Youth

Writers: Chelle, Len
Date Posted: 5th May 2015

Characters: Lafael, Relik
Description: Lafael asks about cabin boy postings
Location: Seacraft Hall
Date: month 11, day 21 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Kaphrad, Uegot, Uetia

The storm had passed. Relik had gone out with Kaphrad to assess the damage. Fortunately, things had been constructed with the southern weather in mind so there were only minor repairs to be made. The hall, docks, pier, and yards had weathered well. They noted everything and the men would start putting it to rights the next day. For now everyone would just have dinner and then rest since it had been a long day.

Instead of sitting at the head table with his wife, Relik took a place at one of the tables with his folk. He liked listening to the people to gauge everyone's' feelings. He noticed a boy sitting across from him-the boy from earlier.

The lad perked up when Relik's eyes settled on him. "Hello sir!" He had found the entire experience of being in the Hall exciting, so different as it was from the life of drudgery.

"Ah hello..." He didn't recall the lad's name. Hadn't caught it, really. "I trust you got some food and some rest?" The boy had undoubtedly been walking for some time if he had come all the way from the Hold. That in itself was interesting. That made Relik wonder indeed.

"Oh, yes sir!" Lafael's happiness at being in the Hall and not trapped in the Hold was obvious in his bright tone. "I stayed with Journeyman Uegot and he told me all about being a cabin boy and an apprentice and about his sister who's a real dragonrider! Wow, can you imagine! A real dragonrider, with a real dragon! I've never seen a dragon!"

"Really? The Hold has a watchdragon. You've never seen it?" He tried not to roll his eyes at the boy's exuberance. Something about him reminded him of his young sons. And there was also the fact that there was one time in his life when Relik might have had enthusiasm like that. It was long gone, however.

"The watchdragon? The Hold has a watchdragon?" Lafael's entire body was humming with that bit of news. "No, I've never seen him!" Well, there was one reason to go back to the Hold. How come he had never seen the beast?

"Indeed. Sends the news between the Hold and Weyr and ferries passengers as needed sometimes. Usually an older rider that doesn't mind being around the holders too much." Relik didn't have one at the Hall but he didn't think they were large enough to warrant one. The drums did just fine. Besides, they ate quite a bit, the creatures.

Lafael nodded, like he knew something. He watched the man for a moment before plucking up the courage to ask, "So...sir, are there any ships leaving that need a cabin boy?"
"I believe there's one. The lad is going to stay on land for a bit and take some of his higher level apprentice courses. You'd have to speak with their First Mate." He wasn't on intimate terms with every single ship's crew though Relik knew the Captains well enough.

Lafael nodded. "What is the name of the ship?" He could go and look for her now.

"Mmm that would be the Gray Skies I believe. She's a fair vessel-makes the Crossing once a month or so." He wondered if the boy would be able to manage the rough weather and other problems a sailing ship like that could run into. Then again he supposed the young ones were more resilient anyway.

"She goes North?" Wow, this was getting better and better all the time!

He was pretty sure he had just said that. Still the young man seemed an excitable fellow and he remembered his own young children. "She does."

Well, there was no point in just sitting around. Lafael nodded to the master and got to his feet. "If you don't mind then, I'd like to go talk to the Captain of the ship." Before they got another cabin boy, he added in his head. Or even just to make sure the ship had gotten through the hurricane alright. Master Relik hadn't offered him anything like an apprenticeship, so there was no point in asking about that.

"You might wait until he's done eating his meal, lad." The Captain in question was sitting two tables over and contemplating a large bowl of soup. The hallmaster considered the boy and wondered if perhaps a few months onboard wouldn't temper his enthusiasm. Usually a trial like that was much better than courses to his way of thinking. Then one knew their own mettle and whether or not they were really called to the sea. It was a hard life, after all.

"Okay." Lafael marked the man in question and turned back to his own strew. The food was so much better here than back in the Hold. Of course it had crossed his mind that he was probably not getting the best that the Hold had to offer, where things seemed more equal here. Perhaps if he couldn't get on as a cabin boy, he might just be able to stay on as a drudge. It might be the tiniest of let downs, but it was still better than what he knew.

Last updated on the May 14th 2015

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