The Only Man for the Job

Writers: Eimi
Date Posted: 12th May 2013

Characters: Almonteo, Vestian
Description: The Hallmaster has a job for Vestian...
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 13, day 23 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned Elmaldi

Almonteo

Vestian

When the summons came for Vestian to meet with the Hallmaster as his
earlest possible convenience, the artist couldn't help but feel nervous.
They had been discussing plans for a mural for Almonteo's new office
wall, but things had been so busy of late, what with his exhibition and
other commissions that needed to be shipped out in time for Turns End,
he had barely made more than just the roughest of sketches. Ideas were
still coming to him slowly, but he had thought he would have a bit more
time!

Raking his fingers nervously through his hair and brushing an imagined
piece of lint from his vest, he took a deep breath and, sketch book
under his arm, gave the Hallmaster's door a knock.

"Come in, " the Hallmaster called, and smiled at the younger man as he
came into the room. "Ah, Vestian. How good to see you. I'm sorry to
rush you. I'm only here for today and... Ah, I see you brought your
sketch book."

"Yes, Master. I have to warn you, sir, that I haven't had much time to
work on your mural, but I _do_ have some ideas and I assure you I am
giving it as much of my attention as I can." Vestian truly did want to
impress the Hallmaster with his work, and he hated the fact that he
didn't have something a bit more substantial to show him just yet.

"Oh dear," the Hallmaster said with a sheepish smile. "Vestian, I
should have told you. I did not wish to speak to you about the mural
today. I have complete faith in your innate talent, and I know whatever
you come up with, it will be perfect. You have plenty of time yet. No,
no, I have something quite different to talk to you about. Please, have
a seat."

The flustered artist was a bit confused, though relieved, that they
would not be talking about the mural today. He needed more time to be
able to make a true presentation to the Hallmaster, but just what else
he might have to discuss was a complete mystery. "As you wish, sir," he
said, taking the offered seat and setting his sketchbook down on the
floor beside him.

"As you know," Almonteo began as he sat back in his chair, "our
wonderful Master Grayvor is retiring officially as of Turns End. That
means that we need to find teachers for his students."

Vestian squirmed slightly in his chair. **Oh shards,** he sighed
inwardly, imagining that the Hallmaster might have decided that _he_
should now be in charge of those classes, being that he had been
recently promoted to Master. That was the last thing he wanted, to be
stuck teaching the same lesson over and over again to a room full of
adolescents who were only half interested in anything he said and only a
fraction of them with any real talent at all.

Almonteo quickly put his mind at ease on that score. "Of course, I
understand how busy you are, so we would never expect you to take over
the teaching of his regular classes."

The younger Master was visibly relieved.

"But there is one student in particular that Master Grayvor feels needs
some special attention, and he has requested that you be assigned this
apprentice as your own personal student. Of course, I trust his
judgement completely, and too believe that you would be the right man
for the job." After all, the Hallmaster had to agree it was appropriate
that one of Grayvor's own former students should take over the
instruction of his new star pupil.

Vestian was less sure it was the best idea. Mainly for himself, of
course. "Sir, as much as I respect Master Grayvor and would do just
about anything for him, taking on an apprentice is..." He almost said
'impossible', but thought better than to refuse the Hallmaster straight
out. "That is to say, sir, that I would be happy to teach the
apprentice except that I'm not sure that I can do so effectively at this
time. I have several commissions to work on, including your own mural."
Perhaps reminding the Hallmaster that work he intended to do for him
might suffer if he were burdened with the extra responsibility might
save him.

Almonteo was unmoved. "But you see, an apprentice can help you,
Vestian," the Hallmaster said with an undaunted smile. "I know how very
busy you are, so it would be perfect for you to have an assistant. And
perfect for her as well to watch how you work. She apparently has a
rare talent, and Master Grayvor feels you are the best person to nurture
it."

"But, sir, as you know, I often have to travel for my work. How can I
be in charge of an apprentice when I am gone from the Hall so many days
out of the Turn?" Surely _that_ had to be reason enough to not take on
this assignement.

The Hallmaster had an answer for that as well. "You can take her with
you. She is only filling some requirements in the fundamentals in most
of her classes. She could easily take her work with her, and you can
show her just what kind of hard work and dedication being an artist
truly entails."

It was then that an idea formed in Vestian's head who they might be
speaking about. "I'm sorry, sir, but you are referring to a female
apprentice. Are you talking about Apprentice Elmaldi?"

"Yes, that's exactly right," Almonteo said with a pleased grin.
"Grayvor had told me that you already have given her a special lesson,
and that you both seemed to get along quite well."

"Well, yes, I did..." And yes, they had gotten along surprisingly well.
Truth be told, Vestian had rather enjoyed teaching her much more than
he had thought he would. She had a sharp mind, and a true talent,
though she definitely needed help in order to transfer her drawing
skills to painting. Elmaldi for sure had a good grasp of art history
and the Masters. They had spoken for a long time about the topic, and
he had found it rather stimulating to have someone to talk to who
understood so well what he was talking about. **Elmadi, huh?**

The Hallmaster's grin widened as he could see his mind working.
"Vestian, Master Grayvor feels that no one would be more suitable to
nurture her talents than you, and I am inclined to agree with him. This
is his last request before retiring. Can we really deny his wish to see
Elmaldi put into the best possible hands to guide her into her future
career?"

She would be a good artist one day, of that Vestian was sure. And it
would be quite a credit to himself if he could be the one to mentor her.
That did give his pride a bit of a boost. "No, I suppose we cannot
refuse him," he said slowly, warming up to the idea. "I'm sure she
won't be an apprentice for too long if it's just the fundamentals she
needs."

Almonteo felt positively triumphant. He thought it was going to be much
harder to convince him! "Oh I am glad, Vestian. I know you will be
making Master Grayvor very happy and he will retire with his mind at
ease now."

"Yes. Of course, I'll do it. For Master Grayvor." And because
Vestian's pride was starting to convince him that no one on Pern was
more suited to the job than himself.

Last updated on the May 31st 2013

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

The Only Man for the Job