OOC: Log
Minka, at the Herder Hall on an errand, bumps into Kahlis.
Courtyard
Slate grey stone forms an even surface, with no stray pebbles to bruise runners' hooves. Scattered around the courtyard's edges, the occasional tree or bush brightens the deadening effect of the rock's expanse. Twin planters, with convenient handles, frame the main Hall's doors, filled with saffron and argent flowers as the season and weather permits. Placed just above the entrance, a ledge offers a perch to firelizards in need of one, large enough to hold a fair without seeming too crowded. Sturdy rings of iron are placed here and there upon the walls of the building, allowing the secure tying of runners and other creatures who might require it. Towards the northeast a path leads off to a... [look closer]
It is a winter before dawn.
Standing quietly is Black Ice.
Gliding above is a blue firelizard.
You see Contessa, Flamer Shed, and Tristrian here.
You notice Jyrol, Soliel, Iqe, and Myra asleep here.
Kahlis is here.
Obvious exits:
Pastures Smithy Main Hall Keroon Road
Kahlis walks in from the east, a staff in his hand. Holding a hand to his eyes to block the sun, he spots a young girl alone in the courtyard. Approaching, he asks in a comforting voice, "Is anything the matter?" he smiles sightly, leaning on his staff
Minka is standing in the paved courtyard, one arm folded across her waist, the other stretched out, fingertips coming into contact with the foliage in one planter - lingering atop the gren surface of one leaf in particular. She bends over, head tipped a little closer, gaze narrowing in on the leaf. Her focus is broken off completely as a voice resounds. Whirling, she gathers her skirts and clears her throat slightly, managing a smile, "Not at all." She now raises the same hand to her chest, patting below her throat slightly, "Just deep in though, it all." She smiles, "The plants look like something is eating them away, but I can't find any trace of bugs at all." She guestures towards the plant in question, gaze turned upon that one leaf yet again.
Kahlis nods slowly as the girl responds, taking an honest look at the plants in question. Walking a few paces slowly around the encropment of foliage in question. Impressed with the girl's interest in such matters he blurts out, "Parhaps it was not a bug that ate it." he grins, gesturing silently toward the pastures. "Are you a student of such things?" he asks softly, removing his hood.
Minka follows Kahlis' gesture out towards the pasture, "Perhaps. Though I'd like to see a runner chew on a leaf quite so nimbly as to warrant that small a size of bitemarks, don't you agree?" She takes a step forward, securing the stem of the leaf between thumb and index finger, gently pulling it up, "Whatever creature it is, it's tiny." She releases it now, watching it spring back into it's natural position, lips pursing in thought. She turns back to the man, "Well, not of plants or herbs, as such - But I do take an interest in learning their care and properties in my studies." She pauses, then continues explanatorily, "Actually, I train here at Ista as a headwoman." As the hood is removed, the young woman offers a polite nod in formal introduction, "I'm Minka."
Kahlis looks around thoughtfully, agreeing that the suggestion of the runner was mere foolishness. Shrugging a little he admits, "I'm afraid I don't have much of a green thumb.. although I've enjoyed woodworking, but I supposed that isn't the same thing." he laughs a bit, and correcting his posture and offering his hand to the girl in greeting. "I am Kahlis"
Minka smiles, arms now loosely folded across her chest, "Ah, well - I can't say I do myself, but I've been noticing something is giving these poor plants a hard time. Not that it matters, since these are only for show. Now if it were the herbs under attack by some hungry beast it would draw some attention." As if dismissing the plants now, she settles her attention primarily on Kahlis, "Well, I suppose when you think about it they are related. But I believe Ista's gardeners rather focus on keeping the plants alive.. Rather than chopping them down." The comment comes across rather bluntly, though the smile still touches Min's lips. The proffered hand is taken and shook gently, Minka repeating, "Kahlis." She nods, adding, "Well met then, Kahlis. I can't say I've seen you about much, are you from the Hold proper?" She muses over the hood now, gaze locking onto it for a few moments.
Kahlis nods slowly and thoughtfully over ther herbs for a minute or so before turning his attention back to the question raised, "Well, I'm with smithcraft, I'm not sure if it's proper or not." he chuckles a little bit, but realizing it was a bad joke he continues, "I was just going for a morning walk. To get my mind off my work, you know." he squints a bit, looking around "I must admit I'm not quite awake."
Minka laughs, despite the bad joke. She nods, inclining her head slightly, "Smithcraft, really?" The latter comment lingers a little, drawn out slightly, Minka still looking at the hood, "Apprentice then?" She turns her gaze on his shoulder now, eyes seeking out the tell-tale knot, though failing to find one, "Or senior?" She pauses, questioningly - only remarking hurriedly, "I'm just here on an errand. Your herbs are precisely the reason we are here. Unfortunately not all of them prosper so well initially in the humidity at Ista, so we get the seedlings from here." She repeats it all in a factual tone, sounding really as if it had been something taught to her in detail, "Ah, well a good brisk walk should do that - Trust me, I do know the feeling. We left before dawn to get here."
Kahlis grins once more, "That's right. I'm just feeling out the trade for now. I've recently been through some personal troubles, or, rather, family troubles. Trying to clear my head, keep my hands busy, that sort of thing!" he looks around, "I find actually wandering when my mind is keeps me sane." he shakes his head a little bit, rubbing his eyes with his index fingers, perking at the word 'we', he states calmy "I see, so you're waiting for someone?" he looks around, smiling.
Minka nods, fingertips moving now, hands delving into pockets disguised by the folds in her skirt, "I see." She resists the urge, but the temptation to gossip and pry and been bred into her for the last sixteen turns or so, "Well I should hope they are clearing up now.." She lingers, averting her gaze so as not to pry into his affairs, settling back on the plant, "Well, yes - Wouldn't have come to far on my own. I suppose you could look at it as I can with a... Mentor? Yes, mentor fits. Her name is Jezji. She's about somewhere, though I do admit I seemed to have wandered a little far from the Hold itself." She looks back in the direction from whence she came, continuing, "Though I don't expect we'll be departing 'till well past midday at any rate." She turns back, "So, do you think you'll stay with the craft then? I daresay the work will keep you thoroughly busy!"
Kahlis leans down on his staff once more, grinning and nodding as if to shake off the weight of the statement, "Oh, they'ved cleared up, you could say." he chuckles a little sadly, "Death, you know. It's all in the living." feeling lazy, he rocks back and forth on his staff a bit. "I mean, it's not up the the dead to clear up the affairs of dying." he nods knowlingly, pausing and saying heartfully "But I'm quite alright. Just, you know, walking around." Looking down at the ground for a moment he looks up directly at the girl. "So what sort of errand are YOU running? he says with a heavy grin.
Minka looks back towards Kahlis, apologising, "Oh I am sorry - Forgive my manner, but I'm afraid it' a little early for both of us." She offers him a broad smile, reserved only for those she fears she's offended, completely changing the subject by launching into another sentence, "Actually, I've been rather pleased this week. My mother brought my two new siblings over. Twins! The pair of them are quite sweet, managed themselves the blonde hair on my father's side. Whilst I was stuck with my mother's brown hair and brown eyes." She gestures towards them, laughing good-naturedly, "She's been at Fort, it's nice to have them back at Ista for the meanwhile. Those twins are absolute terrors, though - entering that lovely toddler stage where they insist upon defying /everything/." She then pauses, listening to his question and replying with discomfort, "Well, to be completely truthful, I'm actually not doing much at all right now. Jez asked to wait in the courtyard whilst she took care of the conveyment arrangements, so I decided to take a look for myself."
Kahlis nods, listening to the girl's story. "That's fantastic. I'm an lonely child myself, so I can hardly relate, I must admit. I can't imagine having siblings, really. Having other people around so much like me? It'd be a little terrible, I'd think.." he grins at her honesty, "Im not doing too much myself."
Minka smiles, idly pulling a loose strand from the cuff of her shirt, "Well if you ever find yourself on the shores of Ista Island, make sure you head to the Hold. My family might not be there all the time, but I've a pair of nannies from my days as a Hold child that serve just as well." A voice from outside the courtyard greets her ears, the young woman turning to happen on a young boy who stops at her feet, "Oh, miss are ya' Minka?" Minka looks a little perplexed, nodding, "Yes?" The boy practically hops, "Oi, well a lady by tha' name of Jezji is lookin' for ya'." Minka startles some, hurriedly looking back towards Kahlis, "Please excuse me, I'd best be on way. Jezji is an impatient woman!" She bows her head politely, "It was a pleasure meeting you, Kahlis. All the best for your future in the Smithcraft." She then turns, tapping the young boy on the shoulder, "Right then young man, if you'd kindly show me the way back. There's a sweet in it for you." With that she sets off after the young lad, who eagerly leads her from the courtyard.
Kahlis nods quickly, "Thank you, Same to you. See you around."