A meeting with the Master Harper (Conaire)

[dragonmenta]

Laurian ran a hand through his short hair, repeating over in his head what he wanted out of the meeting. He needed a transfer, a ne w polacement to continue his Journeymanship after a quick break for the birth of his son, but he didn't want a small isolated hold like before. He had been working hard and he thought he was doing well enough to deserve a placement in a major hold...like Nerat...or Keroon. That would be nice, maybe other harpers to work with, more children to teach and for his own to grow up with. His wife could have some more women too socialize with. He was just sure it would be a better place for him. But, he would go where he was asked. He would go where Master Conaire told him to.

He cleared his throat after a moment, knocking softly, but firmly on the Master Harper's door. "Master Conaire, sir?" He called, "Could i pelase request an audience?"

[E]

Hearing a knock on the door, Conaire jumped, dropping the hot coal he had been carefully transferring to a pot under his desk and next to his feet. “Char it…” he mumbled to himself as he put the poker back to the fire place and, pulling out a kerchief, quickly moved the coal by hand so no more time would be wasted.

“Come in, Come in.” he called out cheerfully as he stuffed the kerchief into his pocket and picked up his mug of warm klah before sitting down in his seat and putting his feet next to the pot. Taking a sip, his eyebrows rose as he noticed the journeyman knots on the mans shoulders. Putting his cup back down, he stood back up and smiled offering a hand.

“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me… Journeyman Laurian. Am I right? Of course I am.” He said with a smile as he easily put the name with the friendly, helpful face that had now been helping the masters with there classes for two turns. “How may I help you?”

[dragonmenta]

The Journeyman walked in, taking in the Master's office in a moment. He ould ave it in his memory for later. He took the Harper's hand in his, shaking it firmly and respectfully. He nodded, "Your never, wrong, sir." He held his hands together, pausing fore a moment. He spoke softly, but in a way that was still heard and too the point, without the extra frippery of words that many harpers preffered. "As you may know, i've have been assistaing at the hall for a while. I do enjoy the teaching, but my son is now old enough to travel and i would like to continue my Journeyman training abroad." He smiled a little, as he spoke of his son, he had found parenting suited him, even if it had put his harpering at somewhat of a hold.

"I came to ask for a reassignment, a new posting, Master Conaire." He stated, wondering if the older man alreayd had any ideas for where he would like to go. "I was hoping that i could discuss the placement with you."

[E]

At the mention of the boy, the Master Harper could not help but appear completely enthralled in that topic and for all else could not seem as if he had heard the rest. Leaning forward excitedly he smiled at the Journeyman across from him.

"And how old is your son? What have you called him? Is he your first? Oh do tell me all about him." He said with his grandfatherly smile. Although he himself was already a great-grandfather, he was only now beginning to look the part as the grey hair has now taken over the majority of his long ponytail.

Realizing that he had completely ignored the rest of the questions, he silently kicked himself. No matter, though. There was plenty of time for that as he had planned to reassign many of the new journeyman around the gather simply so that their journey's would be half done with the companionship of others. If this man before him wished to go with his family, well the gather caravan would make the move easier anyhow.

[dragonmenta]

He smiled at the questions, he enjoyed talking about his kids, exspecially his first and hopefully not last son. "My son is nearly 18 months. His name is Rowahnn and he's my second. My other is a daughter, she's 4, her names is Layhne." He looked down for a moment, "They are really wonderful. And i can tell you, they both have quite the set of pipes. Fingers crossed for another harper in the family. Do you have many children?" He asked polietly. He could imagine Master Conaire being a good father and grandfather.

He thought back about his original topic, "Anyways, its about gather time and it probably would be easier for my family to travel anywhere caravans, expecially to one of the major holds..." He trailed off, hoping that hadn't sounded to blatant. "It seemed a reasonable time to travel." He frowned slightly, his green eyes thoughtful. It didn't mean anything was wrong, sometimes he just lapsed into moments of silence like that. Wynn always thought he thought too much.

[E]

"Not so many as some, but I have my fair share." The older man said, nearly beaming with pride. "A daughter and three sons, all but one have given me grandchildren already." As the journeyman before him finished his words, Conaire laughed good naturedly.

"You are a man of business, Laurian." He said with a sigh giving in. Moving on from the topic of children, he began to shuffle thru a few hides on his desk. Finding the one he searched for, he looked thru the list of requests he had received from his harpers spread across Pern along with those from holders and cotholders for journeymen.

"Well with an 18 month and a four year old, I will keep you "ut of the harder to reach cotholds." and Dorin's domain. Keeping that last part to himself, the master turned to the large map hanging on the wall with various pins in it marking the many posts. Looking back to his hide then back to the map he gave it a very calculating look even though what he was calculating was in his head. Making a decision, he turned back to the harper with a nod.

"It is easy to tell by your words you are wishing a larger hold, and it would do you kids good to have many others to interact with." He said with a smile. "So I'll make a deal with you. The Master I have at Keroon Hold has requested another journeyman to help him as his last one has recently returned to study for his master's knot. It is Master Yeltin. Would you mind such a position?"."

[dragonmenta]

Laurian smiled, "You must be very proud." The journeyman reckoned it was some time off before he was a grandfather, but he certainly wasn't going to fight it when he was. Laurian nodded his head..he hadn't meant to sound pushy, but getting to the down and dirty didn't bother him.

"Yes, i hope its not a big problem-" He was about to apologize for not being as maneuverable in this posting, but smiled as the Master finished. "That would excellant, sir. I would mind Master Yeltin and represent this hall well." He bowed slightly, respectfully, but couldn't hide his smile. This had turned out just like he had hoped.

He realized that Conaire probably had alot to do, being the MasterHarper of Pern probably meant tha tyou didn't have a lot of time to spend citchatting with Journeyman, as nice as he was. "I don't want to press on your time anymore, and i should probably go tell the good news to Wynn, sir." He took a step towards the door, still smiling, green eyes bright. He hoped they would leave soon, he had always liekd Keroon. It was a good fit.

[E]

Between hearing his agreement and seeing the smile on the man's face, Conaire could not help but return it. Seeing him stand and bow, however, Conaire too stood, not once letting his smile waver.

?Sit down Laurian.? He said pointing to the chair as the man was about to leave the room. ?I'm not done with you yet.? Settling back into his chair he folded his hands on his desk as he carefully touched his old feet back to the pot beneath his desk, more to reassure himself that it was there rather than to comfort his feet.

?Journeyman Laurian... I said you could have that post on a condition.? He said his face getting a little more serious as he leaned forward. ?I need you to deliver something for me... Three somethings in fact. Two to Lord Galeden himself and one to master Yeltin. Can you do that for me? I'd do it myself at the gather, but being the MasterHarper tends to make my dissappearance go noticed. It would be easier for you to do so after the party."

[dragonmenta]

Laurian sat down. He clasped his hands, waiting for the further instructions. He frowned as the master mentioned a condition. He hoped it wasn't something too shadowey. He preffered to stay out of that part of harper matters. He was relieved that it was only delivery, even if having to disappear afterwards made him wonder. However, it wasn't his place to ask so he wouldn't.

"Yessir." He nodded. "Do you have these three somethings or do i need to pick these up somewhere?" He asked after a moment.

((sorry bout the lateness and the shortness))

[E]

Conaire smiled at the man, leaning back in his chair again as he agreed and asked the minimal amount of questions. The less the man knew the better, as it was it seemed he didn't want to know any more which was the best. A simple delivery was by far the easiest way to work the matter at hand. Even Master Yeltin would not get the full story, but the same that all the surrounding Lord Holders would be getting.

"I have them." He said simply, thinking of the many bags he had received along with them. "You'll get them with a little more detailed instructions on the way to Keroon for the gather." Smiling, he stood up and offered the man his hand once again. "Thank you so much, Journeyman Laurian. Its very helpful."

[dragonmenta]

Laurian nodded. This hardly seemed to add any trouble to his plans at all. He stood up as well. "Thankyou sir, Its my pleasure. I will be awaiting them." He took Conaire's hand, shaking it firmly. "Is ther anything else?" This time he asked to be sure.

(sorry 'bout the one liner

[E]

((No worries. Trust me. heh. I'm going to start the delivery thread with you directly after this...))

Conaire could help but chuckle as the man double checked to make sure he was missing nothing else. Bringing up his other hand to pat the back of his, he smiled and shook his head. ?No, that will be all I think. Good Luck Journeyman Laurian, may your voice remain rich and your mind remain clear.?

Watching the man finally manage to leave the room, he waited till the footsteps were swallowed up by the singing farther away in the Hall. Smiling to himself, he bent over the pot under his desk once again to brush the thin layer of sand and hot coals that had been hiding the only link besides himself to the dragon riders that had disappeared so long ago. How deeply he hoped his plans would work...

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