Til Kingdom Comes - The Banished Prince Vol 1: The Beginning

Putting Things In Order

"GraceHaven... Such a beautiful name for a beautiful tiny settlement that would be teeming with activity and life pretty soon," remarked Kayla as she let the words out slowly through her lips.

Her definition of the settlement's name echoed in everyone's minds and hearts and it was, indeed, a very beautiful name. It was as beautiful as Darlington itself.

I checked with the rest of them and they informed me that there was no such place called Gracehaven around England, as far as they know so it would be safe to use it for christening our settlement.

"Grace would mean the free and unmerited favour from God and Haven means a place of safety and refuge. This is the name I had been thinking about for the past few hours since Jack had mentioned to me about naming this tiny settlement."

"The decision of the naming is not entirely mine so it is an open discussion, so if you agree say 'Aye' and for those who do not say 'Nay'." I spread my hand out to them and Sir Blackie thought I was handing it some food and began to lick at it instead.

I rubbed its thick coat of fur and patted its head. Sir Blackie was among us when we held the conference and even though it was an animal, they do share feelings and sentiments just like a human does. Furthermore, Sir Blackie is considered as part of the family now.

"Sir Blackie, how does GraceHaven sounds like to you? Do you like it or would like to change it to something else?" I jokingly asked a dog for an opinion as it suddenly barked once as it twirled around twice, chasing its tail and sat back on its haunches, wagging its tail happily.

I laughed as I rubbed Sir Blackie's head and stroke its thick fur. "This dog is really smart. It even know how to respond according to the young master. By the way, thank you, young master, for allowing Sir Blackie to travel with us. If not for him, we would have been wiped out by a pack of wolves on the way to the civilisation."

I furrowed my eyebrows when I heard that the duo were in danger but quickly dismissed it and the credit goes to Sir Blackie for its early warning of such predators.

Everyone was surprised and Gwen immediately related the story and noted about the sale that she had made from the rabbit pelts and the wolves furs that she had gotten.

"I am proud of you, Sir Blackie, even though you are knighted by me, but your presence is sure as comparable as a first Knight." I rubbed the thick fur once again and Sir Blackie looked at me and let out a soft bark as if it acknowledged the words that I had just mentioned.

It curled up near my feet as it was praised for its work and enjoyed the attention it got from me. It sure lived to be rubbed especially near its chest area where its fur was considered as the thickest.

"Next, I would like to discuss the provisions since its being pooled together initially by everyone. There's a total of 40 pounds of grain and flour each so what would you intend to prepare the meals for the following days till the next scheduled delivery in a month's time?" I queried them and wishes everyone to partake in the discussion rather than being one-sided.

After giving much thought, they decide to have gruel one day and baked bread in the other. With the buckwheat grains at hand, they would be able to plant them so that the supply of grains would not run out too soon. The men were also discussing the possibility milling of the grains and so this would be put in the later part of the discussion when the time comes.

They were saying that those husked grains would be traded off for unhusked ones since the absence of a mill at this moment. Considering that the river is quite slow-moving and was only knee-deep it would not be a good idea to have a water mill. However, a scaled-down version would be a great idea.

After we had several discussions on milling, it dawned to us that we only have limited hands. Even if we have a mill, the cost of maintenance would be high, considering the tools and the mechanics needed to build and operate one.

After further discussion, we decided to forgo the idea of a watermill as the construction and cost would not be conducive. It would definitely cost several years of 40 pounds of grains and flour and everyone laughed at how I managed to describe it.

"Just a matter of speaking. I myself wont know how much it would cost to build one so I just ball park it as maybe, 20 good coins? Such wealth to spend in something that would be best spend on grains or flour instead."

The rest nodded apprehensive when u finally explained the cost. Indeed, it may look like a convenience but then it would turn out to be a white elephant when the time comes.

The tools that had been recently acquired would be used sparingly as wood and stone was abundant and could be turned into farming tools instead. Everyone agreed with the idea since they knew that I had taken out a gold coin for these investments.

Next on the list would be the construction of an earthen oven for baking. It would be of a moderate size and be able to bake the bread for our consumption since we couldn't rely on the fireplace to do the baking. Furthermore, with an earthen oven, one might be able to smoke or even dry the meats for preservation.

"So, young master, the earthen oven would have a constant fire within, am I right? It's not like the normal community Ovens where you fire up and let the fire burn out, then remove the ashes and use the heat radiated to bake, is that right?" 

Ben queried and I simply nodded my head. It was something like having a rocket stove with an oven built in top of it.

Everyone agreed to the idea and all vouched to chip in for the next few days to construct one that would be able to multi-function.

The discussion went on for some time and the jerkies that were being smoked over the fire were already done and everyone had a piece. It was slightly thicker in size and even Sir Blackie had a piece for its own share, albeit slightly chunkier than the rest of us. However, there is no complain from any of us and I squared the pieces for it to slowly chew on it.

"Mommy, would we be able to have gruel tonight?" a squeaky girl's voice from Imelda sounded and broke the discussion. Before Gwen could answer, I immediately replied, "Yes girl, we would be having gruel tonight with onions, garlic and spring onions topped with either jerkies or roasted fish."

The look of joys lighted up her face and every child clapped their hands in an enthusiastic manner. I simply smiled when Little Imelda mentioned her thanks to me. In fact, everyone was looking forward to having a bowl of hot gruel that would definitely satiate their appetite tonight.

"How much would we be using tonight, young master?" asked Kayla as she would be the one who directs all the preparations of meals.

"Use a 4+1 combination instead. 4 scoops of grains and 1 scoop of flour that would thicken the gruel." I then indicated the amount of water to be used and to use the roasted fish that the children had been roasting earlier as toppings plus the other ingredients mentioned.

"This meeting would be adjourned after our meal. We still have some daylight left so it is best to make use of it." I advised as I stood up and went back to my shelter and kept the coins that I had received from the purchase earlier into the coin pouch inside my knapsack.

I decided to split the gold coins into four ways and bury them while leaving only a few silvers and the rest of the coppers inside my knapsack and within my clothes as well as on my person. At least in case of some unforeseen circumstances, I would still have some back up somewhere around.

"The water may be still but who knows if there's a crocodile underneath it." I thought to myself as I decided to have Kayla fashioned out 4 small coin pouches for me in the next few days when she was free.

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(Authors Note: The above is an idiom that was being used and revised over some time. It generally notes that even though the situation may look normal and safe in the surface, no one is able to predict the next future events that might occur. Mainly it would be something bad that follows since no one should be trusted well enough, even your own spouse.)

=*=

The gruel that was being prepared was such a welcome to us since we had been missing eating it for quite some time especially me. I had not been receiving many carbohydrates and to satiate my hunger I would have to consume more fruits instead and bananas seemed to be the answer to most of the nights.

After everyone had their fill with second servings of the once-forgotten gruel — even Sir Blackie had a share from its bowl, we cleared up the area and we began the second part of our discussion.

"I would like to thank all of you who looks into my welfare as well as my wellbeing at this moment. I would like to officially thank those who had made tremendous effort in making the most comfortable shelter there is right now."

"The craftsmanship is wonderful and I really poured out my heartfelt thanks to everyone here. As you can see behind me, there are only 4 shelters of equal sizes. We all knew that one of the shelters is for the Levis, the other two would be for both the Chowdrys and Gardners."

"However..."

I let the words hung in mid-sentence and peered into the faces of everyone and everyone watched my gaze as they realised what I wanted to say next.

"Hahaha... I had spoken to the young master earlier and it is the same question that he had asked me too. He would like to clarify the matter in witness in front of everyone as well with Heather." guffawed Jack in his usual manner.

"Yes, with regards to Miss Landford here, I strongly propose the idea and greatly agrees to it as well. Two young blood, that holds the key to the future, would there be any opposition to it?" Kayla implied as she gestured to Heather who was sitting close to them.

"The Chowdrys and Gardners do not oppose to the two of them to be together from this day on. Go, girl... Join your husband from this day forth." Ben announced as his spouse beside him was excited as well.

"It seems the masses have spoken and even though it may take time for me to adjust to my new life, I swear in the name of Macleod that I would lead everyone here with just," I spoke with confidence but later lamented since I wasn't even ready to end my bachelor's life.

Crystal held out her hand and Heather sheepishly extended hers and she was soon pulled up to her feet and was pulled towards me and were forced to sit close to one another.

"Hmm... I... I knew about this for some days already but I don't know how to break the news to you. Crystal and Kayla had talked sense into me for the past few days and I am willing to be by your side and get to know you better, young master..." Heather meekly confided in me in front of the settlers.

"Address him by his name, girl. He is your husband, after all...!" chided Frank as Gwen hugged his arm and looked at the scene in front of her excitedly.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" Ben started to chant first and then soon followed by the rest leaving me truly flabbergasted and feeling out of place. Heather inched her face towards me and closed her eyes and this was the first time I saw her up close as if we shared the space between us, even breathing the same air together.

With my pounding heart, just like horses galloping in the muddy fields, I then inched my face forward as well and.....

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