithes are short is getting
greater as well, and I know we've not had any droughts or particularly
bad weather that would cause such a thing."

"Well what do you expect me to do, m'lord put my daughters out in the
field? I've tried marrying off my eldest to two men who could help out
around the cothold, but I've had no luck! Men their age want a wife
who can handle the mending, and tend to children at their own cothold,
not a wife who expects him to share the burden of her unfortunate
birth!" Numen said, his voice cracking with emotion.

"The lands you work are not that extensive." Indeed, they were rather
small compared to many of the cotholds. "And your crops should have
been more plentiful, even without help." Zathris had no problem with
women working in the fields - it was done in some of the cotholds - as
long as they weren't done so by force but by choice. "And as I said,
I have other cotholders who work the same amount of land and more
without other men to assist and yet they give all their tithes on
schedule and without shortcomings unless a draught or some other
natural disaster has occurred."

"Well, perhaps your Lordship would like to come and tend the lands
himself. The soil is full of rocks that need to be removed, and crops
grow poorly," Numen said, his voice raising in pitch as he became more
desperate. "I don't think that you understand what a poor piece of
land it is that I am supposed to be farming."

"I don't think you understand the precarious position that you're in,
Numen, and I think you need to work on curbing your tongue and
speaking to me with more respect." Even if Zathris wasn't Lord
Holder, he would demand such a thing. He straightened but his eyes
narrowed. "I'll give you some more time, but if the next tithes are
not in compliance, action will be taken."

Numen bit his tongue, but his eyes narrowed. Did this Lord really
think that he could do that? Had he ever farmed once in his life??
"Yes, my Lord," he said, in as neutral a tone as he could muster. "Is
there anything else you require of me, or can I get back to my farm?"

"Watch the attitude, Numen." Zathris was going to make a trip.
Numen's cothold wasn't far at all and perhaps a visit wouldn't be a
bad thing. He could get an idea of exactly what was going on. Other
men with more difficult situations did better than he - there had to
be a reason behind it.

Numen was at the end of his patience, but he forced himself to calm
down none the less. "Is there anything else that I can assist you with
today, My Lord?" He said, in a clipped but calm tone.

"No. You are dismissed." Zathris nodded toward the door, his eyes
remaining on the man before him.

Without another word, Numen stood and exited the Lord Holder's office.
He stormed back to his runnerbeast, muttering under his breath the
whole time.

Last updated on the June 24th 2011

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Fear of Inadequacy