"A Wise Woman"

Writers: Ames, Heather
Date Posted: 28th July 2014

Characters: Kobias, Barenziah
Description: Kobias meets a very unusual woman.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 8, day 7 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Demir, Zathris, Benani

Barenziah

Kobias had made the ride to Amber Hills to deliver the saddle he'd
finished. After asking around, he headed towards the stables to locate
the beastcrafter and finish the bargain.

Taking care of Benani had become a full time job for Barenziah and she
desperately needed fresh air and a break. She wanted badly to help the
Lady of Amber Hills, and she considered it an honor to have been
chosen, but it was a harder task than she had ever imagined. Benani
rarely wanted to leave her quarters and so Barenziah spent much of the
time cooped up in a room with the shades pulled trying to coax Benani
into doing regular, normal things. Physically she was tired, and her
brain was spent, she just needed a little alone time.

She had put on her sparring clothes, a pair of well fitted breeches,
and tucked her long, fiery hair away underneath a training helmet, and
set out to find Rynthian. When she had found him he had been
unavailable and that left her without a sparring partner, especially
since no one else was suppose to know that she was doing it. Lord
Zathris might turn a blind eye to a woman being trained but no one
else ever would and Barenziah knew it.

Fortunately for Barenziah, her father was a Master Beastcrafter and
the stables were generally a place where she could hide out and find
some privacy. She had ditched her helmet, and let her long, red braid
loose down her back. When she heard the doors to the stable open she
was standing on a low rung, one hand scratching the soft, velvety nose
of a runner.

His eyes took a moment to adjust to the lighting inside the stables.
He scanned the space for the beastcrafter, but all was rather quiet
and empty. Wait...his eyes caught movement. Almost empty. Sliding the
large riding saddle off his shoulder to the ground with a thump, the
tall, somewhat, burly man looked towards the figure.

"Good day," he greeted, stepping forward. That was when he caught
sight of the long, red braid running down her back. He paused a
moment, taking in her attire, appearance, and current activity. Then a
slow grin formed on his face, amused by this woman already. "I was
seeking out Bethemue. Might you know where he is?"

Barenziah boldly met the man's eyes, "Yes, that's my father. You have
business with him?" She asked.

"I do," Kobais answered, amused by her boldness, "he ordered the
saddle back yonder." He pointed over his shoulder. "Twas a special
order and not just an ordinary saddle so I wanted to make sure I
delivered it to him." He allowed himself to take in all of her
appearance. She was attractive. Tall, well built, and that fiery red
hair. It just drew your eye, but not as much as her own eyes. She held
herself like a woman who didn't let the world dictate who she was or
should be. _That_ attracted Kobias more than anything.

A smile finally curved across the woman's face and some of the starch
went out of her spine. No one could be too cautious after Benani's
kidnapping, "That saddle! My father as talked of nothing else since he
commissioned the order. Mind if I look?"

He shrugged, his easy smile still twitching the corners of his mouth.
"Sure, I don't mind at all." He motioned for her to follow him as he
turned and sauntered back down past the stalls to where he'd placed
the saddle. "He mentioned it was for something special, which I
figured as it wasn't just any ordinary saddle. I can churn those out
in no time, but with all the more intricate details on this one, it
took awhile longer."

Kobias knelt down before the saddle, lovingly tracing his hand over
the seat. Around the edges of the seat was a finely woven stitch in a
unique designs drawn out by Bethemue. There was an intricately stamped
design throughout the entire saddle resembling vines with flowers
peeking through. His favorite part though was the basket weaving
design they had chosen to complement the floral work on the fender and
around the back housing.

"It is beautiful." Barenziah commented, flicking her fiery braid out
of the way as she ran her fingers over the carefully tooled leather.
Even if one didn't know much about saddles they could see the fine
craftsmanship before them, "He is going to love if." She determined,
glancing back up at the man.

She straightened, "Where are you from? I haven't seen you around the Hold."

He was pleased by her praise and felt his chest puff out ever so
slightly in response. When she glanced back at him, he smiled. A nice,
slow, easy smile.

"I'm not from the Hold. My family has run Hidden Meadows Hold for
many, many Turns. I've just recently returned there when my father
passed and my brother was named the new holder. I've decided to set up
shop there for the time being and see how things go." He hooked a
thumb through the waist of his pants as he leaned against the wall of
the stable.

"Did you grow up here?" His head flicked as though to indicate the
opening of the stable and the lands around Amber Hills.

An outsider? Barenziah liked that since she already knew everyone at
Amber Hills, "Yes, I grew up here. I know my clothes hide it well,"
she grinned down at her breeches, "but I am a lady-in-waiting to Lady
Benani."

He gave her that cocky half-grin of his again at her words. He really
liked her spunk. She reminded him of another woman he'd known once,
but shaking his head, he cleared his thoughts of her.

"Sounds like an important job, especially after all that happened,"
Kobias replied, "If I may ask, how _is_ she doing?" He didn't want to
pry, but everyone was hoping for the Lady Holder to recover from her
ordeal.

Barenziah's lips pursed a little at the question as she considered her
Lady's condition, "She is as good as could be expected after what she
went through." She didn't know the man well enough to say more.

"Tis all we can hope for at the moment. I wish her well," Kobias
replied. He got the feeling that she wasn't as comfortable discussing
the matter. Not certain if she'd just tired of that conversation or of
his company, he switched topics that would also allow her to leave if
desired.

"I was planning to check out some of the new runners here before I
headed home again. Perhaps I'll head out to the pen as I believe a few
of them were out there when I came in," Kobias gestured outside and
started on his way. If she was interested in conversation she could
join him, if not he'd just finish his business and be on his way.

She fell into step beside of the man, her eyes darting around, "It is
a good thing most people are inside for evening meal. I would hate to
give anyone a coronary." Barenziah shot him a grin and touched the
pants she was wearing as they moved over to the corral where the
newest stock of runners were waiting to be properly processed.

He chuckled as he glanced sidelong at her. "It would serve them right
if they did. Some people just live like they've got a stick up
their... ahem," Kobias paused, looking at her again as his cheeks
tinged just a bit pink as he recalled she _wasn't_ one of his
beastcraft or tannercraft buddies, "backs," he finally added with a
chuckle. He was sure she would have figured his original intent, but
still she was a lady and he didn't want to forget that.

Glancing around he saw some of the runners being trained by one of the
men. "Is that one of the new runners?" He pointed, shielding his eyes
from the sun.

"Aye, it is." Barenziah confirmed, eyes squinting against the bright
sun. In the chill of the outdoors she rolled down the sleeves of her
tunic to protect her arms a bit more.

Kobias stopped then, watching. His eyes followed the animal's
movements as it cantered about the training ring.

"Fine stock," he murmured. "Very fine indeed. Wouldn't mind riding him
myself sometime. Looks to continue the rich tradition of Amber Hills
once again." He, like all others, knew Amber Hills was known for their
animal stock. "We could use a few like him at Hidden Meadows to really
add some new caliber to the herd." Kobias spoke as one who knew what
he spoke of. Though not a beastcrafter by trade, he knew almost as
much as any early beastcrafter would. His love for the animal clearly
shown in his entire demeanor. His father had raised him to follow in
his own footsteps, but it had been Demir who'd taken up Koldelo on
that offer.

"I need a new runner of my own. The one I've been using at Hidden
Meadows just isn't quite hearty enough for me," he looked to her with
a cocky grin. Not heavy by any means, Kobias, however was very
muscular and dense. Lighter, smaller runners often had difficulty
carrying him well.

Barenziah let her gaze sweep down over the man and then back up to his
face, "Yes, I must imagine that you not only need a tall horse but a
rather sturdy one as well." She grinned a little, the expression
teasing as she stepped onto the bottom rung of the corral fence, and
hooked her arms over the top so that she could watch.

He gave a sort of laughing snort at her assessment. She amused him.
That was good.

"Know of any good options for a..." he gazed down at himself with a
grin on his face, "sturdy man like myself among the herd here?"

"Depends," Barenziah said as she sized him up again, "are you a
gelding or a stallion type?"

"Ah, to be honest, I could handle either with no problem. My father
raised us to appreciate all runners. A stallion might do Hidden
Meadows well though so we could breed him against the small herd we
have already." Kobias was watching the animals in the pen, noting
which looked to be strong breeding stock. He knew Demir would be
pleased if the runner he acquired for himself could add to their own.

The redhead pointed across the corral, "See that white stallion over
there with the black mane?" The runner's nose looked as if it had been
dipped in black ink, and black ran all the way from his knees down to
his hooves, "I call him Sir Cranky Pants, but I am sure there is a
more apt name than that. He is spirited, and yes cranky, but very
intelligent. He has just the kind of spunk and fire you would want for
a breeder."

"Excellent, I'll check with your father about him when I see him next.
Perhaps we can strike up a deal," Kobias replied, watching the
stallion from across the corral. "I appreciate your help, you clearly
have a good eye for runner stock."

Barenziah smiled at the man, "I like you, Kobias from Hidden Meadows,
most men don't have the good sense to take advice from a woman."

He chuckled as he turned to look at her, "Well, Barenziah from Amber
Hills, I have the good sense to take advice from anyone who knows what
they are talking about. And you, lass, clearly know your runners." He
winked at her. "I, do, however, need to get going. Can you see that
your father gets the saddle I left. I'll settle things up with him
next time."

Last updated on the August 7th 2014

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"A Wise Woman"