Closer to the Past

Writers: Kaysea, Vix
Date Posted: 28th August 2007

Characters: Misara, Hartam, Caslea, Fonnet, Tuerra
Description: Misara approacheds the Tavern Harper about lessons for her children
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 4, day 26 of Turn 4

Easing her way through the door, Misara carried two plates across to the dais
where Hartam sat. She stopped short of the table where he had hides laid
out. "Your lunch, Harper." she said, and waited for him to finish writing.
But he seemed, not to have heard. "Harper? Hartam?" she repeated, her voice
a little louder each time. "Harper Hartam!"

He glanced up with a start. "I'm sorry - I was working on a song." He glanced
downward and saw the plates. "Oh - is it lunchtime already?"

"Yes it is." she smiled indulgently, "And we can't have you fading away with
no strength, what would happen to the Tavern without your music?" she asked.

"I'm sure there would be one or two eager to take my place should that
happen," he replied with a grin. "Though I do appreciate the thought. I
sometimes get so caught up in my music that I don't even realize that I'm
hungry."

"Which is why I thought I'd bring you something out," she answered, slipping
the plates onto the table, " - well, that and I also have a favour to ask."
She flashed a seldom seen smile, "Do you mind some company?"

"Not at all, m'lady!" He rose quickly and pulled out a chair for her. "Sit.
And eat if you wish. I enjoy having company for my meals."

"No no, food I don't need right now." she shook her head, "That's your meal,
you eat." she urged. "The reason I need to talk though, is about the
children, er - my children."

Hartam picked up a slice of bread and slathered preserves on it, glancing
toward her as he spoke. "Your children? Which. . . I'm afraid I don't really
know the children around here."

"You'll have seen them the last few sevenday, but probably didn't know
they're mine." she nodded, "I have three, two girls and a boy, though my
youngest is a little too young for classes yet."

He nodded, remembering children who vaguely resembled the woman.

"Caslea, she's the oldest is almost ten turns, and Fonnet, he's almost six.
Tuerra is only three, which is why I'm also going to need a fostermother for
during the day. Both of the older ones had lessons before we moved here, but
haven't had a class since we arrived. I was wondering if you could organise
for them to start classes again - I'm not sure who to speak to?"

"They've not been in classes?" He pondered that but realized that his
mornings were either spent in sleep or preparation for the next night and
that he had not been cognizant of children around the Tavern. "How long ago
did you move here?"

"Um," she took a moment to consider the date, "Er, four sevendays? I think.
Yes. We've been here exactly a month today."

"That long without classes?" Hartam shook his head. "That's not good,
especially at their ages. I hadn't thought about the children here, but will
need to check into it. I know there are classes at the Hold, but I'd have to
check into what's available at the Hall. Of course, I suppose that I should
also be teaching those whose family members work here at the Tavern,
shouldn't I?"

"I'm not sure, I thought you were solely here for entertainment purposes."
she smiled knowingly; remembering the Harper at the other Tavern and knowing
it wasn't solely for entertainment that he'd been posted there.

"But I thought a sevenday or so, without classes, wouldn't make too much
difference, they needed time to settle in, but now... Well I don't want them
getting into mischief, and they will unless their classes resume soon."

"Yes, we'll see to it right away." The harper stared over her head
thoughtfully. "I'll check into what happens with other children around here,
but for now, I think I'll need to pick up on their classes. I'll need to meet
the children as soon as possible."

"This afternoon, once you've finished your meal, I could have them here."

He nodded again. "Have you any books that you've been using with them or
reports on how they had done before?"

She dropped her eyes from his, "Er, no. No I didn't bring anything with us
when we left." she shook her head. "I - I suppose we could contact the Hold
and ask for a report from the Harper there?"

His eyes narrowed as he regarded her. "Would that create a problem?"

"No." she shook her head, apart from revealing where she had ended up, she
didn't think it would cause any problems, no doubt the Lord Holder would just
presume she was an ungrateful woman, spurning his generosity. "No, I don't
think so. I...I just never told them where we were heading."

Who knows whether the woman had reasons for not telling anyone her
destination, but Hartam decided that there was no reason to disclose the
information at this point. "No worries - I'll start them on some general
lessons, just to see what they know and work from there. If any further is
needed, I can contact the harper personally."

She could see the doubtful look on the Harpers face, "I'm not ... I didn't
run from trouble, Hartam." She shook her head, her eyes meeting the Harpers
steadily. "I just couldn't remain at the Hold any longer."

"Alright. As long as no one is looking for you, I'll start general lessons
but also send a message to the Hold asking for those records." He cocked his
head to the side. "As long as I'm writing anyhow, was there anyone you wished
to let know your whereabouts? A friend or relative?"

"No, not at the Hold. Though I really should let my family know where I am
now." She considered, "They'll have heard about my husbands death, and will
assume we're still at the Tavern." she rambled on, for a moment lost in
thought, "Sorry, I... I really should explain, I suppose?"

"Only if you wish to do so."

Misara took a deep breath and began her story. Hartam was the first person
who heard the whole story from beginning to end - she barely paused for
breath even when relating the saddest part - Treast's death and the way she
had handled it.

" ... so you see, it's only now that I have felt even half human again.
Enough to realise that my children need more than to run wild and free around
the Tavern and Hall."

The harper had listened silently, his eyes on the woman, seeing as well as
hearing her emotions as she spoke. As she finished, he nodded. "You've done
well with them to find a place to live where you - and they - are
comfortable. Too many completely fall apart after the loss of a loved one and
you've found a way to cope." He nodded again. "I'll help you and the children
all that I can."

"Well I did fall apart for a little while, but I was lucky. The Holder
replacing me and Treast in the Tavern was all the impetus I needed, to know I
was no longer considered worthy to hold the Tavern on my own." the words held
bitter recrimination, "There was nothing left for me there, so I headed to
the only place I would ever feel at home in, again. A Vintner Hall brings me
closer to my past."

Hartam paused, choosing his next words carefully. "Misara, if drawing closer
the past gives you comfort, then by all means seek it. But be careful -
sometimes the past is not as we remember it and causes more problems than it
solves."

"May be in some instances, but I've been happy here, since we arrived. The
children, too, are smiling again - it's been a while since that has
happened."

"Then you seem to have made the correct decision. I hope that it holds well
for you - and for the children."

"Thank you, Hartam." she looked around the taproom. "I guess I should go and
find the children, and introduce you to them."

He gave her a tired smile. "You know where to find me."

Last updated on the September 2nd 2007

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