Logs:Seeking Restitution
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| RL Date: 3 April, 2011 |
| Who: Alisha, Hattie |
| Involves: Fort Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Ali raises her concerns over the herdbeasts and her sister with Weyrwoman Hattie. |
| Where: Council Room, Fort Weyr |
| When: Day 21, Month 5, Turn 25 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Hariya/Mentions, Shevena/Mentions |
| It's a pretty enough day outside, the sky clear and blue and the sunshine pale as time drifts on towards late morning and plenty of those who don't need to be inside linger out in the bowl to enjoy the sunshine. At least one person doesn't have the time to spare at the moment, Fort's Weyrwoman sat at the council room table and steadily making her way through the handful of appointments she's had to keep so far, presently in a break between one and the next. Outside on the ledge, Elaruth lies in the sunshine, curiously watching those who venture up the steps and into the council room itself. Oh. Dragon. /Big/ dragon. The next appointment will probably be a tad late, as Alisha stands there, frozen, staring at Elaruth with one hand covering open mouth. Slowly, she edges towards the chambers she's been directed to, but there's no doubt she's intensely intimidated by the dragon's presence. Finally, there's a brief knock on the door and, after a longer hesitation, Alisha steps in. Her eyes flicker around the room - distracted by it, no doubt. The size, the flowers, the tapestries - it's all pretty overwhelming for a hold bred girl used to a small hold. Eventually - and lastly - she notices the Weyrwoman with a surprised straightening of shoulders, and a slight fluster for the oversight. "Ma'am, thank you for seeing me." If her demeanor is unsettled, she speaks at least with determination. "I'd hoped to bring a.. uh, a couple of matters before you, if I could. Ma'am." Having likely witnessed the staring and the hand to mouth out on the ledge through her lifemate's eyes, the first thing Hattie utters is a somewhat offhand, "She would never hurt you," without looking up from one of the hides before her. Once she's satisfied that she's done with that particular hide, she looks up, gaze seeking out Alisha to give the young woman a quick once over. "All I have is your name, I'm afraid," she admits, no recognition of her betrayed. "So if you could give me the context of these matters, I'd appreciate it." "Oh. No, of course she wouldn't, ma'am," Alisha's definitely flustered, struggling. "I've just never - never seen a dragon that close, ma'am." Her feet shift, and if chastened by the latter words, straightens her shoulders. She seems to consider a moment, and goes for the easiest - in her mind - first. "Ma'am, my da is Liyar, who holds a great deal of land for Lord Astivan. We're about six hours as the runner rides south of the Hold. We... ma'am, our herd has been almost entirely lost." There's an edge in her voice when she speaks, as if it's very personal, though she's trying not to let it show. Her gaze keeps shifting to the Weyrwoman, then to a point above her head, as if uncomfortable. "We saved... we managed to save a handful, but all the animals were to be tithed to the Weyr this summer." Hattie takes a moment to process all that information, then slowly inclines her head, seeking confirmation of, "You /are/ Alisha?" before continuing any further. "You're here to say that you can't tithe those animals, yes?" the Weyrwoman assumes, selecting a small blank hide from those out in front of her as she reclaims her pen and begins to jot down notes. "'Were' to be tithed," she echoes after a moment of silence. "They're already not to be? Forgive me, but has this matter been discussed with Lord Astivan?" Alisha nods confirmation of her identity. She's undoubtedly intimidated by the Weyrwoman, but she forges on all the same, "Well, ma'am, it ties into the second matter I wanted to bring to you. Our land is pretty isolated. When our 'beasts started... when we started to lose them, we thought it was just us, but then we heard some Harpers tales that there were deaths at the Weyr too, but none from the Weyr come near our land. Except-" she takes a deep breath. "My sister - Hariya - she's sixteen, and, well," she takes a deep breath, like she's preparing her something far worse. "Ma'am, I caught one of your brownriders in a... compromising situation with my younger sister. I didn't get his name, but I would like to, if I could, spend a bit of time at the Weyr to seek him out. And should my... should my sister fall pregnant, there would be matters to resolve, ma'am." Yes, she definitely finds /this/ talk harder, judging by the heated cheeks and downcast gaze. There's a definitely implication in bringing those two matters to the Weyr, though she daren't voice it aloud yet. It doesn't take Hattie long to make at least one link and jump to conclusions about what might be being suggested, her expression darkening as she does so. Her pen stops and is put down again and the Weyrwoman leans back in her chair to give Alisha another slow once over. "You're suggesting that my rider brought the infection to your land? When most of the region is affected by this sickness and the Weyr not the first to suffer it?" she questions, arching a brow. "As for your sister, why isn't she here telling me this? If she is concerned about matters of pregnancy and support of any child, at sixteen she is well old enough to bring her concerns to our attention herself. Are you meaning to say that she was forced?" "I'm no beastcrafter, ma'am," Alisha replies, carefully examining the floor in front of her. Her hands are folded together, tight enough to show white knuckles, like she's steeling herself to continue speaking. "I don't know how the infection spreads - none of us do, really. What I do know is, we don't share water or feed with any of our neighbouring lands, we haven't had any visitors in near half a Turn," she takes a slow breath, gaze daring to rise for a moment, "Except the brownrider, ma'am." The holder flusters at the latter accusation, but she answers hastily, a tad sharp. "No, ma'am. I don't believe she was forced - but Hariya claims it to be the case. From what I... from what I saw, she was very much, um. Enjoying herself. That is why I am here, and not her, to determine the truth of things." "All that tells you is that the infection wasn't spread to your animals via water or feed," Hattie claims, gazing steadily up at Alisha, an obvious tightness to her jaw. "I will no more take responsibility for your sick animals than I will for anyone else's. I understand your predicament - believe me, I do - but I won't allow this Weyr to be blamed when you have no proof. We have a Weyr of starving dragons; we're no better off than you." She sighs and slowly shakes her head, eyes closing for a moment. "It sounds to me that your sister is embarrassed and making up stories so she doesn't have to take responsibility. If she were truly hurt and wronged, you'd think she'd seek to claim whatever might be due her or any child herself." Alisha stiffens at the Weyrwoman's words, a resigned expression on her face as her gaze drops. "I will... I will relay your response to my father, ma'am." Whether she disagrees or not, it's clear she's taken Hattie's response as a finality, the black-haired woman letting out a slow breath, unsteadily. "It almost sounds as if you know my sister, ma'am." There's a faint, knowing smile there from the holder woman as she discusses her sister. "But you understand, I must go through the process, must seek him out. If his story matches what I... what I saw, then the matter needn't become anything more than an uncomfortable talk." Uncomfortable for /her/, at least. "I would of course, work while I am here. I am not asking for charity, merely permission to seek him out." The goldrider slowly eases her shoulders back and takes a deep breath before offering, "If you'd rather, I'm perfectly willing to write to your father myself. In-fact, in this case, it might be a more efficient and formal way of dealing with the issue." Hattie moves to reclaim her pen, another handful of words noted down before she pauses again, pen hovering above hide. "I have sisters of my own," she tells the holder. "And not all of us are responsible creatures when caught, besides. Men or women. If your sister bears a child, then it may be raised at the Weyr, but otherwise the duty to support it falls to the father. Unless, of course, she /was/ forced, when it's another matter entirely. You're welcome to remain, work and seek him out, but I admit I don't think you're going to find satisfactory answers. Given that..." She pauses; waits a breath before speaking again. "If you know your sister has enjoyed one man, she might well have enjoyed many more." Alisha's gaze widens at the Weyrwoman's offer, and she nods slowly, gratitude in her voice, "I would appreciate that, ma'am." She stills briefly, surprise flickering across her expression as Hattie speaks of any potential child being raised at the Weyr. "We would look after our own, ma'am. The child would be better raised at the Hold. Oh," her eyes widen, as if she's only just realized what she's implied. "That is, I mean to say... he, or she, would be better off, with family, ma'am." It's a good probability that wasn't her original meaning, but politeness at least dictates she rescind it. Off-balance again, the Weyrwoman's latter words earn a strangled sort of noise from the holder woman. "I... ma'am, I don't think..." but the more she considers, the more resignation slowly creeps into her expression, sighing acceptance. Her voice is faint, if earnest, when she says, "I appreciate the advice, ma'am." Hattie's expression doesn't alter one bit and it's impossible to tell whether she's taken offense on behalf of the Weyr or otherwise. All she says is, "If any child /is/ a rider's, then he is its family too," in a hard voice, her focus on that small hide as she writes down a final line of script. Businesslike, she looks back to Alisha soon enough and tells her, "If you're to work, you should find our Headwoman, Shevena, and have her assign you to a job. I imagine you're not unskilled." Her head tilts and she studies her for a final time. "If that's all?" There's a flicker of dissension in Alisha's gaze, though she's mindful enough of her position as supplicant that she doesn't say it aloud. Probably the Weyrwoman's tone has a lot to do with it, too. "I will seek her out. I'm skilled in maintaining a hold, I'm confident the Headwoman can find something suitable, ma'am." She's quick enough to note the dismissal for what it is, unfolding hands and squaring shoulders. "No ma'am. Thank you for your time." She's a little unsure what the protocol is and so bows her head a moment before turning - her steps hastily seeking the exit. Out on the ledge, her gaze is immediately drawn to Elaruth, bobbing her head towards the queen as well before hurrying off down the ledge. |
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