A Calculating Man

Writers: Emma, Vix
Date Posted: 19th April 2007

Characters: Royah, Benaran
Description: Royah brings Benaran a task from his father.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 3, day 3 of Turn 4

"Benaran," Royah came up beside his brother, stack of hides in his hands. "Do you have a moment?"

"I suppose." The older man glanced toward the hides, contemplating how long this 'moment' might take.

"Father asked me to get you to check through these, if you have the time."

If Father had suggested it, then Benaran knew that he had better find the time. "Of course. What are they?"

"It's to do with the tithes we send to the Weyr," explained his brother. "Father asked that you check our calculations."

Benaran stifled a sigh. He was good at math, not getting muddled in addition as some did, but it was so time-consuming, particularly when one was trying to determine the exact minimum of goods that needed to be sent to the Weyr - and Benaran was determined that the dragonriders would get not a speck more than required. "I'm sure that you've done well, but yes, I'll look over them."

"Father and I got the same figures, which was why we wanted another opinion."

The older brother nodded. "Shall we set them down somewhere so that I can study them properly?"

"Where ever is comfortable for you to check them through."

"In here." Benaran led the way into one of the reception rooms and indicated a table, seating himself beside it. "This really shouldn't take long."

"It shouldn't, not after two of us have already been through it."

"No. . ." The older man's attention was already on the first of the hides. His forefinger touched beside each figure as he added, moving steadily down the column to the bottom, where he nodded before looking back to the top of the column. "So far so good." He continued to add the numbers. "Yes, the addition is correct . . ." He frowned at the final figure. "But something about it doesn't seem right." Now his finger went over the list of items that accompanied the figures.

"Is there a problem?" asked Royah.

"Here." Benaran's forefinger stabbed at the hide. "These figures probably seemed off to Father and this is why - these three items are repeated down here."

"Those figures were taken from what the Headwoman and the Stewards staff gave us. I bet it came from them." Even if it was in his writing, after all, he'd have copied the list.

Benaran raised an eyebrow. "Mmm-hmmm. Well, at least you can show Father the correct lists when they've been redone. Do you want me to re-total them?"

"If you can."

Taking a pencil from his belt pouch, Benaran crossed off the duplicate items and their values. He added the column of figures, wrote the total, and then re-added them. "That should be the correct amount. I think that Father will be much happier with the figures listed here."

"I'm sure he will," said his brother. "I'm going to see if I can find out who gave him these figures in the first place."

"Of course," agreed his brother. Let Royah find someone else to blame. If he did that instead of recopying the hide, Benaran's handwriting would indicate who had discovered the mistake.

"Thank you for this Benaran."

"I am always happy to do as Father wishes."

"I'm sure you are."

"And you as well."

Last updated on the April 19th 2007

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A Calculating Man