Chapter Twenty One

Twenty-first day, Fifth Moon, 239 AC

"Papa! I don't want to!" Violet whined, as I made her put on multiple layers of hats. "It's too heavy! I hate when you make me put it all on!"

Nyra tsked at Violet's complaining while she was preparing food for dinner. I admonished Violet, "Stop complaining Violet. If you want to skate, you need proper protection. Safety is very important sweetheart."

Violet pouted. I had to bite my tongue to distract me so that I would not cave to her demands. Oh, my child, how I would love to get you an actual helmet. One that was comfortable and safe. Unfortunately, all I had was thick hats and furs to protect her from falls.

When she saw that I wouldn't cave, she turned her attention to her mother. "Mama, can't I just wear one hat? My hat is really big already."

Nyra let out a low laugh, "Now why would you ask me, when your father already said no?"

Violet let out a little whine, "Mamaaa!"

Nyra raised an eyebrow and wagged a spoon at her. She said, "If you don't want to wear the clothes you can stay here with me and bake some bread. I'm trying a new recipe and I could use your arms for all the stirring and kneading."

Violet paled a little and quickly responded, "No! That's okay. I'll wear the hats!"

I smiled to myself as I helped her put on the rest of the clothing. We said out goodbyes to Nyra and Eve, and we went outside to the river to put on out skates. The river had been frozen for most of the winter, which let us skate most of the way to the village quickly. Now that Violet was older, and was skilled at skating, she was able to come with me on my trips to the village or other farms.

It helped to break up the monotony of winter and provided Violet with some fun and exercise. As we laced up our skates I breathed in the ice-cold air and I idly wished I could get a Fisherman's Friend. I had always loved having one during the cold weather, especially while outside.

It was a fairly typical winter day; well below freezing, the sun was visible but there were clouds in the sky, the ground completely covered in snow, and tree limbs were straining against the weight of the snow.

As we skated down the river and made our way past the farms, we played I Spy as we went along; something I had always done as a child.

We didn't see anyone on our trip down, and the river proved solid enough for us to make it to the village the entire way. As we took our skates off, and Violet gleefully took off her hats, we saw a few people sitting around outside and some children running around playing. Violet turned to me with a hopeful look, and I gave her permission to go play with a shout of "Play safe!" as she ran to go play with the other children.

I made my way through the village, greeting those I met, and made my way to the fur trappers area. A man roughly my age, Bob, was sitting outside near a large fire plucking and shearing a piece of fur.

He noticed me approach and greeted me, "Michael. How are you?"

I gave him a smile and replied, "Good. You?"

He gave a grimace and said, "Been better. My leg is all banged up 'n my ankle is swollen something fierce."

"Koryn told me you were back in town early and hurt. What happened?"

Bob answered, "We was travelling near a lake 'n the snow was covering this river 'n the ice wasn't thick enough t' support me. Fell right through 'n got my leg stuck in the bottom. The current didn't carry me away, but a rock rolled over onto me foot. Wasn't deep enough t' drown, but I was stuck until me brothers could help. I was cold as piss when I finally got out, worried I might die anyways, but me brothers had a good fire 'n some dry clothes waiting for me. We don't think me ankle is broken, but it hasn't gotten much better yet."

I indicated to his splint and said, "Well, its good your trying to relax it and got it a splint to help. Hopefully, it will be better soon. When is the rest of your family due back?"

He scratched his beard and replied, "When I left them they had another moon's worth of supplies. Without me there, they will have enough for a few weeks yet. We usually go out for a few moons at a time and return with what we have. It's what everyone does out here mostly."

"Oh? What do other people do then?" I asked him.

He gave a slight shrug, "They'll go for the whole winter. Crazy bastards I say. Take their whole families and move deep into the wild and hunt all winter. Eat all the meat they catch and bring other stored goods with 'em. I think they've got houses they go t', but others just move around constantly. Real good money, but it's hard on everyone that goes. Some'll move back to proper villages in the summer and do labor work for coin, some real crazies stay out there all the time and just travel back and forth to buy and sell goods. Real crazy those ones."

"Aye, that's pretty crazy. Alone with no one near you for many leagues. Bit scary to think about really. I came from King's Landing, and there is half a million living there and even when I was travelling here there were usually people somewhere. Even here along the coast, there's not many people but they are there." I said in wonder. I could just picture it in my head, just endless forests and animals. Reminded me of those pictures back on Earth of remote places. Utterly eerie.

He gave a gruff nod of the head and asked, "So what brings you by?"

I replied, "Looking to get some beaver and rabbit fur if you have any. I need to make another hat for my eldest." I pointed to my Russian ear flap hat. "She's at the age where she grows out of everything before you know it."

He laughed and replied, "Aye, I do. That's an interesting hat, if I do say so myself. "

"Thanks. Made 'em myself. It's a style of hat I picked up on my travels, it's very good for the winters."

He nodded, "Aye, I can see it. Does it have a special name?"

Damn, what should I call it? I think it was called a uhana? Or maybe oshanka? I could call it a Russian hat, since people would have no idea what that word is anyways. The uhrplant sounds somewhat similar. Maybe the uhrhat? That would be fine, the dryhat is accurate I supposed. Especially with beaver fur. I replied to him, "It's called a Russianhat, but I usually just call it an uhrhat."

He sounded out the words, "Russianhat. Hmm, never heard Russian before. Uhrhat though, that I like. Can I see it?"

I passed it over to him and said, "It's very comfortable. With beaver pelts, it's pretty water resistant and good all winter long."

He nodded as he inspected it. He looked up at me and said, "This is good work. I see what you mean about keeping you warm, and the ear flaps are a good idea. I think I'll make one myself."

He passed my hat back to me and asked, "So just beaver and rabbit then? Any fox? I've also got some mink if you are interested?"

I perked up at that, mink was a very popular fur back on Earth and made good coats. I asked him, "Let me have a look at the mink, I've been wanting some for a while. Though I might have to come back with my wife to get an idea of how much we'll need, but I don't really see a need for any fox fur."

He led me into his barn and showed me his furs. I went and picked out some of the better beaver and rabbit furs to take. He pointed out his mink furs and I looked them over with a critical eye. They were all in very good condition, with a variety of colors. I remember that minks had very good regenerative properties when it came to growing fur and it definitely showed.

I said, "These are some good-looking furs. I'll definitely be back with my wife. While I am thinking of it, do you have any mink oil?"

He looked confused and said, "What's mink oil?"

I scratched my chin in thought. Damn, I thought he might already know about it. I couldn't remember when it became popular, but I always used it back on Earth. I answered, "I believe it's the fat of the mink heated up. It melts really easy and is really good to apply to leather as it makes things work really good against water."

He started to look curious and asked, "So just heat up the fat you say?"

"I believe so. I only ever bought the oil itself, but that's all there was to it I think."

Bob paused in thought before replying, "Might be doable. There is a band of fat around the stomach that would be easy t' melt. I've already dealt with the mink meat for this batch, but if me brothers bring more back I'll try it out 'n let you know."

I smiled graciously and replied, "Thanks, that sounds like a plan."

We bartered for a bit, and I ended up giving him some coin and promising to bring some of my sausages and other food when I came back for the rest of the payment.

I loaded up my sack with the furs and tied it to my back like a large backpack and said my goodbyes to Bob. I went looking for my daughter, but before I went very far I met another one of the new villagers, a fisherman named Torrhen, and he pulled me aside for a quick chat.

"'Lo Michael! Got a minute?"

I replied, "Sure Torrhen, what's up?"

He looked amused and said, "What's up? What an interesting saying… I think I'll use that in the future! Anyways, I was wondering about that soap o' yours. Was hoping you could show me how to make it? I've got a newborn, an' I heard that the soap an' bein' clean helps the little ones."

I gave him a smile and said, "Congratulations! And yes, soap and being clean will help the child. Clean sheets and furs, and bathing helps too, but make sure that the child is nice and dry and warm after your done!" At his nod of understanding I continued, "I should be back in the village in a few days, I need to see Bob again, so I'll come find you when I'm back."

"Thanks Michael! Do you mind if I grab a few others t' watch? A few have learned from others, but me an' some others haven't."

I shrugged and replied, "Sure, no problem. It's not too hard to teach just you or some others."

He gave me a smile and thanked me before moving on. When I finally found Violet, she was playing tag with the other children in the field on the outskirts of the village. She was running around with the other children but came over when I called. She said goodbye to the others as they continued their game, and we walked back to where we left our skates.

As we skated back to the farm we stuck to the banks of the river, letting the tree limbs that were covered buried in snow make a white tunnel for us to travel through. The cold winter wind drove us onwards as it made the warmth of our home seem all the more enticing.

When we neared home the wind began to pick up, so I started to sing, "As the winter winds litter London with lonely hearts…"