Rabble Rousers

Writers: Suzee, Heather, Estelle
Date Posted: 30th June 2024

Characters: Tasni, Tavella, Farnes, Dinalee, Istan, Wirneck
Description: Tasni visits the inn at Green Valley to see what she can find out about the fire
Location: Green Valley Hold
Date: month 8, day 21 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: L'cor, Reven, Jayala, Corowal

Tasni spent most of the morning at Green Valley chatting to whichever of
the residents that were willing to talk to her. A few were too busy with
their duties - or pretended to be too busy to talk to a harper - but
those who would talk confirmed what she'd been told by Holder Reven and
the fieldhand who'd discovered the fire. She didn't hear anything about
grudges against the holder and his family - everyone she spoke to
appeared to respect him and were contented with his leadership of the hold.

After having lunch with the family, she decided to visit the inn that
she and Renette had passed on their journey to the hold. It was a
restday, so it ought to be busy, and people were likely to speak more
freely once ale had loosened their tongues. Perhaps she'd hear more
about the relations between Green Valley and its neighbors, or if any
strangers had been seen in the area.

On her walk over to the inn, she detached her harper's knots from her
shoulder and slipped them into her pocket. Jayala had only told her not
to disguise herself, and 'forgetting' her knots was not really a
disguise - just a way not to draw attention to herself.

The inn was as bustling as she'd expected, and with the bright, sunny
weather there were as many people gathered around tables outside as
indoors. The atmosphere seemed friendly and unthreatening, and there
were other women present, so she felt safe enough making her way through
the crowd to the bar to buy a drink, and then looked around for an empty
space on one of the benches.

"Excuse me?" She chose a table where a few holders, around her age or a
bit older, were sitting together. They looked as though they'd just
finished a hearty noon meal and a couple of mugs of beer each already.
"Do you mind if I sit down?"

"Ma'am," Farnes stood. She seemed like quality and he didn't want no
trouble from the likes of them. What with her wearing no knots there
were no tellin' what she was up to.

The other two stood and Farnes waved to the empty seat. "Feel free."
He sat down again and pulled his beer closer to his chest.

Tevella noticed the moment a new face entered the inn. Wiping her
hands down the front of her apron, she walked over to the table. "Can
I get you a drink, ma'am?" She looked at Farnes, but it didn't appear
he was ready for a refill yet.

Dinalee stood behind the counter absently wiping the already clean top
as she watched the newcomer. She'd run a clean and safe place ever
since Lord Corowal had given her this living for her to raise their
son who was now a dragon rider, L'cor. Her eyes and ears were always
open to pick up any news coming through and report to the local Holder
Reven or Lord Corowal himself.

"Yes, please." Tasni asked for a small mug of ale and took a seat. "Oh,
and another round for these gentlemen, when they're ready." This was the
part of her job that she liked best, and not just for the drink - she'd
always liked listening to newly-met folk, hearing about their lives,
their small prides and worries, and sometimes, teasing out the
information she was after.

"There's no need to call me ma'am, by the way. I'm Tasni, from Emerald
Falls - I came here to accompany Holder Reven's sister, Renette. She's
visiting her family," she explained.

"Thank you ma... miss," Farnes grinned and the others with them as
they looked up at Tevella. So she was quality and a friend of their
Holder's sister. That made her better than a stranger as far as he was
concerned. "Can we help you find sommat?"

"Oh, nothing particular. I thought I'd come and visit the inn to give
Renette and her family some time to themselves," Tasni explained.
"Holder Reven said this was a respectable place, and besides, I've never
visited Green Valley before. I like to meet new folk." She nodded her
thanks to Tevella as her ale arrived. "It seems good and busy here. The
Hold must be prospering."

"Oh, it is," Tevella agreed. "We've had quite an influx of customers
over the past two Turns." She had noticed it in the tips that she was
given by the customers.

"Aye," said Farnes with a smile. "Our Dinalee runs a fine Inn wit good
food and plenty of it for the workmen at the end of a day." The others
bumped their tankards on the table in agreement. "If an only she'd
marry me," he said in a loud voice and grinned toward the back
counter.

"And what would your wife think of that Farnes," Dinalee called back.

Tasni grinned and sat back, listening as the friendly banter went back
and forth between the tavern-keeper and her customers. Her first
impression of Green Valley had been that it was a thriving place, with a
capable and well-liked Holder - the opposite of what she'd seen at White
Hollow. What she heard in this tavern only confirmed her opinion. It was
possible that someone was jealous or resentful, but that seemed less
likely than either an accident, or an outside influence.

"The Holder was telling Renette and I that you had a fire here a little
while ago," she said, when there was a break in the conversation and
drinks were being refilled. "That was bad luck. I hope it didn't cause
too much damage?"

"Aye," Farnes eyes swung back to the lady.

"Buncha rabble rousers ifn ya ask me," said another one at the table.
"Was three o'em. We didn't much like their ideas and gave 'em our boot
of friendship right hout tha' door." He pointed to the front door of
the Inn.

Tasni's ears pricked up at the man's words. **Rabble rousers?** Did they
have something to do with the fire? She kept her expression one of
polite interest, though. "What kind of ideas?"

The third man spoke up. "Them as was saying our Lord was bad for us,
an' the dragonriders was lazy. We didn't want to listen to 'em so
when Dinalee had enough she gave Farnes, Istan, an' me the highsign to
boot 'em out."

Farnes spoke up again. "That's right Wirneck," he nodded. "Our
Dinalee's boy's a dragonrider and he comes 'round regular to check
folks have what they need." His eyes slid sideways to Tavella. "Could
be he is a bit sweet on Tavella."

Tavella was at another table, a smile glowing on her face as she chatted
with a regular customer, her fingers landing lightly on his shoulder. It
certainly would make sense if a dragonrider was coming by to see her.

That sounded worryingly similar to what Tasni had heard at White Hollow.
She'd also picked up some talk at the Hall from other journeymen, that
there were people in Emerald Falls, spreading rumors and discontent
against the dragonriders and the Lord Holder. "Do you think they started
the fire? In revenge for being kicked out of here, and because you're
loyal to the Hold and Weyr?"

"Could be as that's the truth of it," Farnes nodded. "But if they be
coming 'round again, me an' the boys will give 'em a good booting." He
said with a hard look. "We don't like 'em burning our hard work
jus'cuz they got a hardon.." he froze. "Sorry ma'am, what I meant to
say waz 'difficulty' with the Weyr."

Tasni hid a smile. She'd heard much worse on her other missions, but
appreciated the courtesy. "Do you remember what they looked like? Holder
Reven might want to know."

Tavella jumped back into the conversation as she refilled drinks. "One
of them was tall, uncommonly so, I thought. Ruddy skin, brownish hair.
The other two looked like they could have been brothers. Same blocky
build and beady little eyes. Black hair the both of them. They didn't
leave a tip, neither," she said matter-of-factly before whisking away
to another table.

Wirneck nodded, "One of the brothers were a bit youngish but the
others, men full grown."

Tasni asked a few more questions, taking careful note of all the details
while sounding as casual as she could. If she could find someone with a
firelizard, she could send the descriptions back to Master Jayala at the
Hall. They hadn't mentioned where they were from or how they made a
living, which was suspicious in itself.

"Has anyone seen them around the hold since they were, ah, booted out of
here?" Probably they'd moved on, but if not... there might be a chance
to catch them. The first hints of an idea started to gather at the back
of her mind.

"I've not seen them back, unless they came on my off night." Tavella
looked to the others.

"Nah," Farnes shook his head along with the others. "Thought I saw
signs of a campfire off to the north but there's been Thread since so
don't think they stuck around."

"With luck, that'll be the last you see of them. They sound like a shady
group of characters." Tasni wondered if they'd found shelter somewhere,
perhaps with a sympathizer. If so, would they move on, or return? She'd
have to find a map, see what lay to the north of Green Valley.

"Anyway, let's have another round of drinks and talk about something
more cheerful," she suggested, deciding she'd got about as much
information as she could on that topic without drawing attention. "I
heard at the hold that you've been expanding your runner stables. Anyone
I should look out for at the next Emerald Falls races?"

Last updated on the July 1st 2024

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Rabble Rousers