Canines? Oh, the hairs!

Writers: AL, Paula
Date Posted: 4th March 2013

Characters: Zelanka, Zathris
Description: Zathris happen upon Zelanka and warns her about canines.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 12, day 13 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Karhal, Wirnan

Zathris

"Zelanka." Zathris stopped in the middle of the hallway when he saw the
headwoman walking in the opposite direction. "Ah, just the woman I wanted
to see."

"My Lord," Zelanka replied, managing a curtsy despite balancing a large
basket on her arms.

"Let me help you with that." Zathris reached out to take the basket from
the headwoman's arms. "What are you transporting in here?"

"To the storage room. Some children's clothes that are going to be
distributed to those who need them," Zelanka replied. She couldn't help a
little, sad smile. How many times Benaroy took some burden from her?
Zathris seemed to be made of same wood.

"Sounds like a worthy endeavour. Are there many in need?" The idea
concerned him. Zathris didn't like the idea that some of his people were
in need.

"There's always some families that can't afford to buy new clothes for the
families. Currently I have about a dozen families in my list. The number
changes, " Zelanka replied. It wasn't a bad number, most of those were
field hands who didn't have work during the winter months. In summer and
autumn, they would be working again.

Zathris frowned and shifted the basket. He didn't like the sound of that.
"Why are they in that sort of situation?" They hadn't had a bad year,
the Hold had prospered. Everyone should be taken care of.

"There can be several reason. It's usually the man who supports the family,
so if he looses his job or dies," Zelanka replied. "Or sometimes drink
their marks," she sighed sadly. Those families were the worst ones. They
could have so much better off if somebody just stayed away from wine.

Zathris' frown grew deeper. "I'd like to know more about these families.
Let's see if we can find some work so they can earn their keep." Zathris
wanted to see that everyone was taken care of, though not at the cost of
being detrimental to the hold. "And before I forget, I need to let you
know about a change I want you to expect in the coming months."

"I can write a summary of them for you," Zelanka promised. She could only
offer work for a limited number of people.
"Oh, what about?" she asked curiously.

"Yes, please do. Maybe there's something we can do to help their
situations." And give them some pride back. Sometimes that's what kept
people in slumps, they felt lost and needed to_do_ something if someone
would just give them the opportunity. "In the coming weeks, I want you and
the staff to be aware that there will be more canines about, even indoors.
They will be undergoing special training. I'm sure there will be accidents
until they are trained, but that will straighten out in due time."

Zelanka suppressed a shudder. Canines meant hairs all over and muddy pawn
prints on her shiny floors, not to mention puddles. "I do hope the traines
will clean up after their canines if there are.. leaks," she said, trying
hard not to sound disapproving.

"If they don't, remind them that they are responsible for their canines."
Zathris wasn't going to accept slacking and cleaning up after their charge
was part of their duty. "If you have any problems, let Karhal know."

"You can be sure I'll give him piece of my mind if I ever find a one pile
of smelly canine dung or yellow puddle from the floors," she said with
ominous tone.

Zathris stopped and turned to his Headwoman. "I hope I don't hear that
you've done such a thing." He shook his head. "Look, Zelanka, our goal is
not to make your life more difficult. The handlers will be responsible for
the dogs they handle. There will be an adjustment period as well as
accidents. However, if you have any issues, I ask that you deal with them
in a calm and respectful manner. If the issues aren't resolved after
you've spoken to Karhal, speak to Wirnan. If they continue after that,
then let me know and I'll deal with it personally. However, I do expect
you to handle yourself in a proper manner and giving someone a piece of
your mind when there is an issue is not usually the way to handle a
grievance."

Zelanka gave him a long stare, then smiled slightly and bopped a curtsy,
"Yes, My Lord." Zathris obviously didn't know her that well, if he thought
she would resort to something so primitive as yelling or cursing. She
always acted calm and proper (well, few expectional instances excluded).
She knew when to give misbehaving hold brat a rap on the fingers and when
to bring issues for other to handle. After all, she's been Headwoman most
of_his_ life. And although she often threatened people with cold or salted
klah, nobody ever get their klah anything else but fresh and hot. Not even
that smith who had managed to anger her beyond reason.
She was proud and she had temper but she has never been cruel or
intentionally mean.

"Well that was a bit more formal than necessary." Zathris laughed. "So
now, show me where we can find those who need these...and let's see what we
can do to help them in a more long term fashion."

"Yes, it was," Zelanka agreed. "Right this way, M'lord," she gave him one
of her whimsical smiles.

Last updated on the March 17th 2013

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Canines? Oh, the hairs!