Tolia stifles a yawn, supressing it so that she can then grin welcomingly to Kaeryn. "Hey, you're back."

Clump. Clump. Clump. Kaeryn clumps up the stairs, smiling and waving as she is noticed before she can say anything. "That I am, and from the looks of it, not too soon, either." The tray she carries in her hands is set down gently and she moves the cloth that covers it. "I brought klah and juice and fresh bread for you."

Tolia's stomach rumbles at the enticing scent, causing the girl to grin sheepishly. "Thanks, I could use some of that."

Tolia clears aside a stack of hides on the table, making space for the tray. "Any news?"

Kae shakes her head and smiles, "Not really. Seems that there have been a few promotions back at the hall, or so Marius said when he sent word via Enjolras." After glancing around for a place to sit, she shrugs and lets herself slip to the floor.

"Is that a firelizard?" Oli rolls the odd name around on her tongue for a moment. "Who walked?"

"Yeah, it's Marius's bronze firelizard, and a friendly fellow he is," Kae explains as she smooths her skirts around her legs. "Well, I'm not really clear on who's been promoted, but I know that there are a few exams that have taken place recently, or will be taking place. The craft is growing, you know."

Tolia helps herself to a goodly hunk of the fresh bread and juice, slipping to the floor to keep Kaeryn company. "Sure, I guess it always is, isn't it? Anyone new being posted here?"

Kaeryn shakes her head, "No, we haven't sent word for any need of help here, with the apprentices we have, I think we're doing fine. I do think someone might be posted at the SeaHold though, if they can find the right person for that job." Her head is cocked to the side and she studies her apprentice thoughtfully, "What work have you done to keep yourself busy lately?"

"Work? Aw, this ain't work," Oli jokes, adding a somewhat sarcastic grin to convey the real meaning of her statement. "Naw, really, though. Most of the time you've been over at the sea hold I've been up here on shifts, or helping out with the little kiddies down at lessons. Basically the same stuff I did with you, except I guess I haven't been keeping up too well on the flute..." She shrugs, giving a ceilingward, innocent glance.

Kae looks dramatically disappointed, "So you mean to tell me that all the work and effort Jerran's told me that you've been putting into drumming and helping out around here isn't worth a little...something?" In her hands, a small wooden box appears, one with the HarperCraft stamp on it. Her fingernails click on the surface as she moves her hands.

Tolia's expression becomes curious as her attention is drawn to the box, and she gives her mentor a questioning glance. "Um, I dunno. I guess it's better'n Latke who just sits on his duff all day, but?"

After glancing down at the box again, Kae gets to her feet and motions for her apprentice to stand as well. The top of the wooden box is pushed open, revealing something to the journeyman, and she smiles brightly. "I personally believe Jerran when he says you deserve a little something... The question remains, though. Do /you/ think you deserve what's in this box?"

Tolia stands, curiousity burning in her glance. She blinks a couple of times, trying to discern Kaeryn's real question, trying to bore through the box and see inside... "Um... what's in the box?"

Bright blue eyes sparkle in amusement for a brief moment before Kae's able to make herself look serious again. "Tolia, Apprentice of the Harper Craft, I have been given the permission to change your rank from that of an Apprentice to that of a Senior Apprentice. If you don't feel that you are ready for this rank, then you can refuse it. Otherwise, accept this knot of senior apprentice rank, and wear it with pride."

Tolia unconsciously brushes a few breadcrumbs off of what, when sitting, had been her lap even as her mouth opens wordlessly in surprise. Closing it, swallowing, she manages to get words out only after a long moment. "Senior?" Her voice pitched too high, she stops, lowers it, and repeats, "Senior Apprentice? Sh -- Gosh," she corrects, becoming more conscious of her manners. "I -- I mean, I accept," A grin spreads.

The opened box is presented to the newly promoted Senior Apprentice by her proud mentor. "Wear it well, Oli. Wear it with pride." Kae smiles brightly and pats her on the shoulder, "You deserve this, and I am proud to be able to say so."

Tolia can't stop grinning, now that she's started. "Wow. I mean, thanks, Kae-- Journeyman Kaeryn," she adds the proper title, even. "Wow." She removes the knot reverantly from the box, gently spreading it out and examining the strands.

Kae laughs happily and nods her head, "You're most welcome, Senior Apprentice Tolia." With a wink she adds, "Hopefully, it won't be much longer before I give you a journeyman knot as well."

Tolia gulps involuntarily, but then keeps beaming brightly to her mentor. "I dunno. What does it take?" She starts to try affixing the knot to her shoulder, but her fingers don't quite figure it out.

"Just keep up with the way you are working, and it won't take much," Kae replies with a soft laugh at Oli's trouble with her knot. "Fingers don't always work the way you want them to, do they?"

Tolia giggles, a symptom of her inner excitement as she nods to Kaeryn. "Yeah." Pausing with that effort, she pulls off her vest so she can get at the spot with both hands.

Tolia finally manages to get the knot attached to the shoulder of her vest and shrugs it back on, adjusting that shoulder carefully to make sure the new accoutrement hangs just so. She picks up the glass of juice she'd left on the floor when she stood up, putting it back on the table -- she's too high to drink at the moment. "So do we board the Lady Rose soon now? She's been in port for a long time already."

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