Thalia - The New Generation

Chapter 4: Another Meeting

Chapter 4: Another MeetingIt was a hurried meeting with the construction/painters that Ilvina had sent over. The women assured JoAnne, Lass of Ayran, that they could procure the needed teal blue and aqua paints to change that dark walls and obliterate the s*x graphics that Ilyan had someone portray on the bedroom walls. It should be finished by nightfall tomorrow.

JoAnne frowned at them. “Why so long? There are but three rooms.”

The two looked at each other. They had heard how the new Maca locked people out of their homes and flivs. Idante bowed. “It will be finished by noon tomorrow. Tis that acceptable?”

JoAnne nodded. “Aye.” She turned to Daniel. “There tis nay proper sheet material for beds in Ishner. I shall bring the red bedding of Ayran if there tis nay in the storerooms here. I have the new Director and Keeper of this home searching.”

Daniel smiled at the woman he had loved since their first bedding eighty-some years ago. “Efficient as always, my love. Where do ye wish to grab a brew? I have two more meetings this afternoon. Then I have to visit the manufacturers, if there are any left here, that tis. That information does seem to be a bit hazy. If nay, Rurhran may have the material Ishner needs to replenish the colors of Ishner.”

“Do ye ken of any decent brew hall here?” JoAnne suspected there was none for Ishner had become isolated over the years. Nay of the Houses had wished to visit or shop here.

“Nay, but some of the smells from the quays and blocks lining the ocean at Port Issac were quite tempting.”

“We should visit the waterfront here. This tis where our home tis. There must be someplace that tis nay dreary around here.” As she spoke, the overhead cloud shifted and a shaft of sunlight moved over the landscape, making the teal Maca's Home sparkle.

JoAnne laughed. “I do believe I have my answer. There tis a pleasant spot out back by the pool. I have brews in the cooler.”

* * *

Daniel sank back in his Maca's chair. The time spent with JoAnne had restored his good humor. He was certain it would nay last until the evening meal.

“It tis Ilarmina, Director of Fisheries, to see ye, Maca,” came over the com.

“Aye, send her in.” He swiveled the chair to face the door. He still wasn't certain whether he would retain her or not, although he had to admit the list she had sent over was complete, or at least it looked complete to a Warrior accustomed to space and fighting rather than running the fishing port and operations of the major economic area. He would have to check with Ishmael.

Ilramina stepped through the doorway. She had found a teal cummerbund somewhere, and it rested on her hips. Daniel realized the woman looked as old as the personnel records reported. She was nearing three hundred, close to the age of decline. She bowed and took the seat across from him and waited.

Daniel nodded and brought up the list she had sent. “Since we have secured the metal, why tis it still there on the list? I thought ye kenned that was stocked in that warehouse was to be used.”

“I was nay certain ye would release it.”

“Ahh, do ye ken that I have ordered Captain Issaric's ship to be cleaned and sent out. It will be captained by Ikea per the suggestion of my Counselor of Ishner, Ishmael.”

“Good, we need the fish and the protein it provides, although I do need the information for my records.” She hesitated a moment. “I dinna what the directors of the different cities told ye, but the previous Maca was nay interested in fish or trade. There tis a shortage of food in certain areas. Particularly in Isling. Fish are nay the protein problem as most are able to fish in their localities. It tis the grain and vegetables that dinna grow in our harsh climate, and the pina pods for tea. I suggest ye set up a trade with Rurhran and mayhap with Troy. That tis nay on the list, but I realized I should have included it.”

Daniel blinked. The woman had rattled on, and how did she ken about the food shortage and how could there be a shortage of tea? It was a wonder the people of Ishner had nay rioted sooner.

“How could there be a shortage of pina tea? There was a bumper crop last year.”

“First, ye must have the funds to pay for it.” Her voice seemed to come through clenched teeth.

“Why tis Ishner so broke when all the other Houses are doing so well?”

Her laugh was harsh. “As I said, the previous Maca did nay care for trade or for production. As she seemed to draw farther away, Ishmalisa and Ilnor grew more and more concerned about their lassie, and they neglected what they once did for the trading and the accounting.” She hesitated a moment, and suddenly, anger seemed to convulse her face.

“Everything they were doing meant their ideas and procedures would fail and Ishner be ruined.” She leaned forward. “For years, I have suffered a loss whenever funds were available. I knew they were taking it, but I dinna ken how they used it. Now people in Ishner hunger because of their neglect and thieving ways.”

“Missing funds?”

“Aye, Maca. The Directors of the Center had the same problem, but Ishmalisa ignored us.”

Daniel swallowed. What had he gotten into? He had directed Issing, Lass of Ishner, to go over the accounts and give him a report. Now it looked like he and/or Ishmael would be going on a trading mission on top of meeting with the school officials and the remnants of any manufacturing in Ishner.

Ilramina continued. “I have traded with Rocella, Lass of Rurhran, for cereals, dried fruit, and/or vegtables before. We have kenned each other since childhood. I am willing to meet with her after we are through. Rurhrans are fond of our smoked fish.”

A smile tugged at the corners of Daniel's mouth. “This tis why ye have been Director of Fisheries so long, aye? Ye became valuable to the Maca who did nay have time.”

Ilramina sat straighter. “Nay inhabitant of Ishner should hunger when we have so much.”

Daniel's huge body seemed to relax. “Tell me, were there nay others to do the trading or buying?”

“Ishmalisa once took care of it all. Then she became so wrapped up in her grown lassie that she neglected everything else, and the Sisters took over. They cared more for their Warrior training than for the people of Ishner. That was a huge mistake,” she hesitated before adding, “on their part.”

Daniel's smile was still there, but the eyes were hard. “In other words, if the Sisters had run Ishner as it should have been run, ye would nay have objected.”

Ilramina felt her stomach clutch. The man was more than a Warrior. She should have kenned. “Maca, anyone that would have managed Ishner as it should be managed would have been acceptable after years of debacle.” She rose.

“If there tis nay else, I will return to my office and wait for yere orders to vacate.”

“And why would I give such orders?”

She gritted her teeth, but tried one more time. “I thought ye had rejected my offer to negotiate with Rocella and had someone else picked for Director of Fisheries.”

“I have nay rejected yere offer. I would need to approve such a trade before it tis valid. As for Director of Fisheries, there tis but one candidate. At the present, he tis my Counselor of Ishner and has nay desire to sit in an office on land. He wishes to return to the seas with his troller and crew.”

Ilramina drew in her breath. Of course, Ishmael was the only true candidate, and as this man just said, Ishmael nay cared to be landside. She bowed. “Then I shall contact Rocella. If she agrees, I will be there within the hour. How much sustenance tis needed?”

“According to the Director of Isling, they lack at least five pounds per person a week. There are twenty thousand within the city and another five thousand around or close by. Have ye discerned any shortages here or at Port Issac? Nay mentioned any.”

“It tis nay always the best or what one desires, but I ken of nay going hungry. If the directors of the other cities did nay mention it, I doubt if it tis a problem.”

Daniel nodded. “So how do ye convince Rocella that ye are a valid negotiator if I dinna arrange it?”

Ilramina stood. “It would nay be the first time, Maca. Ilyan was remiss about such things.” She bowed and started to leave when she saw the Rurhran Export/Import logo and then Raffer, Director of Rurhran's Export and Import, saying, “Aye.”

“Good afternoon, Raffer. My Director of Fisheries, Ilramina, will be there to discuss trade matters with Rocella, Counselor of Rurhran. She has my permission for certain trade arrangements. She assures me that she will be welcomed.”

“Of course, she will be welcomed, Maca of Ishner.” He grinned. “Will ye be at the Arena for more battles once ye and JoAnne Walk the Circle?”

Daniel returned his smile. “Oh, nay, JoAnne would have her revenge if I were to win and choose a different lassie.” He closed the circuit and looked at Ilramina.

“Give my greetings to the Counselor of Rurhran.”

“Thank ye, Maca.” Ilramina bowed and left. Inside she was seething. She had forgotten how close House members could be and how the Sisterhood had strangled that asset while here. It was difficult to decide who to damn most: All men, or the ones who had led the Sisterhood on Ishner.