Working With Numbers

Writers: Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 5th July 2008

Characters: Shadux, Mariss
Description: Shadux and Mariss try to figure out a way to make up the stolen tithe to send to the Weyr
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 9, day 20 of Turn 4

"All right, so we can get the bolts of cloth from the stores, the reams of paper from the warehouse..." Even with the livestock they were still short somehow. "Shards my head is just too tired to think. There has to be something more I've missed."

Mariss cast a surreptitious glance at the candle flickering in the corner of Shadux's room. It was getting on in the evening, and her stomach was beginning to growl. "Don't forget the bale of leather from Stony Point Hold. That'll bring the tithe up to ninety percent of its original constitution, albeit with a few substitutions. I'm just glad that the Weyr's been so magnanimous."

But not magnanimous enough to forgive that last ten percent... "What about the dried redwort and featherfern? We should add that in there."

"It's already on the list," she said, "as are the two cords of lumber.
Even so, we're still shy ten percent." She was curled up on a chair in the corner of Shadux's room, while Shadux lounged on the bed opposite.
The door stood wide open; it was one thing to have to work together in close quarters, but it was another entirely to let rumors start. The open door made the room quite drafty. "Are you _sure_ that's ten percent?" Shadux asked disbelievingly - not suspicious of her, but how could they still be shy so much?!

Mariss bit back her automatic reply and nodded. "Well, if we could send someone to log another few cords of wood... they'll be difficult to transport and still green on arrival, but it's something."

"Something, but not much," Shadux sighed, rubbing at his face in frustration. "We have some hard-rind cheeses in store. Any we can spare?"

"Two or three, I'd imagine, but Zelanka won't like it." Mariss noted them down. "Uncarded wool."

"Uncarded wool?"

"I'm sure that there are still sacks of uncarded wool left over from the summer shearing, and while it's again not an ideal tithe, I'm sure that we can make up the rest of the ten percent with it. It's better than sending livestock, anyway - the ovines can grow it back quick enough, and we're not _short_ on wool... but it'll mean a slight dip in profits for the next season. Carded and spun wool brings a better market price, after all."

"Hmm," he snorted softly. That was something he would have never have thought of. Mariss certainly could be creative. When she wanted to be.
"Yes, let's go with that then. I think some of the blue agates that we mined this turn should make up the rest of the tithe. They're probably not useful to the Weyr as they are, but they would fetch good marks if they sold them to the Smith or Mining Halls."

"Let's see how much uncarded wool we can round up, first. If we can sell the agates ourselves, the Hold will get a better price for them. And I guess that's it, then. We're done." Mariss began to gather her things in preparation to leave. "I'll give the list to Da for final approval, but I don't think he'll make any changes."

Shadux was rather impressed. "Have you done tithe lists before?"

"Well... sort of. Last turn and the turn before that, I assisted the understewards that were making them," she said with a shrug.

"Hmmm. Well, you have a mind for it." He wasn't surprised that she was good at the task, but he was surprised at just how good she was with numbers. "I have to say, numbers are the hardest part for me."

For a moment she was tongue tied - had Shadux actually _complemented_
her on something related to her duties?! "Ah.. well, thank you. Numbers were always the easiest part for me. It's always been like... like knowing how to balance a scale, really. I can just... see when they don't balance."

"You're lucky then. I can organize work crews, I know the planting schedule by heart, I know the farmers and their acreage, I can tell you the projected yields for just about any plot of land... But when it comes to numbers, I have to check and re-check. I always have. I guess everyone has their weaknesses."

The girl smiled and tucked her pen into her apron pocket. Shadux was like her Da in that respect, from before the earthquake. "Well, I'd best be going. I hope your ribs are doing better?"

"Much. Thanks for asking," he said, getting to his feet to walk her to the open door. "It's the least I can do. It was kind of my fault." Mariss smiled. "See you later, then!" And with any luck, it wouldn't be to make up more tithes!

Last updated on the July 9th 2008

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Working With Numbers