Old Rogues

Writers: Eimi, Estelle
Date Posted: 23rd July 2018

Characters: Capwick, Stryce
Description: Capwick gets a visit from an old friend.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 5, day 1 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentions: Sanora

Capwick grinned from ear to ear as he reached out a hand to help his
old friend, Master Stryce out of the boat. "I was beginning to wonder
if you got lost in a tavern along the way! Here, let me take your bag
there."

"There might have been a tavern. Possibly even more than one," Stryce
admitted, a glint of decidedly un-Masterly mischief in his eyes as he
handed over the bag. Under his other arm, he carried a small crate from
which came the promising clinking sound of glass bottles as he climbed
out of the boat. "All in the name of Craft research, of course,
Hallsecond, and I'll be sure to make a full report on my findings."

"Will I have a chance to weigh in?" Cap asked as he reached his hand
out to clasp the visitor's arm in a friendly greeting. "Welcome to
the Hall, Stryce. It's been a while. How are things?"

"Not bad, not bad. I've got a very promising feeling about this batch."
He gestured towards the barrels lined up in rows at the stern of the
boat. The crew had already started carrying them up the gangway, where
dockhands stood ready to transport them to safe storage. Stryce was
pleased to see that his precious liquor was being handled carefully. The
men must be used to carrying cargo for the Vintner Hall, which couldn't
be thrown about like sacks of grain or blackrock. "And I'm full to the
brim with news from home. I just hope I remember all the messages
everyone wanted to send you!"

Capwick chuckled. "Don't be sure Sanora won't tax your brain and
patience with all the replies! But business first. How's that new
journeyman I sent out to you working out?"

"Very well, now that we've established that just because he's fresh from
the Hall, it doesn't mean he knows more about distilling than those
who've been doing it all their lives." Stryce grinned. He remembered
very clearly how he'd been the same way when he'd first come to Diamond
Springs, and he was quite sure Capwick remembered too. Embarrassing, but
he could laugh at his younger and more conceited self now. "He works
hard, and I think he'll do fine."

"He is a bit of an arrogant know it all, isn't he. But then again,
weren't we all at that age?" Truth be told, Cap knew he still had his
moments. "Smack him down into his place. It's good for him."

"Oh, believe me, it's been done. I believe there was an altercation in
one of the fermentation sheds. I didn't ask for the details. Sometimes
it's best for the wise old Master to stay out of these matters," he
sighed, with a touch of regret for the days when he'd have been the
first into battle. "Anyway, ever since then he's been getting on much
better with the others. Speaking of transfers, we do have a likely
apprentice I've been considering sending your way. He's a bright lad,
but a bit apt to get bored and into mischief if he isn't challenged. I
think he'd benefit from learning about the other aspects of the craft."

"Oh? Who is he?" Cap's curiosity was piqued.

"He's a young nephew of Harven's - do you remember him? Or was that
after your time? He was a runner, but settled down and married the
Tavern Master's daughter. The boy, Leofren, came to the Hold to work
with his uncle at the tavern, until I took him on as an apprentice. He's
not afraid of hard work," Stryce said. He was more than a little proud
of having spotted the young tavern drudge's potential. "Not after all
that time scrubbing pots and sweeping floors. But he does need a teacher
to keep an eye on him."

Capwick did have a vague recollection of the runner, but knew little
about him. Still, it was of little consequence. "If you recommend
him, that's enough for me. There are teachers here aplenty to make
sure he stays on track."

"Thanks! I'll speak to his uncle, but I can't imagine the family will
object. Well, if you've had enough craft business, how about some
family news before it starts escaping from my memory?"

"Of course, but you know we'll have to pretend we're hearing it all
for the first time again when you tell Sanora," Cap said in a
conspiratorial tone. He waved over an apprentice to carry his
friend's bags back to his office. It would be easy enough for them to
pick them up there on their way to his family suite. "Let's head down
to the Tavern for a quick pint before being surrounded by the ladies."

"If you're sure we can get away with it, that sounds wonderful.
Travelling is thirsty work." Stryce handed over his crate of samples
to the apprentice with a stern warning to take great care with it.
"Well, first of all, Alaris and your daughters are all well and send
their love. I've got some letters from them for you - and there's
another piece of news, but I'll wait until you've got a drink in your
hand to tell it. You might be wanting to celebrate."

"Oh? Did Capris' husband finally get that promotion?" he asked as
they turned down the path towards the tavern.

"He hadn't heard anything when I left, but they're hopeful. That's not
the news, though." He tried to wait and let the suspense build, but
couldn't resist a clue. "No, this concerns young Farisin."

"Farisin?" He was the eldest son of Capwick's first wife, Alaris, and
her husband Furin. Though they had been divorced after eight Turns of
marriage, they had remained like family. Both had remarried and had
children with their new partners, but Alaris' children looked at Cap
as an uncle and his saw her as an aunt. So it was with great
interest that he awaited news of the young man. "Didn't I hear a
while back that his wife was pregnant again?"

"You might have done," Stryce replied, with a smile as innocent as a
young apprentice trying to talk his way out of trouble. He was
determined not to say anything until he had his pint in his hand.
Luckily, the tavern wasn't far off, because he was almost as impatient
to tell the news as Capwick was to hear it.

"Good news I take it?" he asked rhetorically, assuming his friend
wouldn't take such pleasure in hiding bad news from him. Capwick held
the door open and ordered two beers from one of the tavern staff
before claiming a table in a quiet corner.

"Whether it's good news or not rather depends on whether one has to
sleep in that tiny cot of theirs with the new arrivals," Stryce joked.
"Twin girls! Born the day before I left. I've never seen a young
couple looking so exhausted. But they're all healthy and the whole
family is absolutely delighted, and hoping that you and Sanora can pay
a visit some time soon to see the little ones."

"Twin girls! Well, isn't that something." Cap shook his head with a
smile, feeling a sense of pride at the man Farisin had become. He was
right in between Cap's sons Calarick and Capran in age, but had seemed
far more eager to settle down into married life than either of them.
"That makes four girls for him so far. Poor Farisin is far
outnumbered now."

"He did look somewhat overwhelmed. Their older girls are very excited to
have two little sisters, though! They hadn't chosen names before my
departure - I think they weren't expecting to have to name two - but I'm
sure Alaris will write to you and let you know." Stryce sipped his
drink. "Well, I've given you some news - now it's your turn. How are
things here at the Hall? And your family?"

"Well, there are certainly days I miss just being a Distiller, I'll
tell you that for sure." He smiled slightly, imagining a time when he
and Stryce had both been the young rogues of the Diamond Spring
Distillery. "But you can't stay in one place forever. You have to
keep moving, and for me the move that was available was up. That's
just how the dice rolled I guess."

"I don't think you get made Hallsecond on a roll of the dice, Cap." The
laugh lines around Stryce's eyes crinkled as he smiled. "Skill at the
craft has something to do with it. We miss that skill back at Diamond
Springs, for sure, but it sounds like your role suits you very well."
The smile widened to a wicked grin. "Just don't get too big a head, or I
might spread a few stories about our journeyman days at the distillery
while I'm here."

"I make white liquor, not some fruity ladies drink," Cap said with a
wide grin, remembering the trouble they used to get up to. Especially
when he was between wives. "I'm pretty sure some of those stories
would make me a legend among the younger vintners."

"Remember that time when the bartender at the tavern bet us we couldn't
get that goat onto the roof of Master Collan's cot? I still don't know
quite how we did it without breaking our necks. We certainly wouldn't
have managed it sober!" He sighed. "Those were the days. Ah, but if we
start reminiscing, we'll be here all night and Sanora will never forgive
me."

"Mmm," Cap hummed while finishing off the rest of his drink. After
catching the last stray drops on his bead off his hand, he nodded and
pushed back his chair. "Let's not tell her we stopped here so we can
have an excuse to come back after dinner."

The other master laughed. "You've grown devious since you became
Hallsecond, my friend. I'll keep quiet, but my experience of wives is
that they have a sixth sense for when a man's been to the tavern for a
quick drink."

"Yes, that's my experience, too. But it's my hope that Sanora will
decide to revel in her powers of observation and just cast knowing and
disapproving glances in my direction. Women love to know that they
are secretly right." The Hallmaster waved his hand towards the door.
"After you, my friend."

Last updated on the August 21st 2018

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