Just What We Need

Writers: Eimi, Suzee
Date Posted: 24th June 2017

Characters: Kiomo, Bryvin
Description: Lord Bryvin has a job for Kiomo...
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 12, day 8 of Turn 8

Bryvin

Kiomo had not been surprised when the news came that Bryvin would be
delayed for their planned dinner together. In fact, he was quite
pleased as it gave him a chance to explore the room. He always liked
to get his barrings when he was in a new place. His observant eye
studied every painting, found every crack in the ceiling, every scuff
on the floor. He had looked long and hard out the window, taking in
every detail of the view, trying to recognize buildings from this
height he had seen from dragonback or along the walk up the slope.
His fingers caressed the fabric of the drapes and traced the woodgrain
of the windowsill.

A click from the door alerted him to the Lord Holder's coming, and he
turned, bowing low in respectful greeting. "Lord Bryvin, good
evening."

"Good evening." Bryvin crossed the room and waved at one of the chairs
at the table. "Please. Have a seat. Nice view don't you think?"

"A perfect view, I would say," Kiomo agreed as he walked towards the
indicated chair. "I can see why this building was built just here.
You can get a lot of information from a window like that."

"Indeed," he said and lifted a bottle of wine to pour himself a glass
and then offered the bottle to his guest. "I'm sorry my wife couldn't
attend this evening. She is expecting and near term." He leaned back
in his chair with his glass and smiled. "So what brings you to
Sunstone?"

"Well, first of all, congratulations," Kiomo said, lifting his glass
at the news of the impending birth. "As to what brings me to
Sunstone..." He sipped at his wine thoughtfully. "Opportunity.
Opportunity brings me to Sunstone. This seems like the kind of place
a man can prove himself, and that's what I need."

"It is that," Bryvin smiled at both the congratulations and the
praises for his Hold. "There is a great deal to learn here." He toyed
with the stem of his glass. It would be very helpful to have another
'blooded' Holder at Sunstone who was familiar with how things worked.
Of course he'd have to indoctrinate and test him to see how he'd 'work
out' before he ever shared anything sensitive. "I have a proposition
for you to consider."

"Yes, sir?" Kiomo asked with a curious tilt to his head.

"I find myself in need of an Assistant outside of the Steward and his
staff." Bryvin lifted a brow and the cloche. "Interested?

"Very much so." After all, it was the position he had held for Lord
Ishek, and his father long before. "I would be honored to assist you
in any way that I can."

Bryvin set the cover aside and helped himself to a portion of the
roast, tubers, and finger roots. He set the serving utensils back
facing his guest then took a moderate portion of the gravy. "Then we
will make sure you are shown the Hold and various crafters resident
here."

"Thank you, sir. I am happy to serve." Kiomo picked up the utensils
and began dishing some up for himself. "I do have some experience
with a harbor Hold since Ancient Stones was located by the sea, but
was not itself a Seahold. I might have some questions now and then.
I hope you can bear with me. I learn quickly, but I will not pretend
to know more than I do." At least not when it came to administrative
duties.

"That is acceptable," Bryvin smiled. "We'll bring you up to speed and
then I have a few projects that can use an extra hand."

His companion nodded as he swallowed. "May I ask what kind of projects?"

"They involve being my eyes and ears in places around the hold where I
am too easily recognized now." He half smiled. "There was a time when
I could go anywhere and not really be seen. That doesn't happen
anymore.

"But of course." A Lord Holder did tend to stick out in most people's
mind. People were much more free to speak openly about their thoughts
and feelings when they felt their words would go nowhere. "Is there
any particular reason you feel you need to know what's happening in
certain places?" Kiomo wondered if Bryvin might have made some
enemies within the Hold.

Bryvin liked that sort of question, it told him a bit about the mind
of the man in front of him. "This _is_ a Seahold, by definition there
are strangers passing through all the time. Then there are the
pirates. We have to know if there are scouts or other unsavory
elements in our port. I mean to keep my people safe from anyone who
might try to make some fast money." He took another bite and chewed
thoughtfully. "The hold guard is good but their faces become known
almost immediately. We'll have a short span of time for you to see and
hear things without being identified as my agent. I intend to make
good use of you."

It was always an advantage that Lord Holder's rarely included personal
assistants in any formal portraits. "I can definitely serve as your
eyes and ears. If you or one of your guards can give me a bit of an
idea of what kind of schemes are common in this kind of place, I can
make sure to keep my eyes and ears out." And perhaps find others who
could be trusted to discretely do the same. It wouldn't hurt for
Kiomo to be well informed of the comings and goings in the Hold, even
before Bryvin if possible...

Bryvin didn't trust Kiomo... yet. But that didn't mean he'd hamper the
man's attempts to do his job. So he nodded. "I'll give you a good
briefing tomorrow. Come to my office in the morning and we'll talk then. In
the meantime, why don't you tell me about yourself while we enjoy this
meal?"

"Well, I'm from Ancient Stones originally. My father was Lord Bireki.
I was his fifth son, and much loved, I believe. He had intended me a
Minor Holding of my own, but I just didn't want to stay there. My
father was a great man, and my brother is a fine Lord Holder, but I
wanted to make my own way in the world." He would have been damned
/between/ before serving under his brother, though he would not admit
that so easily. "So I wandered a bit, spent time in Holds and Weyrs,
and finally ended up at Garnet Valley. I learned a lot while I was
there, but... it was time for a change."

That was a nice way of putting it but Bryvin's expression didn't
change. He'd received a very interesting letter from Lord Iskek prior
to Kiomo's arrival the contents of which led him to believe the
younger man could be turned to Bryvin's purposes. As long as it was
profitable for him. "Well, I'd say your experience is just what we
need."

"I'm flattered." And Bryvin's lack of experience was just what Kiomo
was looking for. "So far I can say that Sunstone has been exactly as
I hoped it would be. It seems to be full of opportunities."

"It is," he smiled.

Last updated on the July 4th 2017

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Just What We Need