Do It Better!

Writers: Clancey, Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 23rd October 2005

Characters: Daynar, Penryn, Thalia
Description: Daynar visits Penryn, demanding he find and bring to justice his wife's killer with his tact and acts like a complete wherry's arse.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 8, day 2 of Turn 3

Furious, Daynar tossed his reins to a waiting groom, his runner's sides panting and heaving from exertion. The foam flecked lips betrayed the Hallmaster's little care for his haste as he went up to the Hold the morning after his wife had been found _dead_ on the way to Market. His canine trailed his heels, growling at anyone who came close, having chased Daynar all the way to the Hold. "Where is he?" He stalked through the halls of the Hold and one shaking drudge spilled klah all over the floor as he swept past her and into what was doubling as Penryn's study. Lady Thalia was there with the Assistant Steward, neither of them having too much time to react to his sudden, obviously angry, appearance. "Why haven't you caught him yet!? He killed my wife! Murdered! You should be out there combing the hills for your so-called bandits! Find them now!"

"Call it off!" Thalia had gone white, although she didn't know if she was more frightened by the Hallmaster or the vicious beast that had come into Penryn's office after him. "Call off your canine or I'll have you thrown out!"

Penryn quickly moved around the desk and placed himself between Thalia and the irate Smithcrafter and his beast of a canine. "Master Daynar, we have been searching for them everywhere. Our own guards are stretched as thin as we dare. We are doing what we can."

"Get back Scrap." Daynar said quietly to his canine, who backed off, but didn't stop growling. He didn't know why his person was shouting, but that usually meant something worth a growl or two. Uncaring, he looked at Thalia. "I'm not leaving, Lady, until someone tells me they've found the killers that are at large in your Hold! I wouldn't expect _you_ to know how to find them, but Penryn here ought to have by now!" He was still shouting, having somewhat gone off the edge. "They killed your _husband_ and your _Lord Holder_!" He pointed at both of them. "What you can doesn't appear to be good enough, Penryn. Send for aid for the other Holds or Halls if you can't do it, but do something!"

"Don't pretend that you're the only one acquainted with loss," Thalia said softly. She could feel her face burning from Daynar's backhanded insult, and her heart was racing like a flit's wings. "Please control yourself - and your animal."

"The death of the Lord Holder wasn't a secret, Hallmaster. All the holds in the area are on the highest alert and making their own rounds and keeping guard. We have had search parties and trackers out everyday, but Meijah was a guard himself and knows our moves. And so far, there is no evidence whatsoever that he was involved with the murder of your wife, and her _one_ guard. And I would appreciate it, Master Daynar, if you would get control of yourself in front of the Lady so we can talk about exactly how we can find the perpetrator." Penryn know the Smith could flatten him with one wing of his trunk-like arm, but he was not about to let the man upset the peace of the Hold he was charged with. "Get control of myself! She's just a woman, Penryn. She should probably go back to her rooms while we discuss this like men, anyway." The Hallmaster said scathingly. "_You_ are in charge of this Hold! And You better act like it!" He finished ranting at Penryn, visibly calming a little, though he was still shaking, and Scrap was still letting out the occasional growl. "I _am_ acting as the man in charge of the Hold, Hallmaster," Penryn replied calmly, "and I will allow the mother of the Hold's heir to stay as long as she would like. Now, if you would kindly have a seat, I will fetch us both a drink, and we will discuss this...
_calmly_."

Daynar cut his eyes at Thalia for a moment, and finally sat down in the offered chair. He continued to ignore her presence though, and focused all his attention on Penryn. "I do not want to remain calm, Penryn. My _wife_ is dead! Murdered even. Why haven't you caught this killer yet?"

The acting steward walked to the cupboard and pulled out a bottle of hard liquor and two glasses. "Trust me, Hallmaster, we want to see both of those murderers caught as soon as possible. Somehow they have remained one step ahead of our guards. The minor holds cannot remain completely defenseless, but they have spared as many guards as they could."

Thalia pursed her lips as Penryn poured - they were _both_ ignoring her now, and she was tired of it. She felt like asking for a glass for herself, but didn't actually want to drink the alcohol. "I've had news from the Weyr that they are increasing sweeps in the area, and between the additional dragon presence and our own efforts, I doubt it will be long." "The dragons will surely spot them. There are not enough trees to hide them from their sharp eyes," Penryn agreed as he handed a glass to the Hallmaster. "Shall I order some food for us? Lady, would you like some klah or tea?"

"Tea, thank you." Perhaps there was hope for him yet.

"I don't want food! I want results, Penryn. Results!" He took the glass and scowled at both of them, his canine now sitting at his feet without the growls, but watching everything. "This isn't fast enough, and we're leaving this all up to the dragonriders? They need to be Flying Thread! Not finding our murderers." He continued grumbling, not planning on being anything but surly. "Well, sir, is there anything you can think of that we _haven't_ tried?" Penryn asked, exasperation threatening to creep into his voice. Daynar frowned at Penryn's tone, shaking his head. "You just need to do what you're doing better." He grumbled, finally subsiding to a glare.

"Sir, we cannot send more guards into the hills. They are needed here. We cannot leave the Hold open and vulnerable to Meijah and whoever he was working for. And we cannot slip in out vigilance lest some usurper see this as he opportunity to seize control. The most I can do is to offer you a few more guards to help fortify your own Hall garrison, but I cannot risk sending them farther from Garnet Valley that that."

"Well if you aren't going to find this killer of my wife, then I will have to do your job for you." Daynar slammed his mug down, and rose to his feet to the accompaniment of Scrap starting to bark again. "He _must_ be brought to justice!" He nodded at Penryn once, again ignoring Lady Thalia. "Good day." He said in the same cutting voice.

"Good day, Hallmaster," Penryn said with a polite bow, though the truth was he was glad to be rid of him.

Thalia watched him go out the door and refrained from speaking until she was sure that he was well out of earshot. "Goodness," she said, turning to Penryn, "What an _odious_ man!"

Last updated on the October 24th 2005

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