Doing Business with the Hold

Writers: Chelle, Jane
Date Posted: 5th August 2014

Characters: Sarban, Lihona, Lineal
Description: Hold steward Sarban visits the riverboat Sungazer.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 8, day 18 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Nalin (not by name), Rahona

Lihona scuttled back from the landing stage in surprise as somebody stepped off
it and onto the deck of the Sungazer. Then she smiled up at the man. "Good
morning steward Sarban," she said with the happy assurance of knowing that she
had not long ago spent her month at the Hold getting proper harper lessons and
would be safe from having to do so again for another half a Turn.

"Morning Lihona." It wasn't often that he remembered names, but Sarban did have
a soft spot for the riverfolk, being a former seacrafter. Somedays he found
himself wanting to head out with them. Of course duties called. "Is your father
about?"

"He's in the common room," Lihona waved a hand aft. "I can take you there, if
you like. Or you could wait in his office and I'll run down and let him know
you're there."

"I'll wait I think." He nodded and watched her go. Good, sturdy children. That
was to be envied. Walking inside the office, he sat down and waited, thinking.

Lihona walked down the length of the riverboat until she was almost at the
now-still paddlewheel and then she raced up the stairs to the crew deck. In the
common room that served as dining and living room for the crew she found her
father wedged in a corner with most of the furniture as the women were working
on finishing one of the quilts the riverboats were known for producing. The
final stages of quilt-making required space and many hands.

"Steward Sarban is here to see you," Lihona said when she got to her father's
side and balanced on the rungs of three stacked chairs. "In your office. Should
I bring klah and cakes?"

"That would be very nice. Make sure it's a small pitcher," he reminded her. She
was strong for her age but the large pitchers were likely to be more than she
could manage.

Lihona edged around the rest of the furniture and into the galley while her
father left the common room and walked along the crew deck to his office. "Good
morning, Sarban."

"Well met Lineal. I trust you've had safe passage?" The steward didn't think
they needed anything else to worry about since Reven had been found but with so
much afoot, it was better to ask.

"Perfectly safe though busy with passengers as we often are in this season."
When the winter came and the farms needed less attention there was a lot of
visiting between families and friends up and down the Nettleweed River. The
riverboats all profited from the increase, especially ones like the Sungazer
with a reputation for good accommodations and service.

"Well that's good to hear what with all the unrest going on. Wondered if maybe
in your travels you had heard anything?" They still didn't know what all really
happened to Reven and Sarban found himself curious.

Lineal shook his head. "I can ask the crew but I think they would have already
brought anything to my attention they might have heard or seen."

He nodded, accepting of that, but it was good to have more eyes and ears looking
out just in case. "I've got a list of some supplies that should be coming my way
soon. If you were going to be in the area for pick-up, that would be easier."
And he'd pay the man and feel better about doing so than trying to make
arrangements with traders.

"As long as they can get to the riverside on the days we're passing we'll
happily pick them up. The rates for stops and pick ups haven't changed since
last time we did business. Are they for the Hold, not for you personally?"

"Exactly. And they will be marked." Sarban crossed his arms over his chest. "So
how are your children and folk faring?"

"We're all well. My eldest son may be off to apprentice soon. We've a few things
to discuss this evening with the Moonflower's crew as they have a boy the same
age wanting to apprentice as a technician too, so we're considering sending them
away at the same time."

"That would be a good help certainly what with the engines and the possibility
of setting up power on the boats." Sarban was all for crafting and learning a
skill and Emerald Falls had its share of Technicians.

"That's a thought - perhaps we could apprentice them here for a Turn or two,
with the Hold's technicians. I must mention that to Mehan."

Sarban only dealt with the few of them in charge but they seemed a reasonable
bunch for the most part, even if he couldn't understand their mumblings half the
time. "I'm sure that could be arranged if it's something you want."

"Would the Hold have any objection to that, if we wanted to approach them?"

"It would completely be a craft matter so the Hold would have no part of it,"
Sarban wouldn't step in at all in anything like that. As it was, they were
hoping to cultivate more of a craft presence at Emerald Falls. That meant more
people and more commerce.

"I'll take it up with them, then, if we think it's worth pursuing."

At his name called in a familiar voice Lineal got to his feet and opened the
door, allowing Lihona to bring in a tray with mugs and a plate of cakes and snacks.

"Here, take this. I have to go back for the klah. Rahona said I had to carry it
separately to avoid disaster." Lihona grinned at the men and vanished back
through the office door, leaving her father holding the tray with a bemused
expression on his face.

"She needs a bit of polish before we let her help with the passengers," he
admitted to the Hold's steward as he set the tray down on his desk.

"She's a good strong young lady, Lineal. She'll be an asset to you for sure."
Once again, he was reminded that despite his turns, he had no issue of his own
while Corowal had children everywhere it seemed.

"Thank you. She's an adventurous one, but she may settle as she gets older. Who
knows, she may even end up back at the Weyr with my wife's family."

"At the Weyr?" Sarban didn't exactly think of that as such a bad outcome as some
holders did but he also recognized that it wasn't for everyone. Personally he
would have thought of her as a crafter, travelling as a journeywoman. She'd only
be able to do that up north though for the most part. Unless she wanted to be a
harper, dolphineer, or technician herself.

"She might be Searched but she would certainly be allowed to Stand if she went
back to River Bluff. Her uncles are both dragonriders there. I can imagine her
as a dragonrider. She had the sort of heedlessness that I always think they
ought to have."

"It's a hard life, though not one without honor." He thought about Corowal's
son. A bronze would afford him advantages, though a female on a green didn't
always have those. "Perhaps she'll make a good decision then." Sarban was glad
of the working relationship with the riverboats and he knew their way of life
was a unique one. If they didn't perpetuate it, what would they do?

"I'm sure she will - one day." Hard on the heels of his words the door was
pushed open again and Lihona appeared again, this time with the pitcher of klah.

"There. No disasters today," she said smugly, setting the pitcher down on the
table. "Do you need anything else?"

"No, thank you, Lihona."

With a grin for both men she scurried out of the room and Lineal poured the klah
and settled down for a chat with the Hold's steward.

Last updated on the September 7th 2014

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Doing Business with the Hold