A College of Comrades [Open] (Second Day, Morning)

[agriasnesme]

Searhiordan, Master Smith and weaver of stories, was stymied. He gazed down at the plates in front of him, unseeing for a moment as he cast his mind back to the studies he'd performed back at the Crafthall. It didn't matter; he'd done as his mind bid, and still, there was no result. Nickeled iron was all well and good, but his studies had shown an amount of carbon should strengthen the steel even further. It was all for naught; these red blades were all easily snapped, no matter how carefully tempered, no matter how well-folded, and despite any amount of alloyed steel added.

With a quiet sigh, he set about melting most of the product down, wondering if, perhaps, another Master of the Smithcraft would arrive at the Collegium. He could use a sounding board, his innovative mind hungering for a challenge, but his most recent challenge seemed just beyond his reach. He needed ideas, he needed a fresh perspective.

"I wonder if any of the other Crafters here might have an idea...."

With a smile, he saved one of the broken, rust-red blades from the smelter and nodded to himself before addressing the apprentice he'd taken with him from Delant Hold that morning. The student was currently laying out several designs for the blades Sear had intended to make with his failed alloy.

"Stilgar, when you're done with the layouts, I'd appreciate it if you'd sift the slag off the top of the smelter. Be careful; I don't want another bad burn like last month, aye?"

He received a quiet 'yessir' and smiled to himself as he set aside his apron and grabbed a shirt, pulling it on quietly as he left the forge to look for another Crafter. Perhaps they might have something to say about his bloody-red blades.

[Lilacdew]

It was a smooth day, pure and simple. Surprisingly, there seemed to be little to be expected out of this day other than that. Taliene found herself wandering the Collegium in thought, this being one of the days she reported into Delant for news and sometimes supplies particular to her craft. She might be stationed at the Weyr, but she was to be a common face here amongst those at the Hold, as a representative Harper nearby.

Either way, the woman made her way down the path, her bronze firelizard flitting about above her with all the energy found in his kind. His bugles of greeting could be heard in the air from time to time as he spoke to passing firelizards, and Taliene could only shake her head in amusement. There was no harm, the bugling was charming in a way. In fact, she could almost hear a beat to it. If only she could capture it....

Oh well. It would come to her in time, and dressed as she was in a set of Harper blue trousers and tunic, she had better play the part. She tugged idly on her plaited brown hair, taking in what she needed to from the piece of paper containing various notes from the Harpers that she had to memorize before going back to the Weyr. Beautiful it might be, but this day was certainly going to be busy.

[agriasnesme]

Sear strode amiably through the halls of the Collegium, his latest project tucked safely under his belt, as he kept an eye out for anyone wearing the demeanor of at least a Journeyman. With a broad grin, he spied Harper blue, and padded up to a young woman, busily studying a sheet of paper. His baritone voice broke through the chirping of the fire lizards, his own Forte included.

"Hoy there, lass! You couldn't happen to know where I might find someone with a bit of inspiration around here, aye?"

The imposing figure of Searhiordan's full mass shifted from meandering to purposeful strides, his long legs carrying him quickly and easily up to the young Harper's vicinity, crossing his arms and gazing at her curiously, catching a glimpse of the paper in her hands.

"And perhaps I might be able to lend you a little aid, myself, aye?"

[Lilacdew]

Taliene was caught up in the paper that it wasn’t until the all but booming voice sounded, nearly startling her, that she pulled out of it long enough for her attention to be taken from the dream and into the focus that was required. Slowly, the tall woman lifted her gaze up to look at the even taller smith, and tilted her head to the side. Her eyes drifted to the knots on his shoulder, quickly recognizing him as a Master before she looked up at him again, “Well, inspiration depends entirely on what it is you want.”

Her voice was fluid and smooth, a level sound in keeping with the training she had utilized to make her well known for her songs, “And I’m afraid there isn’t much you can help with when it comes to the paper. It is merely memorization and theorizing before I go to speak with my superiors again. What is it I can do for you, Master…smith? I’m sorry, I’m afraid I don’t know your name yet.”

She smiled amiably as her fire lizard quickly landed upon her shoulder, his eyes whirling as he stared up at the Smith in interest.

[agriasnesme]

Sear laughed, the low baritone echoing throughout the Collegium. With a quick burst of curiousity, his own brown, Forte, was wrapped around his forearm and gazing at Taliene intently. The little flitter swiftly removed himself from Sear's arm and began to fly and wheel around the Harper, chirruping and creeling excitedly.

"Searhiordan, lass, Master smith, but don't stand on ceremony 'round me, unless there's other Masters about. 'Tis a pleasure, aye, to hear a Harper's lovely song, even when she doesn't sing. The little fellow here is my Forte, and it seems he's taken a liking to you."

With another, much softer, chuckle, he offered his hand to Taliene.

"As for the inspiration, I don't suppose you know anyone who likes to tinker with metals, aye? 'Tis a conundrum of the trade, and I'm looking for a little help."

He smiled quietly at the shorter girl as he waited for her to acknowledge his large, fire-calloused hand.

[Lilacdew]

“I’m afraid I don’t know anyone who’s really big on tinkering aside from Cogglers, but if you like, I can take a look and try. I’ve taken a lot of time to research around, and sometimes an extra eye helps, Master Searhiordan,” Ceremony or not, Taliene had to make sure she was at least halfway careful with these things.

Dipping her head to the side, she smiled at Forte with a light smile, “And a pleasure to meet you as well, little brown. This is Treble, my bronze.”

Her bronze quipped up inquisitively, making a twirp of a sound with a bob of his head while Taliene chuckled. She looked up at Searhiordan once more and smiled, “I am Journeywoman Taliene. If I may be of assistance, I shall try. My time is somewhat short only because I have a Dragonrider who was kind enough to give me a ride, but I do have a couple more hours before it’s time to go.”

She slowly reached up and gripped his hand in hers, her callused palm lighting against his in a comradery sort of way.

[agriasnesme]

Sear smiled brightly at the girl, gripping her hand firmly, but lightly, as he shook it before returning his hand to his side, his gaze roving slowly over her figure, studying her quietly, though with a polite cant to his brow.

"Well, then, 'tis a pleasure to meet you, indeed, Journeywoman Taliene. I'm quite certain the Harpers are glad to have you, and blessed indeed! Now, I'd ask not to take up too much time; the 'Riders wait at my peril, and I'll not have one siccing one of those wherry-chewing stomachs breathin' down my back for keepin' you."

He chuckled softly and nodded for Taliene to lead the way.

"I'll follow you, Journeywoman; my memory of this place's halls is as addled as a cup of klah is refreshing."

[Lilacdew]

Taliene nodded, leadning the way, her thoughts to herself. This man's name, it sounded so familiar. Why was that? There was something important she was supposed to be doing too....

That was when it struck her, what it was she was supposed to do and why this Master's name sounded so familiar. Blinking rapidly, she cried out with a clap of her hands, whirling about to look up at the Master, "Searhiordan, I have a package for you. It comes from Master Sayer, and originated in the Weyr. If you want, you can walk back to your work area while I go run and get it, I will be but a moment."

With that, the Harper girl took off down the proper hall, gesturing to the one he had to take before she ran to get the misbegotten package. The harper had a long stride on her, and even as her bronze chittered in frustration, she still made her way quickly to where she had left the pot. Grasping it in her arms, she nodded. Safe and sound. The entire trip took her roughly five minutes to locate the pot where the Harpers had said they'd look after it, and it was at that point that she began her trek back to where she'd have left the Master.

[agriasnesme]

Sear blinked as the girl whirled, babbled, and then dashed off. Certainly, she was fetching and her voice was clear and, to the old smith, quite beautiful, but he hadn't looked at her -that- hard, had he? He looked down at himself, clad in his customary black shirt, his brown leather trousers, and his red boots. He checked to make sure his red Master's knots were properly presented, then scratched his head. He looked at Forte and shook his head slowly.

"I'll never understand women, ach."

He shrugged and decided to listen to a girl for once in his life, rolling his eyes as he remembered, fondly, the despair he'd put into his mother in his younger years. As he walked back to his sequestered quarters, a forge being a very bad thing to put near medicinal salves, sensitive parchments and papers, and wood, especially since all of them were precious commodities.

It only made sense, really, though it didn't alleviate even one erg of his confusion by the time he made it back to his work quarters. With a quick check of the halls, he decided he had a little time to go over Stilgar's layouts, He grinned broadly, seeing the almost outrageous precautions Stilgar was using to get the slag out of the smelter. The boy was bundled in so many layers of cloth and leather, his arms had to be monstrously strong to even be able to move. Then again, it was the boy's first week of being allowed to sift the slag, after nearly losing his forearm to a molten burn.

With a wry shake of his head, he smiled fondly over the boy's layouts. Quirks aside, and to be honest, in Sear's opinion, everybody had them, the boy was quite good at the design side of smithing. He just needed a little refinement, and a good dose of experience, before he'd get his turn to walk the tables.

[Lilacdew]

The Harper who had speedily raced down the area soon arrived to where the place the Master would be at. Stepping up to the doorway, out of breath, she stood there for a moment feeling like an apprentice all over again as her bronze began to scold the woman like the most excitable wherryhen imaginable. The woman looked up and just stared at the creature, frowning slightly, lacking the ability to form the words to command the lizard to cease what he was doing just yet.

In truth, she didn't run, too aware of how fragile the egg in her arms inside the pot was. But she had made the pace quickly, and efficiently, not overly worried about what it was someone would say or do. Once this egg was delivered, that would be that! She was quite happy about the matter, "Master Searhiordan. It was this that I forgot. This.." She panted, "Comes from Master Sayer from the Weyr. It's a firelizard egg..."

[agriasnesme]

Sear looked up from the layouts, quietly letting them fall to the tabletop, as he turned his head to his apprentice.

"Stilgar...when you've done sifting the slag, your day is done. Remember to be here in the morning; I'm sure we'll find something for you to do. Nice work on the layouts, lad."

With that, his stall for time was complete, and he mechanically took the pot from Taliene. Well, at least it wasn't his appearance. He chuckled lightly to himself, cradling the pot. With a quick nod of thanks, he leaned to put it down on the tabletop to deal with it later when his hip felt the alien sensation of the sword tucked halfway into his belt. With a roll of his eyes, his keen Master's mind quickly came up with a new plan.

"Stilgar, on second thought," Sear spoke, stopping momentarily to get a quick view of the smelter, "You've done enough for the day. Take this pot, and be utterly careful with it, mind, up to my quarters. Leave it on my table for me to take care of it, there's a good lad. Forte, you go with him, and let me know if anything happens."

With a quick chirp, the fire lizard sealed himself firmly to the pot, chirping a little mournfully at his partner, but knowing that this was important. With a quick nod, he handed the pot off to the apprentice and saw him into the halls before turning to Taliene.

"Very well, then, Journeywoman Taliene. If you could show me to the Cogglers?"

[Lilacdew]

The woman smiled, glad the egg was delivered appropriately. She heaved a soft sigh of relief, looking up at Sear with a nod. The bronze lizard on her shoulder apparently finally decided to stop scolding her, which she considered herself fortunate for when the Harper looked up at the Master once more, "Of course, Master Searhiordan. If you'll follow me, it's this way."

With that, her breath regained, she turned to lead the man down the halls to the Cogglers.