“What is it?” Mira asked curiously once she couldn’t see the horse cart anymore.
“Must be tools.” Jack guessed as he opened the sack.
Sure enough, the sack had 4 spades of two different sizes each, 2 hoes, 2 rakes and a pitchfork.
“This….” Mira had a conflicted expression as she looked at the items. This would cost more than 10 gold coins.
“Like Dad said, we must repay this kindness with our actions.” Jack knew there was no point in being conflicted. He swore inwardly to return this kindness when he had the ability.
“Umm.” Mira nodded with determination.
“Wife, has the fish soup finished?” Jack asked with regret as he saw the empty bowls on the table.
“No. I have left a tiny portion for you.” Mira giggled as she took the bowls to the kitchen to wash.
She bought a bowl full of the last portion of the fish soup after washing the bowl
Jack walked around for a while before he returned back home. The walk cleared his head and there was a smile dancing on his lips as he entered. Mira was waiting anxiously, she kept pacing back and forth in the front room.“Jack” Mira’s voice was strained as she rushed to him. She was stepped back in confusion as she saw his smile. She knitted her brows with a pout.“Wife, you are right.” Jack chuckled as he gently knocked on her forehead.“I know I am right.” Mira pouted as she rubbed her forehead “What are you talking about now?”“That you were too stupid.” Jack chuckled as he embraced her.Mira pursed her lips into a resentful pout as she gently fisted on his chests.“Do you want to hear what I figured out?” Jack tapped her nose with an affectionate gaze.“Um.”“Do you remember saying that you thought I stormed out of the room because I overheard your conversation?”“Um…mm” Mira nodded confidently.“That’s why I said my love is too stupid.”“Huh??”“Think about it…. you told me what
The next few days were without events. Mira completed all the embroidery work that she had bought home by the time Jack returned home on Thursday.“I will come to the city with you tomorrow.” Mira informed Jack as they sat for supper.“So fast?” Jack raised his eyebrows “Didn’t your Madam give you 10 days?”“Um” Mira nodded “But I finished them early.”“Love don’t tire yourself. I will work harder.” Jack frowned. He knew she was straining herself too much.“Not hard.” Mira smiled “The stand you made for me is too good. I don’t get tired that easily. We need to pay our debts and get better.”“I will make those stands.” Jack pursed his lips “Let me do the hard work.”“We will work together.” Mira smiled sweetly as she leaned onto his shoulders.“Um” Jack nodded with determination. He would work harder so that his wife didn’t have to tire herself.“The seedlings have all grown.” Mira remembered as they laid down.“Um” Jack nodded. “I will go to Godfather’s to pick up the horses for ploug
Mira was so happy, she literally skipped all the way to Almera’s shop. “Someone’s very happy.” Almera spoke with a lopsided grin. “Your brother called you a dragon.” Mira giggled and whispered. “And he’s the baby dragon.” Almera scoffed. “What are you going to do with this?” Almera asked curiously as she saw Mira playing around with the cloth, she took from the rag section. “I was still thinking.” Mira kept fiddling with the cloth before asking with a curious expression “How long does it take to make a neckerchief normally?” “Varies on the pattern and experience.” Almera shrugged “My most experienced worker might take a day for a complex pattern with embroidery. The less experienced can take 2 days.” “Um” Mira nodded pursing her lips. “Do you embroider?” Mira asked curiously. “Yes… but only my own clothes.” Mira nodded as she carefully took the watch pendant Almera gave her, like a precious treasure and opened to look at the time. It was getting almost 2 pm. She decided to sl
Jack hurried over to Uncle Harry’s place. He wanted to get back to his wife quickly. He saw Uncle Harry loading sacks on to a cart. Jack rushed over to help. “Godfather” Jack called out as he bend down to pick a sack and load it. “Jack…” Harry laughed “I thought you guys have forgotten when I didn’t see you yesterday.” “That…” Jack scratched the back of his head; his face filling with an unnatural color. How could he tell Godfather that he forgot time staring at his wife? “Ha….ha….ha….” Harry laughed even louder without giving him any face. “Godfather, can I borrow the plough horses again this week?” “Yes… yes… I have got everything ready for you.” Harry pointed at the cart that was loaded. “This….” “It is the manure that you need. I had to go to Larkin’s and got it along the way.” Harry lied with his eyes wide open. “There’s 10 bags of cow manure, sheep manure and hen manure. You have to mix it properly before spreading it.” Harry started to explain but soon sighed shaking hi
“Love, what are you doing?” Jack raised his hand to tuck a loose strand of hair that fell on to her face. “I am getting dinner ready.” Mira smiled bashfully before raising her eyebrows in concern “Hungry?” “Um” Jack nodded truthfully; He lowered his voice and asked, “Is there enough for everyone?” “Um” Mira nodded “I have used all our eggs and fish.” She added in after thought “Luckily we went fishing yesterday.” “Um” Jack chuckled “My wife is clever.” “I have made a special something with the eggs.” Mira smiled mysteriously as she lowered her voice and whispered, “This is something I learned in my previous life.” “Love, I am even more hungry now.” Jack feigned a pitiful expression. “There is enough for everyone.” Mira tapped his hands that were extending towards her but sighed softly “I hope.” “Help me bring the table from the outer storeroom.” “There’s a table in that room?” Jack asked in surprise. He had never really paid much attention to the things in the room. “Um… ther
Mira opened the second room and started to work once everyone went. She finished the neckerchief for Godmother before the daylight went off and then with the light from the fireplace, she started to look at the work she bought back from Almera. She chose one that she thought was easier. The pattern was a floral design starting at the waist going all the way down to the hem of skirt of the ball gown. This had to be repeated eight times. The design was a narrow single vine near the waist and would grow thicker as it went down, ending up at least 5 inches wide for a single pattern. The hem of the skirt was a single vine connecting all the vines radiating down. The cloth was a royal purple in color; Mira chose to use darkest shade of purple for the inner shadings of the flowers on the pattern while the parts were done in a lighter shade… almost close to pink… like a purple pink. The vines and leaves were done using dark and light shades of teal green. Jack cleared the backyard; He tidie
She lighted the rushlight and placed it near the stand. She examined the next 2 works before deciding on which one to start. She looked at the time on the pocket watch, it was 6 and a half hour, she scribbled the time on her cloth. The one she selected to work on, required a floral pattern all over the skirt; it was 5.5 yards wide and 1.5 yard long. Mira drew the pattern on skirt; the pattern was 1.5 yard long and 1 yard wide. She divided her work into 5 parts and set the task for her to finish one part today. Jack came in another 2 hours later “Love, I am hungry.” “Um.” Mira nodded as she quickly finished the stitch she was doing and got up after scribbling 8 and half on her cloth. “Finished?” Mira asked curiously; She had not seen him the whole day. “Um” Jack lips curled up slyly as he saw her walk out of the room. He quickly entered and opened the back door. He came out and locked the door near the front room as Mira always does when she leaves the work room since learning the r
“How are we going to take the slate stands to the city?” Mira frowned as she ate her breakfast and thought of the troublesome problem. “You stay.” Jack hurried to the carriage ride stop. Sometimes they would be carts for hire at 50 silver pieces for a day. Luckily there were two; Jack needed only one. He decided to spend the money. He paid from the pouch Mira had given him and rode back home. Mira was waiting anxiously at the door. “How did you get it?” Mira asked as her frown disappeared. “Hire for a day.” Jack pursed his lips “Wife, I have spent 50 silver pieces.” He handed the money pouch back to her. “That’s okay.” Mira smiled although her heart was bleeding; She knew there was no other way for them to carry the frames. Jack loaded all the five frames and helped Mira into the cart before getting in. They talked all the way and rode at a leisurely pace. Along the way, Jack taught Mira to ride the cart. Even so, they reached earlier than normal. Jack left the cart with Mira so
Caleb sighed as he stretched and poured himself a drink before settling down “How much do you know?”“Let’s start at the beginning” Harry spoke without thinking but then corrected himself “Actually, let’s leave the recollection for later, you would have to repeat it anyway.”“Now that we have found him, everything else can wait.” Harry waved his hand and stood up, turning towards Jerome “When can are we leaving?”“Leaving??” Jerome, who still hadn’t come in terms with what he was told, that his life so far was a lie, raised his head with a confused gaze.Harry, who was full of energy paused; he too realized how tactless he had been. In their excitement, they barged in, overturned his world and then without giving him a chance to adapt, they were trying to uproot him. He took a deep breath trying to calm himself “Apologies, we weren’t tactful.”Matthew who was sitting quietly till now slowly opened his mouth as he yawned naturally “I am feeling tired. Where do I sleep tonight?”Jerome
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