Well uhh.. they didn't tithe this time around
Jolak, Dalanor, Thirry
High Reaches Wery Living Cavern
Sleeplessness brings 3 young people into the Living Cavern when everyone else is asleep, in search of a snack and a drink and results in some very interesting conversation
Restless and unable to sleep Thirion has padded quietly down to the kitchen to see if there is anything to nibble on to quiet the rumble in her stomach. Trill her gold firelizard cheeples quietly in her ear in anticipation of a snack too. Finding a pot of klah on the hearth and a somewhat dry meatroll nearby, she moves into the living cavern and settles herself into a chair near the dully glowing embers of the fire, and pulls her feet up beneath her to enjoy her snack in the quiet of the room.
Thirion is not alone in the restless wanderings of the night, for yet another individual appears from the lower caverns, dressed in loose garments almost made wearing within a cot than strolling around in. Even the young man's hair is scruffy, bed ridden at best at the way some of the sandy blonde jerks in spikes at the sides. Fingers pinch the bridge of his nose as he squints away the ache in between his eyes, the ache coming from lack of sleep and the need for it. His arm swishes at his side in slight irritation of the whole ordeal, deciding to find a good drink, though whether it will help him or not is another question entirely. In due time he makes for whatever warmth there is left in the hearths, and that's when he spots another figure bundled up beside one.
Thirry looks up warily as she senses someone else near her and settle near the fire. Looking across she sees a shaggy looking adolescent male settle himself, and fervently hopes its not a dragon rider. After her encounter with Madison she’s not at all sure she wants to be close to one in the middle of the night for fear of possible ‘attachments’ she is quite unprepared for.
Balancing the steaming mug of tea, yes tea, the young man side glances at Thirion as he draws the liquid to his lips, eyes readjusting slowly with the added light of the hearth. When his quiet sips finish, he casts a smile over at Thirion, sensing the unease by the wary gaze she gives him. There's no telling what it could mean, but his evident friendly smile - gap tooth and all - should ease some of the tension. Fingers tap alongside the edges of the mug before he shifts, "I hope you don't mind... if I sit here. If you rather I didn't..." he leaves off, taking another sip with his studious gaze remaining firm upon Thirion.
Thirry chances a direct look at the young man addressing her and is relieved to note that he doesn’t /look/ threatening, though looks can be deceiving. “Er, no, its fine, this /is/ a public place after all. Couldn’t sleep either?” she asks hesitantly, not sure whether to engage him in conversation or not.
A whistling can be heard faintly in the caverns which lead to the bowl. Its a familiar tune to very few for it is not a teaching song.
The familiar whistle brings Thirry to her feet in one swift movement, staring incredulously at entryway to the Living cavern from where the sound seems to be coming. “Dalanor?”
The young fellow blows over the rim of his mug, diverting some of the steam away from him to take another sip, and when Thirion responds, he settles the mug lower - ready to do the same. His mouth opens for it, shaking his head as he replies with a sense of ease now that the girl isn't going to thrash him for sitting there, "No, not tonight or the night before..." He shifts in his chair, ready to make an introduction when he's brought to an abrupt halt when Thirion leaps to her feet, the young man's eyes widen at the rapid change - stupefied, really.
Thirry looks quickly down at the young man noting his surprise at her sudden leap upward. “Its my brother, Dalanor. It /has/ to be, he’s the only one who knows /my/ song” she crows excitedly, her smile wide and brown eyes bright.
Dalanor does indeed come in from the corridor, a brown and a green fire lizard leaving his shoulders to intercept Thirion. "Ahh just so." He's smiling amusedly. "I'd heard you were sent to the Reaches of Pern." He glances to the rest, offering them a slight bow. "Good evening everyone." My but he seems awake for this ungodly hour.
"Alright..." he says slowly, not knowing the girl enough to make sense of her excitement, shrugging to himself about the entire ordeal, deciding to sip more of the honey spiced tea down - hoping it will eventually help him sleep. Apparently the embers in the hearth have no lasting amusement for him, so his attention swings back toward Thirion and another gentlemen who identifies himself as the girl's brother. The bow catches Jolak, the boy quick to spot a knot on Dalanor's shoulder. An easy response finds the man, "Evening, Harper."
Thirry rushes forward toward adopted brother just as Trill leaves her shoulder and greets Naia and Klah excitedly in the air, doing aerial gymnastics together.
Flinging herself into his arms and hugging him tightly, she suddenly realizes that she is neither alone with him and that she can’t even introduce the young man near her as she doesn’t even know his name. Extricating herself from Dalanor’s hug, she turns toward the other. “Er, Dalanor, this is….. “ and waits for him to fill in his name. “This is my adopted brother Dalanor,” she giggles weakly for her embarrassing show of affection, “as you may have guessed.” And pulls her brother down into a chair next to her.
Dalanor is encouraged into a chair with a tug and a pull with a bright laugh. "Easy, Ri. If you pull too hard I'll crack my head like an egg on this floor!" But he makes it into the chair easily enough. He watches the trio of fire lizards commence with the chattings with a faint shake of his head before looking to Jolak with a hand idly left on Thirion's arm. "Evening,...?" He lets the lingered pause ask the question for him.
Jolak isn't the type to be abashed by watching such affections, quiet the opposite really - for it doesn't even seem to phase him in the slightest. "Jolak," the young man straightens, "though, most just stick me with Joe," he smirks as he regards Thirion afterwards, as if expecting someone to fill in for him her name of all things. "High Reaches duties to the Hall, by and by," he immediately drops the formalities with his next, "Adopted...? Hrm, sounds like a story behind that to me," he admits, head canted expectantly.
Still flushed by the unexpected arrival of her brother, Thirry turns to Jolak apologetically. “Sorry, Joe, I’m Thirion, though most people call me Thirry, and for /very/ special people, Ri.” She says, giving Dalanor’s arm a quick squeeze, indicating that that name is reserved especially for his use. “Well, yes there is a story to the ‘adopted’ part,” not offering any further explanation just then.
Dalanor glances to Thirion with a warm smile before returning his attention to Jolak. "Harper's to yours, Jolak. Joe, if you prefer, it shall be. Not a rider, then. A hopeful perhaps?" He cants his head slightly with the query while gesturing to the fair to come down from their cavorting and land. His lap is promptly inundated with wings which he settles with some efficiency. Trill, the gold looking to Thirion, is given due affection with a rubbing behind her eye ridges.
Jolak eases another hot sip down his throat before setting the mug between his hands, warming them as he considers restocking the hearth. One look this way and one the other doesn't turn up any living cavern workers, hence with a sliding grait of clothes against the chair, he stands, setting his mug on a near by end table. Knowing where to look for the bundle of wood, he grabs a few logs, returning to fill the hearth with them - stacking them just right so the last of the fire would start a new. Not so long after he is back in his seat, offering to Thirion, "Ah, I wouldn't worry too much.. it's late after all, and your brother is here," he absently turns the mug in his hands then, watching the fresh logs catch. "That's fine," he murmurs to Dalanor, adding a shrug afterward, "No, not a rider. There is a possibility, since I've been born and raised in a Weyr, but that's a given for all weyrbrats."
Thirry turns to Jolak with keen interest. “You’re raised in a Weyr? This one?” and holds out her hands to renewed blaze from the hearth. “I’ve been very rude, sorry Joe, but what /do/ you do here if you’re not a candidate yet?” she asks, picking up her cup of klah again and sipping the cooling contents contentedly, idly noticing the gap in his front teeth, politely waiting for him to answer. Then she turns to their previous conversation before Dalanor whistled himself into the room. “You said you hadn’t slept in 2 nights, why is that? - sorry all these questions, but I’m just naturally inquisitive.” She quirks a lopsided smile at him.
Dalanor contents himself with giving affection to three lizards with two hands. No easy feat to be sure. The soft smile on his face and glint in his eye says there's some amusement at the whole situation. "Thank you, Joe. For the fire. The sweater is warm but I really should have planned ahead a little better if I was coming to Reaches."
"Um..." he blinks once to regain his thoughts as he pulls the mug away from his lips, "yeah. High Reaches for five turns actually, a few others before hand." He stares at them curiously, wondering if they think him strange, scratching his head with a sudden smirk on his face, "Not all weyrbrats get to stand.. of course that's what most of our parents want and all, but sometimes there just isn't a dragon out there. So we do have to find other ... things to do. I myself, help out the headwoman and the head handyman - since we don't have a steward.. I help with the tithes and the store rooms. Counting, hauling, stocking, fixing.. you name it, I'll get it done. Then there's other duties if no one else can get to them. Changing out glows and such..." he shrugs, eyes flashing toward Dalanor, "Welcome. We've got to use more wood now.. than the coal.." He shifts in the chair under further questioning from Thirry, "No no.. it's okay, what good would you be .. a harper? without being inquisitive?" A pause before he explains in a few words, "This whole Crom thing is part of it."
Thirry smiles over at Jolak, her dimples showing in her round cheeks, “Well, actually that’s why I’m here,” she explains, “Journeywoman Emmi sent me here to dig into the records to find out which areas historically High Reaches Weyr covered as regards Crom. I believe there was a huge mix-up during the last threadfall over that area, with Telgar arriving at the same time as High Reaches. Masterharper Rodric is trying to help the weyrs and Crom decide who should cover which areas. “ she turns to Dalanor then, “why are you here brother?”
Dalanor is listening to the explanations of both.. or maybe he's ignoring them in favor of the fire lizards. "Hmm? Oh, just touring High Reaches sweep area. Talking to people. Getting a feel. Was out at Tillek a few weeks ago and saw my folks. They missed my knotting so I thought I'd pay my respects. The riders here have been real good about getting me around." He recognizes this with another nod towards Jolak. "Ironically, I'd not yet been to the weyr so I thought I'd come see the place. Haven't been here since I played at the last hatching."
"Oh really? The harper hall is helping out...but..." he frowns as his brows sink in concentration, his finger popping up to gesture that he's got a point to raise, which he hesistates on for a moment before sputtering out, "Isn't that going to...make the Hall appear if they are siding with this Weyr? I mean, sending harpers here.. then again, if they sent them to Telgar to do the same thing.." he shakes his head, "I think the Weyr's just baffled as to why Crom would jump ship. It's just gotten everyone down, especially with winter coming along." An extended pause allows the other two their words, then of course when Dalanor speaks of playing at the last hatching, Joe squints, "You played at that one? Sorry that I can't remember it -- your playing, that is."
“Joe, we’re not siding with either weyr, when I’m done here, I may be sent to Telgar, if Master Rodric hasn’t already sent someone else over there to do the same thing. We’re just trying to get to the bottom of the whole debacle so as to prevent it happening again is all.” She leans forward earnestly toward Jolak as if trying to make her point more clear. “Pern needs every dragon and rider we have as you well know, so if our efforts from the Harper Hall can help prevent future ‘accidents’ then its worth it.” Thirry leans back in her chair then and pats her shoulder to call Trill back to her, a little put out that she seems to content in Dalanor’s lap.
"Well no, I wouldn't expect the Hall too..." he tilts his head, "it could just be construed that way is all...Especially by those Holders.." he says with a flash of exasperation mixed into his tone. His eyes watch Thirry lean toward him, his bottom lip tightening as she mentions the accidents that hit both Weyrs hard - and everyone who resides within the walls. "The Weyrs should be thankful then, for the help in that..." he peers down into his mug, having gotten chills just from the recollection of that day.
Dalanor, instead, hefts Klah and Naiah over onto Thirry's lap to let her do some catching up with his pair. They don't complain about it, looking up at her with pleading eyes that say 'love me'. He looks to Jolak then. "Crom jumping ship? Are they looking to fall under Telgar then?"
Jolak regards Dalanor, a little startled at the question, "Well uhh.. they didn't tithe this time around... I'm not too sure if it went to Telgar or not, but I've heard on the grape vine that it did. Riders have been talking about it, with vehemence. I mean, we've a bigger use for coal and wool in particular.. and the riders who've went to Telgar say they're overloaded with those supplies now because of the tithe. So yeah, Crom is parting ways... leaving us in the cold."
Opening her arms Thirry accepts the trio of firelizards, pursing her lips at Dalanor in mock exasperation and continues where he left off caressing them, careful not to give Naia and Klah more attention than Trill. “Apparently Crom have been extending their mining operations beyond the usual areas covered by High Reaches, and weren’t prepared to ‘rein in’ so to speak when advised to do so, which left some areas unprotected by High Reaches. So, when thread fell, Crom called for Telgar to help without High Reaches knowledge. It seems Crom want to the best of both weyrs, which doesn’t work does it?” she turns down her mouth in disgust at the Crom holders.
"Interesting." Dalanor offers enigmatically. "And of course with it being Interval, even with the unpredictable comet Fall, they're using it as an excuse to expand their Holding and mining. Tell me, what do the neighboring Holds think of this? I can't imagine Crom can just start expanding without making a neighbor nervous."
Jolak gives the floor to Thirion on that one, not so well versed in the Hold politics as older members of the Weyr are. In the mean time Joe sips on the tea that is getting to the point where he can drink it with out having to worry about burning his tongue off.
“Crom didn’t tithe to High Reaches?” Thirry is aghast at that. “Is that why you’re reduced to burning wood instead of blackstone?” she shakes her head in disbelief moving to the edge of her chair in agitation. “Well, I’d better double my efforts in the records room then and try to find /something/ to balance the situation again. Dalanor, can you help me, or do you have to go somewhere else on Harper Hall business? Ywain has the teaching to do as well, so he can’t help as much as he’d like to I’m sure.” The firelizards, sensing her tension and dismay flutter to their feet, Naia and Klah returning to Dalanor and Trill taking up her usual place on Thirry’s shoulder.
"No... A few of the riders come back from the hatching party there were muttering about the Tithe from Crom in which Gay accepted. The headwoman heard of it too, said she was outraged that Telgar would be putting the supplies in back up storages rather than parting with it - sharing it, with Reaches.. I mean, our riders did go out and fight thread over Crom too." Joe sighs, sinking a little in his chair, a quiet nod of his chin given, "Yeah. Even that we don't have much of.. Crom supplies a lot of the wood too. This winter is going to be tougher, that's for sure."
Dalanor lifts a hand as if to try to calm Thirion. "Hey slow down. I'm here. Time to spare. Of course I can help. Best thing to do in this situation is to keep a level head." Now that he's free of lizards, he leans back into his chair and sinks into thought.
“Does Masterharper Rodric know of this?” Thirry demands of Jolak, then considering her question and the very recently acquired knowledge of the tithe situation, she answers herself, “I suppose its too soon for him to know, unless of course he was at the hatching too.” She leans back in her chair too, suddenly feeling very tired and dejected and needing to sleep on the information she’s inadvertently uncovered.
As Dalanor goes into thought, Jolak pushes out of his seat, taking his mug of tea with him. "Thirry, Dalanor, pleasure to meet you both. I hope it gets settled out, this whole Crom thing - before the first snow fall. The trains won't get through otherwise.." Jolak straightens when Thirry asks demandingly of him, his shoulders quick to bounce up, "He should! I don't know, I'm just a kid who works in the lower caverns of the Reaches... I wouldn't even begin to guess at what the Masterharper should or would already know." He seems to get a little tense, trying to shake it off with a shift in his stance, "Sorry. It's just getting under everyone's skin... because everyone knows the scarifices we'll have to make without coal.." He rubs his temple with the heel of his free hand, "I should try sleeping again, before they start having me guard the stores," he says in jest, though the tired tone he holds makes it sound bland and sarcastic. "More wood is just over there if you intend on staying, otherwise, good night." With that, the boy makes jerky movements to leave the immediate scene, off to find a bed to crash into.
Dalanor is tapping quietly at his knee when Jolak gets up. Quickly rising from his chair, he smiles to the fellow and extends his hand. "Pleased to meet you, Jolak. Never fear, Ri is tenacious and I've been known to ferret a notion or two myself. We'll get to the bottom of this."
“Bye Joe, hope you can get some sleep. Maybe I’ll see you sometime when we’re not both busy/busy.” She calls to him and waves her fingers at him. Lowering her voice, although there is no one else in sight, Thirry leans in toward Dalanor, “We /have/ to find out what’s going on here, Dal, I can’t imagine what it could be like in deep winter here without proper stores, and she shivers slightly, underscoring her words.
Dalanor takes a deep breath before looking back to Thirry with a reassuring smile. "We will, Ri. Though I may not get to stick here at Reaches to help you. I'll bet you credits on Bitran odds that the Harper will send me to Telgar to look into this and keep you here." This brings a darkening of his mood and he moves over towards her. "Which means while I wait for that reply, we need to make the most of my time here." Grinning, he gestures about. "I'm sure you've learned the lay of the land. Show me something grand."
With a forebearing frown Thirry looks up at Dalanor, “Its night time, I can’t show you the view, and I’ve only been here a few days, most of which have been in the records room, so you’ll have to wait until morning, then we can both take an hour off after breakfast and explore before I have to get into the dusty records again. Its ever cold in there” she continues, “but I have my extra warm jersey you made me,” and she holds out her arms to give him a better view. “Right now though I’m for my warm bed.”
Dalanor ahhs, then hmms. "That's a point. Is there a spare room in their Harper nook? Or cot? I got here so late I didn't even think about it. I'd hate to wake anyone..." He looks about, glances to the hearth, then shrugs. "I'll figure something out. You go to bed. I'll see you in the morning."
Chuckling at Dalanor’s accommodation dilemma she says, “There are guest rooms upstairs - that’s where I sleep. Lets go take a look and see if there’s a spare room for you up there.” She takes his hand and leads him out of the living cavern and up the stairs toward the resident’s quarters, yawning mightily.
High Reaches Wery Living Cavern
Sleeplessness brings 3 young people into the Living Cavern when everyone else is asleep, in search of a snack and a drink and results in some very interesting conversation
Restless and unable to sleep Thirion has padded quietly down to the kitchen to see if there is anything to nibble on to quiet the rumble in her stomach. Trill her gold firelizard cheeples quietly in her ear in anticipation of a snack too. Finding a pot of klah on the hearth and a somewhat dry meatroll nearby, she moves into the living cavern and settles herself into a chair near the dully glowing embers of the fire, and pulls her feet up beneath her to enjoy her snack in the quiet of the room.
Thirion is not alone in the restless wanderings of the night, for yet another individual appears from the lower caverns, dressed in loose garments almost made wearing within a cot than strolling around in. Even the young man's hair is scruffy, bed ridden at best at the way some of the sandy blonde jerks in spikes at the sides. Fingers pinch the bridge of his nose as he squints away the ache in between his eyes, the ache coming from lack of sleep and the need for it. His arm swishes at his side in slight irritation of the whole ordeal, deciding to find a good drink, though whether it will help him or not is another question entirely. In due time he makes for whatever warmth there is left in the hearths, and that's when he spots another figure bundled up beside one.
Thirry looks up warily as she senses someone else near her and settle near the fire. Looking across she sees a shaggy looking adolescent male settle himself, and fervently hopes its not a dragon rider. After her encounter with Madison she’s not at all sure she wants to be close to one in the middle of the night for fear of possible ‘attachments’ she is quite unprepared for.
Balancing the steaming mug of tea, yes tea, the young man side glances at Thirion as he draws the liquid to his lips, eyes readjusting slowly with the added light of the hearth. When his quiet sips finish, he casts a smile over at Thirion, sensing the unease by the wary gaze she gives him. There's no telling what it could mean, but his evident friendly smile - gap tooth and all - should ease some of the tension. Fingers tap alongside the edges of the mug before he shifts, "I hope you don't mind... if I sit here. If you rather I didn't..." he leaves off, taking another sip with his studious gaze remaining firm upon Thirion.
Thirry chances a direct look at the young man addressing her and is relieved to note that he doesn’t /look/ threatening, though looks can be deceiving. “Er, no, its fine, this /is/ a public place after all. Couldn’t sleep either?” she asks hesitantly, not sure whether to engage him in conversation or not.
A whistling can be heard faintly in the caverns which lead to the bowl. Its a familiar tune to very few for it is not a teaching song.
The familiar whistle brings Thirry to her feet in one swift movement, staring incredulously at entryway to the Living cavern from where the sound seems to be coming. “Dalanor?”
The young fellow blows over the rim of his mug, diverting some of the steam away from him to take another sip, and when Thirion responds, he settles the mug lower - ready to do the same. His mouth opens for it, shaking his head as he replies with a sense of ease now that the girl isn't going to thrash him for sitting there, "No, not tonight or the night before..." He shifts in his chair, ready to make an introduction when he's brought to an abrupt halt when Thirion leaps to her feet, the young man's eyes widen at the rapid change - stupefied, really.
Thirry looks quickly down at the young man noting his surprise at her sudden leap upward. “Its my brother, Dalanor. It /has/ to be, he’s the only one who knows /my/ song” she crows excitedly, her smile wide and brown eyes bright.
Dalanor does indeed come in from the corridor, a brown and a green fire lizard leaving his shoulders to intercept Thirion. "Ahh just so." He's smiling amusedly. "I'd heard you were sent to the Reaches of Pern." He glances to the rest, offering them a slight bow. "Good evening everyone." My but he seems awake for this ungodly hour.
"Alright..." he says slowly, not knowing the girl enough to make sense of her excitement, shrugging to himself about the entire ordeal, deciding to sip more of the honey spiced tea down - hoping it will eventually help him sleep. Apparently the embers in the hearth have no lasting amusement for him, so his attention swings back toward Thirion and another gentlemen who identifies himself as the girl's brother. The bow catches Jolak, the boy quick to spot a knot on Dalanor's shoulder. An easy response finds the man, "Evening, Harper."
Thirry rushes forward toward adopted brother just as Trill leaves her shoulder and greets Naia and Klah excitedly in the air, doing aerial gymnastics together.
Flinging herself into his arms and hugging him tightly, she suddenly realizes that she is neither alone with him and that she can’t even introduce the young man near her as she doesn’t even know his name. Extricating herself from Dalanor’s hug, she turns toward the other. “Er, Dalanor, this is….. “ and waits for him to fill in his name. “This is my adopted brother Dalanor,” she giggles weakly for her embarrassing show of affection, “as you may have guessed.” And pulls her brother down into a chair next to her.
Dalanor is encouraged into a chair with a tug and a pull with a bright laugh. "Easy, Ri. If you pull too hard I'll crack my head like an egg on this floor!" But he makes it into the chair easily enough. He watches the trio of fire lizards commence with the chattings with a faint shake of his head before looking to Jolak with a hand idly left on Thirion's arm. "Evening,...?" He lets the lingered pause ask the question for him.
Jolak isn't the type to be abashed by watching such affections, quiet the opposite really - for it doesn't even seem to phase him in the slightest. "Jolak," the young man straightens, "though, most just stick me with Joe," he smirks as he regards Thirion afterwards, as if expecting someone to fill in for him her name of all things. "High Reaches duties to the Hall, by and by," he immediately drops the formalities with his next, "Adopted...? Hrm, sounds like a story behind that to me," he admits, head canted expectantly.
Still flushed by the unexpected arrival of her brother, Thirry turns to Jolak apologetically. “Sorry, Joe, I’m Thirion, though most people call me Thirry, and for /very/ special people, Ri.” She says, giving Dalanor’s arm a quick squeeze, indicating that that name is reserved especially for his use. “Well, yes there is a story to the ‘adopted’ part,” not offering any further explanation just then.
Dalanor glances to Thirion with a warm smile before returning his attention to Jolak. "Harper's to yours, Jolak. Joe, if you prefer, it shall be. Not a rider, then. A hopeful perhaps?" He cants his head slightly with the query while gesturing to the fair to come down from their cavorting and land. His lap is promptly inundated with wings which he settles with some efficiency. Trill, the gold looking to Thirion, is given due affection with a rubbing behind her eye ridges.
Jolak eases another hot sip down his throat before setting the mug between his hands, warming them as he considers restocking the hearth. One look this way and one the other doesn't turn up any living cavern workers, hence with a sliding grait of clothes against the chair, he stands, setting his mug on a near by end table. Knowing where to look for the bundle of wood, he grabs a few logs, returning to fill the hearth with them - stacking them just right so the last of the fire would start a new. Not so long after he is back in his seat, offering to Thirion, "Ah, I wouldn't worry too much.. it's late after all, and your brother is here," he absently turns the mug in his hands then, watching the fresh logs catch. "That's fine," he murmurs to Dalanor, adding a shrug afterward, "No, not a rider. There is a possibility, since I've been born and raised in a Weyr, but that's a given for all weyrbrats."
Thirry turns to Jolak with keen interest. “You’re raised in a Weyr? This one?” and holds out her hands to renewed blaze from the hearth. “I’ve been very rude, sorry Joe, but what /do/ you do here if you’re not a candidate yet?” she asks, picking up her cup of klah again and sipping the cooling contents contentedly, idly noticing the gap in his front teeth, politely waiting for him to answer. Then she turns to their previous conversation before Dalanor whistled himself into the room. “You said you hadn’t slept in 2 nights, why is that? - sorry all these questions, but I’m just naturally inquisitive.” She quirks a lopsided smile at him.
Dalanor contents himself with giving affection to three lizards with two hands. No easy feat to be sure. The soft smile on his face and glint in his eye says there's some amusement at the whole situation. "Thank you, Joe. For the fire. The sweater is warm but I really should have planned ahead a little better if I was coming to Reaches."
"Um..." he blinks once to regain his thoughts as he pulls the mug away from his lips, "yeah. High Reaches for five turns actually, a few others before hand." He stares at them curiously, wondering if they think him strange, scratching his head with a sudden smirk on his face, "Not all weyrbrats get to stand.. of course that's what most of our parents want and all, but sometimes there just isn't a dragon out there. So we do have to find other ... things to do. I myself, help out the headwoman and the head handyman - since we don't have a steward.. I help with the tithes and the store rooms. Counting, hauling, stocking, fixing.. you name it, I'll get it done. Then there's other duties if no one else can get to them. Changing out glows and such..." he shrugs, eyes flashing toward Dalanor, "Welcome. We've got to use more wood now.. than the coal.." He shifts in the chair under further questioning from Thirry, "No no.. it's okay, what good would you be .. a harper? without being inquisitive?" A pause before he explains in a few words, "This whole Crom thing is part of it."
Thirry smiles over at Jolak, her dimples showing in her round cheeks, “Well, actually that’s why I’m here,” she explains, “Journeywoman Emmi sent me here to dig into the records to find out which areas historically High Reaches Weyr covered as regards Crom. I believe there was a huge mix-up during the last threadfall over that area, with Telgar arriving at the same time as High Reaches. Masterharper Rodric is trying to help the weyrs and Crom decide who should cover which areas. “ she turns to Dalanor then, “why are you here brother?”
Dalanor is listening to the explanations of both.. or maybe he's ignoring them in favor of the fire lizards. "Hmm? Oh, just touring High Reaches sweep area. Talking to people. Getting a feel. Was out at Tillek a few weeks ago and saw my folks. They missed my knotting so I thought I'd pay my respects. The riders here have been real good about getting me around." He recognizes this with another nod towards Jolak. "Ironically, I'd not yet been to the weyr so I thought I'd come see the place. Haven't been here since I played at the last hatching."
"Oh really? The harper hall is helping out...but..." he frowns as his brows sink in concentration, his finger popping up to gesture that he's got a point to raise, which he hesistates on for a moment before sputtering out, "Isn't that going to...make the Hall appear if they are siding with this Weyr? I mean, sending harpers here.. then again, if they sent them to Telgar to do the same thing.." he shakes his head, "I think the Weyr's just baffled as to why Crom would jump ship. It's just gotten everyone down, especially with winter coming along." An extended pause allows the other two their words, then of course when Dalanor speaks of playing at the last hatching, Joe squints, "You played at that one? Sorry that I can't remember it -- your playing, that is."
“Joe, we’re not siding with either weyr, when I’m done here, I may be sent to Telgar, if Master Rodric hasn’t already sent someone else over there to do the same thing. We’re just trying to get to the bottom of the whole debacle so as to prevent it happening again is all.” She leans forward earnestly toward Jolak as if trying to make her point more clear. “Pern needs every dragon and rider we have as you well know, so if our efforts from the Harper Hall can help prevent future ‘accidents’ then its worth it.” Thirry leans back in her chair then and pats her shoulder to call Trill back to her, a little put out that she seems to content in Dalanor’s lap.
"Well no, I wouldn't expect the Hall too..." he tilts his head, "it could just be construed that way is all...Especially by those Holders.." he says with a flash of exasperation mixed into his tone. His eyes watch Thirry lean toward him, his bottom lip tightening as she mentions the accidents that hit both Weyrs hard - and everyone who resides within the walls. "The Weyrs should be thankful then, for the help in that..." he peers down into his mug, having gotten chills just from the recollection of that day.
Dalanor, instead, hefts Klah and Naiah over onto Thirry's lap to let her do some catching up with his pair. They don't complain about it, looking up at her with pleading eyes that say 'love me'. He looks to Jolak then. "Crom jumping ship? Are they looking to fall under Telgar then?"
Jolak regards Dalanor, a little startled at the question, "Well uhh.. they didn't tithe this time around... I'm not too sure if it went to Telgar or not, but I've heard on the grape vine that it did. Riders have been talking about it, with vehemence. I mean, we've a bigger use for coal and wool in particular.. and the riders who've went to Telgar say they're overloaded with those supplies now because of the tithe. So yeah, Crom is parting ways... leaving us in the cold."
Opening her arms Thirry accepts the trio of firelizards, pursing her lips at Dalanor in mock exasperation and continues where he left off caressing them, careful not to give Naia and Klah more attention than Trill. “Apparently Crom have been extending their mining operations beyond the usual areas covered by High Reaches, and weren’t prepared to ‘rein in’ so to speak when advised to do so, which left some areas unprotected by High Reaches. So, when thread fell, Crom called for Telgar to help without High Reaches knowledge. It seems Crom want to the best of both weyrs, which doesn’t work does it?” she turns down her mouth in disgust at the Crom holders.
"Interesting." Dalanor offers enigmatically. "And of course with it being Interval, even with the unpredictable comet Fall, they're using it as an excuse to expand their Holding and mining. Tell me, what do the neighboring Holds think of this? I can't imagine Crom can just start expanding without making a neighbor nervous."
Jolak gives the floor to Thirion on that one, not so well versed in the Hold politics as older members of the Weyr are. In the mean time Joe sips on the tea that is getting to the point where he can drink it with out having to worry about burning his tongue off.
“Crom didn’t tithe to High Reaches?” Thirry is aghast at that. “Is that why you’re reduced to burning wood instead of blackstone?” she shakes her head in disbelief moving to the edge of her chair in agitation. “Well, I’d better double my efforts in the records room then and try to find /something/ to balance the situation again. Dalanor, can you help me, or do you have to go somewhere else on Harper Hall business? Ywain has the teaching to do as well, so he can’t help as much as he’d like to I’m sure.” The firelizards, sensing her tension and dismay flutter to their feet, Naia and Klah returning to Dalanor and Trill taking up her usual place on Thirry’s shoulder.
"No... A few of the riders come back from the hatching party there were muttering about the Tithe from Crom in which Gay accepted. The headwoman heard of it too, said she was outraged that Telgar would be putting the supplies in back up storages rather than parting with it - sharing it, with Reaches.. I mean, our riders did go out and fight thread over Crom too." Joe sighs, sinking a little in his chair, a quiet nod of his chin given, "Yeah. Even that we don't have much of.. Crom supplies a lot of the wood too. This winter is going to be tougher, that's for sure."
Dalanor lifts a hand as if to try to calm Thirion. "Hey slow down. I'm here. Time to spare. Of course I can help. Best thing to do in this situation is to keep a level head." Now that he's free of lizards, he leans back into his chair and sinks into thought.
“Does Masterharper Rodric know of this?” Thirry demands of Jolak, then considering her question and the very recently acquired knowledge of the tithe situation, she answers herself, “I suppose its too soon for him to know, unless of course he was at the hatching too.” She leans back in her chair too, suddenly feeling very tired and dejected and needing to sleep on the information she’s inadvertently uncovered.
As Dalanor goes into thought, Jolak pushes out of his seat, taking his mug of tea with him. "Thirry, Dalanor, pleasure to meet you both. I hope it gets settled out, this whole Crom thing - before the first snow fall. The trains won't get through otherwise.." Jolak straightens when Thirry asks demandingly of him, his shoulders quick to bounce up, "He should! I don't know, I'm just a kid who works in the lower caverns of the Reaches... I wouldn't even begin to guess at what the Masterharper should or would already know." He seems to get a little tense, trying to shake it off with a shift in his stance, "Sorry. It's just getting under everyone's skin... because everyone knows the scarifices we'll have to make without coal.." He rubs his temple with the heel of his free hand, "I should try sleeping again, before they start having me guard the stores," he says in jest, though the tired tone he holds makes it sound bland and sarcastic. "More wood is just over there if you intend on staying, otherwise, good night." With that, the boy makes jerky movements to leave the immediate scene, off to find a bed to crash into.
Dalanor is tapping quietly at his knee when Jolak gets up. Quickly rising from his chair, he smiles to the fellow and extends his hand. "Pleased to meet you, Jolak. Never fear, Ri is tenacious and I've been known to ferret a notion or two myself. We'll get to the bottom of this."
“Bye Joe, hope you can get some sleep. Maybe I’ll see you sometime when we’re not both busy/busy.” She calls to him and waves her fingers at him. Lowering her voice, although there is no one else in sight, Thirry leans in toward Dalanor, “We /have/ to find out what’s going on here, Dal, I can’t imagine what it could be like in deep winter here without proper stores, and she shivers slightly, underscoring her words.
Dalanor takes a deep breath before looking back to Thirry with a reassuring smile. "We will, Ri. Though I may not get to stick here at Reaches to help you. I'll bet you credits on Bitran odds that the Harper will send me to Telgar to look into this and keep you here." This brings a darkening of his mood and he moves over towards her. "Which means while I wait for that reply, we need to make the most of my time here." Grinning, he gestures about. "I'm sure you've learned the lay of the land. Show me something grand."
With a forebearing frown Thirry looks up at Dalanor, “Its night time, I can’t show you the view, and I’ve only been here a few days, most of which have been in the records room, so you’ll have to wait until morning, then we can both take an hour off after breakfast and explore before I have to get into the dusty records again. Its ever cold in there” she continues, “but I have my extra warm jersey you made me,” and she holds out her arms to give him a better view. “Right now though I’m for my warm bed.”
Dalanor ahhs, then hmms. "That's a point. Is there a spare room in their Harper nook? Or cot? I got here so late I didn't even think about it. I'd hate to wake anyone..." He looks about, glances to the hearth, then shrugs. "I'll figure something out. You go to bed. I'll see you in the morning."
Chuckling at Dalanor’s accommodation dilemma she says, “There are guest rooms upstairs - that’s where I sleep. Lets go take a look and see if there’s a spare room for you up there.” She takes his hand and leads him out of the living cavern and up the stairs toward the resident’s quarters, yawning mightily.