Impessive

Writers: Patrick, AmajoS
Date Posted: 28th February 2007

Characters: Cortana, Narrala
Description: Narrala runs into trouble while doing chores and agrees to an interesting proposition.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 12 of Turn 4

Cortana

Bhervehan came back from his private brewing room in the back of The Tavern's kitchen. Finding Hartam still on the stage, he placed a heavy mug on the edge it. "Harper Hartam?"

The journeyman harper had been absorbed in his own thoughts, visions of this day's preparations weaving themselves into lyrics, threading a tune through his mind. It took a moment for him to focus on the other man, but the sight of him brought a wide grin. "Yes, Tavern Master?"

"Here, give this a try, I mixed it with cider as you suggested." Nudging the mug towards the harper, Bhervehan continued, "Do you know all the herbs in the mix?"

"That I do, and grind the leaves and combine them myself. After all," at this Hartam winked at the vintner, "I'd not trust such a task to just anyone. I start with borage leaves, though some prefer to use that as a cure after a night of drinking. Bean pods to aid in breaking down the alcohol for when I do have some ale as well as lovage to remove any remnants from my body. Add to that a little hyssop to keep my throat soothed and some tincture of asparagus sprinkled on the crushed mix and I can alternate this and the best of your wares all evening without losing my wits."

"You worked that up yourself?" Bhervehan asked.

Shaking his head he continued, "Never mind, it doesn't matter. Would it offend you if I tweaked that concoction a bit? It sounds like a handy potion to keep around."

"All of the ingredients are commonly used," replied the journeyman. "Feel free to make up your own version." Hartam sighed deeply. "Of course, if I had my preference, I'd sample your wines all evening. Unfortunately, I'd need too much to keep my throat from going dry and before I finished my first set I'd be forgetting the words and the notes and probably be booed from the stage."

"And all wine is made out of grapes. The secret is not the ingredients.
The secret is how you mix them. As for your throat drying, I'll not have it said that I denied a harper in my tavern."

The harper shook his head. "Nor would I expect that of you, Master Bhervehan. I have found this combination to do what I need it to do and have become accustomed to its taste, though it's not what most would care to drink. I'll gladly sample any of your 'tweaks' to the mixture and give you an honest evaluation of them."

"Boyo, you have just made an old brewer very happy," Bhervehan said with a gleam in his eye. "And if everyone had the same taste, I'd only need one beer and one wine."

"If only everyone were so easy to please." Hartam offered a low bow. "Though I enjoy entertaining with my music, I wouldn't mind taste-testing as my life's work either."

"As long as there is something new to try, the craft stays fresh to me. I may even grab myself a bunch of apprentices. Speaking of, what did you do with yours?"

Hartam reached over and strummed his fingers across the strings of his gitar, intent on the sound before looking up at the other man. "The young man and your daughter? Since they're apprentices, it's my job to keep them busy. I sent them out to stroll around and listen, to find out what people are saying as they go about their daily business, and to judge what type of music will best suit their needs this fine night."

"Ahh, I always forget that about you Harpers."

"Forget what? That we play to please our audiences?"

"That you take in as much information as you disseminate."

The harper waved his hand dismissively. "The same could be said of many people. I've simply sent my apprentices to find out the moods of those in the neighborhood. I'll question the youngsters as to how they would react to what they've heard as a test of their ability to relate to their listeners."

Just then the door to the Tavern opened and Junvia walked in. Though she did spare a quick grin for her father, she knew that she was here as an apprentice and remembered her place. Standing near the harper, she waited for him to address her.

Careful to maintain eye contact with the girl, Hartam offered her a smile.
"Apprentice, your father would indubitably like to hear of the local residents' anticipation of tonight's opening."

"Yes, sir, da... I mean Master Brewer," she said, unsure how to address her father in this circumstance. "I stayed in the common areas. Most of the people I overheard are more interested in tomorrow's 'real opening' as they called it. Tonight is being perceived as a practice."

Bhervehan laughed. "A practice, they say? Well, maybe so."

"Practice?" The journeyman harper raised an eyebrow. "I should hope that no public performance of mine would be considered as 'practice.' I pour my entire being into each song." This final statement was uttered with a solemn face, yet melodramatic tone.

"Rest easy, I believe the practice my daughter is referring to is mine."

"As I see it, you'd not be a Tavern Master had you not already had turns of practice."

"Would you play a new piece of music, sight unseen, in front of a crowd?"

"Of course not. I'm confident in what I bring to the stage - just as you're confident in what you bring to the table."

"Ahh, but now the table is new. A bunch of well trained performers, working on a new concert." Bhervehan smiled at his own comparison.
"Tonight we have a final rehearsal before tomorrow's Grand Opening."

"True on some counts, but not on all," Hartam insisted. "This 'rehearsal' will have an audience, one that can deem the concert worth attending or not. We can't view this as 'practice' but must see it as the real thing."

"But of course," Bhervehan agreed. "However, the people my daughter were observing will not be able to enter here until tomorrow. Is it not expected that they would discount tonight's party?"

"I suppose you're right in that respect. Of course, if the reports of what happens here tonight are to go to jealous ones who discount these festivities, then the reality must be even more worthy of that envy."

"I have faith in my wares, and in my cook. And I trust you will set the tone for the entertainment to be found here."

"I thank you for that trust in me, and will do my best."

Last updated on the March 13th 2007

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Impessive