Arson or Accident

Writers: Chelle, Paula
Date Posted: 9th November 2012

Characters: Zandan, Corowal, Sarban
Description: Zandan, Corowal and Sarban have another "war-meeting", this time over the burned barn.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 9, day 5 of Turn 6
Notes: Follows: "Burn, Baby, Burn"
Mentioned: Jenackt

"Okay so Zandan tell me why I have a report asking for assistance from a
cotholder saying their barn burned down when supposedly said cotholder had
guards watching said barn after the holdless was seen around there?" Sarban
knew it looked mightily suspicious and he knew the captain had gone out to
see the scene so now he wanted some information. So far their reward hadn't
turned up anything.

"Cause barns sometimes burn down? Especially if you're careless with a
lamp," Zandan replied. "Or someone torches it down for revenge," he
continued. He didn't believe in coincidence either.

"Did anyone see anything?" He had a hard time believing that if that had
happened, the guards had seen nothing.

"Nope, not a thing. Those guards weren't professional, mind you," Zandan
said. "And I have some trackers in my troops who can sneak into a Weyr
under the noses of all those dragons and steal a greenrider's virtue
without anybody noticing."

"I didn't think any greenriders had virtue," he said offhandedly, but noted
the sarcasm. "Okay so I'll make the necessary arrangements to send the materials
to replace the barn, but I need to know that if we do place new guards there,
this won't happen again. They can sleep _in_ the barn if it's necessary for
Faranth's sake."

"Great, so they can sleep in a cozy, warm barn instead of huddling outside,
cold and miserable," Zandan muttered.

"I got the impression that he wasn't left with much to protect," Corowal
opened his mouth for first time.

"If you want them outside, they can be. I don't care. Aye, the hay barn is
gone, but the beasthold is still there as well as the grain silo." Sarban
checked his notes to make sure that was accurate. "If someone's willing to
burn a hay barn though...what's next? A physical attack?"

"_If_ it was arson, I want the saboteur caught before something worse
happens," Corowal said. He was not about to sentence anybody without
evidence. "If it was an accident...well, it happens," he shrugged. "We help
the cotholder to cope with the loss."

"The problem is-according to what Zandan says even if it was arson-which it
might be-we can't prove it." Sarban scratched his chin, really not liking
this situation.

"Yep. All we can prove is that the barn burned down and it probably got
started from a lamp," Zandan replied and shrugged his massive shoulders. He
didn't like the situation at all and frustration was making him bad
tempered.

"Did they find any footprints, at least?" Luckily they had prints from the
boy's first visit to compare to, he thought. It wasn't an exact science,
but for the most part, it was helpful.

Zandan shook his head. "The ground was too frozen to have any prints."

"Well there it is. Once again a young boy has single-handedly managed to
outsmart our guards. Was there any attempt to track him from the scene?"
Sarban already knew that with the cold weather, it wouldn't be easy unless
there had been snow.

"They were too concerned to put out the fire," Zandan replied with another
shake of his head.

"Allright so what exactly are we going to do to make sure this doesn't
happen again?" Sarban asked the others, hoping they could come up with
something at least. This was ridiculous.

"Catch all the holdless ones that there are?" Corowal suggested.

Zandan made a sarcastic snort. "Do you have any idea how many there are out
there?" he pointed out of the window.
"This boy isn't the only one."

"It would be so much better if we could get them to do some productive work
instead of stealing others' hard earned fruits of labor," Corowal sighed.

"My thought is this-why are they holdless? If it's because they were exiled
due to crimes in the past, they canstay that way though we can try and
patrol a little better to keep them out of our territory or at least away
fromthe other folk. If it's because they simply have some sort of incorrect
notion about holders, then I think there hasto be a way where we can share
with them the benefits of life as a holder. Maybe offer them the chance to
help settle some of those empty dwellings we have now. They're hardy folk,
Corowal." Sarban wondered if they wouldwork for their keep if they only had
to tithe a small amount to the main Hold.

"First we need to catch them, then we can figure out what to do with them.
Black Rock hold always needs more workers for their mines," Corowal said.

"Catching them is Zandan's problem. Do you need more men or what?" Turning
to the other fellow, Sarban wished he could help him.

"I need men who can hold out on their own in wilderness and who know the
land, not some bumbling idiots who can't tell pine from hardwood. Training
new staff just takes too long and the Harper Hall's security stretches us
bit thin," Zandan replied. He was complaining, and for reason.

"Allright send me a list of recommendations of the holders we have and I'll
approach them about possible service, even if it's for a few months."
Sarban knew he couldn't take some cotholders completely away from their
families and homes, but some young sons he could convince to serve for
awhile.

"Will do," Zandan grunted.

Last updated on the November 17th 2012

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Arson or Accident