A Confession
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: Jane, Vix
Date Posted: 19th December 2008
Characters: Mahantan, Leisenn
Description: Leisenn and Mahantan have their regular meeting and discuss a decision made by Leisenn.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 13, day 6 of Turn 4
"I have a confession to make," Leisenn said, feeling rather guilty as the Master of Apprentices appeared in the doorway of her office for their monthly meeting.
Mahantan blinked at her words, but then entered the room slowly. "Are you sure it's something you need to tell?"
"Definitely," Leisenn said firmly adding a nod for emphasis. "Have a seat, Mahantan. Don't stand on ceremony in my office."
He slid into the chair in front of her desk, definitely intrigued by this start to their conversation.
Leisenn cleared her throat, feeling more like she was the errant master fronting to the Hallmaster. "I removed one of the apprentices from classes. Allydelle. Arranged tutoring for her, that can go at her pace while she's pregnant. Did you know she was?"
The Master of Apprentices closed his eyes, then opened them, shaking his head. "No. But I should have guessed that that bad situation was not done with."
"Just not our luck, I suppose," Leisenn agreed. "Nor Allydelle's." She leaned back in her chair, feeling a little more relaxed now that the bulk of her confession was done. She might be the Hallmaster but she didn't believe in usurping others' authority - and yet that was exactly what she had done to Mahantan. "I wrote to her parents - in general terms, before I knew about the pregnancy - to sound them out about having her home for a while. They want nothing to do with her. Apparently she ran away to apprentice here."
"That last part isn't surprising," Mahantan mused. "After all, crafting offers an option to young women that they don't normally have, and many parents don't want them to have that choice. Ironically, she's in much the same position she would have been had she stayed at home, but minus the husband." He sighed and shifted slightly in his chair. "We'll allow her to stay on?"
"We can hardly turn her out to wander homeless, and she may yet make a go of the craft."
Mahantan puzzled over that. "I suppose that I've never really given it much thought – what happens to the children of female dolphineers?" He had not had that problem, simply turning them over to his non-crafter wife to rear.
"And you a Northerner!" Leisenn smiled. "They can make arrangements with another woman to care for the babe during the day and some Halls used to have creches for care during the day. We could do that here." The memories of such things were from Leisenn's own past. Then there was the solution she had chosen. "My husband's sister looked after my two since I was a very junior journeywoman with ambitions."
He nodded solemnly. "If she really wants to advance, there are possibilities. But she's a very new apprentice, so the road will be a long one and far from easy." He sighed and glanced toward her. "Have you any more surprises or confessions for me?"
"No, thank goodness. That's my only indiscretion. I do apologise for it, though. I should have consulted you." Her expression was not entirely serious as she added: "I will be good from now on."
He simply raised an eyebrow, feeling that it would be more discrete for him not to comment on her promise.
Last updated on the December 19th 2008