A Call to Arms

Writers: AL, Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 19th April 2008

Characters: Zathris, Benaroy, Cyrek, Kelton
Description: The Lord Holder summons his men to deal with the missing tithe
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 9, day 1 of Turn 4

Zathris

It was barely a candlemark since Zathris brought the news to the Lord Holder that a meeting was called. Cyrek stifled a yawn, rubbed his eyes, and looked again at the inventory list that Zathris had brought him from the missing tithe - mostly woven goods, as well as preserves and leather. Nothing that would go bad or be ruined by the cold - the goods would be easy to hide. Zathris sat quietly to his right, and Lord Benaroy was at the head of the table, nursing a steaming cup of klah. Trouble raised his head a moment before the door opened and the Captain of the Guard, Kelton, entered. "Sorry if I kept you waiting,"
the burly man said. He chose a seat opposite the Steward and glanced longingly toward the Lord's klah. "What's this about a tithe train going missing?"

"Have a seat, Kelton," Benaroy nodded towards a chair. "We have more klah coming." He turned to Zathris and gave him a nod to go ahead and explain the situation as it had already been related to the Lord Holder and Steward.

Zathris leaned forward, fingering the note that he had received that very morning. "It seems," He said slowly, a bitter taste in his mouth, "That the barge carrying the tithe to the Weyr was attacked before it could reach port. What wasn't taken was destroyed.
Originally two men were killed, two injured, but I received word half a candlemark ago that one has since succumbed to his injuries."

Kelton frowned and stared at the notes in Zathris' hand. "Three men dead. Those are my guards... who are they?"

Zathris looked at the messages and read off the names, "Jarsont, Teledon, and Phyred."

Cyrek felt his chest clench a little tighter as each name was listed off - they were all from Amethyst Cliff. They might have been guardsmen but they looked to _him_ for support, and somehow he'd failed them. Trouble chirped in distress and nuzzled his ear, and the Steward absently raised a hand to soothe his little companion. "I...
two of them have-- had wives. Have their families been notified yet?"

Zathris' jaw tightened and he nodded slowly. One had been young, he and his wife had been married less than a turn. The other was a little older, but he had two children, a boy and a girl, who were now fatherless. "I had two men whom I trusted to break the news to them as tactfully and respectfully as they could do so personally." It would have never have done just to have sent another message. That sort of news wasn't the kind of thing you wrote down and delivered.

Then he wouldn't have to... not again. The Steward closed his eyes in relief. He'd had enough of telling widows of their new status.

"You would be welcome to visit the families with me after this meeting, Cyrek." It had always been Benaroy's custom to break that sort of news personally, but as rumors had already started filtering into the Hold, it was best they had been told as soon as possible. "They will be well cared for, I assure you."

"Thank you," the Steward said. He'd have visited them with or without the Lord Holder at his side.

"Thank you for taking care of that, Zathris," Kelton said. "Now - I assume you have a map? Where _exactly_ did this take place?"

Zathris pulled out another piece of hide and slid it over for Kelton to examine. "They were attacked by men waiting on the shore, before they could cross the border."

"Shards..." The Guard Captain shook his head. "There's a border outpost only a few miles away. Has there been any word from them?"

Zathris shook his head. "Not yet, but I have sent word and asked them to let us know if they find out anything or perhaps see anything."

Kelton's jaw tightened slightly - those were _his_ men and it was _his_
job to issue orders, not some outsider's... even if he was married to the Lord Holder's daughter. At least it hadn't been the Steward himself. "There's six men stationed there; I want two of them at the riversite looking for clues, and the rest of them riding up the river.
There's nothing but cotholds and open country back toward the Hold, so they'll want to head for the forests and hills to hide - and a dock to unload the tithe. They can't stay on the river forever. Has the Weyr been contacted? A pair of eyes in the sky would be useful to pick up a trail."

"No, but I will do so as soon as this meeting his adjourned." Zathris felt foolish. He had thought he had all his bases covered, but surely he should have thought about asking the weyr for help. "Thank you for suggesting it, Kelton."

"I'll do it. That way I can co-ordinate the dragonriders with my own men," Kelton said.

"No, I will do it," the Lord Holder broke in with a rather commanding voice. "I have lost the Weyr's tithe. It was my responsibility. I will not hide behind my men. I will explain the situation, ask them for their assistance, and if they are willing, Kelton, I will refer them to you to coordinate the Search. Zathris, I need you to assist us in this. All your other duties will need to be put on hold or given to someone else until this is resolved. First thing, we need to know exactly what was in that tithe, down to the pattern on the bolts of cloth. I want at least three copies made - one for myself, one for the Weyr, and one for Kelton."

"Yes Lord Benaroy." Zathris wished he could make things easier for Benaroy, but the man was right. It was his tithe, his hold, he had to take responsibility, even if he wasn't really responsible for the theft. "I will do whatever I can to assist you."

That was two of his Understewards out, now... with Shadux on bed rest and Zathris allocated elsewhere, the regular Hold functions would be slowed... unless Cyrek could borrow Mariss full-time from Zelanka. The Steward filed away the thought for the future. "Let's just hope that the Weyr doesn't demand a re-tithe to make up for the loss."

"They'd be within their rights," Benaroy sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "The Weyrleaders have always dealt fairly with us, but we've tithed so little in the last turn as it is, what with struggling to feed double the population. We finally have enough for proper tithes and this happens... Let's just hope that it is found so that it won't come to that." The Lord Holder's eyes turned to Kelton.

The Guard Captain nodded. "I'll do my best, sir. In the mean time, though, I might suggest that the holders be notified that _everyone_ in the territory may have to make up for the loss, and therefore should start setting things aside."

Benaroy looked up at his guard captain, rather surprised at his audacity. "I am sure if you do your job, Kelton such measures will not be necessary. However, if such steps need to be taken, you can rest assured _we_ will handle it."

Kelton nodded in acquiescence, but the muscle in his jaw jumped to betray his emotions. It had only been a suggestion, but of late the Lord Holder had been less and less inclined to take suggestions from his own born and true Holders, instead turning to outsiders and refugees...

"Is there anything else you would have me do?" Zathris queried, readying himself to rise and get to work. "If not, I beg your leave so that I may get the information you have requested."

"Cyrek, have you anything further to add?" the Lord Holder asked, turning to his steward whom he had noticed had grown rather quiet.

The Steward shook his head. "Nothing that I can think of at the moment, my Lord. I'm afraid I- had a rather long night, and my wits are a bit scattered."

Benaroy looked at his steward curiously. He had not heard of any trouble, but news of the tithing train had overshadowed everything else. If something else of significance had happened, he was sure he would be told. "Then let us get to our work, gentlemen. Thank you for your time. Let me know if you have any information of significance, and let us meet again before the evening meal and report on our progress."

Zathris nodded, stood, bowed to his Lord, then to Cyrek. Without another word, he strode from the room, intent on getting the information and copies as soon as humanly possible.

Last updated on the May 1st 2008

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A Call to Arms