An Unusual Summons
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Cali, Eimi
Date Posted: 29th August 2006
Characters: Almonteo, Mosler, Trellyn
Description: Calla requests a performance from the Harper Hall.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 13, day 6 of Turn 3
Dear Hallmaster Almonteo, I am relaying a request for an interview for my dolphin partner, Calla.
She, as one of the leaders of her pod, wish to talk with the Harper Hallmaster concerning music. Sorry for not being more specific, she refuses to tell me more. If you consent to making the trip down, I would like to offer you a full tour while you are here. I don't believe you've had a chance to see the Hall since you're move to Dolphin Cove Weyr. Regards, Dolphin Hallmaster Mosler
~*~
Almonteo was intrigued. He had never had a summons from a _dolphin_
before. The Harper Hallmaster was never one to waste a good opportunity, and so he took Master Mosler up on his offer. He smiled as the Dolphin Hallmaster walked out of the front door to meet him. "Good morning, Master Mosler."
"Good morning, Master Almonteo." Mosler replied in return. "I'm so glad you could come, Calla and about half the pod are waiting for you down at the float dock. If you'll just follow me?" "Yes of course," the Harper smiled, amused at the thought that he was about to have a whole _conference_ with a pod of dolphins. "I hope I have not kept them waiting."
*~*
Trellyn stood as the dolphins announced the Masters' arrival with flips and splashes. She had been keeping the dolphins company while they waited, and she giggled despite herself as she remembered what Kibb had told her the meeting was about. "Good day, Master Mosler, Master Almonteo." she called once they were withing earshot. She grinned as she heard Calla give a sharp whistle to call the pod to order. "Good day, Trellyn." Mosler replied in return as he helped Almonteo down to the float dock. "My how the numbers have grown." he added as he looked out across the water and noticed about twice the number of dolphins as when he had left. Trellyn used her hand to shield the sun out of her eyes, "Kibb said everyone wanted to hear from the 'Harper Master'." Mosler gave a small snort, still miffed that Calla would not share the reason for the summons. "Master Almonteo, my I present my dolphin partner Calla... Calla, this is Master Almonteo." "Nice to meet you, Calla. And you all," the Harper said looking out at all the dolphin faces staring at him curiously with their black eyes. He wasn't quite sure what the protocol was on how to speak politely with dolphins. "I was told you wished to speak to me."
Calla nodded her head excitedly and flicked the water with her snout. "Master 'teo, _Harper_ master?" she asked to make sure he was the one she wanted. He wasn't quite sure what she was asking, but it sounded like a question. "I am Master Almonteo, the Harper Hallmaster."
"Commission for you, Master." Calla said with as much formality as a grinning dolphin could afford. The other dolphins behind her gleefully echoed their spokeswoman "'Mission! 'Mission!" Mosler leaned towards Trellyn when he saw her knowing grin, "What's this about?" he whispered, but she just shook her head and pointed to Calla for him to pay attention. "A mission? What kind of mission?" The Harper asked, not quite sure he was understanding her correctly.
Calla was one of the best human talkers of the pod, and took great pride in that fact. Still, it didn't bother her that Almonteo didn't understand her, she was used to it and continued, knowing that he would eventually get her meaning or that Mosler or Trellyn would explain to him. "Harpers for dolphins. Turn's End commission for dolphins." Understanding Calla's request, Mosler's face erupted in a grin that matched Trellyn's as they silently waited for Almonteo's reaction to the unusual request. "A commission for dolphins?" He turned to look at the Dolphin Hallmaster for confirmation. "They want us to write a piece of music about dolphins?"
Trellyn's giggle interrupted Mosler's explanation, "They want to commission the Hall for a performance at Turn's End. Kibb says that they love music and always feel left out. They want singers, drums, guitars, pipes, the works!" "They like music?" Almonteo asked, completely taken by surprise.
Mosler smiled, "Of course they do, they don't get to hear much though except what the men on the boats sing."
"Dolphins love harper songs." Calla added, just in case he forgot she could talk for herself as non-dolphineers sometimes did. Almonteo looked back at the large black eye regarding him from the water line. Too many questions filled his mind. "Do you like _all_
kinds of music, Calla? All instruments?"
"All man music, all!" she squeed, emphasizing the _all_. Well, it was certainly an intriguing idea... A concert for dolphins. "Well, its cutting it a bit close. Do you think we could try for Turns Beginning rather than Turns End?" After all, his harpers were already committed for the main celebration. After a brief discussion between Mosler and Calla as to _when_ exactly that was, and then another brief discussion between Calla and the other dolphins, she turned her attention back to the Masterharper. "Good good good Turns Begins." Calla squeeed and clicked her agreement and was echoed by the other dolphins near the dock. "Well, then, Dolphin Calla, it's agreed," the Hallmaster grinned. A concert for dolphins... who would have thought.
Last updated on the August 30th 2006