The Impossible Feat
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: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 6th May 2009
Characters: Almonteo, Eilomar
Description: Almonteo remembers recruiting Eilomar to pull off the impossible.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 5
Almonteo looked around at the face of the crowd as the last note still resonated through the chamber. There was complete silence, which might make one nervous if they couldn't read the mood of the crowd. But the Hallmaster knew in that moment, and the thunderous applause that errupted just moments later came as no surprise to him.
They had done it!
The Hallmaster and the Lord Holder had to know if Emerald Falls could accept female Harpers in the Hold once more, and they had noticed their fair share of sceptical glances exchanged as a whole choir of them had taken the stage. But then they had started to sing, their voices hauntingly sweet and captivating, and even the most cynical in the Hold turned their full attention to a sound so long removed from their halls only a few could remember when it was commonplace.
And there was Master Eilomar, bowing uncharacteristically humbly as he soaked in his well deserved applause. Almonteo had needed the incredible, and Eilomar had delivered yet again.
~ ~ ~
Almonteo sighed as he stood outside the Choir Master's office. No one on Pern could do this job but Eilomar, he was convinced of it. He just hoped to Faranth he wasn't going to end up with a choir of bawling apprentices on his hands. Raising his hand to knock on the door he didn't wait for an answer. "Good afternoon, Eilomar," he said as he opened the door.
"Good afternoon, Hallmaster," Eilomar greeted and signalled his vocal students to take break. The apprenticed looked very relieved of the interruption. Eilomar was hard taskmaster.
"I'm sorry to be interrupting you during practice. I was under the impression that class would be finished by now..." Perhaps the Hallmaster had mistook the time. It was easy to do since he was not on the same schedule as the teachers any more.
"We are doing extra practices. They haven't been doing their practices when they should, so we are doing them after the class," Eilomar said and scowled at the apprentices.
While the Hallmaster knew practice was important for their apprentices, he could tell by the expression on their faces that they were on the verge of rebelling against the Master's hard hand. "Eilomar, I appreciate that you feel they require extra practice, and if they have been slacking in any way, I whole-heartedly agree with your keeping them here for several more candlemarks," he gave the apprentices a stern look, hoping the threat that if they didn't shape up they might be caught in the Master clutches indefinitely, "I do need to speak to you about something rather pressing. If you would please dismiss them for now so we can talk I would appreciate it. I'm certain they _will_ come to your class prepared from now on."
Eilomar nodded. "You heard Master Almonteo!" he barked at the apprentices. They were quick to get out.
**If there were anyone else for this assignment...** the Hallmaster thought silently. But he knew no one would be as good. "As you know I am preparing music for Lord Corowal's wedding ceremony. I have a special choir in mind that I would like you to choose and conduct, Master Eilomar. Would you have time?"
"If I don't, I arrange the time. It's a great honour," the rotund master replied.
"Fantastic. I knew you are my man," the Hallmaster smiled, putting a hand on his shoulder in a friendly gesture. "I need an all female choir."
"_ALL_ female?" Eilomar's eyes were nearly bulging out.
"Of course! What could be more beautiful? A choir of females, the likes of which Pern has never heard. Their voices ringing out, stirring the hearts of their listeners... What could be more moving at a wedding?" the Hallmaster asked innocently.
"And where do you think we can pull out this beautiful choir? We really don't have that many female harpers. We're allowed females in only for past two turns, most of them are still junior apprentices and half of them won't be able to handle a tough audience!"
"And that's where I rely on you," Almonteo smiled, putting both hands on Eilomar's shoulders now. "If anyone on Pern could pull off this feat, it would be you. At least, I believe I have the right man for the job..."
Eilomar grumbled under his breath for moment, then: "You're right, this is almost impossible and no one but me could do it. Do you need a full choir or would smaller ensemble do? I may have to borrow singers from the Weyr. They should have some. And when will this wedding be?" His mind was already listing out possibilities.
The Hallmaster smiled innocently. "Day seven of next month..."
Eilomar just stared him for a long, silent moment. "You're not giving me much time for this one."
"And that's why I could think of no one else for this job but you." And Almonteo had indeed thought long and hard.
"Do I have your permission to pull them out of their regular schedules for this? I presume you want it take a priority. Emerald Falls is a tough one, you really want to impress them."
"They are yours exclusively until after the wedding," the Hallmaster promised. "But, Eilomar, remember to be gentle with them. Be firm, but for Faranth's sake don't raise your voice to them. We don't have time to deal with a whole room full of sobbing apprentices who are too stressed to sing. They will be under a lot of pressure, too, remember."
"If they can't handle me and my critics then they won't be able to handle the audience," Eilomar pointed out.
"Critiques are good," Almonteo quickly assured him. "And firm leadership and hard work. Just _yelling_ is perhaps not the right approach."
"Well, perhaps I can tone it down," Eilomar rumbled.
"I would very much appreciate it." After all, if the Hallmaster was going to subject these girls to Master Eilomar for days on end, he needed to give them as much protection as he could!
"Do you have the pieces that will be performed?" the master singer asked.
"I have some in mind," the Hallmaster nodded. "Though if you have any ideas, I'm open to hearing them."
"There are few ballads that are traditional to the weddings."
"Though I have a few requests," that were not suggestions as much as orders, "but I would be happy if you would recommend a few selections you might feel is appropriate."
Eilomar nodded: "I'll deliver a list of possible ones to your desk."
~ ~ ~
The Choir Master certainly had not disappointed. The Hallmaster had only had to gently remind him twice to behave himself with the girls, an amazing feat of restraint on Eilomar's part. Looking around the crowd Almonteo had to grin. Not only had the choir performed beautifully, not only had the pieces that had been selected capture their audience's full attention, and not only had their songs moved more than one watcher to tears, but they had perhaps delivered something much more important - the hope that this Hold was finally ready to accept the female Harpers in their midst again.
If they could now negotiate their return to Emerald Falls, it just might turn out in the end to be due in large part to the unlikely hero of the moment - the rotund, exasperating, short-tempered, _brilliant_ Master Eilomar.
Last updated on the May 10th 2009