Making Plans

Writers: Chelle, Jane
Date Posted: 9th January 2016

Characters: Sarban, Azyn
Description: Sarban and Azyn consult about arrangements between Hall and Hold.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 4, day 12 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Corowal

Walking over to the Harper Hall, Sarban found himself running through the list
of things to discuss inside his head. Naturally, he planned to meet with the
Hallsecond to see what the Hall needed and to speak about some possibilities.
After all, the harpers could work for the Hold just as well as the Weyr.

"My apologies, Sarban, but I'm running late," Azyn said as he caught up with the
man outside his office. "Go in and make yourself at home while I grab an
apprentice to run an errand for me."

Nodding, the steward headed inside and took his usual seat. It was large and
comfortable and he set his things down on the table in front of it. Shuffling
his notes to organize them, he leaned back and closed his eyes to savor the moment.

"Sorry -," Azyn said as he entered the office not too many minutes later. He
hesitated, seeing the other man resting.

"Ah no problem. It was nice to have a single moment to be quiet. After all there
is always someone at the Hold making some sort of noise." Of course Sarban could
get away from it on those rare moments when he took off fishing, but they were
few and far between.

"It's not generally this quiet in here but the younger ones are all at classes
now which does bring on a bit of a lull." Azyn settled himself behind his desk,
clearing the papers there off to one side. "What are we doing today?"

"A few points of business. First of all, I wanted to make sure that the current
lists from the headwoman for supplies needs will be sufficient. The Hold will be
able to provide what was listed. I wanted to talk about the possibilities for
payment in return." The relationship between Hall and Hold provided autonomy but
there was also some give and take that was worked into the contract and Emerald
Falls was willing to take advantage of it.

"Did you want me to look over the list again?" Azyn asked. "I saw it when it was
sent." The headwoman showed him as a matter of courtesy, though she had the
authority to deal with the Hold herself.

"Ah no if you don't have anything in mind to add that's fine." Sarban laid out
the figures. "We already have contracts for a Hold harper, a Hold archivist, and
two additional harpers - one to travel to outlying holds and one to give private
attention to the members of the Blood." Sarban allowed the minor holds to take
care of their own craft contracts so he didn't bother to negotiate for them. "We
would like to keep those intact as well as the obligations for performances at
Turnover and the summer gather."

"I take it we can negotiate about which parts of Turnover we'll supply harpers?
We have our own events too, many of which, of course, are open to members of the
Hold."

That was a sticking point for Sarban. He personally didn't understand why they
did hold competing events when it was easier just to have one large celebration.
It also meant less supplies had to go from the Hold to the Hall at that time of
the turn. "What would we be negotiating exactly?"

"When you would like harpers and harper events at the Hold, and when we would
like to have things here. It's a chance for us to have Hold folk visit the Hall
- to see that this is a suitable place to send their sons - and daughters."

"We wouldn't want to change any of our current expectations or demands. The
current arrangement would be fine. As far as events here, you'd be more than
welcome to have them. Our only concern is that the Hold may not always be able
to supply additional resources for events here when we're holding our own at the
same time requiring additional resources for both. It's a strain." Sarban was
trying to speak honestly. His tone of voice wasn't rude but it was
matter-of-fact. In a Pass, with tithe and some of the minor holds not
functioning, they weren't at full capacity which made it even more important to
control budgets.

"We would manage our events out of our own resources," Azyn assured him. "Living
within our means."

Nodding, the steward tried to consider what he thought was a subject worth
bringing up. "We would like our children to craft here if they wish. On the
other side of the mark, if you harpers have sons and daughters that would wish
for a different life there are plenty of settlements in the territory that need
life brought back to them." He was thinking of a certain arrangement to be made
if there was any interest.

"Ahh, that's good to know. As a parent myself I'm always conscious that the
children may not necessarily want to be printers - or to follow any of us into
our craft."

"Aye you can refer any interest to my staff and I. We'll be glad to discuss
particulars. Hoping to get a few places resettled sooner rather than later."
Sarban shuffled his notes and found what he was searching for. "Here's the
calendar with the major gathers and events marked. Really not much change from
the last turn. And if we needed to, we'd give you ample notice."

Azyn glanced over the document although he would need time to study it against
the master calendar for the Hall. If the steward was correct that most things
were the same there would already be provision for them on the calendar so he
wasn't expecting too many difficulties.

"What about printing?" Azyn asked with a smile. "A subject close to my heart.
Has the Hold any intention of increasing its business with the printery?"

"To be honest, besides the invitations for events and the Records we don't have
much need. I'd suggest approaching the weaver hall. They might need to save
patterns and the like." Sarban didn't see himself writing any books anytime
soon. And Corowal certainly wasn't the type to sit still long enough to dictate
a memoir. **And what would that be except a running list of all the women he's
done bad?**

"Nothing you regularly write out by hand that could be printed instead?" Azyn
suggested. Often people just did things because they'd always done them without
realizing there could be another way.

"Not that I know of. All the stuff from day to day usually changes so we
wouldn't need a permanent printing or even multiple copies. You can check with
the headwoman, though." Maybe she needed a permanent inventory list. Shrugging,
Sarban checked off everything on his notes. That was all he really needed to
address.

"If you think of anything get in touch." And Azyn might follow up with the
Hold's Headwoman - if he got a moment to spare and that didn't seem very likely.
He got to his feet to see the other man out. "Thank you for taking the time to
go over this in person, Sarban."

"No problem. The Hold is committed to seeing the Hall succeed. Have a very
productive day otherwise I hope, Azyn." Sarban smiled easily before standing and
heading out. As a former seacrafter, he didn't understand the harpercraft
intimately but he did see a use for the teaching side of it.

Last updated on the January 12th 2016

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Making Plans