Am I ready to become a sister in the order?
RW Abbey: Kitchen Yard
Boasting a decent view of the Abbey's orchards and gardens, this
space is mostly a work area, displaying well trampled grass and the
occasonal bare spot. An especaily worn spot is the path that leads
between the kitchen gardens and the vineyards.
From one end of the kitchen yard to the other, the space is nearly
filled by the tremendous gnarled trunk of an ancient apple tree,
roots and branches and boughs trimmed off and piled alongside for
later use. A deep groove of mud-churned sod and torn grass leads
back to the orchard, from where the fallen tree must have come.
There are also a variety of workshops around the edge of the yard,
the wood-shop, the cooper for making barrels. The small smithy
where the abbey's tools are made, the potters kiln and the brewery.
Exits: [Vine]yards, [K]itchen [G]arden
day is a good day, it’s not hot just yet, and not as hot as it could be here since there is that minor repair to make. She has been fiddling with the old parts of the valve in fact and then places them down, "I could put it together.." she mutters and frowns, there is still the new parts to get for replacement. She looks at the valve again and cleans it some more and smiles, least there is some things she can help with still, no since in him trying to do it all..right?
Benar is over in the kiln, working away on modelling clay. It's a rare treat for the Abbot these days to get away from his other duties and get to spend time shaping clay. He finishes what he is working on and slips it onto a tray and slides the whole thing into the large oven and closes it before cleaning his hands.
Silverstorm looks over at Benar and watches him quietly, she makes sure there is nothing cluttering the forge area before she walks over to the abbot slowly and stays off to the side as to not interrupt him.
Benar looks up from his stool and continues washing his hands and arms clear of clay "Silverstorm hello, how fares the forge today? All is well I hope?"
Silverstorm nods "Its ok today, a small repair will need done but its minor don't worry. It could of been worse, so...it’s good it wasn’t worse." She still has a small bandage on her paw, but its healing nicely still. “I have learned a lot of the forge and how to make a lot of things, maybe even repairs needed later on..hopefully those are very few and very far in-between"
Benar says, "Well I am glad to hear your studies are going well Silverstorm, very glad. It has been quite some time since I saw a student so enthusiastic for their work. So what brings you to my kiln today?"
Silverstorm manages a smile" I..like to learn and always been interested in the forge. My..father worked at a forge for a little while, maybe it’s from that." She looks at her paws, they are not webbed like most otters but she doesn’t seem to let it get her down too much "And.." She looks back to him "This just looked interesting. ..I am guessing it looks odd for an otter maid to be interested in working at a forge, and even being a bit stronger than most otters are..well females anyways"
Benar laughs warmly and reaches out as if to touch her arm but stops as his hands are still wet and grabs a hand towel instead. "Not at all! If you like I can ask Recorder Zinnia to dig out a few interesting books. You are not the first otter we have had working the forge. It is a noble profession."
Silverstorm smiles at this and nods "And Brother Zork is a good teacher, He may not be able to show be like...the exact way but he has mentioned if like a barrel ring was too large or small and I would rework it and he let me know if it was good. I remember some lessons from early on when he could show me better and I could watch him. Now I can make most things needed in the abbey and getting better every day. It will be maybe 2-3 weeks till I can make anything in the forge..but that’s ok, it does get very hot around it in summer time so maybe it’s for the best."
Benar says, "Yes, this yard tends to get hot regardless of the time of year. Even with all the work sheds being open fronted it still gets hot. Between the kiln and the forge and the charcoal burner it gets terribly hot out here."
Silverstorm says, "Word of advice always have some water nearby, it helps"
Benar says, "Oh we always have drinking water in the yard, it was one of the first things we installed a drinking fountain. the water is piped over from the pond"
Silverstorm nods “Always wise..." She then seems to be thinking on something and then goes ahead and asks "Abbot..sir? Do you know when I may be able to have the rank of Sister, if not for a while that’s ok as I know there is most likely something I still need to learn and will be happy to learn it as I said I love learning."
Benar smiles softly at the question and leans back on his seat to look at the otter-maid, "You have been an exemplary Novice Silverstorm. I shall... speak with Zork he has been your teacher and your trainer. I will listen to his advice and counsel and if you are to be a Sister I will announce it at the Summer Feast after my processional."
Silverstorm nods "I heard some of the processional, it sounds like one could learn some things of the abbey from it. but I may need to help out here maybe, I don't know. Then like said the repair is small and seems Brother Zork rather do it himself. I did clean the forge though and even some checking on a couple other areas and they are fine, just the valve that needs repaired and that should be soon"
Benar says, "Well then perhaps leave Zork to get on with his repair and come with me on my journey. I am sure you will learn many interesting things""
Silverstorm blinks "I can..come along? This is the first time any beast has asked me to come with them anywhere."
Benar smiles "Everyone is welcome, it is a journey by all of us together"
Silverstorm says, "Then..I will come. It would be good to get out of the abbey for a couple weeks"
Benar says, "Indeed it is nice to walk MOssflower from time to time"
Silverstorm says, "I use to live by the river, it was nice..well most of the time it was, then wasn’t so nice. But that’s the past and I live here now, I may not always fit in but ...well I am how I am and rather not change"
Benar says, "You di fit in Silverstorm, trust me on that, you fit in alongside everyone else. We are all individuals here."
Silverstorm says, "I..suppose, not so much with otters though. I can’t swim and I don’t like hotroot stew like most do, my paws are hardly webbed like at all. But other things I guess I fit in..I have some friends, I make useful things in the forge. I even helped with the dibbuns one day."
Benar smiles softly and stands up and hangs the towel up on a peg "You are a Redwaller Silverstorm that means you fit in with all the rest of us. Everyone of us unique"
Silverstorm smiles and goes to hug the abbot, "Thanks Abbot Benar." She then decides to go take a walk among the orchards.
