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Jack washed the furs that were soaking for the last 2 days and meticulously cleaned all the fat tissue and any unwanted remnants from the furs before washing them again and soaking them in the reconstituted pickling concoction on Thursday. Martin came over as usual with the long chains. He was surprised not to see Mira as she usually came out to chat with him, but she didn’t this time. “Where’s cousin’s wife?” He asked curiously. “She’s working.” Jack sighed; He complained about how useless he felt. How she tired herself without stopping even to eat. “You are fortunate.” Martin chuckled as he whispered wishfully “Wish I had a wife who cared half as much.” “My wife is best.” Jack put away his wronged expression and became smug again. The next morning, Jack got ready to go to city as usual. “Husband, take this picture to second brother’s smithy” Mira extended the picture of the crown that Almera had given them. “Ask the master how much it would cost us to have it made in a size t
“We will thank both you and your master for your kindness.” Jack received the token and handed it to Mira. Samuel took out another token and gave it to Jack as he noted that Jack handed it to Mira. “We….” Jack was about to refuse when Samuel interrupted. “Keep one on your person.” He handed the token to Jack and reminded “It is better to be cautious.” “Thank you.” Both Mira and Jack thanked Samuel. Samuel stood up as his purpose of arrival had been accomplished “Then I will take my leave.” “Wait…let me get you some…...” Mira took two steps into the house when Samuel tried to stop her – “No need to get anything. I was just …..” “You can’t argue with me.” Mira pouted childishly; Samuel sat back helplessly. She turned to walk towards the kitchen but turned back once again “Are there many visitors at your master’s place today?” “No… just a quiet meal.” Samuel shook his head. “Does your master like pheasant meat?” Samuel nodded although he had an amused smile. Mira went to the
On Saturday as Mira predicted, Ursula, Agnes, Matthew and Harry arrived first and then around 10 o’clock the Ward clan with the exception of Joan and Emma arrived but that was later. Currently it was just Mira's folks. “You are being watched.” Harry warned as he sat down. “When did you manage to offend Jane?” Matthew asked before correcting himself as he saw Jack and Mira’s blank face “Dame Killion.” “We haven’t offended her.” Mira shook her head before asking “Why?” “Her men are here as well.” “Oh…” Mira’s lips curled up as she thought of Samuel’s offer with gratitude. “Then it is a friend I take it.” Matthew chuckled seeing his daughter’s silly smile. Mira told her father and the others about their association with Samuel …right up until their last conversation. “She is a good woman.” Harry nodded “You can trust her.” “Um” Mira nodded before asking “Who else?” “Slegh’s men are here too.” “Um”. Mira nodded before curling her lips in disdain “They can try.” “Don’t be so arr
They had come rushing when they heard Mira’s desperate scream. They were given only one job- protect Mira and Jack. Neither wanted to think of the consequences of failing in their duty. They ran to help… what greeted them was three grown men hiding behind bushes, two in trees and one standing frozen. They had gotten here before Mira but decided to watch as they couldn’t make sense of the situation. They couldn’t figure out if the men started fighting and attacked each other or if there was another enemy…. What eventuated…they enjoyed watching… Martin came back with the small boar along with Oden. “What are we doing with this?” Matthew turned to Mira ignoring the surprised faces of everyone other than Harry. “They…” Beth pointed at the men and hid behind John. “Let’s marinate and have a big dinner tomorrow.” Mira smiled greedily as she clasped her hands. “Let’s get Almera and her Marquess over as well.” Mira smiled as she looked at Jack. Although it was a statement, she was asking
“Cousin’s wife is very generous.” Martin shook his head. He had heard the other apprentices talking about their families. Mira took good care of them even though they were only cousins. She took care of them the same way she looked after her folks. “Ha… ha…. ha….” Jack laughed as he gave the reins to Martin. He knew Martin liked to ride. They rode back quickly. Mira completed another small strip and came out of space. She decided to do some more floral patterns using yellow threads. Jack and Martin returned shortly after she started embroidering the spare robe. It was almost like a celebratory gathering. The men chopped the woods and made the preparation for the fire since they had to start early cooking early in the morning. Ursula got the beets prepared while Agnes made the blood sauce. By the time Mira came out, Beth had all the vegetables ready. Mira added 4 gallons of water, 8 cups pickling salt, 6 oranges and 2 lemons halved along with 2 bulbs garlic in a large pot. She sque
The next morning, Mira and Jack woke up early. They had lots of things to do before everyone came. Jack milked the cows while Mira took 30 eggs and prepared stuffed eggs; placed them in space. For breakfast, she made some scrambled eggs with the rest of the eggs which was plenty for all the family. She shredded the peasant that was left over from yesterday and made a dry dish that could be eaten with bread. She took out the rosemary and thyme bread she had stocked in space. Jack came in with the pail of milk and handed it to Mira. “Do you want to have breakfast now?” Mira asked as she started the fire to boil the milk. There was no reason for Mira boiling milk…. Everyone just drank it just like that… but she liked the taste of hot milk… so she boiled it! How could she know that it would become a standard practice thousands of years later. “I will wait for everyone.” Jack’s lips curled up as he saw the breakfast preparation his wife had done. “Then, drink a mug of hot milk and let’
“Come… come…” Matthew and Harry invited in unison with a wide grin. “By god, man…” Jane laughed “You two still alive?” “Ha… ha…ha…” Harry laughed and smirked “Did you think you suddenly got the ability to converse with ghosts?” “If I did” Jane hooked her eyebrows “I know there will be other ghosts I want to meet first.” “This is my daughter’s house.” Matthew started politely “It might not…” “Good lord, Matt…. When did you become so long winded?” Jane rolled her eyes as she walked forward like the empress. Samuel chuckled as he followed. Jane and Thomas didn’t need any introductions. Matthew introduced John, Beth, Oden, Martin and Anne-Marie while Harry introduced Agnes, Ursula, Jack and Mira. Thomas introduced Aldrin and Ferran; Almera didn’t need any introductions. Jane introduced Samuel to everyone. Once introductions were out of the way, everyone mingled without reservations. Mira slipped away while everyone was chatting and went to the cellar. She took the items she had prev
“She is useless anyway.” Joan smirked as she pulled Caster’s hand. “Leave this house today and the two of you are dead to us.” John warned as Emma was about to walk out the door with Joan. “Makes no difference.” Joan shrugged her shoulders as she walked out. Silence filled the room. No one spoke… only Anne-Marie’s tiny sobs could be heard. Oden hugged her comfortingly. “Mom hasn’t woken up…” Anne-Marie sobbed bringing everyone’s attention back to Beth who had fainted. “I will take her to the healer. You lot stay here.” John stood up; his step faltered although he put a tough front. “Dad, you stay here with Anne-Marie.” Oden supported his father “I will take mom along with Martin.” “Um” John nodded as he rubbed his chest and walked over to his bed. Anne-Marie watched both her parents miserable state and didn’t know what to do… Her father was putting a tough appearance… but she wasn’t so sure… She did the only thing she knew… She waited for her father to lie down and left the hous
The older guard who followed Caleb passed the message to the Butler to serve the dishes for supper in the underground room where the men were seated. The trunk and all its contents had been carefully put away even before Caleb called the guard over for passing instructions.The older guard was also someone who had followed Caleb over the years and followed him from Worthington duchy to this place; still Caleb was cautious; his master’s words were holy edict for him. If his master said that no one other than the four men present could see the contents of the trunk, then no one other than the four men would see it.Once the maids served supper, he asked them all to withdraw, ordering them to only return in the morning to retrieve the empty dishes from the guards’ quarters.No one spoke while eating; the air in the room was filled with curiosity as a myriad of questions danced in front of their eyes, yet no one dared to break the silence. It wasn’t until they finished eating and had the g
Jerome didn’t know why but tears kept streaming down his cheeks as he read the letter, a deep sense of loss and an overwhelming pang of heartache filled his chest, he rubbed his chest in distress as he found it difficult to breath. He didn’t know why the words of a man he couldn’t remember could make him so emotional, why the possibility of not ever being able to meet him would crush his soul into feeling an irreparable loss.Not knowing what to say or feel, he decided to process everything slowly, he didn’t know why, but he wanted to hold the letter close to his heart, as though it was a piece of his soul that could never be replaced. But just as he was about to fold, he saw a life-like portrait at the back of the page and turned around anxiously hoping to see the face of the person who made his heart feel so much loss.But what welcomed him was the life-like, yet miserable faces of the younger versions of the two men beside him. And under it was a side note-“On after thought, I will
I have not sent anyone to follow her as this will only jeopardise everything. There are too many eyes on my every move, and I cannot afford a single miscalculation. Her brother is a righteous man and will protect her. If anything, untoward should happen to him, God forbid, I have instructed your men who have already been moved there to lend a hand.Your elder brother is too incompetent and have stretched myself beyond my limit and hence can only humbly beg your forgiveness and hope to atone some day when we meet. May the gods be willing and grant my prayer.If things don’t go according to plan, I will have instructed uncle and aunt to go to the castle I had bought in the kingdom of Barr; I have instructed my good friend, Uzi, the Duke of Warringal, to protect them. Most of our father’s men both household men and men in arms, will go with them. They will not come back unless one of us calls them back.Stormwall has been renamed Southamberston by the king but do not worry. Everything wil
Inside the trunk was a bow and quiver with arrows, both the bow and arrows had an image of a griffin engraved on it; the quiver too had a life-like griffin embroidered on it. There was also a dagger and a long sword with its sheath; while the sheath was embroidered with images of a griffin, both the dagger and the sword had its hilt in the shape of a griffin head. There was also a shield, with a magnificent and ferocious griffin embossed on the face of the shield. The only other things in the trunk were the full chainmail armour, an elaborate waist belt, a leather pouch, a set of tubular bells and cloak with the coat of arms of the Zumerongs which was a magnificent and ferocious griffin, standing tall and proud, embroidered with threads of gold, silver and copper; the image was so life like and imposing that just a glance at the magnificent image commanded respect. Jerome’s hands passed through the items, his hands lingering on the coat of arms on the robe; something flashed past h
“Why official?” The older man’s eyes sparkled as he asked anxiously, excitement surging in his voice “Is there an unofficial version?”“Not until recently…” Matthew’s voice was gloomy but soon brightened as he thought of why there was an unofficial version now. He turned to Jerome and smirked “Guess who your nephew married?”To his disappointment, Jerome cried out in his usual exaggerated manner “Where did I get a nephew from? I am my father’s only son.” Before turning to his father and teasing “Father, you haven’t been up to mischief outside, have you?”“Is this why I was prohibited from going outside without a mask?” Jerome continued chuckling “Are you afraid that…..”“Shut up….” The older man slapped the back of Jerome’s head and muttered shaking his head “I cannot believe there are still miserable souls looking for you considering how insufferable you are….” His words and his body language were contradictory; the affection in his voice and eyes, the gratitude in his posture had com
Jerome lifted his eyebrows quizzically towards Cyan, who looked equally baffled; Neither could make sense of the duo’s ramblings and yet strangely, they could feel the regret and sadness emanating from them.“Did we know each other before?” Jerome turned back to the two sloths who were drowning in self- blame and asked cautiously.“Know???” Harry scoffed before shaking his head regretfully “No…. we don’t deserve to claim to know you… we couldn’t even find you in so many years…. How could we claim to know you?”They say men never cry and yet, streams of hot tears ran down the faces of the two men sitting before him and oddly this made his heart ache as well.The four men sat silently sipping their drinks, gloom looming in the room; no one dared to break the solemness in the room, partly because they didn’t know how to.Jerome, who was rarely short for words suddenly didn’t know what to say; he wasn’t sure if he had unknowingly hurt the two men in front of him.Matthew and Harry sunk int
“Search the whole mansion.” The man roared in anger “I want those old bastards before me in 5 minutes or I will skin you all alive.”The men, guards and servants all scattered in fear, searching frantically.Meanwhile, neither Matthew nor Harry was in a rush, they methodically searched the mansion, from one end to the other. Not only did they search all the rooms, but also the tunnels and secret rooms that not even the men in the mansion were aware of.The man stood frozen among the chaos as he heard cry of a goshawk; although the cry of a goshawk was strange in their mansion as there were no goshawks and no hunting grounds nearby to justify the sound, he seemed to be very familiar with this sound. He frowned trying to place the sound, only to have triggered a headache.“Chief are you alright?” one of the guards went forward and stretched out his hands in concern, in an attempt to steady his boss; the man slowly straightened his back and without any change or reflection of his inner tu
Matthew and Harry stood in front of the weird looking mansion with an unreadable expression. There was a reason for their mood; this was the very mansion that they had won in a gamble along with their dear friend, Jerome in their carefree younger days. The mansions aesthetics were the result of their rebellion towards the norms that existed regarding the do's and don’t of building mansions for nobility.They had never thought of this place as they had never returned after wining the bet and remodelling the place. Gradually as their days and exploits became too many to count on fingers, as their adventures and achievements started to leave a mark on every feat they undertook, as one of the first and more insignificant feat, this place seemed to lose its original lustre and was tucked away in their memories, only to be forgotten; But now that they were standing in front of it, how could they not remember?The trio had personally deformed the place with their own hands and with the guidan
Matthew left Southamberston palace in the wee hours of the morning, he didn’t take the carriage that was carefully prepared for him and took the horse that he had taken a fancy to and rode off; his first stop was his office to leave instructions for his assistant and also to let them know that he wouldn’t be coming in for the next 2 days due to urgent family matter.As soon as Matthew came out of the chamber of trade and book of hereditary rights, he saw Harry waiting anxiously, next to his ride, mounted and ready to bolt the minute he came.“You took the beauty even before I woke up…” Harry chuckled as he leaned forward and rubbed the mane of Matthew's ride “You didn’t play fair.”“Hur … .hur…hur…” Matthew chuckled smugly as he jumped on to his ride and the two friends rode, bickering non-stop just like the good old days.It took half a day of riding non-stop to reach the west end of the water tribe county, the poor horses were ridden to their death when they finally alighted at the i