Benefit of the Doubt

Writers: Avery, Eimi
Date Posted: 24th February 2006

Characters: Ishek, Penryn
Description: Ishek and Penryn have a talk about the new holder and about felines.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 10, day 6 of Turn 3

Ishek stood up, rebelliously refusing to spend another moment behind the desk. He had searched for information on the new holder, Kiomo, but couldn't find much- only documents on his father's hold. He decided that, as usual, dependable Penryn was his best source of information.

He finally spied his Steward and greeted him. "Penryn, how are you?" he asked jovially.

"Fine, sir, thank you," Penryn smiled. The Lord Warder seemed to be in a good mood today!

"That's good. Say, have you met the new holder around these parts yet?
Kiomo?"

The name didn't sound familiar. "Ah, no sir, I don't believe I have."

"He only arrived recently, via dragonback, actually. I was wondering if you knew anything about him. Father was Bireki of Ancient Stones Hold."
Ishek explained.

"Hmmm... I have heard of Ancient Stones Hold," Penryn replied thoughtfully. "It's far from here though."

"I've never heard of it." Ishek admitted, feeling woefully incompetent.
Again he gave voice to inner doubts about his competence- again he killed them. "I wish I knew more about Kiomo, but he seems a competent man."

"What position have you planned for him to fill?" the steward asked curiously.

"To be honest, I don't know. He offered himself as a personal assistant to me- one to help with hidework, and other things that take up much of my time." Ishek shook his head. "I've never had one before, nor really have I known a Holder with one- perhaps that's because of my upbringing.
He seems competent with hidework and with tithing records and the like, perhaps he could be worked into an administrative position?"

"Some Lord Holder's have taken on assistants, but not all. A Holder's sons or close relations will sometimes assist a Lord Holder." Not many holders were aware of the intricacies of running a Hold. "How has he come to be so familiar with these things?" Penryn asked dubiously.

"Assisting his father." Ishek answered. "If he knows as much as he claims he does, it could be invaluable- after all, I never had a chance to aid my own father, we had to learn things ourselves."

"His father is the Lord Holder of Ancient Stones Hold?" Penryn asked, rather surprised.

"Was, before his death, and his brother is now." Ishek replied. "Why?"

Penryn frown slightly. "I wonder why it is that he came here if he was so well connected. It is a long way to travel."

"It is surprising, isn't it?" Ishek said. "But hopefully it's good fortune."

"I think some would be concerned at you trusting someone so soon upon meeting them," Penryn said thoughtfully. Thalia came to mind. "But as you say, someone with that kind of knowledge is hardly fit for field work."

Ishek nodded. "I'm torn between how to act- do I distrust him for fear he's a threat, and drive off a valuable aid? Or do I welcome him with open arms and risk a fatal slash? He seems skilled enough, and honest, and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now."

"Perhaps a cautious welcoming would be in your best interests," Penryn suggested. "Start small and build from there. Meanwhile, may I suggest looking further into Kiomo and his qualifications? Perhaps write Ancient Stones Hold and at least validate his claims?"

Ishek nodded. "A wise idea." he answered. "I shall work on that tonight.
I appreciate your advice in this. It is a hard line to tread, sometimes, between paranoia and caution."

"No one could fault you for erring on the side of caution, sir." Penryn decided, however, to also be on guard and watch this Kiomo carefully.

"I hope not." Ishek paused. "You do know that you can always tell me these things, correct? If you feel perhaps I'm being rash on something, I mean."

"Yes, sir. I understand. Don't worry, sir, I will always err on the side of what I think is best for the Hold," Penryn nodded.

Ishek smiled. "I appreciate that. I really do." He changed tacks.
"Anything going on in the Hold you think I should know about?"

"Well, we did just receive a report from Pulman cot hold," the steward nodded as he pulled out a small rolled up hide.

"Pulman... where's that? Not too close to the main Hold, right?" Ishek asked, trying to visualize the territory map that he had in his office.

"No, its on the edges of our territory," Penryn quickly informed him walking over to a large map on his wall. "Right here. It seems that a feline has been coming down from the hills and was spotted a couples times this last sevenday."

"I'm assuming not a pet feline." Ishek said dryly. "Has anyone or anything been hurt yet, or is it just sightings and tracks?"

"Sightings and tracks so far, but with the end of winter approaching, the food is scarce in the hills. It's the time for them to start coming "You believe that they're going to start hunting nearby soon, then?"

Penryn shrugged. "I am not that familiar with felines to tell the truth. But holder Pulman seems concerned." He held the roll out for the Lord.

Ishek took it and looked at it. "Let's hope that they don't cause damage. We don't want anyone getting hurt, afterall." he said. "I don't think it's serious enough to warrant going out to see them myself- I have duties here. But if things seem to worsen..." He shook his head.
"Let's hope they don't. Food is scarecer out there, and loss of valuable beasts would be a tragedy."

Penryn decided it would be wise to do a little reading up on the habits of the creatures. Perhaps there were Records... "I will let you know, of course, if I hear more."

"I appreciate that." Ishek replied. **I'd better check out the map in my office and learn the locations of here better.** he thought. "But for everyone's sake, I hope there are no more problems. Here, or elsewhere."

"Indeed."

Last updated on the February 24th 2006

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Benefit of the Doubt