Fostermother Potential

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 3rd October 2019

Characters: Yriadha, Suynie
Description: Yriadha interviews a candidate for Foster Mother of Lord Bryvin's children
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 13, day 2 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Bryvin

Yriadha

Suynie

Suynie was nervous, nervous because she had never had reason to speak
with the Headwoman of Sunstone in person before. She had seen the
formidable looking woman from a distance on several occasions and
always she had been grateful that she had no reason to have business
with Yriadha. Today that changed.

Even though she had tried to sustain herself and her young son on her
own, Suynie's apprentice level knowledge of weavercraft was simply not
enough to put clothes on their backs and food in their bellies.
Knowledge that the Lord Holder was looking for a foster mother for his
infant daughter had come just at right time for Suynie.

**If I get the job,** she thought, urging her stomach to behave
itself. The last thing she needed was to be sick in front of Yriadha,
she would surely never get the job, or any job around the Hold for
that matter, if she did that.

**Here goes,** she told herself, **Lucyien is counting on you.** She
pictured the sweet shape of her son's face, which had lost all of its
baby roundness now that he was five Turns old and growing like a weed.

Steeling herself, she tucked her chin and knocked on the door.

"Enter." Yriadha laid her hands on the desk, looking up from the
hides she'd been checking. Five applicants so far, and two she'd
already discounted who were simply not acceptable in any manner. As
the door opened, her eyes flicked over the young woman, taking in the
posture, the clothing, and her expression. "Have a seat please. You
would be Suynie?"

"Yes, ma'am." Suynie said with a polite, quick curtsy before seating
herself in the indicated chair. She sat perched on the edge, her
shoulders a straightline as she folded her hands in her lap.

Yriadha mirrored the other woman's posture. If this woman was
suitable, she gave it a month before Bryvin had her in his bed. She
was to his taste. She resisted a smile and kept get face straight.
"Tell me, Suynie, why do you want this job?"

"My husband was a seacrafter when the tsunami hit. He was never
found," Suynie said, the grip of her fingers whitening a bit. "I have
a young son and I am trying to provide for us both."

"Hm. Do you realize the gravity of the position? The Lord Holder's
children are not the same as the other children fostered, even your
own. Their education and safety are paramount, even before your own.
If you do get this position, you'll be answering to me and Lord Bryvin
alone. He can be very particular about his children and his demands
will have to be met without question."

"Yes, ma'am, I understand. Lucyien is just old enough to be starting
some basic harper classes so he won't be with me during the day. I can
devote my full attention to the Lord's children during that time." It
made her heart squeeze a little to think of neglecting her own child
for the sake of others, but a stable position where she knew her son
would be cared was paramount.

"Tell me of some of your experience and skills, if you would." Yriadha
leaned back to study the woman as she spoke.

This was the part Suynie had been nervous about- experience. "The only
experience I have with children is raising my own. I was an apprentice
weaver before I married so I can provide help with lessons and such
and mend clothing, of course."

"So you've no experience with caring for multiple children?" Yriadha
scribbled something on the hide. "Can you read and write?"

Suynie had thought that telling the Headwoman she was a crafter would
have equated to being able to read and write. "Yes, as I said, I could
easily provide help with the children's harper lessons."

"Hmm." Yriadha made another note, keeping her face expressionless.
"Are you experienced with the type of protocols, behaviors, and
expectations that the children will have to meet as members of the
Blood?"

"Yes," Suynie assured Yriadha. "My mother was a Lady-in-Waiting when
she was younger and she instilled those sort of things in me and my
sister."

"That's fine for Lord Bryvin's daughter, but what about his son?"
Yriadha laid her pencil down to peer closely at the young woman. " And
are prepared to remain above absolute reproach as far as your personal
relationships? This position can and will leave you vulnerable to
those who might attempt to take advantage of your position top get
closer to the Lord Holder and his children. "

"I'm sure yourself or the harpers could inform me on anything that is
different for the son." Suynie answered, although she was pretty sure
the son would take his social cues from his father, the steward, the
Lord Holder's assistants, and then the harpers when he was old enough
for harper lessons. "As for being above reproach, I am a widow with no
desires for another relationship, it's not a problem. This isn't a job
I take lightly, it's a means of survival for myself and my son, and I
won't allow anything to hinder that should I be chosen for the
position."

Yriadha waved her hand. "Psh...I'm a widow too and let us be honest
with each other, women have needs just as much as a man; we're simply
required to be more discreet. However, I do appreciate that you say
you'd be dedicated to the position." She tapped her fingers on the
hide. "What would you do if Brylex started a temper tantrum in the
Dining Hall in front of the Lord Holder's guests?"

"I would try to pacify him first, perhaps with a small toy or
something from his plate, and if that didn't suffice I would remove
him from the Dining Hall." Suynie answered.

"What discipline would you use to correct the behavior?"

"Whatever the Lord deems appropriate for his children. If it's
scoldings and time out, then that is what I would do; if he prefers
his child to be spanked on the hand or something more corporal, then I
would do that. So I guess it depends on Lord Bryvin's preferences."
Suynie replied, feeling that it was a good diplomatic answer.

It had been a good answer, showing obedience to the Lord Holder's
preferences while giving thought to the situation. Yriadha jotted
down another note on her hide. "Do you have anyone who can vouch for
you and your temperament?"

"My teachers from the weavercraft," she answered. Her family wasn't an
option, they had disowned her when she had married her husband.

Yriadha handed Suynie a piece of hide. "Their names please. I will
need to speak with them."

"Of course," Suynie murmured as she neatly printed the names and then slid the piece of hide back across Yriadha's desk.

Yriadha took the hide, glanced over it and nodded. "Very well. I'll speak to them and the Lord Holder. You'll hear back from me before two sevendays. "

Suynie stood and curtsied again. "Thank you, ma'am."

Yriadha inclined her head and with a wave of her hand, dismissed the young woman.

Last updated on the October 26th 2019

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Fostermother Potential