Chapter 11: Act 1: Chapter 7

Tenth day, Ninth Moon, 229 AC

The seeding was almost done for this harvest, as I had got the potatoes, turnips, and clover already planted. I was just finishing up the wheat now, and then I could pass on the seed drill to Ethan. I had passed the heavy plow and harrow on to him, and he had passed it along as well. As I looked over the field I figured I would be finished today and enjoyed a nice cool drink of water to escape from the heat of the day.

I had a nice floppy straw hat that protected my head from the sun, and I found over time it was the little things like that, which gave me comfort and reminded me of home. Over the years I found more and more of my memories of America starting to become hazy. Somethings however, stuck out and helped me remember. Like my straw hat.

Soon as I was done planting and made sure that this batch of crops was starting to grow I planned to make another trip to Deepwood Motte. I needed to sell another round of vodka and pick up somethings, like sheep shears, which apparently didn't exist. I had to shear my two sheep this spring and even with Nyra helping using a blade sucked. It wasn't too bad since the sheep honestly didn't have that much wool on them anyways, but when we get more and start breeding them properly it will be a nightmare.

On the other hand, my brandy making finally succeeded, so I could sell that too. The brandy was expensive though, so I wasn't sure how well it would sell. I had never made brandy before, but I had known the steps, so after a lot of tinkering I had made it, but I was a bit worried. The process left me with under a quarter of brandy compared to the wine I originally had. I knew that the wine was supposed to be used up during the process, but I wasn't sure how much it was supposed to be. Not having Google sucked.

Nyra and I were also arguing, since she wanted to come with me to Deepwood Motte and finally leave this village for the first time in her life. I wanted her to come, I really did, but she was pregnant. Yes, she was pregnant, and I was going to be a father! She was three months along at this point, and was still able to work around the farm, but a trip of over 3 days? That didn't seem like a good idea to me.

Don't get my wrong, I wasn't sexist or anything by trying to keep her home. If this was modern America with modern tech and medicine, I would trust the hospitals to see her through. But here, where the definition of infant mortality rates didn't exist simply because it was so commonplace? I didn't think I could take enough precautions.

So, we argued, and argued, and then when it was quiet we glared. It was our first marital fight. I knew I had the right to tell her to shut up and stay here, but it didn't sit well with me. And so, we argued.

I shook myself from my reverie and went back to work spreading the wheat seed in the field. I had a much larger field this year and was very proud of that. It was fairly smooth, with a soft downwards slope to the west. As I walked with my horse as it pulled the seed drill, I looked at the soil and did random spot checks.

My soil management technique was rather informal, but it was leagues above everyone else since I actually managed my soil beyond removing stones. My soil was actually very good, not as good as back home where I had access to fertilizers and other soil management options, but likely as good as I was going to get. My experiment with the alternative pasture was a great success, leaving it as pasturage while seeding it with nitrogen-producing plants succeeded.

I felt the sun beat down on my as I guided my horse as straight as I could, trying to leave uniform rows down the field. The spring thaw wasn't too bad this year, and the river level rose, but didn't quite flood anything. Some of my path that ran closest to the river washed out a bit, but nothing major.

The sawmill stood strong, but I feared for a more severe winter. I had decided earlier that I wanted to build a better one on the other side of the river away from it. I was still working on the plans, but I figured a simple aqueduct would suit my purposes perfectly. There was a hill a little way back from the river that I could build my mill around and use the aqueduct to carry the water to make a sort of waterfall to power the wheel.

Over the winter I had collected quite a bit of cement, enough to use as columns for my aqueduct and as mortar for my bricks that I plan to make.

The brick making was going well, I had a lot of clay ready in a pile, my forms ready, and area prepared. I just had to actually make them and fire them. I was looking forward to it and the challenge it would bring. I really wanted to make a nice brick bridge to go over my irrigation canal instead of the current wooden one.

xxxx

Later that night, once I had finished outside and we had eaten, Nyra and I sat in front of the fire.

She eventually said, "I'm perfectly good to take the wagon to Deepwood Motte. You know this."

I sighed, it appeared we would argue again. It was really starting to get to me, and I wasn't sure how to make anything better. She wanted to go, I didn't want her to. I wasn't sure what kind of compromise could even be possible.

"I don't want to risk anything happening to our child or you. The road is long and uncomfortable. We will have to sleep outside, so what if it rains or there is summer snow? How will you and the baby handle that?"

She looked stubborn, "Perfectly fine! We can bring a shelter to sleep in, and a cushion to sit. I want to see more of the world!"

I tried a different tactic. "What about the farm then? We can have Koryn come to help out a bit, but he can't truly manage the farm on his own while still helping your parents. And what if the wolves come back? It was only two weeks ago that they were sneaking around the farm!"

She rolled her eyes, "Koryn can manage the farm for a little while! He just needs to watch over the animals a bit, and water the crops if they need it!" She then narrowed her eyes, "And the wolves? Are you really wanting your pregnant wife to deal with the wolves?"

Shit. Okay, that was a bad move on my part. "Not really." I allowed, but continued, "I just don't want you getting sick or hurt! I want to show you more of the world, I really do! I just worry."

She replied, "Can we take a little bit longer perhaps? Another day of travel each way, and stay a day in Deepwood?"

Damn, that was actually a halfway decent compromise. It wasn't much better, but at this point I was ready to give in. I reluctantly said, "That might work." She visibly preened.

"Of course, it will! Koryn can come watch over the farm, and we will have a wonderful trip!"

I was happy that she was happy, but I wanted to clarify a few things. "There are some rules though. If you feel sick, at all, we stop and rest. If you stay sick, we turn around and come home. No ifs, and, or buts. Clear?"

She laughed and gave a little clap, "Of course love! Of course!" Once she calmed down again to manageable levels, "So when can we head out? And have you decided what we are selling and buying?"

I smiled, as her enthusiasm was infectious. "I am going to do as your father recommended and stay on the safe side. I will only bring two barrels of vodka and the one of brandy. I was also going to sell some grain too. As for buying, I want to get some sheep shears, more wine, I know you wanted some good linen, and I also wanted some rags for a project of mine. Anything else?"

She considered for a moment before speaking. "Another cat? The one you picked up on your last trip has been very good, and we can then breed them? I also want to talk to a wheelwright and grab a wheel for my wool spinning machine."

"Another cat would be useful, and we can sell the litter to others. Good idea. The wheelwright should have some stock, so we should be able to buy it off him right away."

She smiled and said, "Good! Enough talk now, as your pregnant wife I demand some sweet songs!"

I laughed and went to get my guitar.

"Birds flying high, you know how I feel. Sun in the sky, you know how I feel."