Things In The Works

Writers: AL, Anaria
Date Posted: 10th July 2011

Characters: Zathris, Rignaer
Description: Zathris visits the nursery and meets Rignaer.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 2, day 22 of Turn 6

Zathris

Zathris stepped into
the wet heat of the nursery and immediately pulled out a handkerchief to
wipe at the sweat that jumped into his skin. He'd been there before and
knew what to expect when it came to the temperature, and had come
prepared. He wiped off, then tucked the handkerchief away before
letting his gaze wander over the rows and rows of plants that were
growing, some up, straight and tall, some spreading. He clasped his
eyes behind him and began to wander carefully down one of the rows.

Rignaer was so engrossed in the plant hybrids that he was working on
that he didn't even notice the Lord Holder's arrival. He was trying to
splice a more disease-prone strain of grain with one that held up a
bit better to try and improve their crops. "Ahhh, there we go, little
guy," he said to the plant, once he had it properly splinted.
"Perfect."

Zathris' shadow fell across the man as he approached and he gaze dodwn
at the work. He leaned over to get a closer look. "Interesting. What
are you doing?"

Rignaer jumped up quickly, startled. "Oh! I'm sorry sir, I didn't hear
you come in!" He said apologetically. "And I'm splicing together two
different types of wheat. In theory, it will gain the strengths of
both individual types, with less of the weaknesses. We lost some grain
last season to disease, this is one possible way to counter it."

"Interesting." Zathris, of course, knew a little bit about crops and
hybridization - he'd worked as a steward for many turns and always
liked to have at least a passing knowledge of how things were done.
"Is this your first time trying this?"

"With these grains, yes. We seem to tend to stick to the heartier
crops like tubers. And it seems that a lot of things have been lost
over the turns, sadly enough. It doesn't help that the main Hold at
Sapphire Meadows is so against change," Rignaer said, shaking his head
in disappointment.

Zathris' mouth quirked a little and he rubbed his nose in an effort to
try and hide his amusement. "Indeed. Well, I assure you, I'm far more
open to change, especially change that can benefit the Hold."

"Well, sir, I hope that this will," Rignaer said. The rounds of tubers
we've planted the past few turns have been very good at resisting rot
and bugs because of the hybrids that we've discovered. We're working
on getting the knowledge out to the minor holds to increase the
quality of their tithes."

"Knowledge shared is knowledge kept." And from what it sounded like,
Sapphire Meadows wasn't one to particularly believe in that. "Have you
any others you've hybridized? It's been a couple of turns since I've
looked to see what's been done."

"Well, we have a great deal of things in the works with Barley and
Hops - joint projects with the Vintner Hall, of course. I'm hoping by
this time next turn we should be tasting some of the results of those
efforts!" Rignaer said.

"Excellent!" Zathris had to admit that was something he could
certainly agree to allow. "I'd be grateful if I could be among the
first to partake of those results."

Rignaer winked at the Lord Holder, "I'll give you a heads up when they
start brewing, I'm sure the Hallmaster wouldn't mind having you as a
taste tester. If he could get your stamp of approval on his new brews,
they would sell well for certain!"

"And I'm more than happy to give my stamp of approval on produces that
I approve of!" Zathris laughed and clapped his hands behind him. "Let
my steward know if there is anything you need to help you in your
endeavours. I'm curious to see what comes of it."

"Of course, My Lord," Rignaer said proudly. "Did you perhaps want to
see some of the flower varieties we have, I'm certain that your Lady
would appreciate one of them to be included in her garden." He knew
that some of the flowers that he had managed to produce had a very
heady fragrance, and that they would impress any woman.

"Perhaps I should get Benani out here, though I'm sure they're quite
beautiful, that would be more her thing than mine!" Zathris chuckled
softly and turned around to gaze at the myriad of plants. "Yes, I
should bring her down here. "Perhaps we can come down here sometime in
the next sevenday."

"That sounds great, I'll try and set aside a few of the newer strains
so she can decide if she'd want them for her garden," Rignaer said.
"So how are things going with you, Lord Zathris? A little flitter told
me that you'd be a proud poppa before we knew it?"

"A little firelizard did?" Zathris chuckled and turned his attention
back to the man. "I thought a big loud dragon bugled that at dinner
one night. Aye, should be expecting them late fifth month or early
sixth. I'm looking forward to it."

"It'll be great to see Benani with a child of her own. I've seen how
she dotes over Ailnim. I bet she'll make a wonderful mother. Have you
two put any thoughts to naming yet?"

"Aye, we've been bouncing names back and forth." Zathris knew they
were going between a couple of different once. There were several he
liked, several she liked. "We haven't settled on any as of yet. Of
course, we have to pick two girls' names and two boys' because we're
not sure of gender of the children.

"One of each would certainly be convenient," Rignaer said after a
moment's consideration. "That'll give you an heir, and of course a
little girl to put in pretty dresses and to dote upon." At least,
that's what he assumed fathers did with their little girls. He hadn't
ever really paid too much attention.

"I think putting them in pretty dresses would be more Benani's
expertise." Zathris couldn't help but laugh at the idea of him picking
out dresses for a daughter. "But I will be certain to dote. Have you
any children?"

"No sir, I was actually just recently wed. Last sevenday in fact. So I
fear it's far too soon for us to have any of those," he said with a
somewhat forced grin. He wasn't having any problems with Zarene, but
nor was he living in Wedded Bliss.

"Well now, congratulations!" Zathris' smile was a bit more sincere
than the holder's. "That must be exciting. I wish you both the best
in your marriage."

"Thank you. It was arranged by our families, we just recently met for
the first time... but she seems pretty nice. I hope that we can get to
know one another a bit better, and settle into a comfortable
marriage," Rignaer said, wording things carefully. He didn't want the
Lord Holder thinking he didn't want his wife!

Zathris understood something of the necessity for marriages, but he
really thought it was best if people had time to get to know each other
_before_ they were married - and then choose whether or not they wanted
to. People tended to get married, arranged or not! "Well I hope you
both will be very happy together. I should get back, but I'll be sure
to let Benani know about the flowers."

"Certainly, Lord Zathris. Thank you for coming down here to see the
nursery," Rignaer said with a smile.

Last updated on the July 26th 2011

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Things In The Works