The Homestead, Part 4
Accepting their punishment, the children prepare for a journey to the city via the river.
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"Father!" They exclaimed in unison, rising from the table.
Ignoring their anger he continued. "Take the raft downriver and hire a porter to haul it back." He turned to Cedric. "Ced, help the children collect the quest items in the workshop. Selling them at the market should fetch enough silver to pay the porter's fee."
He turned to Zeeria. "You'll need to take the sword fragments to Eliza for mending."
"Yes, father," replied Zeeria solemnly.
"Wyrn," he said, addressing his daughter. "Please send word to Cedric's estate that we are safe. Place a mark for his mother and no more."
"Yes father," replied Wyrn, not looking him in the eye. She glanced at Cedric, who nodded in thanks.
Ecks stood up to leave the table. "Watch out for one another", he said, looking them in the eyes. "I am going to hike upriver to test my strength." He grabbed a walking stick from the door. "Safe travels," he said as he walked outside on the hot and sunny day.
Cedric left for the workshop to continue preparing for the journey back to the Citadel. Wyrn and Zeeria quickly cleared the table and tidied up the kitchen. Then they grabbed small canvas packs and loaded them with a few essentials for the overnight journey. They headed to the workshop, closing up the house as they left.
In the workshop they found Cedric had loaded a small cart with items, including the ornate spear, to sell in the Citadel. The workshop was solidly built, its walls made of huge slabs of stone hauled by horse teams one at a time. It had no windows but arrow slits were carved into the walls every few feet. The slits were tall and narrow on the outside wall but broadened in either direction to allow viewing, and firing if needed, in a wide angle.
Instead of a door, the walls on the south end—made of wooden logs—rolled on a track. Instead of carved arrow slits, there were gaps in the wood with metal slats that slid open to allow visibility and room to shoot. In an emergency, the workshop could be quickly converted into a miniature fortress to protect the family. Ecks had designed it himself, with the help of other Knights several years back. Additionally, he had hand-dug a rough cellar underneath where a filled cistern and a cache of food were stored.
Cedric had the doors of the workshop open wide to maximize ventilation. Behind each open door were the walls of the stables. The horses were on one side and on the other stood Herbert, the mule. Herbert was known to bite.
Cedric handed them each a small sack and said, "Provisions for the journey: sausages, cheese, and 2 apples each. After selling what's in the cart, you should have enough silver to pay the porter and purchase additional rations as needed."
They added the provisions to their canvas day bags. Then they each grabbed a water skin—filled and ready to go—from the workshop wall where various field gear hung neatly organized.
"And don't forget this," he said, handing a small bundle to Wyrn. "The sword. Its fragments are in this case."
Wyrn carefully tucked the bundle under her arm. After a moment of silence, Wyrn spoke up.
"Please tell Father I am sorry for my behavior at breakfast," she whispered, her eyes fixed on the package now under her care. "I...will work on being more respectful."
"Your father is a Knight of the Realm and deserves respect. But he won't hold it against you. You both give him purpose," Cedric replied.
"And don't worry," he continued. "I will do my best to keep him healthy. Not only with this injury. I will keep him safe as long as I remain his squire, as I have sworn."
The children smiled at his sentiment and their moods appeared to have improved. Cedric knew this was a half-promise. Ecks' job was to put himself in harm's way. A squire's job was to follow his charge into battle and respond diligently to orders when given. He meant what he said to Wyrn and Zeeria, but knew their father's safety was out of his control.
"Let's get this mess loaded onto the skiff," he said he's turning to the loaded cart. "Who's poling today?"
"I am up for it," offered Zeeria, grabbing a long pole from a nearby rack of tools and equipment.
Cedric wheeled the cart out of the workshop and down the path to the river. A small wooden dock held a broad, flat boat. A thick rope held it fast, looped through a series of large, bronze rings: two affixed to the boat and two to the dock. Wyrn jumped aboard and grabbed a broad wooden board stored on the boat's deck. She placed it onto the dock, creating a ramp for the small wagon. Cedric wheeled the wagon carefully down the ramp, with Wyrn bracing it from within the boat.
Once the wagon was loaded, Wyrn found two ends of rope and lashed the wagon fast to wooden cleats on the deck. With Cedric back on the dock, Zeeria jumped on board, set his pole into a convenient wooden holder near the rudder post, and pulled in the ramp.
"Ready for me to untie you?" asked Cedric.
"I've got it," answered Wyrn as she undid the single knot holding the line tight. The boat immediately began to float downstream. Wyrn pulled in the line and quickly coiled it up on the deck.
"A great day for a float down the river," said Cedric. "I am going to spend my time cleaning out the stables in the heat of the day! Be safe!" He waved and turned back up the path towards the stables.
Zeeria grabbed the pole and thrust it into the river's dark water and to the bottom, sending the boat into the center of the current.
"Cedric is right. This is a fine day for a float. We should enjoy it", he noted, staring up at the hazy blue sky.
"Yes, I think I agree. Father is healing. It is a glorious day. We should enjoy it, while we can." She stared back at the homestead as it fell away from them, fearing that change and upheaval were near.
Next: unwelcome visitors
Ecks prepares to return to the Citadel to report on his failed quest, however his morning is interrupted by the bureaucratic arm of the kingdom: The Ledgerists.