Patches of dark shadow began enveloping the workshop as he extinguished the lamps lighting the room. It had been a long day of tedious work on the common bows and arrow heads he makes for the hunters and warriors of the reach. Building the high quality, but identical bows, he mass produces for the hunters had long since lost the excitement he usually felt when crafting the finest weapon one could wield. He much preferred working on the elite level bows that challenged him to push the boundaries of his talent and the limits of the wood, horn or antler he used. Unfortunately, those projects had to be put aside, as the current situation required that he make sure all hunters were outfitted for the hunt. With so many hunting parties going out and some not returning, there had been losses and damage taking many bows out of the hands of the hunters who needed desperately to bring back food. Scooping up his Katinu, he slipped into the large coat and killed the last lamp before leaving the work space.
Stepping out of his work space into the hall way that, lead to the common room, he turned away from the sound of the few other craftsman still at work. Making his way down the corridor away from the common room of the Craft hall and towards the warrens, his mind wandered back to the idea he had for a new project. If he could accomplish what he had in mind, it would be the greatest achievement of his life and maybe any other craftsman…. ever. These thoughts continue to take his attention as he makes his way to the Kitchens. His fingers play loosely with the meal voucher in his hand while he passed unused rooms. There were many of them within the warrens. Usually with Dek to be found curled up trying to get what sleep they could. There were times when guilt flooded through him at the station the Dek occupied. He had never mistreated one of them yet wasn’t inaction as bad as action.
Slipping in and out of the kitchens as he usually did, avoiding most of the crowd within, he made his way towards his quarters. His food was wrapped in a cloth, laid across the bowl of soup he had taken. Again he passed empty rooms and again the corners and shadows housed Dek looking for a place to sleep where they would not be made to move or work extra by someone like him. His body suddenly slammed into something and his cloth of food hit the floor while he was barely able to keep the soup in the bowl.
“What the hell…” he spat as he looked down for the wrapped food. There on the floor was a small woman, scrambling to grab the cloth of food.
She held it up for him and apologized profusely…” Very sorry sir, I did not see… was just going to…”
Her sentenced trailed off and she did not finish where exactly it was she was headed. Reaching down for the food, his hand stopped a few inches away from the cloth. Her whole body cringed as his hand neared hers and he could see her hands trembling. Her eyes darted back and forth between him and the food she held out. Many people had pointed out that he was not the most observant man, yet he could tell this woman was fighting the urge to take the food and run. With the winter storm raging and the hunters barely able to bring in enough food to feed the reach, many people were going hungry. He looked the woman over and what he could see in the dimly lit corridor was thin… too thin.
He withdrew his hand and indicated to the bowl…” keep it, I was full already anyways. I’ll just take the soup for a snack later.” He dropped the smile and was more serious as he said,” If anyone challenges you about it, Tell them to see Avora Haplo. Do you understand?”
The woman did not bring her hands down with the food, only nodded and stared at him. He nodded back to her and turned, heading off again towards his room. Just a few strides away his stomach betrayed him and grumbled loudly. Hoping she had not heard it, he quickly made a corner and sighed. In fact he had not stopped his work for midday meal and was fairly hungry. The picture of the woman’s thin frame flashed in his mind and he quickly banished any hunger he felt. He was lucky and he knew it. He imprinted this route in his mind; he would come by this way again.
Stepping out of his work space into the hall way that, lead to the common room, he turned away from the sound of the few other craftsman still at work. Making his way down the corridor away from the common room of the Craft hall and towards the warrens, his mind wandered back to the idea he had for a new project. If he could accomplish what he had in mind, it would be the greatest achievement of his life and maybe any other craftsman…. ever. These thoughts continue to take his attention as he makes his way to the Kitchens. His fingers play loosely with the meal voucher in his hand while he passed unused rooms. There were many of them within the warrens. Usually with Dek to be found curled up trying to get what sleep they could. There were times when guilt flooded through him at the station the Dek occupied. He had never mistreated one of them yet wasn’t inaction as bad as action.
Slipping in and out of the kitchens as he usually did, avoiding most of the crowd within, he made his way towards his quarters. His food was wrapped in a cloth, laid across the bowl of soup he had taken. Again he passed empty rooms and again the corners and shadows housed Dek looking for a place to sleep where they would not be made to move or work extra by someone like him. His body suddenly slammed into something and his cloth of food hit the floor while he was barely able to keep the soup in the bowl.
“What the hell…” he spat as he looked down for the wrapped food. There on the floor was a small woman, scrambling to grab the cloth of food.
She held it up for him and apologized profusely…” Very sorry sir, I did not see… was just going to…”
Her sentenced trailed off and she did not finish where exactly it was she was headed. Reaching down for the food, his hand stopped a few inches away from the cloth. Her whole body cringed as his hand neared hers and he could see her hands trembling. Her eyes darted back and forth between him and the food she held out. Many people had pointed out that he was not the most observant man, yet he could tell this woman was fighting the urge to take the food and run. With the winter storm raging and the hunters barely able to bring in enough food to feed the reach, many people were going hungry. He looked the woman over and what he could see in the dimly lit corridor was thin… too thin.
He withdrew his hand and indicated to the bowl…” keep it, I was full already anyways. I’ll just take the soup for a snack later.” He dropped the smile and was more serious as he said,” If anyone challenges you about it, Tell them to see Avora Haplo. Do you understand?”
The woman did not bring her hands down with the food, only nodded and stared at him. He nodded back to her and turned, heading off again towards his room. Just a few strides away his stomach betrayed him and grumbled loudly. Hoping she had not heard it, he quickly made a corner and sighed. In fact he had not stopped his work for midday meal and was fairly hungry. The picture of the woman’s thin frame flashed in his mind and he quickly banished any hunger he felt. He was lucky and he knew it. He imprinted this route in his mind; he would come by this way again.
