Childrens' Books

Writers: Chelle, Jane
Date Posted: 7th September 2015

Characters: Asley, R'haran
Description: The greenrider commissions the printer for a keepsake.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 10 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Sahna

R'haran knocked on the door of the small workshop that now acted as a
printery
at the Weyr. "Asley?" he called, opening the door and peering around it
into
the cavern.

A blonde head came up and goggles came off, revealing a pair of eyes.
Curious to
find who had entered her domain, Asley made a noise in greeting. She pulled
out
the cotton that served as earplugs. The printing process wasn't noisy but
she
liked to concentrate when working.

"Ahh, you are here." The greenrider straightened up and moved into the room.
"Am I interrupting? Would it be better if I came back some other time?"

Not ever one to shirk off the possibility of an order, the printer came
around
the worktable. She was clad in her usual dirty apron and smudged tunic. "I
was
just setting. No big deal. What can I do for you?"

"It's a private job - nothing for the Weyr," he explained, pulling a sheaf
of
papers from behind his back. "Some of Sahna's drawings. I don't know if
you
ever saw them?" The little sketches told of her life as a printer
apprentice.

"Her illustrations you mean? Aye...I told her they were good." Asley walked
closer now, curious. She wondered how Sahna was doing but she quickly pushed
those thoughts aside. The girl was young and didn't have her particular
problem
so she should be just fine.

"I was wondering if I could get some of them printed into a booklet, for her
siblings -" and himself "- and a few other children who have enjoyed them.
Since she doesn't use words even the youngsters who struggle with their
reading
seem to enjoy following the stories."

"Do you have her permission to print them?" That was usually the first thing
Asley asked since if she did print them, she wanted Sahna to get full credit
in
case anyone saw the drawings later. She also understood that not everyone
wanted
their work permanently preserved in such a way. Her tone was even and not
meant
to provoke, but it was firm.

"I asked her about copying them when I saw her at the Turn's End Ball and
she
said I 'could do what I liked with them'," he said, his tone mimicking
Sahna's
as he repeated her words.

"Very well....how many do you have?" Her mind was already in printer mode,
calculating the time it was going to take. Illustrations were far different
than
type and they took more time. Generally, books had just a few inside them.
This
was going to be very different indeed.

"Twelve. With the cover I thought that would make the right number."

She reached for the papers and pulled them close, setting them on the
nearest
table. Her hands walked across the pages as she measured in her mind. "Do
you
want it to be the same size or smaller? Like something one could put in a
pocket
or larger to be on display? And what about the binding? The more durable-the
more expensive." Because the harder materials were harder to work.

"Durable, yes. I'd like the children - Weyr children as well as Tibby - to
have
some of them. They are quite fun and they do explore a craft we don't see
much
of here - not now we're without the Harper Hall. And the same size, I
think."

"Allright, let's see...." She brought out a book that held the different
types of paper-
from the cheapest that was more pulpy to the most expensive. Then a pile of
bindings
came out. They were tied together so someone could choose from them. There
were
paper bindings, hide bindings, string bindings, stapled bindings, and other
contrivances printers had concocted including a simple paste. "Choose which
you
would like..." Meanwhile she was checking an inventory list to make sure she
had
enough of the ones he wanted.

"This sewn binding," R'haran said without hesitation, knowing how long they
lasted. "And this heavy paper." They were to be children's books, after
all.

"Allright...." Making a note on the small hide she kept on her table, she
thought about something. "Did you plan on making direct payment or
exchange?"
Asley was quick to bargain for things she needed. Not everyone had enough
marks-rider or not.

"I have marks," R'haran admitted, "but if exchange would work better I'd
prefer
that."

"Let's do both. If you can offer me one ride when I need one, I can take the
rest
in marks." That would be helpful to her. Of course she didn't need it now,
but
someday she would.

"All right, but you know Evie's no bright young green, don't you? She flies
a
little differently because of her injuries." It was a miracle she flew at
all.
"But I could trade favours with another rider if you would prefer another
dragon."

"As long as I can get where I'm going, I don't mind." Asley trusted the old
greenrider.
Other riders weren't always the same-especially the males. Especially when
they
noticed she acted differently.

R'haran nodded, as always pleased out of all proportion by somebody trusting
Evielenth. "And the marks?"

"Due upon receipt of the finished product. So that gives you some time to
gather
them. It'll be sometime to manage the prints for the illustrations since
it's
not just typesetting." She was already thinking of how much ink she was
going to
have to produce to achieve deep color on the heavy paper.

"Sounds good." He held out his hand to seal the bargain with the new
journeywoman.

Last updated on the September 16th 2015

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