Meeting Hartam

Writers: Jane, Vix
Date Posted: 13th April 2008

Characters: Zandreu, Hartam
Description: Zandreu has the opportunity to meet the Tavern Harper, Hartam.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 9, day 20 of Turn 4

The tall, dark-haired man behind the bar looked up as the harper entered the great room. Dark eyes surveyed the newcomer for a long moment before the man moved. He walked along the bar to the gate through it and crossed the room to meet the other man. "Journeyman Hartam?"

Deep in thought, the harper looked up at the greeting. "Yes?" "I'm Zandreu." He extended his hand to the other man before adding:
"I'm going to be the Tavern Master here while Bhervehan's away."

"Ah. . ." The harper nodded in understanding as he clasped the other man's hand. "Welcome to the Tavern, and I hope that you find all to your liking." "I'm sure I will. If there was a Tavern Master I preferred to follow into a job, it would be Bhervehan." The vintner master indicated a table between the bar and the harper platform. "Do you have time for a chat?"

"I was just going to get some food and a drink before the crowds start arriving," Hartam told him, "and conversation always seems to make the meal go down better." "I'll join you in the meal, too, then," the older man said as he settled into the chair that gave him the best views of the room and doors. "Do you usually order from the kitchen? Pick it up from there?"

"Most days I do," Hartam told him. "Sometimes I eat at the Hall. My wife is bedfast, but she likes to arrange to have a meal delivered from there – just so that she can feel that she's doing something rather than lying about. However, I also take her food from here two or three times a sevenday." "And your wife is at the Hall? You're contracted to the Hall, aren't you? Not the Hold?"

"The Hold has its own harpers. I belong to the Hall, though my first alliance is to my own craft." "Of course. Your wife is at the Hall, then, and an invalid?"

"Not exactly an invalid, but pregnant. With twins." "Twins?" Zandreu smiled. Two at once sounded like such a wonderful idea. "Really?"

"Really." Hartam could not help but return the smile. "It seems that the population of the Vintner Hall will soon increase by two. Hopefully the music they make in those early months will not be unwelcome to the ears of those nearby." "I've got a room over here," Zandreu said, waving a hand to indicate the rooms above the rear part of the building. "So tell 'em to cry for all they're worth."

"If I didn't feel that I'll probably owe Tayette the help, I'd probably spend quite a few nights here as well." Hartam settled back in his chair. "So enough about me. How are you settling in?" "I'll let you know as soon as I reach that state," the vintner said.
"Right now my things are in my new room and I'm finding the weather colder than I'm used to. But this place is nice and the staff are good." He nodded. "I hope I'll feel at home here, soon enough."

The harper nodded reassuringly. "I'm certain that you will. It really did not take long for me to adjust to this posting. There are opportunities to meet so many different people. And of course, the benefit of some very good wines." Zandreu shook his head. "Sadly that's a benefit wasted on me. I don't drink, these days."

"A vintner who doesn't drink – an unusual person, indeed." Hartam set aside pondering the reasons for that at a later time. "At least you're at the Tavern rather than the Hall. Here you have benefit of very good food as well." "Which I sampled yesterday and I must say that I agree with you about its quality. I believe you were about to have breakfast?"

"And you were about to join me?" Zandreu smiled and nodded. This harper seemed to be a man after his own heart.

Last updated on the April 17th 2008

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Meeting Hartam