Your Last Chance
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: 31st July 2009
Characters: Leisenn, Mahantan
Description: Leisenn gives Mahantan one last chance ...
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 3, day 15 of Turn 5
"Do you know Dolphineer Master Taraglan?" Leisenn asked when she settled beside the Master of Apprentices at their table in the dining hall.
Mahantan shook his head, a frown on his face. "I've never met the man and I can't say that I've heard anything about him – good or bad."
"I asked around and didn't hear anything objectionable. Anyway, he's looking at the Hallsecond position here. Is a Master of Apprentices where he is." The old Hallmaster grinned. "This is your last chance to move into the Hallsecond job. I could offer him Master of Apprentices here if you'd like."
This head shake was more emphatic. "I'm fine right where I am. Offer him the Hallsecond job and good luck to him."
Leisenn sighed. It was, to her mind, much better that she should have known Hallsecond, rather than bringing in an unknown, despite the man's apparent suitability for the job, but she didn't believe in pushing people into jobs they didn't choose. Not at the level in craft that people were when they could undertake the role of Master of Apprentices or Hallsecond. "All right, then. I do just that. He has a family with him, including two apprentice boys, so you'll have a couple of additions to your classes."
"At least these will know that our craft involves work and not just swimming wherever they wish." Mahantan smiled at that prospect. "I look forward to working with them – and the new Hallsecond as well."
Leisenn frowned, her attention caught by his first statement. "Are we having that sort of problem with apprentices?"
"Not at the moment," was his reply. "However, often young people see the dolphins and the dolphineers swimming with them and view that as a shot at freedom that they've never had. Yes, the craft does afford some of that freedom from crowds and the continual scrutiny that permeates Holds, but they quickly find that there's more to it than that."
"Like hard work and study?" Leisenn suggested drily. "Discipline and dedication?"
"Most of them," the Apprentice Master shrugged. "Of course, some learn only that if they have too much fun they'll be burdened with the worst chores and more of them."
"Good. We don't want too many like Tarehg's grandson, the charmer though he is."
"True. One of him is enough, and I sometimes fear that he'll influence others to his ways." Mahantan offered a wry grin. "But I'll stick to my optimism and hope that Master Taraglan's boys will have good work habits."
"With luck. He's got a harpercraft journeywoman wife, as well, so she'll be an asset to the Hall."
The other dolphineer nodded thoughtfully. "I hope she realizes how she'll be viewed if she travels in any other area of the South."
"I'm sure she won't need to travel too far afield with the Hall and the Weyr - and a Hall of her own at the Weyr though there are rumours of a move."
"As long as we're not planning another move, I've little to say about that."
"Then Hall move, you mean? Like coming here from Topaz SeaHold?"
"That would be the one. And one is enough."
"I suppose so. I moved with a Hall, once, too," Leisenn said, letting the statement dangle as bait, but with a betraying twinkle in her eye. The hurt over the move was long ago and no longer painful.
Mahantan frowned thoughtfully. "I know that you moved from one Hall to another, but an actual move of the Hall?"
"Well," she said slowly, as if she was giving that some thought. "_We_ considered we took the Hall with us, but some Northern crafters came and took our place, so I suppose they think we left it behind at Topaz. What is a 'Hall' anyway but a bit of equipment and a crowd of teaching and working dolphineers?"
"Ah, I hadn't thought of it that way," the man admitted. "And I stayed behind at Topaz to close things out, so as far as I was concerned, that was still the Hall long after most of the dolphineers were here. At any rate, I'd rather we just stay put for a while."
"Your wish is granted," Leisenn said with a grin. "We're going nowhere."
The Apprentice Master returned her grin. "In that case, I suppose I'm ready for the change of a new colleague."
Last updated on the July 31st 2009