Are you Lost?

Writers: Bree, Danielle
Date Posted: 14th December 2005

Characters: Fielton, Catriana
Description: Fielton bumps into Catriana on his way to the kitchens.
Location: Amber Hills Hold, Vintner Hall
Date: month 9, day 2 of Turn 3

Fielton

Fielton was deeply engrossed in the file in his hand, so it wasn't surprising that he turned the corner and almost ran over the girl who was coming in the other direction. He stopped just short of _actually_ bumping into her, frowning when he realized he had no idea who she was. Probably a daughter of some holder who had come to purchase wine... which meant she'd wandered off. "Are you lost?"

"Oh! Excuse me. No, sir, I'm just on my way back to the Kitchens for duty." Catriana recovered her composure and dropped into a curtsy. She'd been tying on her apron over her skirts and hadn't been paying attention to where she was going.

"The kitchens?" Fielton's frown deepened. Had they gotten a new kitchen girl and he hadn't even noticed? "Are you new here?"

"Yes, sir. I came with my brother, Darrin...he's one of the Hall's apprentices."

"Ahhhh." Fielton remembered now... he'd signed off on something agreeing to allow the sister to stay on if she made herself useful in some fashion, but then he'd promptly forgotten about her. "So you're working in the kitchens, then?"

"Yes, sir." She wasn't thrilled about being stuck in the kitchen all the time, but she was grateful for the place and the chance to be useful.

Fielton didn't notice that she wasn't overly pleased with her new duties. "Well, that's good. What's your name?"

"Catriana, sir." Cat kept her eyes lowered and her hands folded neatly in front of her. The Hallmaster made her nervous.

"Catriana," Fielton repeated, nodding. "Well, I was about to go to the kitchens to get some klah. Why don't you walk with me?"

"I would be honored, sir." She curtsied and fell into step with him.

Pleased that the girl showed such nice manners, Fielton warmed to her. "How are you liking it here? You've settled in well, I hope?"

"Yes, sir. I do like it here, and everyone has been so friendly and welcoming. It is a far cry from my family's cothold and vineyards. It is interesting to see a winery working on a larger scale."

"Well, I'm sure you'll get lots of chances to hear how things work from your

brother," Fielton replied absently as they turned the corner to the kitchen. "And we'll probably have another gather in the next few months, so that will be plenty of excitement."

"Oh? How wonderful!" A gather! A _real_ gather.... "Is there a special occasion for the gather, Sir?"

"It's a good way to lift spirits in the winter," he replied with a faint smile, thinking he could do with a little time with his wife. "Hopefully we won't get snowed in again, but it happens sometimes! But I'm sure you've seen that kind of blizzard before."

"Oh, yes, Sir. A gather is just the thing when the weather gets so bad. Will there be many guests from outside the Hall?" Catriana asked, already thinking about the huge amount of preparation there would be for even just a Gather for Hall and hold, let alone if there were guests from farther away.

"Hopefully plenty! We always get a lot of visitors... and you girls in the kitchen get a chance to show off just how talented you are." They reached the doors and Fielton opened the door, holding it politely--though not particularly patiently--open for Catriana. He'd done his duty and been friendly, but now he had business with Cinale and wasn't planning on wasting much more time talking to kitchen girls.

Sensing the Hallamaster's impatience, Catriana stepped through the door and sketched another curtsy. "Forgive me, sir, but I have duties to attend to. Thank you for your kindness. It is an honor to serve your Hall."

Fielton nodded. "Welcome to the Vintner Hall." And if he was a little hasty in bustling past her into the kitchens, it might have been because he felt vaguely guilty at having already forgotten her name.

Last updated on the December 14th 2005

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