A Delivery

[E]

Shari leaned heavily on the cane as she limped down the hall, carefully looking for the right number on the apartment doors. It had taken a lot of convincing on her part for Papa to let her deliver the precious bags to the Journeyman. Conaire himself had been so busy, and every time he was with her seemed stressed about one thing or another. A unique child herself, she could easily tell someone needed to help. Why he hadn't yet found the right harpers to trust with his secrets she couldn't tell, but she was pleased she knew more than most. Mostly about what it was she now carried, carefully clutched to her body as she moved slowly along.

Finding the apartment door she had been seeking, she stopped and turned to it. Waiting a moment to catch her breath and straighten her shirt, she finally reached up a tiny hand and knocked softly on the door. What if he wasn't there? She hated the idea of having to walk all the way down here and back again without being able to help her Papa.

[dragonmenta]

Laurian put down his gitar as he heard a knock on the door. He had a tinglign feeling to who it might be. He opened the door, vaguely recognizing the visitor. "Hello m'lady, you are sent here by Conaire?" He looked at her for a moment and noticed her cane. "Come in, come in." He stepped aside of the threshold.

"Now, to what do i owe this visit miss..." He realized he didn't know her name and waited for it to be supplied.

[E]

Shari smiled relieved up at the man who answered the door. The girl was small for even her scant seven turns, but due to her handicap she had matured faster than most children. Nodding at his first question, she did not hesitate to walk thru the open door into the man?s apartment. Looking around curiously, she took her time turning back to him.

"My name is Shari. Its nice to meet you Journeyman Laurian. Master Conaire did ask me to come and to give you some more directions." Just like her great-grandfather, she held out a hand politely to the man. Her eyes, however, wandered around the room again, both to make sure it was empty as well as to look for a chair to sit in.

[dragonmenta]

He smiled at the young girl. She was probably only a few turns older than his own daughter. "Miss Shari" He filled in.

He was glad that Master Conaire had sent some more directions because he had become a little, while not imaptient than certainly anticipating of more news to this secret delivery he was to make. He glanced aroudn the room too, following her eyes, "My wife and children have gone out for now, we're alone." He at first found it a little odd talking this way with a girl, but she really seemed so mature.

"Now, what were these instructions the master had for me?" He asked, after shaking her hand he motioned the girl to sit down in the nearest chair. He seated himself in the one opposite it.

[E]

Leaning her cane against the chair, she used both hands to pull herself into it before she flipped around to appear to be sitting as normal as any other person would in a chair, her deformed hip not at all noticeable. Grabbing the three thongs around her neck, she pulled them out ever so gently as three strange looking bags followed.

"Well you have to be very gentle with these, they will break easy." She said as she put them in her lap, holding one out to Laurian. "If you look at the bags, there are two sides, one thin and made of silk, and the other is a very thick hide. You have to wear them with the silk against your skin while you have them." She said as she picked up another one to show him the different sides and demonstrated how it went around her neck and hung correctly even though she showed it above her shirt. "See?"

Taking it off again, she handed the second one to him as she opened a small bag she had also carried slung over her shoulder. Inside were two scrolls, each with the MasterHarpers mark in the wax upon them. "You give this one with the red wax to the Lord along with the two slightly larger bags. The one with the cream wax goes to the Master Yeltin with the smaller bag." As she spoke she handed over the scrolls and the last bag almost reluctantly. There was only one other delivery she would have to make and she was a little sad, like any child would be, to give away every last treasure her Papa had received.

"I think that's about it." She said as she slowly slid from the chair again, her hands clutching the seat to steady herself as she reached out for her cane once again. Looking back up at the man, lap now full of his delivery, she smiled at him. "Please be careful with them. It means a lot to Papa. A lot to me too."

[dragonmenta]

Laurian watched the girl with interest as she carefully pulled out the three bags tied by leather thongs. He nodded, "Of course," And took the first one gingerly. He stuidied it for a moment before setting it lightly on the table next to them. Once she had explained how to where them he put the first around his neck, silk side against his skin, as she had shown him. He tuntied the first again and laid it back on the table. He took the other ones as well and did the same.

The scrolls were no problem, he caried hides and documents with him all the time in a tough but protective leather case. He committed the instructions to memorie, 'Red to Lord Galeden, Cream to Yeltin.' He handled the last, smaller bag even more carefully and laid it down gently on top of the other two. He held the crolls in his lap. Well, this didn't seem to hard.

But even he, who would usually just obey and not ask questions was a little curious. "may i ask anything about these deliveries...what are they that i am to take to Keroon?" He didn't really expect an answer and wouldn't press for one, but he would be interested to know what these five items were that seemed such an important responsbility.

He moved to help Shari up and opened the door for her. "I shall protect them as i would my children," And that meant alot.

[E]

"I can't believe Papa didn't tell you!" she said, finally looking like the seven turns she really was. Motioning for him to lean closer, she did her best to tiptoe with her deformed hip as she spoke softly into his ear.

"They are firelizard eggs. Papa said my uncle found them at Ista. He is a harper there you know." Smiling at him again she turned to leave, but stopped just before. "Papa said he'd let me have one too, if uncle finds another clutch."

All smiles now that she had reminded herself that she too might one day be able to watch one of those eggs hatch, she made her way down the hallway back to Conaire's office.

[dragonmenta]

luairan was left with his mouth open as the little girl left theroom. Fire lizard eggs! He hadn't ever imagined...although he guessed inly the lords and masters would be getting any. Well, he would certainly deliver these little treasures with care. He bid Shari farwell and sat down to think.