On Their Best Behavior... Maybe

Writers: Estelle, Heather
Date Posted: 5th March 2024

Characters: Tasni, Renette, Iera, Jayala
Description: Renette gets word of a fire at her family's hold, and the harpers plan to investigate.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 8, day 17 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: Reven, Corowal

Jayala

Tasni slipped into a place at the end of the journeymen's table, just
making it in time before the last of the Masters entered the dining hall
and took his place at the top table. She'd got distracted by discovering
a bundle of letters sent from journeying harpers back to the Hallmaster
in the archives in the Turns after the plagues, and had been searching
through them for interesting details when she'd heard the dinner bell.

The signal came for the meal to be served, and the usual buzz of chatter
began as dishes were handed around between the journeymen. New music,
possible postings, rumours of promotions, difficult apprentice classes,
difficult Masters... Suddenly, she heard the word "fire" a few places
down from where she was sitting and looked up, instantly attentive.

"The letter came today," Renette was saying to Iera, handing the piece
of hide to the other journeywoman.

"A fire?" Iera repeated, holding the letter up to read.

"That's what Reven said. It burned through two wheatfields. Have you
ever been to Green Valley? If it was a fire big enough to burn through
_two_ crops? I bet the smoke was visible clear over to Emerald Falls."
Renette chewed on her bottom lip. It was times like this when she wished
she was home with her family.

Iera set the letter back down, brow furrowed. "He doesn't say what
caused it."

"Is that your family's hold, Renette? I'm sorry to hear that." Losing
two fields would be hard for any hold. Green Valley wasn't one of those
she'd picked up any concerns about - they'd appeared to be loyal to the
Lord Holder. Tasni slid down a place on the bench so that she could talk
to the other journeywomen more easily. "Maybe it was an accident - a
campfire that got out of control?"

Renette glanced up at Tasni. "Doubtful. The two wheat fields that were
burned don't adjoin in any way. The fire would have needed to start in
two different places and jump a creek for both of them to burn."

"What's your brother going to do?" Iera asked.

"Well, fortunately, wheat isn't the only crop at Green Valley, so it
won't exactly _ruin_ the hold but it'll really hurt when it comes time
to send tithes to Emerald Falls for Dolphin Cove."

"The Lord Holder might reduce his tithe for the next harvest, if he
asks," Tasni suggested. "Especially if it - wasn't an accident." She
wondered if Holder Reven had any enemies, or even if his loyalty had
made him a target.

"Maybe," Renette said, although she wasn't sure what Lord Corowal might
think about such a thing, or if that was something he'd have to discuss
with the Weyrleaders. "I'm sure they'll work it out. Green Valley has
always been fortunate with the abundance of their crops."

"As long as it doesn't happen again." Tasni frowned, thinking. "After
what happened here at the Hall a few Turns back, if someone's going
around setting fires, I'll bet the Masters would want to get to the
bottom of it."

Renette looked down at the letter and then back at Tasni. "Do you think
I should give this to the Hallsecond, then?"

"She might already know," Tasni replied, with a wry grin. There wasn't
much that went on in Emerald Falls that escaped Master Jayala's notice.
"But I expect she'd be interested to hear what your brother says about it."

"You think she'll send someone out there?" Renette asked.

"I'm not sure." Tasni tried not to get her hopes up - she'd already
pushed her luck with Jayala on one assignment. "Is there someone posted
there at the moment?" Green Valley should be large enough to have its
own harper, she thought.

"Master Engad is there," Renette said, doing her best to keep her voice
neutral. Master Engad was quite old, and had been at Green Valley for a
long time. Renette remembered being taught by him when she was a child
growing up. The problem with Master Engad was that he wasn't
particularly fond of women, at least, not in the craft. It was
ultimately one of the reasons she had decided to live at the Hall as a
journeywoman, rather than being posted with Engan at her home.

Tasni hadn't heard of the Master, which suggested he'd not been to the
Hall in a long while. "He should have written to the Hallmaster, but if
dealing with unusual events like this isn't his speciality then Master
Jayala might send someone out there to help. Maybe she'll send you,
since you're family?"

"Engad might have written the Hallmaster," Renette said. "This was just
a personal family letter. I _could_ go to Green Valley, I'm familiar
with the people, but you're the investigator. Maybe I could accompany you?"

"If the Hallsecond agrees, I'd be happy to." Tasni kept her expression
serious and not too eager. After all, it was Renette's family hold that
was potentially being threatened. "If it isn't too intrusive to ask - do
you know if there's anyone who might have a grudge against your brother
or his family? Any rivalry with other holds?"

“Reven fostered at Red Rush before becoming the main holder at Green
Valley, so he has good relationships there. I’m not sure about the other
neighboring places.” There was that horrible time when he’d been
kidnapped for ransom, but that had been a few Turns ago with nothing
more coming from that situation.

"We could try and find out. On the other hand, it might not be anything
particular to your family. I've heard of thieves starting fires so they
can sneak in while the hold is distracted." That had been a tactic she'd
come across in the North. "I shouldn't speculate without evidence,
though. Let's see what Master Jayala says?"

Renette agreed with a nod. Either she would be traveling to Green Valley
with Tasni and it would be a nice visit home, or they might find out
that everything at the minor hold wasn't as peaceful as it seemed.
Either way, a trip away from the Hall sounded like the perfect type of
distraction to break up the monotony.

"We could go now and see if she's in her office?"

"All right." Dinner was over now and the other journeymen were starting
to drift away for evening practice or free time, while apprentices
cleared the tables and mopped the floor. Jayala was no longer at the
masters' table, so her office was a good bet. As hopeful as she was,
Tasni couldn't help feeling a twinge of nerves when they arrived at the
Hallsecond's door, since their conversations were often less than
comfortable.

They were in luck, however - Jayala opened the door herself and raised
an inquiring eyebrow. She looked a little more relaxed than she had at
the dinner, with her hair in a loose braid rather than pinned up. Behind
her, a gitar had been placed carefully on a stand, as if she'd been
practising rather than doing hidework. "Journeywomen?"

"Master Jayala," Renette inclined her head respectfully. "I'm sorry to
interrupt. I received a letter from home today, Green Valley. I was
wanting to share it with you in the event that their harper hasn't sent
his own letter yet." She held the piece of paper out.

"Thank you. Green Valley - your brother's hold, if I remember rightly."
Jayala clearly had no doubt that she _did_ remember, for she went over
to her desk without waiting for a response, sat down and scanned the
first few lines of the letter. Her eyes narrowed the faintest amount
when she reached the word 'fire', and she looked up, her piercing gaze
fixing on the other young woman. "Journeywoman Tasni. Do you also have
some information for me?"

"No, Master Jayala. I happened to be there when Renette was reading her
letter, and advised her to show it to you. I thought it might need
particular investigation," she went on before the Hallsecond could
dismiss her, then added a respectful, "if the Masters agree, of course."

"I see." Jayala frowned, but she didn't tell Tasni to leave, instead
returning to the letter. When she'd finished it, she studied it again in
silence, focusing on the section about the fire, before finally looking
up. "You did right to bring this to me. I did hear from Master Engad
that there had been a fire, but not in so much detail. Given the
circumstances..." She tapped lightly at the paper with the tip of a
finger. "He might need some assistance. Have you been back to visit your
family recently, Journeywoman Renette?"

"No, ma'am. It's been half a turn since I've been home." Renette
answered, feeling just the tiny wiggle of hope in her stomach.

"In that case, perhaps it's about time you requested some leave?" Jayala
set down the letter. "I expect your family would be glad to see you, and
the Harper Hall's support might be useful to them at this difficult
time." Though she didn't say so, her manner implied that support need
not consist only of playing cheerful music to raise the holders' spirits.

Renette understood exactly Jayala's intent. "Yes, it would be lovely to
visit them. I'll put in a leave request right away. You know, Master
Jayala, a travel companion would be preferable as well." She glanced at
Tasni.

"That might be wise," Jayala said slowly, with a sidelong look at Tasni,
who looked as though she was about to burst with excitement. "I don't
suppose your brother would thank me for sending you to travel to the
hold alone. Perhaps the Headwoman could suggest a sensible, older woman."

"But Master Jayala," Tasni protested. "I could go with Renette! You know
I have relevant experience - and I could gather material for my project
on the changes after the plagues while I'm there."

"Hmm." The Hallsecond gave her a long and deeply skeptical look. "Green
Valley Hold is not like some of the other places you've been visiting,
Journeywoman. They are an ally. The Holder has sent his own sister to
train with us. I don't want anyone jeopardizing that relationship.
Particularly not a Northern harper with a penchant for getting herself
into trouble."

"Trouble?" Her eyes widened in her best impression of shocked innocence,
but inwardly she was encouraged. That hadn't been an absolute "no".
"I'll be on my best behavior. I promise."

There was another long pause as Jayala considered that. "Journeywoman
Renette, do you agree with this suggestion? Do you think you could keep
Journeywoman Tasni out of mischief?"

Renette wisely did not glance sideways at Tasni, out of fear that doing
so would make her crack a smile. "Yes, Master Jayala." She was now
curious as to what else Tasni had been doing and how she had "relevant
experience." Perhaps over the course of their travels Renette would find
out what the other journeywoman had been up to.

"You may find it a harder task than you anticipate," Jayala warned her,
ignoring Tasni's indignant look. She made a show of thinking over her
decision for a little longer before reluctantly giving in. "Very well.
But no disguises or false names," she said sternly. "I am not going to
deceive Holder Reven, and neither are you. You're going as a harper, and
you can help Renette and Master Engad with their duties. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Hallsecond," Tasni said meekly.

"Good. When would you be able to leave, Journeywoman Renette? You'll
both need to make sure any of your classes are covered while you're away."

"The day after tomorrow? I'm fairly certain Journeywoman Iera can cover
my classes, but I'll check for sure and square things away." Renette
looked at Tasni to see if it would be plausible for her as well to leave
so quickly.

"I can be ready then," Tasni said quickly. She only had a couple of
classes, since most of her time was currently spent on writing up her
work in the archives, and her chamber group should be able to do without
her while she was away.

"Very well, then. I'll write to Master Engad and let him know to expect
you, and I suggest you do the same for your brother." Jayala's gaze
turned more serious. "One more thing. If it does turn out there's more
to these fires than meets the eye - be careful. Don't take any risks."
She directed that at Tasni, who she suspected had been in a tighter spot
at White Hollow than she'd let on. "I'm sure it hasn't escaped your
notice that there are people in this Hold with little respect for our
craft, or for women in it, and some can be dangerous. Report anything
you find to the Holder, and let him or the Lord Holder deal with it."

"Yes, ma'am," Renette agreed seriously, but even though the topic was a
grave one, she couldn't help the spark of excitement that she felt about
starting on this journey.

Last updated on the March 9th 2024

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On Their Best Behavior... Maybe