For good of the Hold

Writers: AmajoS, Paula
Date Posted: 21st March 2019

Characters: Zelanka, Kyselen
Description: Kyselen ends up getting a contract from Zelanka
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 10, day 10 of Turn 9

Kyselen searched through the chest filled with tiny drawers where she
kept her sewing supplies. She was running low on almost everything. In
particular, she couldn't seem to find a single blue square button in
her whole button collection. She sighed. She hadn't realized that she
was running through things so quickly. Well, there was nothing for it,
she decided. She would just have to see if she could get some more.
That or try to replace all the buttons on this shirt with brand new
ones. And with her luck, she wouldn't have enough of any of them to
complete the set.

She would need to find the Headwoman. Checking the time, she decided
to start at the woman's office.

Zelanka was just leaving her office for her rounds when she spotted
her. "Oh, hello, looking for me?"

Smiling warmly at the Headwoman, who was nearly the same age as
herself but who looked much younger, Kyselen replied, "Yes! I had
hoped to catch you while you were still here. I don't want to be a
bother though, if you're on your way out."

"Oh, I'm not so in hurry that I can't spare few minutes for you,"
Zelanka replied.

"Good, good," Kyselen smiled. "I hate to be a bother, but I've gotten
myself into a bit of a mess."

"What kind of mess? Let's see if we can get sorted out," Zelanka asked.

"You know my Rothen works as a guard, yes? Well, some time ago, I
noticed that some of his fellow guards take... well, less than careful
care of their clothing." She tsk'd in disapproval.

"Oh, yes, I've noticed," Zelanka rolled her eyes.

"Indeed," Kyselen chuckled. "Well, I've been doing what I can to see
that they at least look presentable. The younger ones, mostly. Who're
on their own for the first time. Away from their own mothers and not
married yet." It had started out small, just a few shirts here and
there. But it had grown over time and now she did the mending for
several guards. Not that she minded. What else was she going to do
with her days?

"Good idea," Zelanka said approvingly. She was far too busy for
anything like that.

Kyselen preened a bit at the compliment before continuing,
"Unfortunately, I've run into a bit of a snag. I'm working through my
sewing supplies faster than I realized. Buttons especially, but thread
as well are running low. I hoped I might be able to get some more?"
She, like everyone else, could get a certain amount of supplies as a
matter of course, but her need was outstripping that quickly.

"Well, since you're doing this for the good of the Hold and not just
repairing your own family's clothes, I can grant you the right to get
supplies from the Hold's storages," Zelanka promised. "Just mark down
what you take and how much, so that I know when to order more."

"Oh, good! I was hoping that would be the case," Kyselen beamed. She
would be able to finish the shirt she was working on now and the three
she hadn't started yet as well. Of course, by the time she finished
those, there would likely be more. Young men really did not have any
sense when it came to maintaining their clothing properly. But, it was
nice to be busy. Kept her mind off of... things.

"That's settled then," Zelanka said. She took a hide and started to
write. It didn't take her too long. "Here's a contract between you and
Hold, sign it and you're good to go. If someone asks after why you are
taking supplies, just show this to them."

"May I borrow your pen?" This was even better than she'd hoped! A few
extra supplies had been all she'd set out to secure, but this would
give her not just permission to get what she needed but the authority
to do so.

"Of course," Zelanka handed her the pen and the contract.

With a flourish, Kyselen signed the contract and then handed the pen
back to Zelanka. She admired it for a moment and couldn't wait to show
her son. Maybe he'd stop looking at her with so much badly hidden
worry. She wondered if she ought to write to Kyselara and let her know
her old mother was an official contractor to the Hold now. Maybe that
might inspire the silly girl to visit once in a while.

"Good, that's settled then," Zelanka said.

"Yes, and thank you!" Kyselen carefully rolled up the contract and
tucked it into a pocket of her apron. "I think I'll go see about those
buttons now and let you get on with your day." She needed blue square
ones, she recalled. She might look for some black round ones too, she
thought she had been running low on those as well. And, she might as
well get some black thread while she was at it. Her mind on her
projects and what she needed for them, she wandered off toward the
storeroom.

Zelanka watched her go with a smile of her face. Kyselen was doing a
good work for the Hold and she knew exactly how important it was to
feel needed in their age.

Last updated on the April 1st 2019

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