Petition to Hold

Writers: AL, Ames, Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 14th April 2014

Characters: Zathris, Demir, Kobias, Crolarin, Samnel
Description: The new applicant appears before the Lord Holder with his petition to hold at HIdden Meadows
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 5, day 5 of Turn 7

Zathris

Demir

They'd arrived after lunch and while the Headwoman had made sure they
had something to eat and a place to sleep there hadn't been much time
for Demir to clean up before reporting to Zathris. He'd set his bags
in the room he'd been assigned and quickly changed to a fresh tunic.

He stood now with his report at the desk of an assistant who seemed to
want to take the report from him. "No," he said firmly. "I will give
this to Lord Zathris myself if you'll just announce me please."

Samnel stood a little exasperated. All these farmers seemed to want to
speak to the Lord Holder instead of letting him do his job. What was
that report anyway but crop numbers or some such justification of a
short tithe. But he went to the Lords door anyway.

"My Lord," he started in a disapproving voice. "A Demir here to see
you from Hidden Meadows?"

"Demir?" Zathris had heard the name, but he was hard pressed to put a
face to it. Most likely he'd met the man on a visit to Hidden Meadows
as he did at least once a turn. "Come now, Samnel, don't be so sour.
Please, show him in."

Samnel still didn't approve of the interruption of his Lord's day and
showed it in his stiff carriage. "Lord Zathris will see you," he
sniffed at the offending Holder.

Demir entered the room with a serious look and gave a deep bow. "My
Lord," he said and approached to hand Zathris the letter from the
Harper at Hidden Meadows.

"Welcome Demir, it's good to see you." Yes, the face was familiar as
well and now both face and name were placed together in Zathris'
memory. He smiled, then motioned to one of the two chairs that sat
opposite him on the other side of his desk. "Please, have a seat."
The hand that had taken the letter, lifted it. "And give me a moment
while I read over this."

"Thank you My Lord," he said before taking the seat and nodding. He
knew the contents of the report of course, he could have recited them
from memory. That didn't mean the really agreed with his fathers
stipulation. But there wasn't much he could do about it and expect to
be confirmed to take Hold at Hidden Meadows.

"I see." Zathris' own lips turned downward. When would the South get
rid of these ancient ideas and arranged marriages. He attempted to be
progressive, but it seemed he was hindered at every turn, even by his
own wife from time to time. "This has put you into an interesting
position. And you wish to take over the hold?"

Demir grimaced and rolled his eyes slightly. "It does indeed My Lord,"
he agreed. Then he nodded and pulled his fathers signet ring from his
pocket and placed it on the desk. "I do sir," he said.

"And what does your brother have to say?" Zathris reached forward to
scoop the ring into his hand. It wasn't that he didn't trust the man,
just seemed the thing to do if he'd been offered it.

"He'd rather craft," Demir said. "But if you wish you can ask him
yourself sir. He came with me."

Zathris eased back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. "It's
not that I don't believe you, but I have to do things officially. He
needs to be asked directly. If you would please ask my assistant to
get harper. We'll make record of this here and now."

"Of course," Demir said and rose to tell the assistant exactly what
Lord Zathris had requested and motioned for Kobias to join him.

Kobias had known Demir was meeting with Lord Zathris and that he might
be needed, so he'd stayed close by. When they came for him, he wasn't
surprised.

Rising from the chair he'd been occupying, he made his way to the Lord
Holder's office. He was gestured to go directly in as the assistant
opened the door and announced him.

With a nod of his head towards the man, he stepped across the threshold.

"Sir," he greeted, Zathris with a bow of his head. "I understand I'm needed."

"Kobias, welcome, please, have a seat." Nothing could be completed
officially until the harper arrived, but they could at least discuss
the matter, and Zathris could be upfront with them both as they
waited. "We need to have a short discussion."

"Of course," Kobias replied, doing as he was told. He had expected he
might have to speak with the Lord Holder being the eldest of all the
brothers. He waited for Zathris or Demir to speak again.

Crolarin's face was set in a pleasant, genial mask as he entered the
room, despite his distaste for the office he was entering into. "You
asked for me, Lord Zathris?"

"Crolarin, yes, we need a harper to act as witness and seal a
document." Zathris focused on Kobias. He drew his hands together,
fingers steepled. "Kobias, normally you would inherit your father's
hold, but you have elected to give up that right. Is this true?"
Zathris believed Demir, but this had to be done in an official
capacity before the witness of a harper.

"I am more than happy to relinquish it to my brother, Demir here. I've
never had any desire to run the hold," Kobias replied.

Demir merely nodded smiling at his brother then turned back to Lord
Zathris to await his decision. There were several things he wanted to
take care of here if possible before he and Kobias had to return to
Green Valley for their fathers services.

"Keep in mind, Kobias, that by giving up this right, you also give up
the right of your children to inherit the hold directly. Do you so
forgo that entitlement?" It was a question that often gave men more
pause than giving up the hold itself. That didn't mean their children
couldn't inherit, but it did mean that another man's children would be
first in line. Zathris new that while some men didn't particularly
want to Hold, the idea that their children would be denied that
opportunity sometimes struck a chord with them.

In his mind, he really had no plans to have children or even marry, so
this question didn't phase him. He'd devoted his life to his craft and
had already seen that love didn't seem to sit well with that choice.
He didn't expect anything to change in his future. "I do. If I'd ever
have children they would know that I made this choice for the right
reasons and I would support them in what choices they would need to
make in their own lives."

"Then, Kobias, let it be witnessed and recorded." At that, Zathris'
gaze shifted to Crolarin. "Crolarin, please draw up the proper
contract and have them sign it, then record it with the Hall. At that
point, Demir, you will officially take your place as Holder."

Crolarin had already started writing the contract as they spoke. The
penmanship was elegant, one of his true skills, and he murmured his
acknowledgement as he made the finishing touches and then scanned over
it to make sure there were no errors. "It is ready, My Lord." Shards,
but he hated that phrase... He cleared his throat. "We'll need your
seal afterwards and I'll send it to the Hall."

"Thank you," Demir replied with a polite smile and drew the document
towards him to sign then pushed it towards Kobias. He took a deep
breath and smiled at Zathris. At the next gather he would make his
public pledge and then all he had to do was fulfill his fathers
bequest. That sounded easier than he actually though it was going to
be.

Last updated on the April 23rd 2014

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Petition to Hold