Well Met

Writers: Jane, Emma
Date Posted: 26th September 2008

Characters: Leisenn, Thanja
Description: Thanja walks down to the Dolphin Hall to meet the new Hallmaster.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 12, day 6 of Turn 4

At least it wasn't too long a walk, thought Thanja as she made her way into the grounds used by the Dolphin Hall. And with Plumage to keep her company it was pleasant. The blue firelizard had chittered away as his pet had walked, finally deciding to settle on her shoulder.

The docks soon came into sight, and it was there that she was able to ask an apprentice where she might find the Hallmaster.

"No need to go looking for her," the slim, elderly woman said, her eyes twinkling in amusement. She had just finished drying off and had managed to pull a shirt on while she heard the visitor speaking the apprentice, and now draped her trousers and towel over one arm and extended her free hand to the other woman. "I'm Leisenn."

"Well met Hallmaster," came the reply as Thanja took the offered hand. "I'm Thanja."

Leisenn nodded, matching the name to the details she had been told. "Harper Hall Hallsecond. The printer."

"That's right." This woman seemed clued up about her local area. "Almonteo's the Hallmaster."

"Haven't met him yet, though no doubt I should walk down and say hello. Can I interest you in klah, or juice? I'm going in for a mug of klah, myself, as soon as I finish dressing."

"A cold drink would be nice after the walk. Mind you, I'm still not used to the summer coming at this time of the turn. Seems odd not to see snow clouds."

"Snow's a rare thing for dolphineers to see at any time," Leisenn observed, pausing to pull her trousers on and then indicating the other master craftswoman should accompany her toward the former SeaHold that served as the dolphineers' Hall. "And we don't tend to work much in the colder climates, anyway. We go where our companions do."

"They prefer warmer waters? Right?"

"They do, and I must say, as I've got older I've appreciated that." She scrubbed at her grey hair as they walked. It probably looked like a sea wrack but at least it wasn't dripping down her back. "I'm curious about your Hall, you know. A Hall within a Weyr. We're odd enough here, without a Hold to support us and only the dragonriders as neighbours."

"It seemed the only option at the time. Emerald Falls was not accepting of the choices of the previous Hallmaster, and after the storm that destroyed so much of the Printer Hall at Topaz Sea Hold it seemed the perfect choice to amalgamate at a new spot. The Weyr was more than happy to accommodate us. I think it works for us all," explained Thanja.

"Do they supply some of your ancillary crafters?" the dolphineer asked curiously. "The smiths, healers, do your cooking and cleaning?"

"We have our own kitchens now, but at first we used the Weyr facilities. As for Healers, well they are very good at the Weyr, my youngest is apprenticed there."

"One of our masters has a grandaughter apprenticed with them too, I understand. Young Grehga."

"I believe I've met her. My son brought her over on a rest day. She was curious about the Hall."

"Is she a credit to her dolphincraft upbringing," Leisenn asked, not entirely seriously.

"She seemed to be a very nice girl. Full of questions and ready to learn."

"Oh, that sounds like a properly brought up dolphin craft child," the master dolphineer said with a chuckle. "Pity we couldn't have kept her, I suppose."

"Our children have to follow their own paths. My son chose Healing over printing," Thanja said with understanding. "After all, it's what makes them happy."

If happiness was all that mattered, Leisenn thought, then a whole lot of women would be in crafts all over the Southern Continent. And even more would be married where they wanted. "Hmm. I suppose you're familiar with this Hall?" she asked as they approached the main doors into the building.

"The public parts at least."

"I don't know that there are many private areas." Leisenn paused to ask one of the apprentices to organise some juice for her and the Harper Hallsecond. "Come and sit down." The table was set into a large window that overlooked the bay itself, rather than the busy wharf areas. Leisenn assumed its position must have been the choice of some Lady SeaHolder in the building's past, for any sensible Lord SeaHolder (and the dolphineers) would wanted to have looked out over the wharves.

"This is a lovely view, I'd like to sketch it some day," commented Thanja.

"You're welcome to come and do so at any time," the master dolphineer told the other woman, amending her previous thought. Perhaps it had been a harper who had positioned the window and the head table.

"So is it very different here at Dolphin Cove to your previous posting?" asked Thanja. "It's certainly better weather than in the north where I was born."

"It's warmer than my last posting, too, but more humid which I don't enjoy much." Leisenn shrugged. "I've been in this sort of climate before and so I know it'll take a while to adjust. Does your Hall like being by the sea? They came from Emerald Falls, didn't they? Up one of the rivers?"

"I think people have got used to it, and I'll admit it did take a while for me to get used to the sea being so close. Ruatha(tm) is in the mountains."

"Did you come south from there? Not from the Harper Hall the burned?"

"Originally, we were on our way to the original Printer Hall at Topaz, where we stayed until the storm. After that, well there wasn't much left of the Printer Hall, so it was only supposed to be a temporary arrangement of sorts staying at Emerald Falls. Then we found ourselves at Dolphin Cove. It seemed to make sense to amalgamate there."

"At Topaz?" Leisenn leaned back and eyed the other woman. "When did you arrive there?"

"Just before the storm that did so much damage."

The dolphineer laughed. "What was I thinking? You probably aren't old enough to have been there when I last served there."

"My husband and I are northerners."

"Is your husband at the Hall -" she nodded her head in the direction of the Weyr along the coast, "- with you?"

"Indeed, he's a Master printer too, although I got there first."

"Perhaps you and he could come over for a meal one evening, as guests of the Hall?"

"I think we'd like that." Thanja was beginning to realise that she liked this woman, and that it could be an asset in relations between the two Halls.

"Just let me know which evening suits you both," Leisenn said, glancing around at the approach of one of the dining hall staff with their drinks and a selection of snack foods. "Here we are. Something to keep us going while we get to know each other better."

Last updated on the September 29th 2008

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