Needing Help

Writers: Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 19th January 2017

Characters: Cyradis, Corowal, L'cor
Description: Cyradis visits the Hold to meet with Corowal over the missing riverboat.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr, Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 9, day 1 of Turn 8

Cyradis

L'cor

With the unrest at Emerald Falls, the reports of the treatment of
Saibra's Junior goldrider and then the shortages and odd things with
the tithes there was just enough bothering her that she resolved to
pay the Hold a visit. So, she sent a rider ahead to let Lord Corowal
know she'd be coming for a visit.

When the next day dawn she smiled as she entered the bowl. She'd let
a certain young bronze rider draw the escort duty for this particular
trip.

"Good morning L'cor," she smiled as she climbed up into her seat.

"Morning ma'am," he smiled back waiting on Tonuth. "It's beautiful today."

"Yes it is," she said and then moments later they launched and
vanished /between./

~~~~

Circling down toward the courtyard, she saw the normal scurrying when
a gold appeared over the hold.

With the goldrider coming, Corowal had switched on to slightly better
tunic and groomed his hair. He placed an order for refreshments, took
a peek that the meeting room was ready and walked outside to see her
land.

Soon the Gold and bronze flared their massive wings and touched down
lightly in front of the hold. L'cor quickly slid to the ground and
moved to Panitath's side to assist the tiny Weywoman dismount.

Cyradis put her hands on L'cor's shoulders and slid to the ground then
taking his arm walked toward where Corowal waited. She didn't usually
need help dismounting but today she was wearing skirts which made it
just slightly more difficult to negotiate the straps.

She smiled up at the handsome Lord Holder. "Good morning my Lord," she
smiled and bobbed a curtsy.

"Good morning, Weyrwoman Cyradis. Your visits are always welcome,"
Corowal replied with a bow and offered his arm to escort her.
"Unfortunately, Lady Felyna is unable to join us."

"Thank you Corwal," she smiled. "Oh," Cyradis said with a little
disappointment in her tone when he spoke of the Lady. "Please convey
my regards and good wishes for her pregnancy. I know it can sometimes
be difficult."

L'cor followed behind the pair and then cleared his throat. "Sir," he
said. "Is it possible for me to visit the children?" Of course he
wanted to see his half brothers and sisters. But more than that he'd
promised Oria he'd look in on Coria.

"L'cor," Corowal gave him a warm smile. "Of course you can see them.
The older ones have harper lessons but Erassa has the little ones at
the nursery. You know the way."

"Yes sir," he grinned and turned to take the stairs nearby two at a time.

Cyradis chuckled as she watched him go. "He's a good one," she nodded
looking back at Corowal. "You have every right to be very proud."

"He is, I'll give the credit for it for his mother," Corowal agreed.
He escorted her inside to the meeting room.

If anything Cyradis admired Corowal for the admission. Other lesser
men would have puffed up with the praise and accepted that they'd done
something special in bestowing their seed. But she just smiled and
nodded.

"So you sent news of some troubles?"

"Yes. Riverboat Cornflower, carrying some passengers and your next
month's tithe has disappeared. There was storm day after it left
Emerald Fall's dock so it might have gotten into distress. Or been
assaulted by holdless bandits. We're conducting a search for it but so
far no results," Corowal explained the situation with serious tone.
Gone was the light heartness.

Cyradis eyebrows drew together with concern. "Do you need any help?
Can my riders run some sweeps of the area?"

"Yes, we do need help. A dragonrider can cover larger area much faster
than the ground troops," Corowal replied. "There's a lot of river to
explore. Not just the main course but all the smaller ones that join
to it too. We have calculated how far the boat could have gone, taking
it account that they did not reach their scheduled stop." Corowal
pulled out a map and showed the area where the riverboat could be. It
was a large one. "Presuming it didn't sunk," he added gloomily.

"Of course," she agreed. Her eyes went a bit unfocused for a moment as
she communicated with Panitath and set the message back to N'vanik
that they would need a search sweep as soon as possible. Then she
refocused and smiled at Corowal. "N'vanik will soon have riders in the
air if you can communicate your direction and needs with your
watchrider, he can coordinate with the Weyr."

Corowal nodded. "Thank you for your co-operation."

She waved her hand in deprecation. "The least we can do. So you said
this boat was carrying a portion of the tithe?"

"Yes, the one due for month 9," Corowal replied. It took time to ship
things from Emerald Falls to Dolphin Cove Weyr.

"Well then," she made a rueful face. "It sounds like we have double
incentive to help you find it." The loss could seriously impact their
supplies and the lead time wasn't sufficient to really make a dent in
replacing what they'd lost. Luckily some of their resources around
Dolphin Cove had been developed before the advent of 'fall and they
could plan to conserve, but the end of Winter was possibly the worst
time for this to have happened.

"We will need to discuss your plans for protecting the next shipment."
While she was quite understanding how this could have happened she
wasn't about to let anyone off the hook just yet.

"Anything like this has never happened before, according to the
records" Corowal said, spreading his hands in helpless gesture. "Land
caravans had faced bandits and natural disasters, yes, but not
riverboats. Those riverboats always had been the most reliable way to
transport goods from Emerald Falls hold. I have suspicion that the
riverboat folk won't like the idea of Hold's guards on their boats.
They are self sufficient and independent lot." And he had no real
jurisdiction over them, they weren't Holders. When they were on his
territory, the Hold's rules applied to them but they also crossed long
stretches of river where no Lord ruled.

"I can understand how they'd feel that way when this had never
happened before. But now that it has, I can imagine one or two guards
would likely be welcomed if they thought they'd lose their boat,
cargo, or possibly their lives, don't you?"

"Some might, some might not. I do have to negotiate with each captain
individually," Corowal said with wry tone. The riverboat folk were
indeed a breed a part. "Not to mention the guard force being stretched
thin already, with the vandals, anti-weyr resentment and extra
protection to the Harper Hall."

"Understood," Cyradis smile turned just a little cool. She was certain
he remembered how it was for the Weyrs the first few disastrous
'falls. Not enough riders, or training, or experience. Yet they'd
pushed through all that to protect the lives and property of these
very holders. "What is your solution then?"

"Find more reliable people to keep an eye on things, not necessarily
guards," Corowal replied. He did have few ideas but he was not willing
to discuss them. "Give minor holders more responsibilities in keeping
their people safe."

"Then I guess we're down to apportioning the loss." She was willing
to allow the Lord Holder to make whatever arrangements he deemed
appropriate, but the Weyr wasn't going to just look the other way if
they didn't intend to replace the tythe that had been stolen.

"What are your most urgent needs?" Corowal asked. "Last summer was
rather rainy and wet which was bad for some crops and good for some
others."

"Root vegetables are getting in short supply," she replied. "That and
all the yarn and cloth that was supposed to be in the last shipment
from the Weaver Hall. We do have our own weavers but there aren't
enough of them to provide for the entire Weyr."

"Unfortunately, the root vegetables were among those who didn't fare
well during this growth season. We're in short supply ourselves. We do
have plenty of river grain though. Never seen that bountiful harvest
of it," Corowal replied. "As for the yarn and cloth, I had to contact
Hall and see what their situation is."

"Thank you," she nodded. "We'll have to figure something out." Perhaps
there were enough preserved vegetables to last them for a little
while. Dolphin Cove's climate let itself to planting year round though
they hadn't farmed since Threadfall had commenced. "Do you have
anyone you could send to manage a few fields for us," she asked. "Our
climate could support a fast growing crop. Perhaps we could even share
with you."

"I have some idle hands I can borrow," there was somethng wicked in
Corowal's grin. Idle hands who complained about Weyr...would serve
them well to be sent to work there.

"Good idea," she nodded. "I will have some riders come pick them up.
Now, where are those marvelous cakes your headwoman is so famous for?"

"Right this way," Corowal grinned.

Last updated on the February 1st 2017

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