The Fragility of a Reputation

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 16th April 2019
Series: The Hallmaster's New Wife

Characters: Endarin, Thayde
Description: The Hallmaster gives Thayde his options for dealing with the incident involving Enamra.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 10, day 21 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Famell, Irabel, Enamra

Thayde

This was the part of being Hallmaster that Endarin didn't enjoy, the part where he had to butt into peoples' lives. He enjoyed the part where he helped allocate resources to save stranded sailors, or the part where he oversaw the education of new dolphineers, but this part, this part he hated.

**Curse you Famell,** he thought with a little sigh toward his good friend and former Hallmaster.

Thayde wasn't sure why he had been called to Endarin's office, but his gut told him that it had to be related to Enamra and the scene that Hista had caused when she'd walked in and made assumptions. Even though he hadn't done anything wrong, the Master Crafter still had that twisting in the pit of his stomach, the way he'd felt when he'd been an apprentice and called to the Master's office.

"You wanted to see me?" he said as he entered the Hallmaster's.

Endarin sat up a little straighter, "Shut the door behind you."

Thayde's lips thinned. It was definitely about Enamra, he decided as he shut the door and then took the seat across from Endarin.

"Tell me what happened with the drudge."

"I've been working with her on the basics of reading. She's got chores during the day so she couldn't attend classes, and if she did she would be with the youngest children at the Hall. So I've been tutoring her in the evenings, in her living quarters, with the door open." Thayde explained, watching as Endarin laced his fingers together, steepled beneath his chin as he listened.

"I came in last evening, she was asleep, her dress was hiked up, innocently," he held both hands up, "and so I decided to close the door so no one would stumble upon her like that. As I was turning to gather my things, I had brought some puzzles and books for her siblings, Hista walks into her quarters and sees me and runs out making lewd assumptions."

Endarin sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "That was stupid, Thayde, and you know it."

Thayde felt the back of his neck grow warm. "It was innocent."

"Nothing is innocent in rumors, you know that. Now Enamra's reputation is smeared, she's been taunted and bullied by the other drudges for being 'loose' and you're reputation has also gone from respected Master Dolphineer to a lecher who preys on young girls."

Thayde rolled his eyes, "You've got to be kidding me. I've lived here for Turns, and one incident can take all of that away?"

Endarin's eyes were serious. "Yes."

The younger dolphineer raked his fingers through his hair. "Are you asking me to resign my post?"

"No," Endarin said quickly, holding up a hand. "I have no desire to search for another Master Dolphineer to oversee the infirmary. Your training at Jade Harbor with the healers there is invaluable, but... Something has to be done, doesn't it?"

"What are my options then?"

"You have about two options," Endarin admitted. "One, you can resign your post of your own free will, although that's not what I would prefer, and you could take up another assignment at Jade Harbor. That would be the easiest way out for you, if you wanted. You could go there and continue as as Mastercrafter and not have to worry about any of the petty things that went on here."

Thayde rubbed his temples. He didn't want to leave the Dolphin Hall. He had accomplished a lot there and Ada was comfortable with the Dolphin Hall pod. Going back to Jade Harbor would mean re-introductions to the pod, and for Thayde, he would basically go back to telling women if they were pregnant or not via dolphin. Not exactly thrilling work.

"And the other option?" he asked, although he was afraid he knew.

"The other option is that you stay here at the Hall and you marry Enamra."

Thayde's eyes widened, his jaw dropped. "_Marry_ her?! She's a child!"

"You should have considered that before you shut the door to her quarters!" Endarin snapped.

Thayde bit down a retort, but his brown eyes blazed.

Endarin exhaled. "She is young, but she is of a marrying age."

"Just barely," Thayde grumbled.

"Look, I'm not saying what you have to do with her once you're married. It could be a piece of paper marriage only, that's up to you. But marrying her would smooth over her tarnished reputation, and it would provide her with the protection of a Master's wife. She'll never be eligible for anything better than drudgery after last night." Endarin pointed out. He felt very protective of the young people that lived at the Dolphin Hall, and he wanted them to have whatever opportunities the Hall could provide.

**Marriage?** Thayde's mind repeated numbly. There'd only ever been one person he'd even considered marriage material and that had been Irabel. Of course, he'd never made much headway there and then she'd left....

"I have to talk with Enamra first. All the men she's ever known in her life have forced something upon her. I won't do that with this marriage thing, unless it's what she wants."

Endarin nodded. "Fair enough, but talk to her quickly. The sooner this is cleaned up, the better."

Thayde pushed to his feet. "Yes, sir. Is that all?"

The Hallmaster gave a nod of dismissal. "That's all."

Last updated on the May 3rd 2019

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The Fragility of a Reputation