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The Great Primordial Stew


Date:  September 15, 1997
Place:  Benden Weyr's Kitchen
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  I'm thinking Asrai was right and Kassi *was* just a 
smidge proddy in this log.  Not that it matters, she'd chop up meat 
with that much glee whether proddy or not!  Kassima and Asrai team up
for another Baker lesson held in the Benden Weyr kitchens, making a 
stew that contains no bluerider, and only one type of meat at all, to
Kassi's dismay.

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The Log:

You walk off towards the kitchen.

From the living cavern, Asrai blinks as all the people start filing into
the cavern. Outloud she wonders, "Will the kitchen hold everyone?"

Ofira looks around. The Benden kitchen is not as large as the training
center, but everyone seems to have a place to stand. "Everyone have an apron?"

Rylan runs over to grab his apron he'll not miss this

R'val slides into a seat, and ties on his apron, grinning at Ofira.

Cicylia grabs an apron and waves at a famailiar face. She mutters to
Maylia, "... side... the..." 

Rylan grabs his stool and pushes it between two people making plenty of
room for himself.

Maylia fetches her apron, and tying it over her head, chuckles to Cicylia
as she sits next to R'val.

From the living cavern, Jorenan dashes through, clearly extremely late for
something.

Krystaline stands near the back of the room, her eyes roaming over the
assembled.

Ofira watches the room fill up, and waits for everyone to put on aprons and
wash their hands.

Jorenan enters the kitchen from the living cavern.

R'val smiles at Maylia and winks, 'This should be fun."

Ofira waves to Jorenan, motioning him over to near her and Krys.

Cicylia ties on her apron and finds a seat near the master baker.

Ofira goes to the head of the table and smiles, clearing her throat to get
everyone's attention.

From the living cavern, Asrai stands and makes her way into the kitchen,
keeping along the wall and out of the way.

Asrai enters the kitchen from the living cavern.

Maylia nods to R'val, commenting that they always are, before turning to
pay attention.

Ofira nods to Asrai, smiling warmly as the woman joins them. "You finally
get to come to one!"

Kassima snares an apron for herself, hastening to tie it around her waste.
It pretty much manages to look as ridiculous as ever, clashing horribly
with her riding leathers.

Rylan waits patiently as he looks about, shards so many big people here

Ofira turns to the class. "Before we begin the lesson, I have a special
announcement I'd like to make." She looks around the room to be sure she
holds their attention.

Cicylia listens closely.

Jorenan slides into the kitchen, skids and changes directions, and then
walks over quietly and washes his hands as if he was actually on time.
There is a slight spring in his step. He looks happy to be here.

Krystaline clasps her hands behind her back, her eyes wide on Ofira.

Asrai grins, "Yep, now that I don't have to go between..which they say I
will be able to do shortly." she puts in that last rather happily.

Rylan takes not of who's present before his eyes fall upon R'val

Rylan snorts scooting his stool further away from the rider.

Ofira gestures Krys over to her side, "I'd like everyone to meet Journeyman
Krys. Some of you may remember her, but she's been gone from our area for
sometime, doing her research on exotic recipes in remote holds. Tonight
we're welcoming her back to us!" She embraces Krys warmly.

Krystaline looks embarassed, but returns Ofira's embrace, her eyes shining
with joy. She murmurs softly,"Nice to be home, again."

Rylan waves to Krys

Rylan leans against the table hands propping up his chin

Ofira smiles, "I'm sure Krys will have much to add to our lesson tonight.
Which is, of course, " she nods towards the sides of herdbeast on the
table, "Herdbeast stew."

Makear enters the kitchen from the living cavern.

Cicylia waves at another familiar face. "Stew? Sounds good ma'am."

Jorenan loiters in the background, moving utensils into position and making
ready.

Maylia looks up to see her twin enter, and waves Makear over to where she
and R'val are seated.

Makear sneaks into the class and smiles at Maylia and R'val who she
squeezes next to.

Krystaline quietly moves back into her postition.

Ofira nods, "A simple, basic dish, but essential, especially given the
popularity and availability of root vegetables in our area, and our climate."

Kassima's eyebrows rise upwards a bit, and she focuses on the indicated
Journeyman. "Benden's duties t'you, Journeywoman," she offers, smiling.
"Welcome back. Oh, stew?" Her attention immediately perks up upon spotting
the sides of raw herdbeast.

Asrai giggles and nudges Kassi, "Think its Bluerider Stew?"

From the living cavern, Bladrik walks in, looking over his shoulder towards
the bowl occasionally. As he walks further in the cavern, he nearly gets
bowled over by two weyrbrats. Talking a mile aminute, they catch up on old
news.

Ofira's lips twitch as she overhears Asrai's remark. "Herdbeast," she says
firmly.

R'val flashes a brief grin at Makear as she sits nearby, his attention on
Ofira.

R'val eyes Asrai, and thpts. Teasingly.

"Asking t'find yourself on the main course, Asrai?" Kassi replies in an
amused undertone.

Asrai giggles at her fellow Bluerider.

Asrai looks to Kassi and pats her still rounded tummy, "I'm still carrying
some extra waight..I might even make an appetizer now.

From the living cavern, Bladrik looks to the kitchen, dragging the two boys
along with him. "What's going on in here?"

Bladrik enters the kitchen from the living cavern.

Ofira looks around the kitchen doubtfully. Rider, knives and herdbeast, oh
my. "The first thing we're going to have to do, is cut the herdbeast into
bite sized chunks..."

Cicylia grins, "That sounded like it'd be a little painful for the blue
riders."

Ofira looks over at the young man withthe Igen knot and waves him into the
crowd.

Ofira says "Now, we'll all have to be careful. We're in closer quarters
than usual, and we're using sharp knives."

Krystaline sighs softly, moving slightly to her left to better see the
preparation, accidentally bumping the nearest person. "Sorry," she murmurs
quietly.

Ofira looks particularly at Kassima for a long moment.

Cicylia grabs some meat and begins sawing dilligently.

A knife appears exactly where Ofira will need it. As Jorenan slides around
to hand Krys one as well, he glances over at the latest arrivals.

Rylan oohs? he gets to use a knife! Wow this class really is fun!

Bladrik tries to slip in quietly with two other boys, but gets spotted. He
gets about halfway through the crowd ans stops, eyes watching Ofira.

Maylia leans forward to look past R'val to Makear. She gives her a
meaningful look at the mention of knives.

Asrai smirks, trying to hide it behind one hand.

Krystaline makes sure to stand close to Rylan, but not too close to offend,
her eyes on his movements.

One of Kassi's belt-knives seems to almost appear in her hands at the very
mention of the words 'herdbeast' and 'bite-sized chunks.' She seems only
too enthusiastic about this task, which she sets into almost
immediately--whistling a cheerful tune as her blade thunks into the poor
beast. *Thwack.* *Thwack.* *Thwack.*

R'val slips his belt knife out and eyes the beast in question, beginning to
methodically chop it up.

Ofira nods her thanks to Jorenan. "Before you begin," she says, giving
Cicylia a stern look, "Take a look at how I do it - just hold the knife
like _so_ and cut in this direction.." she sighs as Kassima's hacking and
turns to the two Bakers, "Perhaps you could help some of them. "No, R'val,
not a belt knife! You've all kitchen knives at your work stations!"

Cicylia frowns, "There's got to be an easier way to cut this stuff up." All
she seems to be doing is shredding the knife.

Rylan aquires a knife as someone juts it into his hand he grabs up some
meat and starts cutting it up as best he can't. Huge odd chunks.

Makear gulps as she sees the knife. maybe she would have had better luck in
the galleries with Parth.

Asrai just shakes her head, "Kassi Kassi Kassi." Course, before a blink of
an eye, her own belt knife is in her hands. These riders seem to be rather
scarily adept with these belt knives.

Ofira sighs and shakes her head, "...knew...bad
idea....from....begining..."she mutters.

Cicylia ahhs.... and starts cutting better, but still very rough going.

R'val nudges Maylia and Makear and asks, "How're you two doing?"

Krystaline moves swiflty to Rylans' side. She bends a bit, taking his hands
in her gently. She says quietly in his ear. "Long, careful cuts." showing
him the proper movement.

Bladrik's attention gets caught by Kassima's hacking of the poor beast and
he moves to watch her. "Cool." he says softly behind her.

Maylia carefully holds her kitchen knife, cutting (or perhaps disecting)
equal sized chuncks with methodical precision.

Kassima isn't actually bad at this, for all of her verve and drive.
Efficient she isn't--but if there's one thing she *can* do, it's slice,
dice, and julienne a dead herdbeast. "Thankee," she answers brightly, not
missing a stroke. "It's been a span since I had an excuse to do this, so
I'm trying t'make the best of this chance."

Ofira goes over to Cicylia, "Hold the knife like this and the meat with the
other hand, just lightly...no need to saw. The knife is very sharp. Does
everyone here remember the rules of knife safetly ?" she calls out sharply.

Rylan oooohs then otays as he copies the motion his stew's gonna be better
than any certain rider who shall remain nameless stew

Krystaline answeres promptly, "Know where the fingers are! Yours and
everyone elses, too." she winks at Ofira over Rylan's head.

Cicylia tries it again. Part of her problem is holding it too lightly.

Makear still hasn't picked up a knife, but as she sees everyone start
chopping she sighs. She picks one up and starts slicing the meat, rather
slowly, so she doesn't injure heself.

A pair of riders apparently remember that once they sliced up huge chunks
of meat for their dragons. And they remember how they did it. They progress
considerably faster than their compatriots. Jorenan points out the
techniques they're using as he can.

Rylan grins at Krystaline, "Thank you", chop chop...*peer at certain rider*
chop chop chop.

Ofira nods to Krys, "Exactly right!" she says emphatically, going over to
see how the Candidates in attendance are faring. "That's right, " she tells
Makear, "Nice and slow. No hurry about it."

Bladrik glances from Kassima to Krystaline, giggling at her answer. He
looks back, watching Kassi cut the meat. Trying to be helpfull, he points
out a peice that is rather large. "That looks like that could be smaller."

Ofira turns and puts her hand over Cicylia's, "Like this, " she says,
demonstrating the grip.

Krystaline takes the time to show someone else the long, fluid movement
that is necessary to save fingers.

Asrai offers helpfully, "Knife safety...make sure the sharp pointy end is
away from you?"

"Aye, Ofira," Kassi responds obediantly. The various thin, white knife
scars on her hands would probably attest to her having learned that the
hard way. "Ach, you're right. I'll just fix that...." *THWACK.* Half of the
piece goes flopping *right* into the bowl, driven by the force and
placement of the blow.

Cicylia smiles, "Knives aren't like some of the stuff I have to use
trading." She's cutting right now.

Ofira looks around the room, wiping her hands on her apron as chunks of
varying sizes pile up on the table and steps back, watching.

Ofira looks weakly at Kassima. "Very efficient, that."

Maylia mutters to R'val.

Rylan continues to cut the meat, occasionally shifting his weight to peer
down table.

Krystaline stands next to Rylan, her movements quick and precise, but her
eys more on him than the herdbeast.

R'val nods knowingly, continuing to slice, He mutters to Maylia, "... her,
see... she..." 

Asrai makes neat work of her slabs, her hands moving in a blur. "Wow, I
forgot how much fun knife work was. Can we do this agin tomorrow, Ofira."
Like her friend Kassi, she seems to be having way too much fun in this task.

R'val bends to murmur to Makear.

Bladrik stares at the thin scars on Kassima's hands for a second, makeing a
small face. Looking from Ofira to Kassima, he just watches quietly, for once.

Krystaline tells him soflty,"Watch your fingers, there.."

Ofira continues. "When you're done cutting your herdbeast, it's time to go
on to the root vegetables." She waits for everyone to catch up.

Cicylia has a long stack of strips and thinks she has a way to dice the
strips now.

Rylan happily finishes his pile of meat proud at his handiwork. He /knows/
that rider won't do as good a job as him.

A scrappy-looking Candidate watches for several minutes. He hasn't yet
touched a knife. Finally, he goes over to the vegetables and starts
chopping them.

Makear continues cutting, for a second she looks up at R'val and nods.

Breenah enters the kitchen from the living cavern.

Cicylia starts to cut the dices but is even more cautious.

Breenah bobs a curtsey. "Sorry I'm late."

Ofira eyes Asrai and Kassima and finds it more prudent not to answer.
"You'll see next to you tubers, whiteroots and fingeroots, as well as some
other lesser known vegetables - the turnip and the beet."

Maylia eyes her work. Neat, precice squares. Now where could she've learned
that?

Ofira turns and nods to Breenah, with a smile. "No problem. Perhaps you can
work with one of the others, to catch up."

Kassima brightens even farther at Asrai's suggestion. "Oh, could we, Ofira?
I've nay gotten any opportunities to do this since... well, since that
sharding wherry." She looks almost dismayed when the side of herdbeast
disappears into a little pile o' beast-bits far too quickly for her
liking--but vegetables seem to do in a pinch. Chop, chop, chop. "Whiteroot,
fingerroo--wait a second. Tubers?" The greenrider peeks over to the supply
of vegetables with nothing less than horror. "We're going t'be using tubers?"

Krystaline again takes the time to show Rylan the proper chopping style for
vegies. "Take your time. No rush."

Makear glances over at Maylia's work and teases her, "Did you just disect
the meat to see what killed it?"

Bladrik isn't touching a knife, nopenope. He's still learning about
needlethorn and he's a fairly dangerous boy. His freinds and him form their
own little group, watching and learning from watching. None of that hands
on, fingers off experience.

Maylia sees the new Candidate walk in, and waves her over, "C'mon, you can
work with me!"

Asrai glances sideways at Kassi and says with enthusiasm to Ofira, "Oooo
Ofira, tubers! what fun! Don't you think so Kassi?"

R'val grins at Maylia, leaning back as he finishes his chopping, which
rather looks like disecting as well, "Once a healer, always a healer."

Krystaline asks, her voice shaking a bit with surpressed humor,"I think
she'd like to make tuber roses, Master Ofira. Don't you?"

Ofira sighs. "You can leave tubers out of yours Kassi, if you must. Now,
look up here please," she says to the students. "You want chunks of about
one inch, but the whiteroots you should slice, like this..." she
demonstrates, tearing up a bit at the sharp smell.

Cicylia slowly finshes the meat and starts on the vegetables. "Ma's going
to be happy I'm catching a few of these classes."

Breenah smiles as she joins Maylia "What are we doing?" She softly asks, as
her eyes take in all the veggies being cut.

Asrai giggles and slides her whiteroot over to Kassi, "Here, I'll do your
tubers...you do these for me." she smiles a bit too sweetly.

Ofira glances at Krys and smiles suddenly. "I'm sure!"

Krystaline makes sure that she does all the whiteroot, and not Rylan.

Rylan takes up a whiteroot frowning as Krystaline takes it from him

Rylan says "Hey!"

Ofira glances over at the boy. "Problem, Rylan?"

Makear finishes her meat and still no cuts. She smiles to her self even if
the chunks are rather raged and not to pretty. She starts in on the tubers,
trying not to think of earlier that afternoon.

Cicylia is getting used to using a knife and goes through the vegetables
quicker.

Krystaline shrugs. "Just make sure to hold it a bit farther from you, like
this." She shows him the distance. "It'll burn your eyes less if you do."

Maylia plops a few tubers infront of Breenah, and indicates the knives.
"We're making /herdbeast/ stew," she favours R'val with a grin, "And I've
done the meat, so vegetables are next."

Kassima screws up her features in a grimace, then sighs. "Well," she
decides, rather philosophically, "I suppose there'll be a certain
satisfaction in getting to hack *those* up. But to eat them would be a
whole othe--oh, good!" She watches Ofira attentively, while pulverizing a
hapless fingerroot. "Deal, Asrai. Definite deal. In fact, since I'm nay
using tubers, I'll cut up your whiteroot without the trade if'n you prefer."

R'val grins at Maylia, "Which is delicious." He bobs his head, "Vegetable
time indeed."

Rylan takes up a whiteroot and begins slicing it as he's told

Asrai grins and nods, making quick work of the fingerroot
*chop**chop**chop*, them the tubers, *thunck**thunck**thucnk*

Krystaline encourages those closest to her,"The sooner you get the
whiteroot sliced, the sooner you'll be done."

R'val lifts his knife, and begins rapidly chopping the whiteroots in front
of him, grimacing at the stench of them, "Urgh, my eyes are waterin'."

Krystaline tells R'val softly,"Hold it out a bit farther. That may help."

Makear starts on the whitroots and wrinkles her nose at the powerful smell.

Ofira makes her way carefully over to R'val, "Slice, don't chop," she
reminds, nodding agreement to Krys's advice.

Breenah nods and picks up a knife to start once again to peel the tubers.
She winces as the knife touches a sore spot from peeling vegtibales all
day. "I think I'm starting to get a blister on this thumb." She quietly
comments as she tends to the tuber.

Cicylia's knife makes several shlucnk sounds as it goes through each of the
vegetables at her station. She wisely takes the suggestion about cutting
far from the face when doing whiteroot.

R'val nods to Krystaline and pushes the root further from his face, wipping
at his running eyes, "Ahg..thank you miss."

Maylia selects a large whiteroot, and while Breenah chops the tubers, she
slices the knife through it. She leans back, careful of her fingers, as her
eyes start to water.

Rylan hahs at least /he/ didn't get his eyes tearing. /He/ knows how to do
this right.

Krystaline blinks, her hand stopping in mid-motion. "Miss?" she shakes her
head, then moves to Breenahs' side and murmurs quietly in her ear.

Kassima's fingers, skilled in the ways of wielding knives to cut vegetables
and meat alike--no doubt from plenty of practice--slices into the odiforous
white vegetable without complaint. Water wells from her eyes to drip down
her face, but she pays it no heed. "I'd still rather do this than tubers,"
she murmurs to Asrai.

Krystaline mutters to Breenah, "You... get... that will help..."

Jorenan glances around. Suddenly, he seems aware of the fact that many of
the students in this class are also Candidates. The animated conversation
he was having with one of them trails off momentarily, and then picks up
again.

Bladrik continues to walk around, watching everyone chopping up the
vegetables. He stops by Maylia, watching.

Ofira elaborates as the class chops, "A stew can really be any combination
of meat and vegetables, slow cooked together. So, say, like Kassima, you
don't like tubers, you could always add fungi, or tomato or some other
vegetable you have on hand. YOu could use wherry rather than porcine, or
ovine rather than those. It's a very creative endeavor, a stew."

"Are we going to chop up porcine, ovine, and wherry, too?" Kassi asks,
sounding somewhat hopeful.

Bladrik wrinkles his nose. "Fungi?"

Asrai giggles, "Better you then me, Kassi. Listen, you can keep my
whiteroot for your stew..I'll keep your tubers." she glances up at Ofira
and grins, "I like mushrooms..ooo, more meat?"

Breenah nods thankfully and makes a mental note to do it once she has
finished in the kitchen. "Thank you." She mouths to Krystaline. She turns
back to the tubers and starts to dice them into small squares.

Rylan says "Is fungi like yeast?"

Ofira shakes her head firmly to Kassima, "Not tonight!...yes, Bladrik. The
white things that grown near trees at times."

Maylia smiles over her shoulder at the boy as she starts chopping the
fingerroots.

Krystaline moves quietly back to Rylan's side, gently re-positioning his
hand on the knife. "Watch your fingers, ok?"

Schlunk, schlunk, schlunk, schlunk: Cicy's knife picks up a little speed
going through the vegetables and she moves her hand back quickly, just
barely missing it. "Oopps... I went to fast, I better slow down."

Bladrik wrinkles his nose. "I was taught that stuff was baaad." emphasis on
the word 'bad'.

Rylan nods to Krys, "Is fungi like yeast?", he repeats to her.

Maylia grins to Bladrik, "Only some kinds, others are used by Healers, and
some we can eat."

Krystaline looks at Ofira to see if she'd answere Bladrik, then bends to
Rylan. "No, fungi is not like yeast." She chews on her bottom lip as she
ponders the best way to define the difference.

Ofira neatly and effortlessly chops her own vegetables, "You have to be
careful," she nods to the Igen lad. "Only certain ones can be eaten safely.
Bakers are trained as well as Healers to recognize them."

Kassima exhales in a silent sigh, then glances over at Asrai. "Sounds like
a fair deal," she agrees. "Fair for *me*, anyway--you, however, seem t'be
getting the bad end of the bargain. What about next time, Ofira? Will we
get to cut more meat up then?" She really is rather obsessed with that,
isn't she?

Rylan says "Can I use yeast?"

Benden Weyr> Kassima gets a sudden mental image of Kassi being like the
Samurai Deli man on Saturday Night Live. ;)

Krystaline smiles,"We use yeast in breads and cakes, not stews." She moves
his pile of roots into a neater configuration.

Angus walks out of the passageway that leads down to the storerooms.

Angus trots in to, and quietly takes a seat.

Ofira sighs ever so slightly, her breath blowing back a stray hair that has
slipped out of the band that Kassi gifted her with last turnday. "No. Next
week we'll be doing something meat - free. Perhaps Alyssa will attend. And
no Rylan. No yeast in stew. We'll use yeast another time." She nods to the
Seacrafter slipping in.

Bladrik looks to Maylia. "Oh, are they good?" he glances at Ofira, saying a
bit proudly. "Maybe i'll be learning about that soon, right now i'm
learning how to stitch up a wounded dragon."

R'val wipes his eyes and glances at Maylia's work, "How's your choppin'
coming?"

Benden Weyr> Ofira nods to Kassima. Exactly! ;)

Asrai sighs almost in stereo with her rather evil friend. "Gee, and I had
so gotten my hopes up. Hey, maybe next time the others will let us cut up
their meats as well."

Makear continues cutting looking about the room at how the other people are
doing. She notices the igen fellow by Maylia and then returns her attention
back to the task at hand, as she almost gashes a finger.

Cicylia puts her vegetables in the bowl now.

Ofira nods absently to Bladrik, "Very nice," and peers about the room to
see if they're getting anywhere near the cooking stage of it.

Maylia rolls her peices of fingerroot to the back of her chopping board,
and starts on another. "Fine, if they'd stay still!" She comments to R'val.

R'val laughs softly, "I hate it when whiteroots wont' sit still,' He teases
Maylia.

Ofira quickly fills her bowl to the brim with vegetables cut into precisely
one inch chunks, each one exactly like the next, eyes on the class as she
works.

Krystaline pushes at a stray curl with the back of her hand. "You're doing
a great job." she says to Rylan. "I think we're almost done with our pile."

Cicylia keeps on chopping, she's behind everyone else.

Rylan mutters to Krystaline, "... doing a better job then..."

Krystaline glances up, then leans closer to Rylan's ear to whisper to him,
a conspiritorial smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

Kassima's sigh is definitely more pronounced at that. "Maybe I can go back
t'Greystones tomorrow, and they'll let me chop meat. Want to come along
if'n 'tis so, Asrai?" Chop, chop, slice, slice. Kassi's flashing blade
shears through the helpless vegetables like a cookie cutting through the
cords that link a Miner to his or her senses.

Krystaline mutters to Rylan, "... so."

Maylia makes a face at R'val, and still laughing, asks Breenah, "How's it
going?"

Rylan beams as he looks down table again grinning /very/ smugly

R'val winks at Maylia teasingly.

Cicylia smiles, "You can always come back with me to my family's train,
Ma'd love the extra hands Ma'am."

Breenah picks up another tuber and starts to carve into it. She can't help
but laugh as in begins to take on the shape of a dragon's head. She sticks
in the knife and roars playfully at Maylia's fingerroots.

Ofira wipes her hands on her apron and makes a circuit of the room, looking
at every pile. "Very nice," she smiles to Rylan and then moves on, "Well
done Maylia...Good, R'val!" she gives the bluerider an extra warm smile and
then goes to the next student.

Asrai smiles brightly, "If I can get Deeni to look after the little ones,
I'd be more then happy to join you. Oh Pooh, look, I'm all done."

Angus hmms.. "Ma'am?" She looks to Ofira

Krystaline watches Ofira for a minute, then bends to cleaning up the small
mess she and Rylan had made.

Jorenan slides over next to Breenah, and grins a little. "If you're going
to cook that one, you might want to use fingerroots. They hold up a little
better when they're cooked."

Ofiraglances at Breenah. "A knife is not a toy," she says sternly, before
turning to the SeaCrafter, ":Yes?" she smiles, "Would you like to join us?"

R'val smiles warmly at Ofira as she passes by.

Angus nods.. "Certainly, one MUST know how to cook something besides fish
by fire."

Rylan snorts at that extra warm smile there

Cicylia works slowly at her vegetables.

Krystaline groans at the mention of fish.

Ofira laughs, "I did my apprenticeship in the Seacraft kitchen. I know well
how tired one can get of fish. Perhaps someone would like you as a
partner..." she looks around to see who is still working alone.

"Just keep Cygnith away from m'relatives," Kassi jokingly warns, scooting
her eviscerated vegetable victims off into a little pile. She tugs a
whetstone from her pouch and begins whisking it across her blade's edge
briskly, sharpening it back to razor-brightness. "Lysseth's already
abducted two of m'cousins as Candidates; methinks the last thing we need
around here are any more of m'kindred."

Bladrik slips into the liveing cavern quietly.

Makear dumps all the little cut slices and cubes into her bowl as her
workspaces was almost covered by all of it. Now with a open work space she
continues on with the vegatables.

Bladrik walks into the Living Cavern.

Cicylia works alone and slowly at her vegetables.

Angus hmmms.. "Does SHE have a partner? She seems to share my taste with
fish.." He points to Krystaline

Krystaline motions to Angus with a happy laugh,"Always room for one more."

Breenah quickly pulls out the knife and starts to cut the tuber properly.
She blows at a stry strand of hair and rolls her eyes in an attempt at
trying to add some fun to the lesson.

Asrai smiles ever so sweetly, cleaning the goo from her blade before taking
out her own whetstone to re-sharpen her blade. she doesn't even look at it
as she does so, yet her movements never falter..nor draw blood. "Would
Cygnith do something like that?"

Angus looks to Cicylia.. "How 'bout two more?" He looks to Ofira.

Maylia grins at Breenah for her efforts, and winks at R'val.

Cicylia smiles, "Two more what?"

Jorenan blinks at Breenah and sighs. "Sorry," he mutters. "I was just
trying to help."

Angus says "Krystaline? do you have a partner?""

Ofira smiles, "Krys is helping Rylan...perhaps you and Cicylia could work
together with Krys' help, " she says, steering Angus in the Trader girls
direction before she returns to her place at the head of the table and
looks around at the mountains of raw meat and vegetables. "I think we've
done enough cutting for now, class."

"Probably," Kassi replies drolly, sliding her knife back into its sheath
with a hiss of steel. "'Twould nay surprise me 'tall, if'n he shares your
sense of humor."

Angus nods.. "Good good."

Krystaline nods to Rylan,"I think he and I wouldn't mind more help." she
winks at Rylan. "He's pretty handy with his blade."

R'val grins back at Maylia and taps his pile of chopped-up grub quite
happily, "I acn't wait for this to be done,' He murmurs enthusiastically to
Maylia, "Herdbeast stew is simply marvellous!"

Rylan hurmpfs muttering something about he's doing very fine work and he
didn't get such a big smile. What is his meat chunks and tubers not good
enough?

Cicylia offers a knife to Angus, "Join the fun."

Asrai giggles, slipping her knife back into the sheath at her belt. "Oh no,
his is /much/ worse." she then turns her attention to Ofira, waiting to see
what comes next.

Angus grins and takes the offered knife.. "Certainly.." he proceeds to help
Cicylia catch up.

Krystaline shows Rylan how to carefully clean his blade, then asks,"May I
have it, now? The cutting is done."

Maylia's eyes light up, and she murmurs back, "One of my favourites, that's
for sure. That and the fish we did a few classes back."

Ofira clears her throat and repeats, "That's quite enough meat and
vegetables class!" as her last announcement seemed to have little effect on
the enthusiastic, and for some, almost manic chopping that goes on.

Krystaline leans over to show Angus and Ciclylia the precise, carefull cuts
needed to save fingers.

Rylan nods letting it slip into her hands, he continues muttering pondering
what that rider could be doing that is earning him that extra smiling

Cicylia beeps cutting, since she has very few vegetables compared to anyone
else.

Angus chuckles, and smiles at Krystaline as she helps..

Makear thankfully lays down her knife and empties the last of the slices
and cubes into her bowl. She looks up at Ofira for the next step.

Krystaline murmurs softly to Cicylia and Angus,"I think since this is a
community stew, that perhaps we should stop." She winks at Angus.

Maylia wipes her knife, and sets it down in a safe location, heaping the
vegetables into a bowl, and motioning for Breenah to do the same.

Breenah glances down at the pile of tuber cubes and her knife. Not knowing
who the kinfe belongs to she wipes it clean on a rag laying on the back of
a chair and places it carefully in the middle of the table.

Kassima's chopping was quite manic enough so that she managed to finish off
the veggie supply near her, so she simply grins at Ofira and waits for the
next instruction. "That's probably the end of the stabbing and slicing,"
she murmurs to Cygnith's rider. "A pity, that."

Angus grins and laughs.."Certainly.." he wipes his hand on his breeches..
"Krystaline, right? 'names Angus."

Ofira takes the extra precaution of having a drudge come around to collect
the knives and take them off for washing. He has to struggle a bit with
some of the riders,. but eventually prevails.

Cicylia smiles, "Alright."

Makear catches Maylia's gaze and holds up her non-cut hands with a smile.

Krystaline offers her palm first to Cicylia, then Angus."Well met." she
says softly.

Cicylia smils, "Cicy of the Dalegards, well met Journeyman."

Asrai sighs and nods as Kassi's comment, "Most likely...and just when we
were starting to have some fun. Shhh, she's looking this way." she gives
Ofira a sweetly innocent smile as she nudges Kassi in the ribs.

Jorenan returns to his own small pile of meat and vegetables.

Ofira takes a deep breath, "Before we go on, everyone should rinse and dry
their hands, so that there's no grease on them while we handle the rest of
the cooking implements. There are basins on the table you can use."

Maylia jokes with Makear, "Good! But, shells, that means I don't get to
practice my stitching!" She elaborates with hand motions.

Angus ahems, after being distracted by SOMETHING.. "Well met."

Krystaline holds Rylan, Cicylia and Angus back, "Wait 'till the rush is
over, then we'll wash up." She tells them in her soft, clear voice.

R'val chortles at Maylia and Makear, complying with Ofira's instructions
and washing his hands off.

Cicylia starts to wash her hands as well.

Makear sticks her tongue out at Maylia as she walks to a basin to rinse her
hands.

Rylan has a frown upon his face he doesn't even seem to hear anything about
the handwashing

Jorenan has already washed his hands, so just waits quietly while the
others do.

Angus waits until Cicylia's done, and looks down at Rylan.. "Fraid of water?"

Asrai giggles, "I can't believe she's going to let me play with soap again
in her kitchen." She motions to Kassi to follow her over to the sink,
making sure to only use the correct amount of soap necessary.

Krystaline blinks,"Oh, yes, you two didn't cut meat." She smiles at
Rylan,"You and I, did. Will you help me wash my hands?" she asks, her
expression serrious.

Maylia jumps up to follow her sister and R'val to the basin, scrubbing well
when it's her turn.

Angus grins.. "Certainly."

Rylan shrugs up at Krystaline

Ofira quickly rinses her own hands and dries them on her apron, waiting for
the class to finish washing.

Krystaline takes Rylans' hand and leads him to the sink.

Cicylia finshes. She mutters to Krystaline, "... you flirting?"  She said
that jokingly to her.

Angus blushes.. Oh boy... Anybody want to brown their meat? one open face,
RIGHT HERE!

Kassima shakes the remaining specks of vegetable from her fingers before
stepping forth to await her turn in the line, dunking her hands into the
basin when her turn comes. "Ah, but Asrai, 'tis much safer this
time--there's limited soap, and nay running water. A good thing, that.
'Twould be a bad thing to repeat the suds incident with all these blades
about." Scrubbing her hands against her apron to dry them, she once more
takes her place behind a mound of chopped animal and vegetable.

Makear dries her hands on a nearby towl and waits.

Breenah quietly stands aside to wait for an opening at the basin to wash.
Seeing a spot clear she moves forward and lathers her hands only to wince
again as she touches her thumb. "Any one have a clean pin I could borrow
for a moment?"

Rylan mutters to Krystaline, "... forgot... catch..."

Angus proceeds to wash his hands, attempting not to look ANYONE in the face

Rylan slips his hand out of Krystaline's

Krystaline holds Rylan by the back of the shirt, "Not so fast."

Rylan blinkers

Ofira glances at Breenah, "A pin?"

Krystaline mutters in Rylans ear.

Asrai returns to her spot as well, "Yes, I supose you are right about that.
Someone could actually get more then just a bruised bottom this time."

Krystaline mutters to Rylan, "R'val doesn't wash. You... like..."

Rylan arches a brow before stepping up to the basin scrubbing extra firm

Breenah nods "Yes Ma'am. A needle with a sharp edge so that I can pop this
and get back to the lesson."

"And more than a pair of black eyes, too," Kassi notes ruefully. "Sliding
face-first into that cabinet was nay precisely the most fun thing I've ever
done."

Ofira moves over to look at Breenah's thumb, "Pop what?" she asks worriedly.

Asrai blushes more then a little at the reminder.

Cicylia waits around to see what's to be done next.

Krystaline gets her and Rylan clean and dry, then moves back to her spot by
Cicylia and Angus.

Makear returns to her spot as she realizes she is in the way of some
people. She stands idily against the counter and taps her foot.

Breenah blushes as she points to the raised blister on her thumb.

Kassima cranes her head to peer at Breenah and her thumb. "Would the point
of a knife suffice, Candidate?"

Angus smiles up at Krystaline as she comes back to her spot.. Then
straightens as he regains control of himself.

Ofira looks at the blister with concern. "Oh, I don't think you should open
that. Cover it maybe. WE can't have it oozing when we're cooking. " She
looks over at R'val and Maylia, "You both have healer training. come and
look at this blister while we go on with the class, please."

Breenah nods "Aye that it would." She walks over and and offers her hand
for the treatment.

Rylan hops off his stool neatly putting it and his apron away before
walking out of the kitchen whistling to himself

Krystaline watches Rylan go, a bemused smile making her eyes twinkle.

Rylan walks into the Living Cavern.

Ofira returns to her place at the head of the table. "Next step," she
announces and lifts a large, heavy pot for the classe's examination.

Angus taps Cicylia, and turns to watch the pot.

Maylia obligingly gets up to take a look. Glancing at R'val, and offering a
smile to Breenah, she inspects the hand. "Well, I certainly wouldn't pop it
here, when you're going to be working with food. And a knife wouldn't be
sterile. Numbweed, and a bandage?" She asks R'val.

Cicylia turns, "Huh?"

Ofira looks after Rylan a moment and frowns slightly, and then turns her
attention back to the group. "We use a nice, heavy pot for a stew, so
everything cooks evenly.

Angus hmms, trying to look attentive.

Asrai's eyes widen as she nudges Kassi, "Cool, we get to use a pot. Too bad
its not a pan, eh?""

Angus casually lays his hand on the table.

Ofira's eye narrow and fix on Asrai. "What was that?"

Asrai blinks as she gets caught. "What's what, Ofira?" she asks as
innocently as possible. "I was just commenting on the various baker tools
we get to use."

Kassima listens to the Healers for a moment, nodding. "They've a point...
don't know why I didn't think of that. Eh, Asrai? What's that about a pan?"

Asrai winces.

R'val murmurs, "Uh-oh," as he sese Ofira's eyes narrow.

Krystaline looks down at the table, then back up at Angus. She moves her
hand, pats his softly, then reaches down to grab an empty pot.

Ofira hmms and looks back at the pot. "You'll see next to each of you, a
small flask of oil. The idea is to pour enough into the pot to coat the
bottom, but not more than that. " She carefully demonstrates, pouring in a
small amount of the clear oil and twisting th e pot slighly to coat it.

Angus looks down, seemingly surprised.. He then reaches down to grab a pot,
grinning slightly.

Cicylia dumps some into the pot Angus holds.

Krystaline grimaces as her head collides with Anguses.

Dovell enters the kitchen from the living cavern.

Dovell swings in and takes a look around.

Ofira nods to Journeyman Dovell as he arrives, glad of his help.

Angus rubs his head, and stands up.. Smiling apologetically at Krystaline,
blushing slightly.

Ofira calls out a warning, "The oil is slippery...don't spill it on the
floor or we may have an accident."

Kassima nods, attentive and pretty much back to normal now that the
meat-cleaving part is over. Uncapping the oil bottle, she lets the
prescribed amount of the fluid fall into the pot and begins twisting and
turning it. "Look all right so far?" she asks Asrai.

Krystaline rubs her head, "Ouch." She then watches Cicylia pour.

Makear grabs a pot and pours some oil into it. She swirls it about and then
decides to add a little more. She hmmms, maybe that was a bit much. Oh well.

Angus helps Cicylia.

Krystaline says softly, "That's about enough. Too much will ruin the flavor."

Cicylia smiles and stops.

Angus looks down at the oil container, gets lost in thought a moment, then
snaps back as Krystaline speaks.. now he's blushing TERRIBLY. He looks over
and begins to help Cicylia.

Asrai nods, "That'll work....I think. How come we have to be carefull of
how much we put in?" Like Kassi's the baker or something..

Krystaline smiles back at Cicylia. "I just love to cook." she includes
Angus in the smile, her eyes moving around the room. She spots Dovell, and
if possible, her smile brightens even more.

Ofira continues, "Once the pot is oiled, set it on the heat. You want to
put it on the part of the hearth that is just about medium heat. Not the
hottest, not the coolest. After a few seconds, we need to test the oil to
see if it's hot enough. If it is, it will brown the meat nicely and make a
nice gravey. If not, we end up with soggy stew. Just toss a few drops of
cold water into the oil. If you get a sizzle, it's hot enough. Do _not_ let
the oil get smoking hot!"

Cicylia smiles, "I can tell."

Dovell strolls in and smiles at everyone, until he sees Krystaline. He gets
a somewhat confused look on his face.

Krystaline turns back to Cicylia. "Can you?" She chuckles. "Angus, will you
put the pot over the fire?"

Angus nods.. and takes the pot over to the fire.

Breenah smiles as she tests her thumb. "Feels better already. Thank you."
She turns back quickly to the lesson and watches intently.

Krystaline cautions Angus firmly,"Be carefull not to get burned."

Ofira looks from Dovell to Krys and then blinks, suddenly remembering
something and bites her lip a bit before looking to see how the class is
doing with those instructions.

Angus sets it down CAREFULLY on the fire.. He looks over to Krystaline..
"Thanks for the concern."

"Too much would be apt t'ruin the flavor," Kassi explains. "And 'twould
likely cause the meat t'burn besides." She passes Asrai the pot, since the
bluerider is nearer the fire.

Makear walks over to the hearth and carfully puts her pot where she thinks
is best. SHe then sits there waiting for it to heat.

Ofira nods to Kassima and Asrai, "And oil is expensive. We try to use only
what we need."

Dovell blinks and watches everyone. He's still waiting to see what's
happening.

Cicylia smiles and says, "I'm glad he did that, he's definately stronger
than me."

Asrai hrms and looks over at Kassi and nods, then takes up the pot and
stands there for a moment..trying to decide where to put it. Finally she
settles on something in the middle of the dark area and the red hot. "Bout
here?"

Ofira waves Dovell in. "We're doing herdbeast stew," she tells her
journeyman. "Can you help everyone get their oil to the right temperature
please."

Krystaline motions Cicylia to follow the rest of Ofira's instructions. She
tries to catch Dovell's eyes and waves if she does, then turns back to
Cicylia,"If you lift them several times a day, you get strong,too."

Kassima squints, trying to make out just where Asrai placed the pot. "Looks
good t'me," she finally declares.

Maylia hurries back to the station she and Breenah share, to try to catch
up with the class.

Krystaline adds,"But not as strong as most riders."

Dovell grins. "Oh, right, I knew that..." he gives Krys a confused nod as
he sees her, then turns to help someone get their oil a little hotter.

Cicylia puts her finger in the pot to test it.

Krystaline stops Cicylia just in time, and shows her exactly how to tell
when it's hot enough.

As Makear stands over her pot she glances out into the living cavern. She
spots Ceria, grinsand motions for her to join her by the fire.

Ofira calls, "As soon as your oil is the right temperature, /carefully/ add
the herdbeast to brown it, turning it around and around with a fork. But
hot oil spatters! So be careful! No, Cicylia, /don't/ touch it! That's a
good way to get burned!"

Krystaline mutters to Cicylia, "put in... slice... it sizzles."

Angus offers Cicylia a boost up and a fork. Deep pots are sometimes hard to
get to the bottom of.

Krystaline looks to see if Angus is paying attention. She puts her hand on
his arm,"She should be on her own two feet around the fire."

Angus nods, and sets her down.

R'val does as instructed, peering into the heated oil as he drops herdbeast
into it.

Kassima gathers up the herdbeast, carefully lowering it piece by piece into
the pot of oil. "Can y'get a fork, Asrai?" she asks of her cooking partner.

Asrai stands there...staring at her oil. Taking up a small glas sof water
she flicks some into the oil from time to time.

Krystaline adds the herdbeast slowly saying,"Watch out for poping oil. It
burns like hatching sands!"

Angus uhms.. "Asrai? is that a good idea?"

Cicylia puts in a white root slice and lits it sit there waiting.

Angus nods in agreement.. "But at least this doesn't smell as bad as
Packtail oil."

Ofira nods, "And leave a scar too," she adds to Krys's warning.

Dovell frowns, and moves over to Asrai. "Careful, you don't want to do
that. That's one thing that can spatter the oil."

Krystaline grimaces,"Please, don't mention packtail to me.." she nods at
Ofira, unconciously rubbing the palm of her hand on her leggings.

Makear carefully adds her meat and grabs a wooden spoon. She watches it
sizzle and pit stirring it every now and then, and dodging the grease,
ofcourse.

Angus nods.. "Gladly."

Ofira looks around, seeing herdbeast in various shades of brown. "Once the
meat is browning, you can add your whiteroots and cook it together until
the whiteroots look transparent," she instructs.

Asrai hmms, "Well, its safe till the water sizzles, right?" Finally she
flicks some water in and it *POPS* she jerks back with a grin, "Hmmm? Its
done." she says rather intelligently."

Ceria enters the kitchen from the living cavern.

Krystaline tugs gently at Angus's shirt front, "look in, I want you to see
what it looks like when it's ready for the next step."

R'val scoops up his whiteroot and proceeds to add it to the mixture,
grinning at Maylia and Makear sidelong, "How's your pot coming, you two?"

Cicylia grins, "Transparent but white.... sure..." not that she doesn't
believe her...

Angus looks down towards the pot.

Dovell bites his lip thoughtfully.

Krystaline mutters to Angus, "Not..."

Angus leans back a little.

Makear grins at R'val "hasn't burned or injured me yet, I think thats
pretty good." SHe glances up as Ceria finally comes in. "Hey come here
you!" she calls to the fellow candidate.

Ofira mixes her stew pot with practiced ease, not a stain on her snowy
white apron. She holds up the pot, hands wrapped in towels to hold it. "YOu
want it to look something like this." The mixture is browned and juicy
looking , the whiteroots limp and clear and a wonderful aroma arises from
the pot.

Maylia's and Breenah's pot reaches sizzling temperature, sending little
flicks of oil spattering as she browns the meat.

Breenah listens to the instructions, waiting to add her tubers. Picking up
a small cube she tucks it into her mouth.

Kassima scatters the whiteroots about in the pot as well, stirring with the
fork and standing back to try and keep away from the bulk of the heat.
"Looks good so far," she reports to Asrai.

Krystaline stirs the pot, "I think ours needs to cook a little more."

Ceria obediently moves to Makear's side. "Hi," she says.

Dovell wobbles back and forth on one foot.

Cicylia looks to see what her stew pot is up to as Krystaline says to.

Ofira sets down her pot and then lifts a pitcher of brown liquid. "You'll
also see next to you , pitchers of herdbeast stock. Once your mixture is
browned, pour it into the pot and place it on the hottest part of the
hearth, until it boils - you should see bubbles in the liquid. Make sure to
stir occasionally."

Angus looks down to see his, and looks to Krystaline. "I've never done this
before, how is this?

Krystaline shows Cicylia and Angus,"Our whiteroot isn't quite clear." she
makes sure each of them sees. "If you'd like, I could perhaps show you two
how to make flat bread to go with it.." she trails off softly.

Asrai peers into the pot and nods, sniffing experimentaly. "Oh yes, that
smells yummy Kassi. Its even the right.." she wiggles her finger at the
contents, "Juiciness."

Angus smiles.. "A later lesson?"

Cicylia smiles, "Perhaps later. Not tonight."

Ceria glances down at Makear's pot of stew.

Breenah hands Maylia the stock and a spoon. "You want to add this or stir?"

Kassima laughs, evidently agreeing with the assessment. "Want to pour the
stock in whilst I pour?" she asks the bluerider.

Krystaline glances at Kassi,"Juciness?" then turns back to the hearth,
"Oops." She pops her finger in her mouth and nods to Angus and Cicylia.
"Rater.." she mutters around the offended finger.

Maylia selects the spoon from Breenah, and prepares for splatters as the
stock is added.

Ofira cautions. "Pour it in slowly, a bit at a time. Anyone need any help?"

Angus smiles, and waits for his and Cicylia's whiteroot to reach the right
point, and then looks to Cicylia.. "I'll tip, you pour.."

R'val nabs a spoon and goes to work, carefully.

Breenah carefully pours in the stock and then stands back to give Maylia
room near the pot.

Krystaline hands Cicylia and Angus thick towels, "Protect your hands.."

Makear smiles at Ceria and says. "I just remebered I have to run and do a
quick chore for someone, I hope you don't mind being stuck with my stew!
I'll be back I promise." With that she runs out of the kitchen.

Makear walks into the Living Cavern.

Cicylia nods and piurs slowly after putting her hands in under wraps.

Asrai smiles, taking up the pitcher of stock, "OK, you stir while I
pour..and step back some, I don't want to get you if it splatters."

Dovell moves to help a smaller boy with a red tunic.

Ceria grabs the pitcher and slowly pours it into Maylia's pot.

"Don't worry," Kassi assures her partner, already moving aside. "I will."
She'd be a fool not to, knowing Asrai's slight tendency towards occasional
mishaps in the past... and whatever else she may be, Kassi's not that much
of a fool.

Maylia grins to Breenah, taking her turn at the pot. Plunging the long
handled spoon into the stew with a sploosh, she thanks Ceria for the second
addition of stock and starts stirring.

Ceria acks. That was supposed to be Makear's pot.

Cicylia smiles and continues to pour carefully.

Ofira walks about the room, peering into pots. "Good...good...once your pot
is boiling, it's time to add those vegetables you cut up. Just a few at a
time - you don't want to splash yourselves with the hot liquid."

Krystaline waits 'till Cicylia and Angus are done, then instructs them to
take turn stirring.

Asrai sets the pitcher back down and peers at how far Kassi's backed up.
finally she sticks her tongue out at her friend, peering into the pot
occasionally to see if its boiling yet.

Cicylia starts stirring first.

Maylia keeps stirring. When bubbles start to break on the surface, she
gestures to Greenah to start adding the begetables.

R'val stirs patiently, peering into his pot.

Ofira looks over R'val's shoulder to see how he's doing, "Almost boiling,"
she smiles.

Kassima returns the gesture, probably not giving the out-Weyr visitors the
best impression of a dragonrider's maturity. Gingerly, she stirs the
contents of the pot. "Does it look all right?" she inquires, apparently too
wary yet to chance getting close enough to see.

Ofira adds to the group. "Once you've added the vegetables, move the pot to
a cooler spot on the hearth. You want it to simmer for a long while, not
boil away and evaporate."

Breenah heads back to the table to gather the tuber cubes. Scooping them
into a bowl she carries them back to the pot. "I'll take the sppon while
you get the rest of your veggies." She offers.

Krystaline shows her two buddies how to add the vegetables from the side of
the pot, so as not to splash too badly.

Dovell goes on instructing the small boy, who seems to be doing pretty well.

Asrai giggles, standing on her tip toe to se over the rim. "Yep, ooo, its
bubbling." She stands there a moment..bubbling..that should mean something.
"Oh, the vegatables, I'll get them." she goes back over to the table and
grabs the bowl..trying to to loose to many on the return trip. Slowly she
begins to dump them in as Kassi stirs.

Cicylia does as instructed. "Perhaps I might do this again later."

Maylia hands over the spoon to Breenah, and returns to the work station to
get her bowl of vegetables. Holding the bowl in one arm she carefully drops
veggie cubes into the pot.

R'val peers over Maylia's shoulder again, "How's your work coming?" He
asks, nosily.

Ofira winces, watching Asrai drop fingeroots onthe floor. "There's only one
step left after this..."

Krystaline smiles at Cicylia,"I used to think that I'd always be a trader.
Now I can't seem to stop baking!" She looks over her shoulder and says in a
loud clear voice,"Bake!" then turns back to Cicylia and chuckles.

Ceria gets Makear's vegetables and carefuly puts them into the pot.

Cicylia grins. "Oh really?"

Maylia gently nudges R'val with the shoulder he's peeringover, and grins,
"Fine, but you'd better watch yours doesn't boil over!"

Krystaline nods sincerely. "Master Ofira changed me for good."

R'val yelps at Maylia's reminder, and turns to stir his own pot frantically
as it bubbles.

Breenah stirs the liquid as the vegetables are added. "It's starting to
smell good." I'll get a towel so we can move the pot when your done."

Kassima glances towards Ofira, but only for a moment--most of her attention
is solely on the pot. Double, double, toil and trouble.... "Is this a
fingerroot that I see before me?" she asks Asrai, finding that one has
apparently landed on her boot.

Cicylia checks their own liquid. "I don't think I can move that to a better
spot. It looks too heavy."

Ofira looks over at Krys and laughs. "You'll have to see Mirala one of
these days. She's all settled down at Benden Hold."

Krystaline shows Cicylia the tool designed especially for moving heavy
pots. She calls to a nearby, well built candidate. "Will you be so kind as
to help me, good man?" She winks at Ofira and says,"No settling me. Nope,
never happen."

Ofira looks around, sees pots sitting neatly on the hearth and smiles. "Let
me have your attention again please," she calls to the students. "We have
one thing left to discuss."

Breenah finishes off by adding the tubers to the pot and then hands Maylia
one towel as she hold the other. "On the count of three shall we lift it"
She glances at Maylia for her answer.

Ceria glances up at Ofira.

Asrai oppsies as she spots the run away finger root...then returns her
attention to Ofira.

Asrai moved the pot over to simmer as well...of course.

Krystaline is now all business, and listens attentatively.

Breenah turns her attention to Ofira.

Maylia nods, preparing to help lift the pot, and starts the count.
"1...2...3..."

Cicylia turns to Ofira.

Kassima twiddles with the fork she still holds, nodding as she pays Ofira
the attention that's the teacher's due.

Breenah lifts the pot with Maylia still listening closely

Ofira gives a grand flourish of her hand towards several small glass
canisters before her on the table. "Without /these/ everything we've done
until now is mostly useless. Oh," she muses, pacing a bit, "We have a
healthful dish, but what good is that without - " she turns dramatically,
"Flavor!" She holds aloft one of the canisters of dried herbs. "These are
essential! Any combination of basil, thyme , rosemary, salt and pepper will
work, and you can season to taste, but you /must/ season!"

Asrai glances sideways at Kassi and asks seriously, "Are you proddy?"

Krystaline nods in complete agreement.

R'val licks his lips, "Seasoning. Mmm!" He murmurs, enthusiastically,
glancing at Maylia.

Cicylia picks and pinches herbs at total random for the seasoning.

Ofira continues,. "Since few of you are experienced , the best thing for
now is to use just a pinch of each. You can always adjust it later on."

Krystaline watches Cicylia, "Don't forget to taste it, just to know what
you are doing."

Maylia nods absently to R'val, muttering the healer's uses for basil and
rosemary as she adds small quantities of each.

Ceria carefully adds the herbs to the pot.

R'val measures out the proper amounts, squinting carefully in concentrated
effort.

Well, Kassi *was* listening to Ofira. But Asrai's asking of *that* question
causes her to drop her fork in surprise, with an audible clang. "Asrai!
A'course I'm nay--d'you see Lysseth glowing out there? Did I threaten
anyone's life tonight? Enough said." Shaking her head in slight
exasperation, she picks up the fallen utensil and gestures towards the
herbs. "Go ahead and add those, would you? I've got to wash off this fork."

Cicylia tastes what she has and shrugs.

Breenah adds only a bit of pepper and a pince of salt.

Krystaline adds another pinch or two of one, and a dash of another, then
motions Cicylia to try it again. "See if that helps."

Cicylia tastes it and nods.

From the living cavern, Lathen hurries in from the bowl. He's dressed in
flying gear.

Lathen enters the kitchen from the living cavern.

Krystaline asks,"Who does the cooking for your Clan?"

Krystaline is looking at Cicylia.

Ofira smiles as everyone seasons. "After you've done that, just set the pot
to simmer and in a couple of hours you'll lhave a very tasty stew. Long,
slow cooking is essential to blend the flavors. Occassional stirring , to
keep the bottom from burning."

Asrai giggles at her friends reaction. "Kassi, i was just asking because I
don't want you seasoning our stew if you are. You taste tends to
run...excessive when you are." She sticks her tongue out at the Greenrider
once more before artfully tossing a pinch of this and that into the stew.
Stiring it well she lifts up a bit on the spoon and tastes it. with a shrug
she scoops out a bit for Kassi, "Here, since you say you aren't...have a
taste and tell me what you think."

Ofira looks over at Lathen and lifts an eyebrow inquiringly, looking to see
if he's alright.

Maylia dips a spoon into the mixture, and offers it to Breenah for a taste.

R'val places his pot on the heat with a triumphant flourish, beaming, "Tah
dah."

Makear enters the kitchen from the living cavern.

Ceria tastes a bit of the stew and adds a couple more spices. She's an old
hand at cooking.

Lathen seeks Ofira in the mass of people. He peers at the stews critically
as he passes. When he reaches his colleague, he mutters, "When will I learn
that Elyse will take that tub of hers out in any weather at all, and why
don't I ever remember that she thinks it's funny to see me hanging over a
rail." He continues to grumble as he makes a pile of his gear.

Makear rushes over to Ceria and smiles, "So how it turn out? I'm sure you
brought it around."

Asrai adds a bit more pepper to Kassi's spoonful when she's not looking,
stiring it with her finger.

"Have a taste," Ceria offers. "How's the seasoning?"

Krystaline blinks at Lathen's words, then turns back to Cicylia, waiting
for her answere.

Kassima explains patiently, "Asrai, m'taste tends to run towards raw meat
when I am... and I've nay had a bite of raw meat all day." Though one might
notice that she hasn't touched a single food product that wasn't once part
of an animal today, either. Accepting the spoon, she tastes its contents
with a thoughtful frown. "A bit heavy on the vegetables, I think--we
could've done with less whiteroot--but beyond that nay too bad." The empty
spoon she then waves to Lathen in what's presumably a form of greeting.
"G'deve, Craftsecond. Benden's duties to your Hall."

Breenah blows on the spoon before tasting and smilees as she licks her
lips. "I like it. Here you try." She takes a clean spoon and scoops out an
offering to Maylia

Cicylia smiles, "It's good now."

Angus smiles..

Ofira frowns slightly, "The Windhover? Oh my," she nods sympathetically
before turning back to the class and smiling. "That really concludes the
formal part of today's class. You are of course welcome to wait for your
stews to be fully cooked and take them away with you, and I'll remain here
to answer any questions you have while you finish up. Just remember, that a
stew is a meal. Add some fresh greens and some bread and you have a feast,"
she closes enthusiastically.

Makear takes a sip and mmms! "You sure are a lot better at this than I am,
Ceria."

Krystaline nods,"I'm glad." she then asks Cicylia gently,"Who does the
cooking for your trader clan?"

Maylia tastes the stew, still hot, and closes her eyes, MmmMMmming in
appreciation.

Asrai blinks as Kassi takes down the extra pepper without a blink. Shaking
her head she looks like she's starting to reconsider believing her friend
about not being proddy.

R'val regards Maylia expectantly, "How's yours?"

Lathen smiles at Kassima with an arched brow. "Thanks. It's good to be at
Benden. I always like to check on the nuts." He ties on his apron.

Cicylia Smiles, "Ma does the cooking for our train of the clan.

Krystaline absently notes that the class is over, and starts cleaning up.

Ceria's eyes darken suddenly. "I cooked at home. It was the only thing I
was good for."

In answer to R'val, Maylia takes a clean spoon, and dips it in the pot to
offer him a taste.

Krystaline nods at Cicylia's answere. "Does she make flat cakes, with sweet
topping on the hot stones near the fire?"

Kassima sets the spoon back in the pot, licking her lips. She gives no
indication that she even noticed the extra spices. "The meat turned out
truly well, I think," she enthuses instead, before flashing a grin at
Lathen. "Which ones, sir? The literal nuts, or the Weyrfolk?"

Cicylia shakes her head no. "We don't have to varried a menu at home.

Breenah heads back to the work station and starts to gather up the dirty
bowls and spoons. She takes them to the basin to wash them clean. Flinging
a few soap suds at Maylia she calls out "You get to dry!"

Krystaline smiles at Cicylia as she wipes the top of the chopping block. "I
hope you had fun tonight."

Ofira gestures to a few drudges, who come forth with mops to wash the
sticky floor, strewn with bits of vegetable and meat. "Nuts?" she says to
Lathen, not having quite caught what he was saying. "Did you want to take
some back with you?"

Makear notices Ceria's reaction and changes the subject. "I'm sorry to
leave you again, but I really have to go." She sighs and looks over at the
delicous stew, "I just came back to taste your masterpiece."

R'val slurps up the contents of hte spoon and smacks his lips thoughtfully,
then nods with a smile, "Tasty."

Cicylia nods, "Now, which should I do, wait for the stew, or head back to
Bitra," her voice lowers as if speaking to herself, "provided I can find
that watch rider...."

Lathen looks at Kassima blankly. For him, there are only the literal nuts.
He turns to Ofira and nods, "If you can spare a couple firkins, yes."

Ceria nods. "I'm glad you liked it."

Maylia ducks as soap suds sprinkle across her front. She grabs a dishtowel
and playfully *smacks* Breenah with it!

Asrai tugs on Kassi's tunic, nodding to the Craftsecond, "Excuse me for
interupting sir. Kassi, I have to go check on the children, its about time
for their feeding." Looking over her shoulder she smiles to Ofira, "Ofira,
thank you for the wonderful class."

Benden Weyr> Makear has to go and wavies G'night to everyone!

Ofira looks over sharply at Maylia and Breenah, "None of that now!"

Makear walks into the Living Cavern.

Benden Weyr> Asrai makes her way out. Take care all :)

Benden Weyr> R'val snugs Asrai.

Breenah laughs as she hands the now clean bolw to Maylia. "I enjoyed that
class. Did you?"

Krystaline blinks,"You could do both. The rider will probably be hungry.
They almost always are." she winks at Cecylia.

Benden Weyr> Maylia hugs Makear Goodnight!

R'val grins at the antics of the candidates.

Kassima diplomatically closes her eyes for a moment before rolling them.
Her sense of humor is plainly lost on some people. Well, most people--but
she never seems to realize that. "Thankee for helping, Asrai," she says
with a genuine smile. "D'you want me to save a helping of the stew for you?"

Asrai walks into the Living Cavern.

From the living cavern, Asrai calls over her shoulder, "That would be
great, Kassi...one for K'nan as well if you would be so kind."

Ofira directs the cleanup as the kitchen begins to empty, smiling to herself.

Maylia directs an appologetic glance to Ofira, and meekly takes the bowl.
She ventures a grin at Breenah, "I always love these classes."

From the living cavern, Asrai walks down the short tunnel and out into the
bowl.

Ceria cleans up the area around her.

Krystaline glances towards the living cavern and shivers. She starts to
clean her way towards Ofira.

Cicylia smiles, "I guess I could sit here and watch the pot." She looks,
"But a couple of hours?" She waves at Maylia, "Maylia! How're you."

A couple of strong looking drudges emerge from the storerooms, rolling a
large barrel between them which the put down in front of Lathen. "There're
your nuts," Ofira calls to her CraftSecond. "We've plenty to spare this turn."

Kassima nods, waving after the departed bluerider. "About how long should
these pots be left to finish cooking, Master?" she wonders of Ofira,
nodding towards the stew.

Maylia sets a dried bowl down, and flops the dishtowl limply to Cicylia as
a greeting. "Cicy, How're you doing?"

Ofira looks up from putting her notes away, "Oh, about two hours ought to
do it Kassima. I'll have an apprentice keep an eye on the pots and stir
them every so often, if you need to be elsewhere."

Cicylia smiles, "Doing well, selling jewelry at Bitra now. Looks like the
train's wintering there."

Krystaline patiently waits for Ofira to get done with her conversation.

Lathen looks delighted. In fact, he attends at once to getting the barrel
stowed. He heads into the cavern, directing the drudges in rolling his
prize. He's so absorbed in the task that he forgets to say goodbye to his
colleague and her students.

Lathen walks into the Living Cavern.

Maylia offers Cicy a grin and a cryptic comment, "Bitra? I must say I
enjoyed my short time at the gather there."

"I do need t'get some sleep," Kassi admits. "Nay now, but ere two hours
would be up. Lysseth's been in a mood t'day, and that always wears me out
just a bit."

Cicylia smiles, "They had rooms."

Ceria walks into the Living Cavern.

Ofiranods, "I'm going to go down to my office for a bit and enjoy the quiet
for a while, before I come back here to check on things." she tells Kassima.

Krystaline says softly, "Master Ofira, a moment, if you would."

Ofira looks around to see that the cleanup is well in hand and nods to
Krys, "Come down to my office with me," she suggests.

Ofira walks into the Living Cavern.

Krystaline nods and follows quietly behind.

Krystaline walks into the Living Cavern.

R'val walks into the Living Cavern.

You walk into the Living Cavern.