Beefy Conversation

Writers: Chelle, Mirren
Date Posted: 9th April 2012

Characters: Sarban, Nikhan
Description: Nikhan brings a pie as offering and they talk about the recent changes.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 7, day 26 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Lisadi

Nikhan walked down the corridor and knocked on Sarban's door. He had a
wine skin in one hand and a hot, savory pie in the other. If he couldn't offer consolation with food then how could he? He waited, listening and hoping Sarban was in.

Despite feeling like a day old biscuit, Sarban was on duty. He had been through worse as a seacrafter and hadn't shirked. Hearing the noise, he called out of habit, "Who is it?" hoping it wasn't someone who was simply going to give him a headache.

"It's just Nikhan!" the journeyman baker called through the door. "And my hand is burning," he said under his breath.

"Shells! Come in!" The thought of Nikhan's hand actually burning which meant no baked goods for some time was enough to plunge Sarban into action. The steward was up and opening the door in no time flat.

Apparently he'd spoken that last louder than he thought, but it was a relief that Sarban was willing to move so fast. "I thought you'd like to try my new creation," he said, walking in and putting it down on a table. He didn't think Sarban would appreciate him implying any pity but who could resist baked goods, especially new ones. "I decided a beef pie needed red wine, so I brought that too." He offered the wine skin to the steward.

Not exactly trusting this sudden arrival of good things, Sarban found he was hungry nonetheless. And he wasn't going to turn the baker away. Taking the skin, he located glasses and poured, setting it all down on the table. "It smells good." He turned around, wondering if he had plates.

"Of course it does," Nikhan replied with no obvious hint that he was bragging. If his food wasn't good, who would eat it? He wouldn't be much of a baker then!

"I'm afraid I don't have any plates in here.... I guess I could just..." His eyes looked around the room to see if there was anything to be used instead of.

"Oh," Nikhan scratched his shaved head. "I should have thought of that. Have you got a timber board or two?"

"Not really but..." He shrugged and leaned over, picking up the saucer he'd had his klah cup in. "I suppose this will do. You have a knife?"

"Of course," Nikhan replied as if he hadn't been totally unprepared a minute ago. He pulled out his belt knife and cut a slice of pie. He lifted it carefully onto the saucer.

Sarban waited until the piece was settled and then he shrugged as he remembered the lack of utensils. Pulling out his own belt knife, he began to eat the pie as best he could after blowing on it. "Mmmm..."

Nikhan picked up one of the cups of wine and sipped. "I'm glad you like it." He wanted to ask Sarban how he was but he'd have to wait the right time.

"Oh aye. Nothing like a good beef pie with a little mashed tubers and cheese..." It was one of the warm foods he'd gotten on the boat sometimes and Sarban knew how simple it was to make. "So how come you shared it with me?"

"I thought you might need some comfort food. And company if you need to talk?"

So that was it. Sarban chewed and swallowed thoughtfully for a long while. Everyone was suddenly concerned of course. He knew why, though he didn't really get the baker wanting to be in his personal business unless Nikhan was the gossiping sort. He didn't want to be rude, however, lest the beef pies stop coming. ""I appreciate it, though I'm okay. I've got plenty of work to do to keep busy with."

"Of course, but we can't work all the time." Nikhan shrugged. "I don't know about you but sometimes I feel like I'm surrounded by females." Of course, who else occupied the kitchen? "It's nice to get away from their nattering once in a while." Maybe if he made this about him, Sarban wouldn't think he pitied him, which was true, he didn't. His hours meant drinking with 'the guys' was something he rarely got to do. "Maybe I'm being selfish here, in the guise of being compassionate. Truth is, women talk is a bit much sometimes."

"I don't really get a lot of women talk, but I can see how it would be tiresome." Thinking about poor Nikhan with all those gossipmongers in the kitchens, he almost smiled. "Are they saying anything about me?" Not that he cared, but he was curious.

Nikhan laughed. "They always talk about the single ones. Except me. I think they think I'm one of the girls." He rolled his eyes.

"Ah well I'm sure there are many women that would appreciate some of the things you can make. You just have to find them." He personally envied said women but he didn't say that. Lisadi was a decent cook but nothing near Nikhan.

"The food they do, the cook, they don't even notice." Then the baker looked embarrassed. "Sorry, I didn't come here to talk about myself."

"Maybe but I have to say I'm curious about you. Corowal and I appreciate your arrival here and we certainly like to keep our crafters busy and taken care of. I'd like to get to know you a bit maybe if you don't care." Sure, it would give him something else to think about as he got himself another piece of pie.

"All right..." Nikhan said slowly. "What do you want to know?"

"Where did you come from?" That was a good start. It also explained a lot about a person.

"Not far from here. My father was, is a herder. I came back here to be nearer to them when I got my journey knots."

"Ah that's good. We like it when people come back. There a lot of vacant holds still left to be settled again." Of course there was a plan in place to do so. Sarban was hoping a lot of the harpers' children wouldn't want to craft and might think about holding. They'd be smart enough.

"Is that a subtle way of saying that I need to try harder to find a wife?" Nikhan asked, followed by a deep sip of wine.

"Ah no, just thinking about things as they are. Surely you have nieces and nephews? Any of them looking to strike out possibly?" Sarban liked Nikhan right where he was. The baker didn't need to be going out into the territory. If he did have children, though, the steward would see them settled if he asked.

"Of course, lots of them but the oldest is only eleven or twelve. In a few turns maybe, but not for a while." Nikhan looked apologetic but of course there was nothing he could have done to prevent them from being so young!

"Ah well, maybe when the time comes then. Of course they are old enough to apprentice if they wished." It was a bit of a question more than a statement. Did crafting run in the family then?

Nikhan shrugged. "I have no idea what their plans are, to be honest. I suppose I could ask though?"

"Aye, would be good if their parents aren't." He nodded, thinking young people should be gainfully occupied. Idle hands bred trouble.

"My oldest brother works with our father, but not formally. He never got around to apprenticing but he knows as much about herdbeasts as any master. The next one is a smith."

"Ah, useful occupations. I'm sure if they did want to move out to somewhere they would be found valuable." Sarban was already considering pulling them in for an interview once he found out exactly who and where they were.

"I'm sure they'd relish the opportunity." Nikhan had never envied his brothers, until now. He supposed he could always visit if they did move. "I think my older bother at least feels a bit over shadowed by our father. His wife is a nice enough woman too, tough and resourceful." None too pretty but that scarcely mattered. He'd rather have a plain woman with some spirit than a beautiful one who couldn't think for herself.

"Sounds like they'd be good as settlers then. Hardworking and dependable." He had to be careful about that for certain.

"I wouldn't have brought them up if they weren't," Nikhan agreed.

"Thanks for the pie, Nikhan. If you find yourself with an overage of tasty things, you know where to find me. As it is, though, I better get back to work. I'll see if we can speak to your family about getting ready to move." Corowal would be happy to hear about that.

Nikhan nodded. "Luckily I have the rest of the day off." He picked up the wineskin with a smile. "I'll keep working on that pie, it's still not quite right.

Last updated on the May 1st 2012

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Beefy Conversation