She'll go far

Writers: Eimi, Emma
Date Posted: 21st January 2006

Characters: Thanja, Karaleigh
Description: Thanja meets with Karaleigh
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 10, day 5 of Turn 3

Now she was settled into here role as Hallsecond, Thanja decided that it really was time she met the printers and harpers who had already been posted to the Weyr proper before the arrival of the hall. Obtaining a list was easy, the hard part was arranging a short schedule of interviews...

Karaleigh had just finished classes when the note had been delvered into her hands. The new Harper Hallsecond wished to speak with her. Her heart pounded in her chest as she approached the room she had been told to report to. The _Harper_ Hallsecond, and more over, she had heard that it was a _woman_! She straightened her tunic one more time before knocking on the door and entering.

"Master Thanja?" she asked, her voice only slightly quavering in her nervousness. "I'm Journeyman Karaleigh. I was told to report?"

"Please come in Journeyman, and take a seat." Thanja smiled at the young woman. She supposed some nervousness was only necessary, after all it would probably be quite intimidating to be summoned to meet a ranking member of the Hall, after all these turns of being unable to craft outside of the Weyr.

"Yes ma'am." She took the seat that was offered her and tried to hide her excited smile. Finally she had to say, "Thank you for asking me. I have so wanted to meet you."

"The feeling is mutual," replied the older woman. "I've heard good things about your teaching work with the youngsters here."

"Really? I'm sure they were just being nice." Karaleigh could feel a slight blush creep onto her face. She didn't know people had been talking about her with the Hallsecond.

"Really," replied Thanja. "It takes true talent and patience to instruct youngsters, not everyone can do it."

"Well, they are not bad children. I think I'm rather lucky in that way." Karaleigh never could take praise easily. She knew she had failings, frustrating as they were.

"Now, you are probably wondering why I asked you here? Correct?"

"Well, yes, actually," Karaleigh said with a shy smile. "Your note didn't give any details; just that I was to report."

"I just want to get a feeling for what is going on in the Weyr. What the reaction to recent events, and our arrival has been. What people are really thinking."

"Oh, well, I for one couldn't be more pleased," the younger woman said with a broad grin. "For turns female harpers had been denied access to the Harper Hall, and now you are _here_. It's more than I ever hoped for!"

"And the rest of the weyrfolk?"

"Well, the Weyrfolk are quite pleased about having a whole Hall full of Harpers here." Her smile faultered a bit. "But I have heard that there have been a few... instances of misunderstanding between Weryfolk and Hallfolk."

"Now that I can understand. People form opinions based on what they think they know, as well as the truth."

"It can be a difficult adjustment moving to the Weyr." Karaleigh had been there herself just ten turns back.

"Is there anything you would reccommend we do, to help with that adjustment."

Karaleigh shook her head thoughtfully. "Everyone is different. Each situation is different. Some people just cannot seem to adjust.
Other's are adjust a little too well. It would take a lot of individual attention. There is no one way to help people adjust." And some people just didn't _want_ to adjust. "The only thing I can recommend, really, is to listen to the individuals. How you will be able to do that with so many residents, I'm not sure."

Thanja nodded and made a note. "Anything else?"

"Unfortunately, Master, the only thing that I know of that works is time. I wish I had a more helpful answer than that."

"And for those who can't or won't be open about things?"

The harper smiled apologetically. "The Candidates who come to the Weyr and can't adjust go home. Your residents have no other home."

"Unfortunately, but perhaps we can post them elsewhere."

Karaleigh nodded. "I think that is the only choice, Master."

Thanja made another note. "I'm glad we've had this chance to meet."

"I am to," Karaleigh smiled, but it faded a bit as she said, "I wish I could be more of a help to you."

"Simply by being here you are helping," said Thanja, who then went on to explain what she meant. "We have female printers here, but few harpers as yet. They need to know what a woman can achieve if she tries."

The younger harper blushed. "I don't know if I've achieved that much, Master. But I do try."

"And that's precisely what I want them to see. You have tried, and your hard work has got you where you are today. Let the others see that, and that it doesn't matter that you are female."

Karaleigh nodded. "I have always believed that."

"Good," Thanja smiled. She was sure that this harper would go far, and within the next dozen turns or so would be wearing the knots of a master. "With that kind of attitude, you'll go far."

Last updated on the January 21st 2006

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She'll go far