Hidden Venture

Writers: Heather, Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 10th June 2014

Characters: Bryvin, Uris, Dhovin
Description: A venture pans out better than expected.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 7, day 9 of Turn 7

Bryvin

Bryvin sat his runner easily as he rode toward the camp. His hands
were in full view and he was quite alone. Or rather he rode alone
though he could feel eyes on him as the faint trail rounded the side
of a cliff.

His mission today was to check on the progress of their 'venture'. The
sun felt warm on his back as he wove in and out of the shadows across
the trail. There were times he would have missed the changes in
direction if he hadn't ridden this way before. But he knew he was
being watched or rather he knew he'd better be or there would be
consequences for the men he planned to meet.

Uris stepped out of one of the trees, one hand on a heavy hammer, the
other on a pickax. "You're early."

"Yes," he said as he stilled his runner. "Make sure I wasn't
followed," he motioned with his chin to the bruse that had concealed
the big miner. "I'm pretty sure I wasn't. I'll see you at the camp in
about an hour."

"If you had been, they would have been stopped by now. We've got men
watching along the road. I'll escort you, Steward. You've no need to
worry. We've everything in hand." He gestured with his head over his
shoulder. "Got quite a bit to show you as well."

While he'd believe it when he saw it, he decided to give them the
benefit of the doubt for the time being. "Good," he nodded. "Lead on."

Uris inclined his head and led the steward to the small but busy
campsite. Many of the men were grimy, but there was a sense of
profound satisfaction and an almost glee about the men as they
hunkered around the fire, whispering among themselves. Uris cleared
his throat and the men looked up, blinked and then rose.

Dhovin stood at the sound, elbowing one of the guys beside him and
jerking his head in Uris's direction. They all quickly stood together,
eyes curious as they looked at the visitor.

Bryvin dismounted and surveyed the rather disreputable crowd. "You
have some progress," he half smiled and lifted a brow.

"Dhovin, bring the sack up to show the Steward." Uris gestured with
his hand. The prizes they had dug out of the rock were impressive. Not
only was there a vein of good iron, but the gemstones had even more
value to the Lord Holder.

Light glinted from Dhovin's darkly burnished skin as he retrieved the
sack on Uris's request. Dhovin had the strong, solid build of a man
who did nothing but physical labor, and it showed in the powerful
tension that emanated from his body. Taking the sack between both of
his large hands, Dhovin brought it over to the Steward and pulled it
open for the man to look inside.

Bryvin looked from man to man with a lifted brow before looking into
the offered sack. There had to be a reason for so much theater from
the men. The corner of his mouth rose a fraction when he reached into
the back to pull out some of the contents. He wasn't miner craft
educated but some things you could tell from the pieces he pulled out.

"Iron," he questioned the man. Then he pulled out a pair of crystals
like the ones he'd shown Lord Morin a few months previously. They
appeared abundant wherever these had been mined. "Excellent," he
nodded at the men. "A better harvest than I'd expected." Then he
reached his hand in again and pulled out the prize that made him drop
the other pieces back in the bag. The grayish lump of rock was laced
with a clear winding and fractured vein of..."silver?"

Uris smirked and crossed his arms over his chest with satisfaction.
"Aye. This mountain has a thick vein. And that's just a small stone. A
few more men and we'd have a cart full in no time."

"Not yet," he said but the light in his eyes was bright. "I have some
arrangements to make first," he smiled. He turned back to the miner.
"Keep this operation small for now and no activity should be seen from
the air. Do you understand?" He smiled and nodded. "You men have
certainly earned that bonus we spoke of."

Uris frowned and glanced at Dhovin. "We can keep it small, but the
output will be small until we have a full size operation here,
Steward."

"Understood," Bryvin nodded. They had no way of knowing this land
wasn't his to mine... yet. "I'll let you know when it's safe to
increase operations. Now, where's the food, it was a long trip."

Last updated on the June 15th 2014

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Hidden Venture