I Gotta Have a Hat

Writers: AL, Chelle
Date Posted: 28th May 2014

Characters: Qorri, Relea
Description: Qorri meets another one of the Hold's residents.
Location: Green Valley Hold
Date: month 7, day 18 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Reven, Coran, Arippa, Calla

Relea

Despite Reven's return and, for the most part, his safety, rumours still
ran rampant through the hold. Coran and Relea had conspired against
him. Reven and Relea were in an affair and Coran was jealous. Or
perhaps Arippa was jealous. Other even more far fetched scenarios made
their rounds, but for the most part, Relea was ignorant of them unless
Coran or someone else brought them to her attention.

One bit of news she had been told was that there was a new headwoman.
So when a completely unfamiliar form hovered over a drudge, her body
screaming with obvious authority, Relea put two and two together. The
new headwoman, of course. As the drudge hurried off, Relea drew closer,
the headwoman in the same direction she was headed. A smile was cast at
the newcomer and it was accompanied by a polite incline of her head.

"Greetings. You are Relea I think?" Qorri was no fool and she had made it
her business to know the major players. While she doubted this woman could
be able to harm anyone, she knew many thought she could. That begged the
question-why?

Another couple of steps and Qorri would have been out of Relea's gaze so
the girl wouldn't have even known that the headwoman had talked to her.
She paused, when she realized that she had done so and managed to catch
the last half of the sentence. She nodded in affirmation. She supposed
she shouldn't be surprised the headwoman already knew who she was - she
was married to Coran, the holder's brother.

"I am Qorri. I'm sure I will be seeing you around so I thought to say hello.
I was
wondering, do you have any skills that you use in the Hold?" She spoke
slowly since someone had mentioned a difficulty. She'd had to speak slowly
and
simply with Calla so that was no problem.

The woman mouthed her words with such intense concentration, it was
obvious someone had mentioned to the Headwoman about the resident 'dumb'
person. It was a name she'd never liked. Relea reached for the little
board she kept at her hip and pulled a piece of chalk from within her
pouch. She etched out a few words, then showed them to Qorri. "I make
hats."

With the advent of the board, Qorri showed relief. That was easier then.
"What sort of hats?" **Hats for work? Hats for miners? Hats for ladies?**
That was an interesting skill.

The original words were erased then replaced with new ones. "For
whoever wants to buy one." She could even make men's hats, though
generally it was ladies who came to her. Relea was grateful to Reven
for setting that up for her - she could do something she enjoyed and yet
also be useful.

"Well that's good to know. I could use one myself." Indeed, the headwoman
had come from a tropical Weyr and things were quite cold here. She had a
cloak but a hat hadn't been part of her wardrobe except to ward off the sun.

Relea nodded, her expression taking on a thoughtful hue. "Do you know
what you want it to look like?" She queried upon her little board.
Already her eyes studied the Headwoman's face in order to get an idea as
to what sort of hat might suit her the best. Not everyone looked good
in the same styles.

"No, I just need it to be warm and cover almost everything but my eyes,
nose and mouth." She smiled. Indeed, it was hard coming from the tropics
to this. Qorri stayed inside a lot.

"So a wide brim." She stated that just to get an affirmation, then
erased it so she could write something else. "Do you want something
that will go with any outfit then?" Some of the rafter's wives whose
husbands were successful had several hats, and those in higher positions
as well. Qorri could probably get several if she wanted, but Relea
wasn't going to press that on her. Being pushy would mean losing
customers.

"Yes please." Until she knew for sure that she was staying here, Qorri was
trying to keep her wardrobe small. She was on the wait-and-see plan.

"I'll draw something up and bring it to you to check." Over the turns,
Relea had gotten adept at writing small but legibly on her little
board. It would be so much easier if everyone spoke her language, but
she knew that just wasn't a possibility.

Qorri nodded, looking forward to seeing just how good she was. "That would
be wonderful. I'll let you get on your way now but I'll be seeing you
Relea." That was one person crossed off her list, thankfully.

Last updated on the June 2nd 2014

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I Gotta Have a Hat