A Celebration Is In Order

Writers: Eimi, Emma
Date Posted: 10th April 2006

Characters: Almonteo, Thanja
Description: Almonteo and Thanja discuss the promotion of some of their apprentices
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 11, day 9 of Turn 3

Almonteo

"Do you have a moment?" asked the Hallsecond as she peered around the door of the Hallmaster's office.

"Always for you," Almonteo smiled. "Come and have a seat."

Thanja did so, noting the stack of hides on his desk. "I think I'm about to add to that pile," she said apologetically.

"Are you now?" the Hallmaster asked with a lift of his high eyebrow. "What have you for me then, Thanja?"

"A stack of sheets that need your signature. But I think that most of these are good news, about two thirds of them are approvals for some of the junior apprentices to move up to senior status."

"Ah, graduating up the ranks," Almonteo smiled. "I remember when I earned my first set of knots."

"Me also, seems that it was only yesterday."

"I almost tripped as I walked the tables," the Hallmaster laughed.

"Well hopefully this lot won't. I've included some of the printers in that list as well. I thought it might help in bringing our two crafts closer together."

"That it just might." It was good to have an opportunity to bring the Halls together in a small way at least. "Would you like to present the Printers their knots? We may be one Hall now, but it doesn't hurt to keep the distinction alive. We both have special roles to play, and they should be proud of their craft for its unique contribution."

"Perhaps we should split it," she said after a moment. "There are some girls among the printers and it might be a nice gesture towards the acceptance of female crafter here in the south."

"Well, we certainly don't want them to hide. It's good to have them in the fore. Our Harpers will have to get used to the sight."

"Not to mention what it will do for their confidence."

Almonteo nodded. "Well, it is my hope that eventually we will have some female harpers to walk the tables eventually."

"I'm sure it won't be long before there are some that we have trained."

"I think it will take the more hidebound areas to get used to the idea of a _Hall_ trained female harper. They haven't seen one in forty turns or more."

"Then perhaps we should blaze the trail open. You took in paying students, maybe one of them might be of a standard that in a turn or two they could walk the tables."

"I hope so," Almonteo nodded. "Though since moving to the Weyr, several of the young ladies have been called home." He rubbed at his brow in frustration at the thought of the revenue their Hall was losing in being at the Weyr. But they would come around eventually. He had to believe that.

"One day soon we'll have a harper trained here. And in the meantime perhaps we should do something to celebrate the promotions of the younger ones."

"Indeed," the Hallmaster nodded. "A celebration is in order. Perhaps we can invite our dragonrider friends as well?"

"That would be a good idea."

"Well, we will have to come up for some ideas of what we would like to do," the Hallmaster smiled. "Perhaps a showcase of our Senior Apprentices talents? Show them what the graduates will soon be getting themselves into?"

Thanja nodded. "I'll speak to the Master of Apprentices and see what we can organize."

"Good. We can discuss the date later." They probably might need some time to prepare, after all. "Perhaps early month 12? We wouldn't want to put it off much later with preparations for Turnover coming up soon."

"And that will give everyone time to prepare. We could treat it as a dry run for turnover itself."

"A _very_ dry run. We can't give any secrets away," Almonteo said with a conspiratorial wink.

Thanja laughed. "It'll be kept top secret."

The Hallmaster grinned. "Right then. Where are these hides I am to sign?"

~*~

Last updated on the April 12th 2006

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A Celebration Is In Order