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Martin and Oden told their parents and everyone else that Jack’s barn needed fixing, and they were lending a hand. No one thought much about it. It was common in the countryside to help each other. Everyone knew that Jack had been sharing food with the family. They worked hard from morning till dinner. For dinner, Mira made fish pie and a light soup. The men had been working hard. She made a fish each. They were a few more from Jack’s catch. “Cousin, let me know if you want a free laborer. All I charge is food.” Martin laughed as he ate. Jack rolled his eyes when Mira asked “How’s Anne-Marie? Why didn’t you bring her along?” “She’s too small to know the danger.” Oden shook his head while Martin chuckled “Mom must be having a hard time with her.” “We ran away before she woke up.” By late afternoon, the sides of the hutch were successfully finished. All that was left was the top. Mira had weaved continuously for four days. She got after Jack slept and slid into space and kept weavi
Mira entered space with the bright cloth and started to work on her embroidery after Jack fell asleep. She decided to do a floral pattern with the hot pink as the vine and flowers with pink border and pearls inside. She embroidered such that the hot pink vine was closely followed by the dark green vine which was only slightly darker than the cloth and looked like a shadow of the hot pink vine. Just like the growth and breeding time of the animals in space were enhanced, Mira’s efficiency was also three times more. She worked for 4 hours and finished the whole cloth which would have taken her two full days. She stretched and slipped back into bed after taking a quick dip in the hot spring. Jack subconsciously snuggled closer as he smelt his wife’s beautiful smell and buried his head in her neck. Both of them woke up early and started the day with a lot of energy. Jack milked and cleaned the barn after skinning 8 rabbits for Mira. They were going to have a full house of people today.
Mira came out of space feeling fresh and full of life. She baked some bread experimenting with cheese and tomato on it. Some she baked with mushrooms and cheese…. She kept her fingers crossed hoping there came out all right. She made a thick creamy mushroom soup. Cream, butter and cheese were abundant with Daisy’s steady supply of milk and space to keep everything fresh. She also picked a fish from space, cleaned and kept the head and parts they didn’t eat for the dogs in space and left space. She smeared the fish with butter and spices and roasted till closer to 2 so that it would be hot and just right for Jack. Once Jack came back, they ate dinner together. Mira told him about the chicks and asked whether she should keep them in the outer shed or send them back to the coop while they were relaxing in each other’s company. Jack told her that he thought it was best they went back to the coop. Mira chattered about nonsensical things as they relaxed and then went back to work diligentl
Thomas was still waiting for Mira to return. Mira forgot about her previous grudge by the time she returned. “Mira” Thomas called out as she entered Almera’s room “I meant no offence before.” “Um” Mira pouted. “In my defense, I wasn’t even aware of your conversation.” Thomas continued “Ferran said the meat was fresh, tender and top quality. He was the one who told me I would be lucky to get one with this quality for 4 gold coins.” “Oh” Mira nodded but narrowed her eyes as she looked skeptically at the black hearted couple who had tricked her previously. “You don’t believe me?” Thomas asked as he noted her skepticism. “You two have tricked me before.” Mira pouted. “Me??” Thomas asked in shock. He had never tricked anyone especially not one he considered friend. “She is talking about the watches.” Almera giggled; She knew Thomas had long forgotten about it. “Oh!” Thomas scratched the back of his head “That was an elder sister’s affection. How can I interfere?” “Um” Mira pursed
Jack and Mira got up at the break of dawn. It was still dark outside when Jack went out to milk. Mira went to the hutch with the cages and under the cover of the dark, she entered space and called out to the rabbits. She picked 30 of the plumpest ones in each cage and walked out. She placed one cage on the ground and dragged the other to the place where Jack usually skinned them. Jack placed the milk on the kitchen table and came out wearing the apron that Mira had stitched for him earlier. The bell chimed just as Jack was about to sit to skin. Mira had placed the milk on the fire to boil. She walked over with Jack to open the door. Both Oden and Martin had arrived. Although Oden didn’t know how to skin, he could dislocate their necks. He wanted to help with whatever he could do. Soon they brothers started to work in synchrony. Oden dislocated the necks and handed the rabbits to Jack and Martin while they concentrated on skinning the rabbit neatly. Once the rabbits were skinned, Mir
“Love, how did you know they were married? How did you get that parchment?” Jack asked curiously after walking far away from vicious couple. “Almera gave it to me.” Mira gave him a sly look “It was more of a hunch once I knew Jason got his entry into the selection at court through Alina’s mom.” “Her mom is …” Mira paused “Let’s just say very shrewd.” When they came across a shop that had carpentry stuff, Jack got a box of nails for 1 gold coin. Mira got 2 leather gloves that were up to their elbows for 2 gold coin each. They strolled around for a while longer and decided to go back to the shop and wait for Almera. Mira saw a shop that had similar items to the supply shop and decided to take a look. Both of them realized that the prize for some things were much cheaper here than Joe’s shop. For instance, the lavender soaps were much bigger in size and for 50 silver pieces, they could get 5; alum cost only 5 silver pieces. They decided to get their regular stuff from this shop on th
Back in the shop, they sat and gossiped while Jack and Thomas discussed business and economic issues. Jack was well-read. His job at the Sleghs gave him access to update and maintain his world view. Thomas soon realized that Jack was not like your average educated free man. He had a sharp brain and clarity of thought that was perhaps even superior to his… He enjoyed the conversation and even discussed issues of his estate that he was hesitating on. Jack was open and frank with his opinion as he too liked Thomas’s straight forward personality and he didn’t want his wife to be angry. Mira told Almera about their encounter with Alina and Jason. “Shameless bitch!” Almera so angry, she really wanted to hit someone. “Do you think they will give up?” Mira looked at Almera with knitted brows. “Don’t worry about the bitch” Almera smiled “She won’t be able to escape the net we drew out for her.” “Um” “That fellow is a puzzle.” Almera pursed her lips. Jack and Thomas’s attention was drawn t
Mira got up after Jack fell into a deep sleep and entered space taking the oil she had bought for conditioning the furs. She worked the oil meticulously on each fur before leaving them to dry in the shade. She left space and snuggled in her husband’s warmth and fell asleep; a blissful smile hung on both their faces. Mira and Jack spent the early part of the morning cleaning the barn. They swept under the hutch and piled the rabbit droppings in one place and the manure of cow, sheep and pig in separate piles. The radishes, turnips and spinach were ready to harvest. Jack got the spade and Mira carried the empty baskets. Jack and Mira were pulling out the radishes and turnips when the bell chimed at the end. “I will go.” Jack headed to the side door. Mira continued collecting the turnips. Martin, Oden and Anne-Marie were waiting near the side door. They somehow knew the couple would be outside. “Come … come…” Jack smiled at Anne-Marie “Mira has been asking after you.” “Really?” Anne
Thomas and Orseus stepped on their toes as they leaned over their father’s shoulders and read the scroll along with them; tears rolled down Cornelius and Baldwin’s cheeks as they saw the scroll in their sworn brother’s hand and read greedily.Their tears didn’t stop even though they finished reading the letter. The guilt of not being there when their sworn brother needed them the most was eating into their soul; they listlessly handed the scroll to Jack and Mira.“So now we have to find Esmeralda to cure Uncle Jerome.” Orseus pursed his lips. He called out to Jerome as Uncle Jerome smoothly, he had no difficulty as he grew up hearing these two names, Alex and Jerome; to him, they were family, more closer to him than Uncle Alaistair and his sons.“If we have guessed correctly, we don’t have to go anywhere searching for her.” Cornelius shook his head and added with an air of mystery “She is much closer than we think.”“Are you saying that the healer that we go to is, this Esmeralda that
“If only we knew….” Harry sighed regretfully “Then we could have followed that man’s trail and found Alex sooner.”“You think too beautifully... Alex would never lead a trail if this was his contingency plan.” Baldwin sneered before his expression turned serious “But we may have stumbled upon some unexpected luck in finding Alex.”“Did granduncle Zumerong shed some light?” Orseus asked, leaning forward eagerly.“Heh!” Corenlius scoffed “They were kept in even greater darkness than us.”“Then are you talking about the man who lives at Mer waters?” Thomas asked hesitantly; he really didn’t know why his father and godfather were so confident, just because he trained with Jack?“Son, you don’t know.” Cornelius shook his head “Leal can never be separated from Alex; wherever Alex is, he will follow, whether it is in life or death.”“There has never been a more loyal shadow.” Baldwin too sighed regretfully.“Then what are we waiting for?” Almera looked around curiously; Mira leaned forward a
Jack and Mira, along with the rest of their group, dragged their exhausted bodies and reached Southamberston palace at the break of dawn. Without making any noise, they all went to their respective rooms without any fuss. Everyone had a room at Southamberston palace even though they each had cottages specially prepared for them; both Martin and Oden went to the rooms that were prepared for them instead of their cottage.Early morning was unusually noisy with many unfamiliar faces around the breakfast table and yet it was as if no one noticed the familiarity of the unfamiliar faces at the table; the only exception was the three unfamiliar unfriendly faces as they sat through the farce as though they were watching a show and not part of it.Almera and Katherine joined them shortly after breakfast, as noisy as ever with Almera complaining that her husband didn’t love her anymore and that he was in love with his first wife, the estate responsibilities and that she always came second.Firs
Jack and Mira rushed back without stopping; their pace was originally fast, but it became even more rushed after they received John’s message which wasn’t much, just a short line written in a shaky hand ‘Matthew and Harry are back with three visitors’.Don’t misunderstand the shaky hand, it wasn’t fear… It was just John trying to write in his best hand. But unfortunately, it was bound to be misunderstood, due to John’s years of acting, acting timid, which was more believable for his son and nephew, more believable than his daring persona.Thomas had just entered his palace when his page rushed in and announced that he had a note from Southamberston and passed the note. It was the same note that was sent to Jack, written in the same shaky hand, 'Matthew and Harry are back with three visitors’. However, it evoked an entirely different expression from Thomas.Thomas stood up excitedly as he reached for his cloak that he had just hung up; he wrapped it around as he walked and called out to
Back at Southamberston, by late afternoon, a travel weary Matthew and Harry had arrived back at Southamberston with three additional unfamiliar men who were covered from head to toe, leaving only sharp eaglelike eyes.Without Harrison’s calm balancing act, the household was on the verge of being thrown into chaos when Beth walked in, in a hurry, ushered in by one of the maids who was flustered.The chaos resulted from the fact that there were three strangers who looked suspicious; the imaginative minds of the young staff who worked at the castle had worked themselves up with a theory they had concocted.Their theory was that the two elders who had gone to relax were held hostage, and they were unable to escape and were brought back here for the young Duke to save them; but the young duke wasn’t here; even Lazarus and Harrison weren’t here.The young maid who ran over to call Beth and gasped, almost out of breath “Lady…. Lady… Lady Beth, the elders have been held hostages by three sinis
Jack and Mira set off in the afternoon along with their men since there was nothing left for them to do here, at the manor and considering that they had been away from the duchy for almost a week.They first made a stop at the healer’s place as per Jack promise to Cornelius and Baldwin; however, there was still no one at the cottage. Jack quietly took the scroll that he had prepared previously and jumped over the wicket gate. He walked around the cottage a few times and returned as though nothing had happened.This was his agreement with the healer; he never understood why she was so paranoid, but he had always respected her rules in her place. When he returned, he no longer had the scroll in his hand. He had placed it in their usual place, inside one of the potted plants, one that looked just like the many potted plants that were placed in the backyard and yet she would correctly identify the one with message scroll.Out of curiosity, he had watched her once as she walked in through t
Everyone had rested at the manor after their late-night discussion and was up at the break of dawn, filled with vigor and new hope for answers to their decade long search. Somehow, they all had the feeling that they were closer to their quest, closer than they had ever been….After breakfast, everyone dispersed as quietly as they had arrived leaving behind Oden and Martin who were going to follow back with Jack and Mira.Corenlius and Baldwin decided to go by the healer’s cottage once more before heading back; Jack accompanied them while Mira stayed back to sort out and implement the plans she had previously discussed with Jack for their manor.However, both Cornelius and Baldwin were destined to be disappointed; the wicket gate was still locked, and the cottage desolate as ever, without any signs of life. Both Cornelius and Baldwin had a defeated expression as they considered what to do next.“I will come over once we have finished our plans for the manor and check on them.” Jack open
“Godfather, why was your interaction with the commander who came to our aid a bit weird?” Jack asked once he remembered their encounter with the cavalry that had rushed to their aid.“Che!” Cornelius sneered the disdain on his face couldn’t be more pronounced “Did they think that I Cornelius Richard the fourth am an ornamental fool to have sat firmly on the throne for the last decade?”“Didn’t you also note the abnormality?” Cornelius hooked his eyebrows towards Jack.“Whose they?” Orseus asked with a curious smirk, looking at his father who was riled up.“Who else, other than the Sorens?” Thomas shook his head helplessly as he answered even though he knew his good brother did not need an answer to his question.“Why would them helping us through the crisis annoy his highness?” Martin asked Jack in a whisper; even though it was a whisper, other than the woman who were not trained, everyone else heard him.Everyone’s gaze consciously or subconsciously turned to Jack to hear his response
Jack led everyone to their basement room under Mira’s workroom after dinner so that they could quickly get to the bottom of the reason for the waterworks. However, even before they all got into the room the doorbell rang.“10 gold coins that’s Martin.” Jack winked as soon as he heard the bell before shrugging “It’s a wonder he didn’t rush back with Harrison.“Your grace, he wasn’t there.” Harrison informed with a nonchalant expression although his lips were twitching non-stop “He was at the smithery when the carrier pigeons came in.”“Makes sense.” Jack chuckled as he walked towards the door.“10 gold coins that’s my pain.” Baldwin shook his head.“Mine would if he could sneak out…. but that’s going to………” Cornelius’s complacent expression has already started to crack; he hadn’t even completed his sentence when he heard Mira exclaim “Your royal highness…”Cornelius shook his head helplessly rubbing his forehead wondering if he was to eager to enjoy life and whether his son was ready fo