The Benefits of Teamwork

Writers: Bree, Joy
Date Posted: 12th October 2005

Characters: Ulte, Jarthir
Description: After turning in a dismal assignment, Ulte is told to work with another.
Location: Smith Hall (NPC)
Date: month 8, day 16 of Turn 3

Ulte stood from the stool in front of his assigned workstation with a relived sigh. His stomach rumbled a bit, and he wished, not for the first time, that this class wasn't right before the noon meal. He enjoyed the 'introduction to gems and gemcutting' class, but by the time it was halfway through he always felt like he was nearly starved.

He'd just finished packing up his supplies and was about to join the stream of his fellow apprentices leaving the class when he heard the instructor, Senior Journeyman Jarthir, calling his name.

Jarthir was walking swifly down the aisle towards him. "Don't leave yet... I need to speak to you for a moment."

Sighing as he set his supplies back down, Ulte wondered what the Journeyman wanted. He tried to think if he'd made any major mistakes in class, and couldn't think of any. Of course, if they were major mistakes, he might not have realized he was making them.

"Yes Journeyman?"

Jarthir pulled out a sketch of a ring that had been handed in to him earlier that day and set it on the desk. "Is this your completed assignment?"

Ulte winced just slightly as he looked at the drawing. It was the product of several candlemarks contemplation and work... and it was complete rubbish.
He'd known it when he'd turned it in, but it was the best he could do. "Yes sir, it is."

Shaking his head, Jarthir picked the drawing back up. "It's sound, Ulte.
Technically, it's acceptable. But there's no _heart_ to it. No creativity.
I've seen your work. You've got a real knack for the details. But it looks like you just didn't bother to spend any time on this."

Ulte almost laughed at that, he just barely managed to keep from doing so.
The thought that the assignment looked as if he hadn't spent any time on it when he'd spent candlemarks trying to make it look decent... well, one had to laugh. "That's the problem Journeyman Jarthir. I spent a lot of time on it. I just... I'm just no good at that sort of thing." He gestured at the drawing sharply.

"But you're better at cutting gems than any apprentice I have,"
Jarthir replied. "You've got real talent, Ulte. I want to see that talent realized."

"Cutting gems is easy Journeyman. Put this much pressure at that angle and this happens. Coming up with designs is different." Ulte sighed, knowing he wasn't explaining himself very well, but unable to do better.

"You may think it's easy," Jarthir replied, shaking his head. "But there was a classroom full of apprentices not long ago that might differ with you. Do you know Nyblek?"

"Yes, I know Nyblek," Ulte answered the question with a puzzled frown.

Jarthir nodded. "Good. I want the two of you to work together. He's got plenty of creativity but is having a hard time learning the details of gem cutting. You've got the opposite problem. Perhaps you can help each other."

Ulte didn't mind that idea at all. He'd seen Nyblek's designs. They were amazing and if the other boy could help him to come up with ideas even a fraction as good, it would be great. "I'm willing to do that, Journeyman."

"Excellent." It would take care of one of his biggest problems--the gap between Nyblek's skill at design and his ability to see those designs fulfilled. Nyblek was going to be one of Pern's greatest gemcrafters some day... and Jarthir would use any methods necessary to see his talent fulfilled. Giving Ulte a little inspiration along the way would just leave him with two talented apprentices instead of one. "Then I won't keep you from your meal... I'll let Nyblek know later today that I'd like the two of you to work together."

"Thank you Journeyman Jarthir." Ulte smiled, pleased with the solution his instructor had come up with and also glad their talk hadn't taken too long.
He'd still have time to eat his noon meal without being late for his next class. He grabbed his bag and headed for the door.

Last updated on the October 13th 2005

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The Benefits of Teamwork