Convince me

Writers: Kaysea, Paula
Date Posted: 5th September 2007

Characters: Corowal, Luter
Description: Luter petitions the Lord Holder for the rights to hold at Green Valley Hold
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 5, day 23 of Turn 4

Luter was bidden into the Lord Holders office, cap in hand, he was nervous. His petition had fallen on deaf ears with the old Lord, maybe this new one, with his brazen ideas of women crafters would be more amenable to his request.

"Thank you for seeing me, my Lord." he said, as he approached the desk, and stood to the side of the empty chair.

"Be welcome, and please take a seat," Corowal replied and gestured towards the chair.

"Thank you." Luter sat lightly on the edge of the seat. Corowal didn't look too harsh, though he wasn't aware of Luter's family connections, things may change and swiftly.

"I..I was wondering if you had had a chance to look over my petition yet, my Lord?" He began, hands held steady, each gripping a knee tightly. His eyes never wavered as he looked at the Lord Holder.

"I've received several petitions lately, which one was yours?" Corowal asked.

"The one for Green Valley Cothold, Sir." Luter replied, moving even further forward in his chair. Realising he still had his cap on, he swiftly pulled it off his head, and began twisting it in his hands. "I, er, I've applied for it before, Sir. I'm sure you'll see a note from the previous Lord, in his records, Sir."

"Green Valley, I remember now," Corowal said and pulled a right record of the pile on his desk. "A nice hold, not much forests, but hills and lush valleys. Good herding ground, I've been told."

"Yes, yes Sir, it has. And plenty of smaller caves for stabling and suchlike." Luter nodded eagerly. "I, well Sir, I was hoping you'd agree to let my family and I move out there. We've been breeding equines well enough, here - closer to the Hold. We've even bred for the Hold, you have some of my finer lineages here, but - well we'd like to expand. Have wanted to for a few Turns but, the old Lord, he wouldn't approve it..." he wasn't sure how much he could say, without angering Corowal.

He didn't want to slur the old Lord, knew it wouldn't help his cause; but now, Corowal - he was different: hadn't he already set out to pave the way for women to craft? That alone gave Luter encouragement.

"He didn't? Why?" Corowal asked. "If he didn't approve it, why should I do? Convince me," he continued, his tone challenging.

"His Lordship, he - " Luter took a deep breath, this could be his last chance of ever holding on his own terms. "He didn't think I was a suitable Holder because I married a crafter, Sir. Said I didn't deserve to Hold because I went against all that he stood for. Women shouldn't craft and if I thought it right that my own wife was a crafter, then, he didn't think I was suitable to Hold on my own," he paused, then hastily added, "Sir."

"Crafter?" Corowal was curious. "What craft? There aren't that many women crafter in Southern Pern, that aren't weyrbred or over childbearing age."

"She came down from the north, a fully qualified senior journeyman healer.
She specialized in midwifery. A distant cousin to my mother."

"North bred? Well, that's a certainly a rarity," Corowal remarked.
"Leaving your wife aside, what qualifications do you have to have this hold. What plans do you have if you are granted it?"

"My family have been breeders of equines for as long as we can remember. We've bred some of the prize stock you have here in your stables, my Lord."
Which was probably one of the main reasons he, and his family, hadn't been evicted from the Hold-proper once Thread returned, he thought bitterly.

Corowal nodded approvingly. The area was perfect for it. "So, what would I gain from it?" he asked, again with challenging tone.

"More hearty breeding stock, for one, your Lordship." Luter replied, barely daring to hope his petition would be successful this time. "And I hope to be able to breed some of the lighter, racing stock, Sir." He leaned forward in his seat again, this time enthusiasm for his stock and breeding plans giving him a new animation.

"How about loyalty. If I give you this hold, will you be _my_ man?"
Corowal asked softly. There was enough restlessness in Emerald Falls hold that the new lord holder felt need to secure his position. Not everybody was happy with the changes he had brought with him.

"Why would I not, your Lordship. You have my loyalty already, you free my wife to hold no shame in her craft. I was your man before today Sir." he affirmed sitting up straight and meeting his Lord Holders eyes proudly and steadfastly.
Meeting the man eye-to-eye was easy, he spoke the truth. Cheznia was free now to practice her craft without anyone looking askance - something she hadn't been able to do since she had arrived at the Hold.

"Then, may I be first to congratulate you, Holder Luter of Green Valley hold?" Corowal said and offered his hand.

"Pardon?" Luter wasn't sure he had heard the Lord Holder correctly, "You mean? Th - thank you Sir!" his thanks were slow to come, but effusive when they did.
He stood and pumped the Lord Holders hand gratefully. "Oh Sir, you won't be disappointed. I promise you."

"I hope not," Corowal said dryly. "I'm eager to see your breeds on the racing track."

"Within the Turn Sir, within the Turn." he nodded emphatically. "You'll not regret this, of that I'm certain." his smile split his face, "Do I have your leave Sir, to go and tell my wife?"

"Go, go, tell her the good news," Corowal laughed.

"Thank you Sir." Luter stood, not quite sure what to do with himself. "I
- oh _thank you, Sir_." he said again, and headed out to tell his wife. So pleased, he couldn't remove the smile from his face.

Last updated on the September 8th 2007

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Convince me