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And I Shall Give You Jewels Fair


Date:  June 6, 2001
Place:  Telgar Weyr's Workroom
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:  Less giving than trading occurs in this log; Teye, a
visitor to the Weyr, stumbles upon Kassi and Kisai and finds in the
former a customer for her wares.  This was a fun little scene, which
is the main reason I decided to post it--that, and certain of the 
jewels Kassi bought may well make another appearance later. :)  

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The Log:

Teye comes into the workroom from the bowl.

Kassima has seated herself at one of the tables towards the very back of
the room, near the hearth; the green-wrapped bundle of very small child
that she's holding in the crook of one arm may be the reason she's gotten
away with stealing such a choice space. On the table before her is an array
of hides, some piled, some scattered; a mug of some sort of dark liquid
sits near her right hand, which is scribbling away. Her attention is
sufficiently focused that she doesn't seem to notice anything outside of
her little table-realm for the moment.

Teye stumbles in under a mound of things in her arms which she dumps
suddenly upon the table. Pieces and parts of soemthing potentially
mechanical in nature skitter across the workbench and tumble to the floor.
"Shards!"

Well, that broke the quiet. As Kisai wakes and begins to fuss, Kassi
abandons her work to gather her daughter in close and try to forestall the
coming cries. "Shardit," she echoes, or nearly, in a frustrated mutter,
turning to give Teye a rueful look. "I'd thankee in a sarcastic voice," she
quips wryly, "but I don't believe in being rude t'people I've never met,
however tired I am."

Teye stoops to gather up the many tiny pieces on the floor quickly.
Flustersed and a bit peeved, her dark gaze lifts appologetically. "I'm so
sorry ma'am. I didn't think anyone was in here. Especially not anyone with
a baby." She smiles tightly. "If you'll let me pick this up maybe I can try
to quiet her for ya?"

"Most mothers would have more sense than t'be trying t'have a baby in here,
but 'twas getting desperate," Kassi admits with a hint of humor, rubbing
gently at her daughter's back to soothe the thin, hiccuping wails. "The
name's Kassima, nay ma'am, and the nay-so-sleeping beauty's Kisai; I'll say
well met as soon as she's quiet, I promise. Don't worry about it." She
stifles a yawn, offers a tired smile. "She's surely too tired t'be fussing
long."

Teye finishes her clean up and crosses over to Kassi and the baby. Curious
eyes peer down at the squaller. "Pleased to meet you. My duty, and all
that. I'm Teye, trader visiting with hope of not hauling so much back with
me to Papa. He's have a fit if I did." she grins.

The squaller in question peeks back, her dark-rimmed turquoise eyes
scrunched up and her face all red; her mother's hand smooths over her
hairless head. "Duties back t'you and yours--your family, if'n you're a
Trader," Kassi replies, flashing a quick grin. "Should I ask what you're
trading, or will this just result in me being out of marks?"

Teye's grins mischiviously. "Well, you're more then welcome not to spend
anything if you can avoid temptation. But I do have quite a bit of nice
things with me. Of course, I can not go into it if you like.

Kassima cuddles Kisai close as the baby finally runs out of steam, her
cries ceasing into soft whimpers and finally trailing off to silence.
"There's a lassling," the greenrider murmurs, and kisses her daughter's
head. Back up her gaze goes: "I'm good at resisting temptation when money's
involved," she warns, a bit droll. "But 'twouldn't mind hearing about some
of these things, so long as 'tis understood this isn't a promise I'll
actually *buy* aught."

Teye says "Oh, no pressure at all!" The trader beams at the mere
opportunity. "Let's see now. I have some Gather dresses, jewelry, slippers,
a painting you may like. Oh, then there is the wooden furniture, a star
gazing thingy, a time keeper for your wrist too. Hmm...I think I have some
hair items. Leathers, and of course exotic stock food and alcohol as usual."

"I've more Gather dresses than I can swat with a stick, and m'daughters are
all growing so fast I'm leery of buying 'em aught too fancy; Khari paints
so much that I could never run out of artwork; I've had this jacket since
'twas a Weyrling, so I consider it good luck, too much so t'replace. But
tell me," Kassi suggests, leaning forward slightly in her chair out of
interest, "about these liquors? And mayhaps the food, jewelry, hair things
and suchlike, but most of all about the liquors."

Teye pulls up a chair from nearby and pensively considers her stock a
moment. "Well, there's something called Brandy from High Reaches. We picked
it up a few months ago. It's stored in a cask which you hammer a hole into
to fill glasses from. But whoa boy is it strong." She struggles to not
raise her voice as she hawks her wares. "The Benden Wine is nice. I was
told it was bottled four years ago. Real pretty white wine. Oh and there's
this one bottle that bubbles alot. I forget the name of it.

Kassima clicks her tongue in faint disappointment. "Ach, I've some of all
of those--well, excepting the bubbly white, if'n that's what you mean. I
gave what I had of that t'someone as a birthing gift." Reflecting, "Though
mayhaps I should get more, t'give along with Kisai's birthing-gift. A
thought. What about the jewelry, now?"

Teye snaps her fingers suddenly. "I forgot that klah liquor I have. It's
sweet, sorta heavy and strong like good klah. When you mix it with milk it
tastes really neat too. Jewelry: The amber earrings are nice. They look
like golden drops of water hanging off silver leaves. There's a bracelet
too that is just the silver leaf pattern.

"I drink klah these days just t'survive all the sleepless nights, but
normally I can't stand the stuff, and by the time I can have alcohol again
'twill nay need the caffeine," denies Kassi with a shake of her head and a
wide, amused grin. "Did warn you that I'm a bit of a hard sell. I daresay
someone in this Weyr would love the klah liquor, though; most of 'em are
downright klah freaks... amber earrings?" Her interest perks up; she sits
up in her chair, shifting her hold on Kisai to one more comfortable.
"M'second daughter would probably like those. And 'twouldn't mind seeing
this bracelet either. M'eldest is Standing at Ista, and I need t'get her a
luck-gift."

Teye nodnods. "I'll fetch them for you if you like. And a few other things.
They're all in the same bundle. I don't mind if you're a hard sell. That
makes it fun. And I know what you end up with will be right too." she beams.

Kassima's grin widens a bit more. "There's something I like t'hear a seller
say! I've always wondered where the fun was for people who just buy *aught*
and don't even bother haggling over the price. Did your family teach you
t'haggle?" One brow lifts as she asks this, and her voice is a little bit
hopeful--whether hopeful for an answer of 'yes' or 'no' is harder to say.
"Methinks 'twould like t'be seeing this bundle, so long as 'twouldn't be
any trouble."

Teye doesn't respond, but the dancing light in her eyes coyly demures from
her admitance of the haggling skills. "I'll just go fetch them then." She
turns and walks across the room to the large bundle she's carried in. After
shuffling through a few things, a pouch is revealed, round and padded on
the bottom. The crimson drawsting matches the red velvet nicely. "Here it
is. I never leave the jewelry in the wagon. Too much to loose."

Kassima exhales an exaggerated sigh of dismay at seeing that light, though
her own eyes are a brighter green than usual due to the merriment gleaming
in them. "Wise," she approves. "Some of m'lizards keep guard on mine. One
of the few ways some of those bottomless pits are actually *useful*,"
though the affection in her tone belies the complaint. "D'you have any?"
she wonders as she eyes that pouch. "'Lizards, I mean t'say."

Teye sets the pouch on the table. Her fingers deftly work the knotting
loose and the fabric spreads to reveal about a dozen small pockets within
the pounch. "No'm. Papa said that my wanderin' would be dangerous if I had
a flit around to get in the way. Not to mention they eat a lot more then I
hunt up to feed myself when I'm alone." One by one she withdraws the
dangling amber-dropped earrings and bracelet for you to see.


The tender twig of silver barely seems to support the autumn leaf which
dangles from it precariously. It hangs from its tip, connected to the
earlobe of the wearer. Carven silver shaped oak leaves curve with the
caress of a breeze and from the bottom edge of each a polished amber stone
the size of a flit's eye dangles.


Kassima corrects, amiably, "Kassima. Or Kassi. Or Lysseth's rider if'n you
want points with the big green beast outside. Don't know that I'd agree
about 'em being a hindrance to wandering, unless mayhaps you never went
near water--they're good little fishers, y'know." Judging by the number of
the creatures perched near her table, Kassi would probably know. She
regards those earrings for a moment or two. "Methinks Khari would like
those indeed," she decides. "They match her eyes, and she's of an age
t'start appreciating such things...."

Teye smiles silently and withdraws the matching bracelet. 


Though lacking the amber touch, the autumn twigs of leaves lay gracefully
overlapping around a delicate wrist. A master jeweler surely had his hand
in the creation since the mold of silver leaves had to take a steady hand
and sharp eye.


Kassima rubs at her chin, eyeing this latest item. "Pretty," she concedes.
"And it might do. But I don't know whether Kay would wear it; still...
mayhaps, mayhaps. Did you say you had other pieces?"

Teye says "Maybe if my solo trading goes well I'll get one. Then Papa will
know I'm old enough to take care of it." She begins to pull out a few other
pieces of jewelry. Pern isn't shy of stone to work it seems. A menagerie of
tiny hand carved animals ring one lovely necklace. A deceptively simple
emerald ring sits almost ignored upon the pouch, golden, the stone a modest
but lovely size. Teye continues to chat. "Are they hard to care for at all?
Or hard to get?""

Kassima's eyes catch on that emerald, and she points to it with her free
hand. "That ring, could I be seeing it more closely? Have you aught with...
oh, garnet, mayhaps?" Though her eyes stay on the jewelry, she cheerily
assures, "They're terrible pests when they're just Hatched. Wanting food
*all* the time, sleeping when they aren't eating. A bit like babies. When
they're grown, they're nay half as much trouble, and some of 'em can be
trained t'carry messages. Certes they're nay hard t'be getting, though I
don't run into quite as many Hatchings as it seems I used to."

Teye hands the little ring over. She apparently doesn't realize what a
lovely stone that emerald actually is. Quick fingers withdraw three others
from the pocket as well. Sapphire, Garnet, and Aquamarine stones in
appealing, though varying cuts are mounted in gold or silver. "I have these
in both metals somewhere in here. And a couple of them are pretty small
too, like for a child's hand."

Teye says "I don't suppose any clutches have been found around here have
they? Maybe if I got one before I got back Papa wouldn't mind so much." Her
grin plots absently while she offers you this and that. "There was a pretty
little gold flit in the baths the other night. Maybe she has some eggs
somewhere?"

Kassima's shrewd eyes examine the stone as she twists and turns the ring
between her fingers. Upon seeing the new rings emerge, she groans quietly.
"You've found m'weak point," she mourns. "I love buying gifts for
m'children, and shards if'n I don't see four pieces that're nigh on
perfect. What's the price difference between the gold and the silver?" At
the question, she purses her mouth, thinking. "Nay that I know of," she
eventually has to admit, while taking another of the rings for examination.
"You'd have better luck finding someone with a green clutch; there're more
of 'em swarming about than golds, nay offense meant t'my own green ladies."

Teye's soft laughter echos upon the stone walls. "Well I wouldn't be too
picky. The difference between the two? Well, I'm not too sure actually.
What're you offerin?" Her eyes glint. The shop is open.

Kassima sets down the aquamarine, and narrows her eyes to consider the
grouping of jewels. "For the amber earrings," she begins, "the emerald in
gold, the garnet in... silver, methinks, and the aquamarine in silver, I'll
give you... mmm... a mark." She's probably aware of the ridiculousness of
this price; certainly her eyes hold a suspicious twinkle, and she drops her
head to stage-whisper to sleeping, oblivious Kisai, "Listen, childling, and
get your first lesson in bargaining."

Teye sets aside the grouping of chosen items and puts away the other things
so as not to distract from the job at hand. "A mark? You must be joking.
Why, the difference in metals alone between silver and gold is more like
five marks as I recall.

Kassima scoffs, "For rings of *this* size? Shells, shards, and skies above,
I could be getting a Gather dress--two Gather dresses!--for five marks, and
those both rich and fine. By Mnementh's toenails, 'tis right generous I am
t'be increasing m'offer t'one mark and a half."

Teye pushes long raven locks back from her face. "A mark for these." she
notes, pointing to the lovely amber earrings. "And ...four marks for the
rings. I must say though that papa will have a fit if he heard me dealing
those like that. Do you know how hard it is to get such pure metals like
that? The silver is so finely white. The gold, why you can see your
reflection in it!"

"I'm nay going t'get a remotely fair price out of you, am I?" Kassima asks,
putting an implication of martyrdom into her voice. "All right, very
well--I'll give you three-quarters--three-quarters! You'll beggar me!--for
the earrings, and *two* marks for the rings. Shining metals are fine and
good, but defeat the point when they outshine the stones!"

Teye laughs suddenly, quickly stiffling the noise despite the joy in her
voice. "You have a point. Papa will have to live I guess. Make it three
marks even and you have yourself the lot. I'll even throw in a surprise for
ya just because I know you'll enjoy it."

Kassima muses in a slow, drawn-out manner, "Three marks. Three marks... for
the jewels and a *surprise*. All right, you've a bargain, but only because
you threw a surprise in the lot; m'curiousity makes me such a *sucker*
sometimes!" No, she's not serious; her grin suggests that she's happy with
the bargain, even as she digs her hand into her belt-pouch to find the
needed marks.

Teye dropped Mysterious painting.


A seemingly ancient tapestry is rolled tight and tied in a yellow ribbon.
If examined, one may discover a gem within. Or just a bunch of color. Art
is in the eye of the beholder after all.

	The Flight Above
**************************************

	Within a painted frame of ivy tendrils a panoramic view lays out 
before you. A man and woman, well dressed, the backs to the viewer, stand 
arm in arm near the base of the frame, small and inconsequential. Their 
gazes are riveted by a distant vision of color and chaos. In the sky, far 
away and above them over the hills of greenery on the southern landscape, a 
faire of firelizards chase eachother at play. A green strikes out, seeking 
the heights beyond the clouds! Just behind her several males swoop for air 
then climb, wings forcing them higher with each push. Color splashes the 
canvas brightly. Realism isn't the purpose here and yet the loose style and 
watery base of the materials makes the subject undeniably recognizable. At 
the bottom, in red, is the following:

	Lady Renai


Teye runs out of the room for a moment. She returns with a large rolled
scroll tied with a ribbon. Dramatically, she unrolls it before you. "You
mentioned greens. I know it had to be for you."

Kassima's brows lift in unison, and she abandons her mark hunt for the
moment in order to take a look. "Faranth's fragmented kidneys on a plate,
boiled," she marvels. "That's some bargain t'be adding!" Which isn't to
say, not at all, that she's complaining; instead, she reaches to trace the
flight of the fire-lizards without quite touching the canvas. "Who are the
man and woman, d'you know? And who's Lady Renai?"

Teye shrugs. "Not a clue. I got it cheap from this lady wanting a gather
dress and thought I'd pass it on to someone who would appreciate it. I know
its valuable but real art shouldn't be sold like some things.

"That's a pity," Kassima murmurs, glancing up from the painting. "'Twas
about t'be asking whether your family regularly bought paintings. A fine
work 'tis, and 'twould look well in m'weyr--I've several tapestries and a
few paintings hung there--but you're sure you're wanting t'part with it?"

Teye nods. She may be a trader but there's something odd about her too. "I
get good art sometimes. Papa doesn't like to haul it around. But this is my
first solo trip. I'll get to choose my own cargo soon. I've been hanging
onto that piece for a coupld of turns now actually. You'll treat it right
won't you? They're all dressed up pretty too. Maybe they were Lord Holders
long ago? That looks like Southern Hold I think. Right trees."

Teye places the jewelry into a small canvas pouch and ties it with a cord
for you. This she presents before turning to the painting to roll it back
up. "It'll need a frame I think."

"Keep art as free of dust as possible and away from direct light," Kassima
recites, "and don't let small children or 'lizards get their paws on them.
Da taught me, back when he thought I'd inherit his holding. Mayhaps Lady
Renai is the lady in the portrait, and 'twas done for her?" She shakes her
head, though, after another moment's scrutiny. "Probably nay way of
telling... aye, I'd be agreeing. Here, let me get those marks--" and the
pouch-search begins again.

Teye says "Oh the lady pointed it and this some couple watching the flight?"

Kassima adds as she rummages, "The reason I asked about the art is that
there's a daughter of mine who paints; she's fairly talented. Here, here's
three," she breaks to say as she slides a two-marker and a one-marker
across the table together, both Smithcraft. "Nay, 'twas thinking that name
might be the name of the subject rather than the artist. A'course, it could
be that the Lady painted it. Those could be a child of hers and its spouse,
or Faranth alone knows whom."

Teye laughs a bit as she absently shoves the markers into the jewelry pouch
for safe keeping then ties it to her waist loop. "I'd love to see some.
Maybe I can sell it for her. Commission at first of course. If it sells
well then we could make some sort of arrangement.

Kassima reaches to tug the pouch holding her smaller purchases close,
palming it and slipping it into her belt pouch with a last, faintly
clinking pat. The painting, she leaves on the table for the moment. "She'd
be glad t'show you some, I've nay doubt," the woman promises. "Or rather--I
could be showing you some, since I'd rather she nay hear about it if'n it
turns out there's naught good enough for selling yet. How long will you be
at the Weyr?"

Teye shrugs. "A couple of seven-days. I promised Tarien I'd stick around
till her party so she can show off a dress she bought."

Kassima's left brow jumps upwards. "Tarien's party?"

Teye grins. "Oops. It's a surprise I think. You won't mention it will you?"

Kassima holds up her hand to avow, "Cross m'heart and hope t'be frying,
though I doubt I'd have the occasion t'mention it anyway. What's she having
a party for, or should I nay ask?"

Teye shrugs a little bit and quickly turns to put away her things. "I don't
know. It was something about a masquerade I think? Maybe she's bored and
just wanted some reason to make everyone coo over her new dress. It's quite
a piece."

"That's a bit peculiar," says Kassima, her expression puzzled. "We had a
Masquerade at the Weyr nay so very long ago--well, relatively. Over a Turn,
I suppose. I hope," wryly, "she'll nay be too disappointed if'n we don't
all coo; I've nay tendency t'coo over women, whatever they wear."

Teye says "Maybe you'll just coo cause you'll want the dress then?" She
winks wryly then turns to gather her things. "I'm starving. Can I get you
somethin to eat? Or maybe you want to come out after you put the baby down?"

Kassima's grin borders on impishness. "If'n I wanted it truly, I could
always commission m'cousin t'make me a copy, but i'truth I've more Gather
gowns than I could ever regularly wear already. People used t'keep giving
me dresses! Methinks 'twas in some misguided attempt t'turn me into a
fluttery, feminine thing, may the first queen help 'em." Turning her head
to consider the work that's left, she admits, "I could use a bite of
something. Seems between Kiss's fussing and the hides, I haven't had aught
all day--'twill mayhaps meet you after I've had a chance t'be tidying up?"

Teye's bright smile somehow sees fit to lighten her face even more. "I'll
save you some...oh! I forgot the vodka!" She grins suddenly.

"Vodka?" Kassi repeats, clearly not recognizing the word.

Teye nodnods. "Alcohol made from a root then fermented in a still. It comes
from...oh where was it again..." she taps her foot while digging in her
head for that vague memory.

Teye's dark eyes flash suddenly. "Tillek!"

Kassima repeats, "Made out of a *root*--oh, Tillek." Her face crinkles up
in a grimace. "'Tisn't as foxy and sharp as their wines, is it?"

Teye says "No no. It's quite different. I'll bring out some for you to
sample. Meet you in the cavent okay?"

"I can't sample," Kassi declines, not without regret. "Nay while I'm still
nursing Kisai--but, 'twill tell you what, I might be willing t'buy a little
wee bit t'sample later. Or trade you one of m'homemade liquors for it if'n
you'd rather. I'll meet you in a bit, as soon as I get cleaned up and turn
Kiss over t'Simaeva."

Teye mmms. "Trading sounds good to me.

Teye leaves the workroom and heads out into the bowl.