Banished Prince Charming

Chapter 87 - Reinforcements Have Arrived...!

A new day has arrived and the families were busy preparing breakfast in the courtyard and had used a total of 3 rocket stoves and large cauldrons to prepare them along with one large cauldron to prepare morning tea. There was enough bread to pass around and more variety would be added to later by midday.

After breakfast, it was normal to have a briefing to determine the task that follows and the morning briefing was rather short and sharp. Everyone knew what to do and it would be same for the next following 3 days to come, that is to fell trees, make planks, chop firewood and resume the clay bricks production and the weaver products production area. The loom, tailor and bakery remain as it is as well. Gwen's hunting bow and fishing pole production area also resume as usual.

I was in the midst of updating some entries in the journal when we heard the familiar, excited barks of Sir Blackie, with its tail wagging in the air as it chases it around a few times in a circle. He then shoots off towards the end of the residential district where it could only mean one thing: The arrival of Marcel the Merchant.

Eagle came up to me and informed me, "Reinforcements have arrived. 5 new Shadows would be joining to make this project faster and the load lighter." I smiled widely as I received his news and went forward to welcome them.

Since the whole perimeter was barricaded, Sir Blackie was barking excitedly just before the defensive structures while waiting for one of us to slide open the barricade and allow the wagons to pass through. Someone had helped to push the barricade aside and I saw Sir Blackie runs off to meet his friend who would always greet him with a whole roasted chicken.

From the distance, I saw two laden wagons and a few men walking alongside it. I counted there are 8 people altogether including the assistants and Marcel too. I waved my hands and ushered them to pass through while the one who pushed open the barricade, secures it once the two wagons had passed through.

"Your barricade looks very simple and practical. It's easy to move around and it's a one-man-operational. This is for both wild rampaging beast and to keep intruders away?" Marcel spoke up when he saw the ease of use of the barricades.

"Yes, it's just an improvised version of mine. Instead of having a permanent one that needs to be dug, remove and inserted back again, these bamboo ones are much lighter. As you can see only one man is needed to move this whole set of barricade. So how are you, my friend?"

"Aahh...what can I say. I miss GraceHaven's bread and also I am not following the trend of the current trade now. They are crazy over cloth, jewellery and some other non-edible stuff that could make you full."

"True, true... Hey, what happened to your house? You shifted?" Marcel asked when his wagons finally stopped at the courtyard and saw bustling activities of trees being felled, trunks being sawn off, logs being made into planks and branches and the top log was being chopped exactly into one foot in length and split into halves and or quarters to turn into dry firewood.

"Yup, I've moved. Temporarily, that is. We are going to build a domain here and it would house the ministers, secretary as well as me and my wife." I casually explained as he watched wide-eyed on the scale of expansion that we had done.

"Hey...! A bakery...! Oh my lord...! Is that what I see it is? May I go out and take a closer look? My goodness... It looks like as if 3 or 4 towns' bakeries had suddenly merged here in GraceHaven as one...! How many ovens are there? O-H M-Y G-O-S-H" Marcel was simply ecstatic to see the bakery shop that was both bright and lively with tiny rectangular flags of various colours liked on top of the shade share above the counter. It was like as of Marcel had received his most anticipated present on Christmas Day...!

"Go on, be my guest and ask any of the bakers here any questions you like." and so I let Marcel feast his eyes on the whole setup of the baking ovens, marvelled at the ingenuity of its design and layout and was also surprised to see the insides that had a wire rack that could accommodate 2 layers of 12 loaves of bread each.

"You can freshly bake 96 loaves of bread in a single pass at only half a foot of the shadow's length? A layer can bake a dozen loaves of bread for a single filling. Wow... You could have 8 different varieties of bread on a single pass. My goodness... This village is as good as York or even London...!"

Marcel was practically giving high praises as refreshments were served for the merchant, assistants and new members of the engineers. "Help yourself first, you must have felt like a beaten dog after being in a run with a mob with the others after a goose chase. You too gentlemen, and after that, we can discuss business. A guest must be treated well here, right?"

There was some leftover broth from last night with pieces of ribs, spine and meat as it was served steaming hot to the 8 of them and it was still very good tasting as they literally lapped the broth with their sliced bread that was ever so soft, white and fluffy on the insides and crispy crust on the outside.

They all wanted seconds for the broth but have to settle with gruel and that was also welcomed too by the 8 of them. Travelling long distance sure make one super hungry for sure. I sipped my tea slowly and when Marcel wanted to open up his mouth, I simply pointed out to him as well as the others, "Respect the food before you and finish it first before discussing anything."

Marcel nodded at me as they slowly finished up their meals and once they are done, they carried it off to the side where one of the ladies would take care of it, leaving only the bamboo cups where they refilled copiously with hot sweetened tea.

"Alright, we may begin the negotiation but first and foremost, how much would you be paying for a loaf of bread with meat fillings?"

Marcel immediately hold up 5 fingers and everyone at the same table gasped at the price...! 5c...Marcel is willing to pay for 5c for a loaf of bread that is stuffed with meat fillings. I nodded my head as I turned towards Kayla who wiped her hands on her apron and sauntered up to me. The price was more than double over a pound of grain or flour...!

Heather came along and brought my coin pouch, placed it in front of me along with a piece of papyrus and reed pen to record the transaction of the day. Looking at the efficiency of handling business matters and since it does not concern the engineers, they asked to be excused and look for their 'Head Engineer' instead.

"Alright, let's talk about business. I owe you 10s for a horse and wagon that was used by the engineers before when I bought the 2 of them, remember? If you don't I'm here to remind you and here's 10s for the money I owe you.

"My Gosh...! I had totally forgotten about the matter... Yes, I would gladly receive the 10s for the horse and wagon. Thank you so much for your honesty and integrity. I had not met anyone who openly reminded a merchant that the buyer owes such money to them. No one in this world would be so honest as you. I am truly touched... Thank you so much...!"

"Life is like a wheel my friend, who knows if I don't pay the 10s to youz the horse may run amock and then rampage through the enclosures, the farmlands and even a few sheds. The irreplaceable damage would cost me more than 10s and my citizens would be left hungry and demoralised due to my dishonest act."

The assistants heard the way I explain and was surprised that I am quite a straightforward person. They were thinking that I am being brought up and taught not to take advantage of others and manipulate their disadvantages. No wonder, he is a leader at such an age. This is what the assistants might have been thinking since I saw them with dropping jaws.

=*=

"Thank you, for coming to our assistance, on short notice, men. We do really appreciate a pair of good hands to get things running forward at this moment. As you can see..." Eagle welcomed the new Shadow members also would be known as engineers under a guise.

Their codenamed were Albatross (Tross), Swallow, Budgie, Kingfisher (Fisher) and Woodpecker (Woodie). They were in the early 20ish and were able-bodied and their main profession was the same as the rest of the existing members.

Their main primary role here in the eyes of others would provide manpower support in the area that they need in building the village up to speed and expectations. The other role would be providing security as well as defending the village.

Even though it would be most favourable for the citizens to take up arms in times of insurgency, but these Shadows are more adept at tackling these issues in terms of weapon handling too. Not only were they trained in melee jobs, but they were able to use stealth and their environment for added vantage to eliminate their enemies.

"Without further ado, let me give a brief run-through of the overview of this village. Take a night's rest and be ready to be deployed when the time comes."At this moment, we need to get some men to learn the sawmill operations so it would be running throughout the day and night."

"At least, those planks would be ready by daybreak when the day team had brought in the dawn off logs for processing. Its 5-day operations, and once it had been completed, you men would fall back to your respective positions. The details as follows..."

The newly arrived Shadows nodded their heads and some raised a question or two before the short meeting was concluded. It was a simple operation, support the village operations and at the meantime, ability to react at a moment's notice to any signs of intrusions after hours.

"Alright, take a break and resume just before sundown. The task at the sawmill would preferably be performed after the nightly conferences which were normally held after dinner." Eagle concluded the meeting as he went and clasped the new faces within the Shadows regiment.

Eagle and Sparrow went to show the men where their living quarters would be and then left the weary men to rest and recuperate. The duo then joined up with the discussion of trade matters as to share some insights whenever they could.