Room at the Inn

Writers: Chelle, Suzee
Date Posted: 1st June 2014

Characters: Qorri, Dinalee
Description: Qorri meets Dinalee
Location: Green Valley Hold
Date: month 7, day 1 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: L'cor, Corowal

It was time to explore and meet people and introduce herself. Qorri
was an expert at finding peoples' strengths and using them to her, and
everyone else's, advantage. So it was high time she discovered what
she had to work with. Smiling at the good weather, she headed out to
see about this Inn she'd heard of.

The morning was clear and beautiful as if all the dust of smoke had
been washed away in the night. Dinalee hummed as she swept the steps
clean of the light snow that had fallen giving the world a little
extra sparkle. She took a deep breath and waved at the woman walking
toward her. She knew most of the people around Green Valley so this
must be the new headwoman. "Hey there," she smiled.

"Good day to you, Mam! I thought it was high time we visit if you have a
moment or two." Wrapping the cloak about her, she hoped maybe there was
hot klah to be had.

"Of course," Dinalee smiled. She opened the door to the warm and
cheery main room of the inn. "Have a seat anywhere," she waved a hand
at the empty room. "Want some klah?"

"That would be most appreciated." Qorri took a moment to look around
and get her bearings. Well appointed for such a place of this size.
Then again, the woman had been receiving support from the Lord Holder.
Once it had been publicized just who the boy had belonged to, Qorri
had put two and two together from his candidate records. Taking a seat,
she put her cloak on the back of the chair.

Dinalee hung her own cloak on a peg near the door then hurried back to
the kitchen. She bustled back to the table with a full pot and some
mugs and then went back for pastries that had just come out of the
oven. "Here we go," she said with a warm smile as she set them on the
table. "It's always nice to see a new face. I'm Dinalee," she added
though she imagined the new Headwoman had already heard as much in the
manner of headwomen who always seemed to know everyone and everything.

"My name is Qorri. I came here from Dolphin Cove though I am
originally a crafter's wife, and holderborn. He passed sometime ago,
though." That usually helped explain where she had ended up to most
people and why she had never stayed in one place. Inwardly, she was
trying to see what would have attracted a young Blood to this woman,
though Corowal's tastes weren't exactly circumspect, according to
everyone. Still, she kept a clean place so that said a lot for her.
Sipping the klah, she found she enjoyed that as well.

"Well met Qorri," Dinalee smiled. Now she knew the reason for the
visit. Corowal had warned her that people would come to relieve their
curiosity about her. But she didn't mind. It was no longer necessary
for her to protect her son nor the secret of his paternity. He was an
adult, acknowledged as Corowal's son, and a bronzerider. He was a
Lord in his own right and she was very proud of him. "You know my son
then."

"I do. He was one of my candidates until he Impressed." She finished off
her cup but didn't move to refill it just yet. "I've spoken with Lady Arippa
and I have agreed to assist her in managing the household here. I'm afraid
in a Weyr situation, there isn't such a thing as inns and taverns so I'm
unsure
of how dependent you are upon the hold, if you tithe to them for protection
and supplies, or what the arrangement is. So I've come to see what you need
so we can work together." Her brown eyes showed a shrewd intelligence but
also a willingness to work hard.

Dinalee's eyes softened. "Yes," she smiled. "That was a wonderful
day." Not only had Corowal acknowledged their son, he'd danced with
her and in public too. But she set that memory aside to deal with the
headwoman's questions. "I have been pretty much independent," she said.

"My father runs the tavern and my mother the kitchen. I have contacts
amongst the farmers and such and get the majority of my goods from the
market square. We're not well to do but we are comfortable." Their
operation was fairly self supporting and she didn't _expect_ further
support from L'cor's father now that he was grown yet even with that,
his gifts still arrived from time to time.

"We tithe primarily for protection and services like water and
electricity. We do need additional support during gathers and events
for the type of things our guests expect during that time."

"And do you tithe in goods or services or both?" Qorri could make use
of a few extra beds from time to time for guests of the hold,
especially if they could be tended to by the inn staff and not her
own.

This was more information than the prior headwoman had ever requested
and truthfully Dinalee felt the better about Qorri for it. It was
obvious to her the woman knew her job. She nodded. "Both goods and
services are included in the tithe."

That was good to hear. "Ah...I'll need to make a note to ask the
harpers for a copy of the tithe agreement then to know what and how
many. As far as gathers and such, I'd say meet with me a few months
before and we can make sure you have what you need." Qorri had to
remember-she didn't have dragons or boats on the sea to get what she
needed quickly. "You've been here a long time then Dinalee?"

"Yes," she smiled. "Quite a few turns. The inn lost its proprietors so
we moved here to take over."

"Hmm so what are some of the issues that seem to plague Green Valley
often?" She liked to know what was coming, but with Reven and Arippa
being so new, they didn't know the place any better than she did, so
it was best to ask the locals.

"Winter can be severe and cut us off from the main hold for regular
travel. It can get dicey if we don't have enough supplies. We don't
have the luxury of dragons about," she chuckled.

Nodding, Qorri made notes on the hide hanging from her beltpouch. "Are
there any crafts that are underrepresented here?" It was Reven's job
to attract and contract for crafters for the hold, but Qorri didn't
mind making recommendations based on what she thought they could
support. Since she'd been the craft liaison at the Weyr, she also
might know a few folks who could help with that.

"Nothing we can't do without or trade for," she thought for a moment.
"But the Steward would know more about that than I would."

"MM fair enough." She went back to the klah, content to just be still
for a bit. No hurry to go back out into the weather. "I'm happy to
meet you Dinalee."

"And I you," she replied. "So," she said with a little twinkle in her
eyes. "How is it you came to leave the Weyr..."

Last updated on the June 13th 2014

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Room at the Inn