One Step Closer

Writers: Ainsley, AL
Date Posted: 18th April 2009

Characters: Meledei, Tumelo
Description: Meledei gets one step closer to finding out who has been sending her anonymous gifts.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 2, day 11 of Turn 5

Tumelo hummed a soft tune as he checked his supply of graphite pencils, colored pencils, and charcoal pencils. Having just finished with a lesson, the journeyman was still in the classroom and thought to work on a sketch before he collected his things and returned to his quarters.. When he heard footfalls, he was expecting one of the apprentices returning with a question so he was surprised to see the weyrling enter.

"Hello." Meledei offered the harper a small smile and glanced around. They were the only two in the room. Was it possible this was him? Or perhaps an apprentice. "I'm sorry for disturbing you."

"Not at all," he offered a smile for the girl, recognizing her as the one to have impressed the gold egg his excellent memory providing the name a moment later. "Meledei is it? How can I help you?"

"Yes." The girl glanced at him suspiciously, then shook herself mentally. Her name was known through the Weyr after that hatching. It wasn't surprising at all. "I'm looking for the person who did a sketch of me, charcoal. Did you or someone work on something like that? Perhaps commissioned?"

The artist shook his head, "I'm afraid that I'm unaware of such a sketch," he started and then stopped. "Well, now come to think of it, I do know someone who was working on a sketch of you and Elleth. He isn't a member of the Hall, though. How did you come by this, if I may ask?"

"It was sent to me as a gift." So he knew of someone! Meledei thought that maybe, just maybe she would finally get down to the bottom of the mystery. "Do you mind if I ask who the artist was?" And why wasn't he a member of the Hall?

Tumelo paused in thought before answering as he tried to puzzle out why she might want to find the artist. He didn't want to cause trouble for the lad, though he couldn't really see why it _would_ cause any trouble. "I certainly cannot guarantee that the sketch that you received was the one that this young man was working on. Who was the gift from? Wouldn't the person who gave it to you tell you who the artist was?"

"That's just it, I don't know who gave it to me." Meledei sighed. The journeyman was hesitant to tell her and she really hoped she hadn't walked right into another dead end. "I keep receiving these gifts with notes, but never a name or face to attach to them."

"Ah, I see," Tumelo nodded as understanding dawned. "And you believe that the young fellow who drew this sketch might be the one responsible for the gifts and notes." It was more a statement than a question. "Well as I said, I can hardly be certain that we are even discussing the same sketch. Perhaps I should talk to this young man and maybe set up a meeting for the two of you. Then he would be prepared for your inquires and you would be free to ask him personally if he is indeed the person you seek?"

"I suppose that will be acceptable." Meledei couldn't think of any other reason why someone would want to do a sketch. It wasn't like there were _that_ many people who wanted a sketch of her. "I'm limited in my time, though."

"Why don't you tell me when a good time for you to meet would be and I'll set it up. Just give me a days time to speak with this fellow. He's a fine lad. I'm sure we can get this resolved."

"Yes sir." Meledei gave Tumelo the schedule and left, still feeling apprehensive. She thought she might ask F'gol to come with her, maybe not to the actual meeting, but perhaps he could stay nearby, within earshot in case she needed to call him. Then again, maybe she was over reacting to the whole. Well, either way, in a day or two, she'd hopefully be one step closer to finding her so called admirer.

Last updated on the April 27th 2009

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