Everyone Here Is Equal
2117 Words
The group entered from the Northern Gate and they first saw the stable and storage barns on the left-hand side of the path. The path was laid with halved bamboo to mark out a way in between the buildings and the enclosure of the livestock.
They saw that the livestock was well maintained and Andy couldn't even see a single cowpat in the dairy cow's enclosure. The area was kept clean and there were several workers tending in the enclosures.
Across the river, the group saw 6 weird contraptions that resembled a water mill but just the wheel and not attached to any building whatsoever. While they were walking along the path, they saw some large water troughs with fishes in them with pieces of pipes running through and around it.
"What are these water troughs for?" Andy who used to work in the farms before inquired as he had never seen a water trough with pipes running through them.
"Oh, these are called water reservoirs. You see that waterwheel there? Water is being brought up to here to serve as a catchment area. Then these pipes carry the water over to act as a storage and also for the fishes caught by the boys here to reserve for wintertime."
"These pipes then carry the water all around the livestock enclosure and the stables. Another waterwheel supplied water to the domain where Our Majesty, the King and Queen resides along with the Ministers."
'For a single waterwheel, it was able to draw water and have a constant supply for the animals. Pretty neat, don't you think?" the guard explained elaborately as the group felt that this was the first time in many months they were treated as a human being and not like an outcast.
"Here is the domain of our Majesty the King and Queen. These watchtowers are 45 feet high. It enables the guards to see the whole area around this town so it's pretty breathtaking, I tell you."
"I've been up there a few times but today I'm on ground duty. So I would be your tour guide for today. Hehehe." the guard further down explained and the more he chatted with the group, the more they felt at ease.
"Over to the left-hand side of the domain is the infirmary where we have a midwife, nurse and medicine dispensary. Old Kayla, the Health Minister, is in charge of the health department."
"Even if one felt a bit under the weather, the citizen is strongly advised to meet the nurse in duty. In fact, the nurses were part of the Irish Travellers and they maintained a fairly large patch of a herb garden."
"Can you see that waterwheel? Well, that one draws water to supply water to the vegetable garden when our Majesty the King set up the encampment here before. His story went way back so I could only tell you bits and pieces of it."
The group voiced their oohs and ahhs as they listened and was piqued when they heard that the King set up an encampment and planted vegetables? What kind of King was he and why doesn't he live in a stone castle? The so-called domain as shown by the guard looked like a Town Hall, rather than a keep that looked fitting for a royal family.
The group dare not ask any questions but listened to the guard about how Gracehaven got to be from an encampment with just 12 people and right now, Gracehaven had a total population of slightly over 350 residents now. These citizens came from all walks of life and one thing for sure is that these people were here to have a new beginning.
"Come this way, please... This is our courtyard and is big enough to have a seating capacity of over 1500 people. On the left here, as you can see, are the first fireplace that the pioneers had made since they set up camp. Followed by an old earthen oven, some rocket stoves which makes up the cooking area for the whole town."
"Beside it, is the Old Jack's Blacksmith shop, and we have the Gracehaven's General Store where one could buy all kinds of biscuits, cakes, muffins, Tartlets, Tarts, bread and also some handicrafts too. It's pretty cheap, I tell you and it makes a perfect gift for your loved ones." the guard proudly introduced the goods that were on sale at the Gracehaven's General Store.
"Wow... Does this town sell biscuits too? How is it so? From afar it looked just like a small settlement but the moment we entered here it's more like a fully functional large town. Such a surprise...!"
"We never knew it would be such a sight from inside...! Everything is so... Orderly." Wendy highlighted to the guard as she was well travelled than the rest of the members of the group and she could see that this town is really bustling and peaceful.
"That's right, ma'am. This is our little town, a place to take shelter, a place to have a new start in life and a place to call your own. No one mistreats one another, everyone respects each other, regardless of ethnic and religion."
"As long as one desires to stay here, our Majesty welcomes everyone. Furthermore, everyone here earns 5 silvers a month, even the children, so they could enjoy their earnings to buy those biscuits and other stuff from our Gracehaven's First Tailor and Loom, Gracehaven's Finest Bakery and Gracehaven's Greasy Spoon."
At the mention of the 4 stores, the guard has to take a long breath as it was really a mouthful to mention it at one go. Besides, he doesn't have to lie or to make up some stories as the group could see smiles and friendly waves towards them as they sauntered through the courtyard.
"Wait a minute... You mentioned 5 silvers a month and even the children are paid too? It's not 5 coppers a day right?" Earl who used to work for the Municipal Hall as a general worker earned 6 coppers a day. When he heard the citizens here earns 5 silvers a month, that's almost 250% more than what he used to earn...!
"Yup, you heard me right the first time, mister. Its 5 silvers each person per month which is 500 coppers. Here breakfast and lunch are served for everyone free of charge."
"This is our courtyard where we take our meals and have our daily morning meetings and nightly conferences. On the right-hand side here is the Sawmill area, where we used to chop down trees and supply the wood for our merchant to distribute to his buyers."
"But not anymore since we have used it for our own use and only sells them if there's a demand. The rest would be turned into firewood like the branches and the wood shavings."
"The citizens here don't cook for themselves but they group up and cook for the whole town. There are 8 rocket stoves here with 8 large cauldrons. Every day at 5 o'clock in the morning, the citizens would wake up and do about their daily business before heading here to prepare breakfast and lunch."
"The bakers here, worked 3 shifts a day and the night shift would normally bake extra bread for us to have for breakfast and lunch. Oh yeah, talking about bread, there would be as much as 2 dozen types of bread with different flavours and fillings."
"Hmm...have you had your lunch yet? If you haven't, I could arrange for someone to take care of your meals first. Today, we had pottage of game meat, long beans, peas and broccoli with lentils. I guess they had seasonings like celery, onions and garlic with a bit of ginger inside too."
"Hang on, do take a seat here. I pull these tables for you out of the way and into the courtyard near the cooking area, okay?" the guard then pulled a table which dragged easily over the ground and placed them near the cooking area.
The Pagan men were shy since they were treated like proper guests which they had never felt for so long in their lives. Furthermore, the guard was very friendly unlike the guards from other towns who should shoo them away, just by a mere sight of them.
But here, everything was a direct opposite and they felt elated that they had followed what the old lady at Adewera had advised them. If they didn't heed their advice, they would have gone and ended up with yet another disappointment.
The guard spoke to the ladies manning the cauldrons as they nodded their heads and hurriedly prepared the oversized serving bowls with a ladle each, clay bowls and spoons and also cups of hot tea.
They went to the bakery to draw some bread where the bakers cut up 4 loaves of the half-pounder into thick slices and served them on a platter. The bakers themselves served the bread as the ladies at the cooking area prepared the lunch.
I was sitting on the upper-level living area when I received news that there are 9 visitors that came from the North and they looked most likely like nomads but travelled only lighter this time.
"Honey, we have visitors from the North. Let them have a bit of refreshment and then we welcome them. North... Seems these travellers came from York and beyond. They must have travelled very far but if they were in the vicinity of a city, won't they be settling their instead?"
"Honey, come and take a look and observe carefully. Don't you find it odd for them to be in those long dresses and robes for the men instead of tunics or day clothes? Are they some sort of clergymen or something?"
I motioned to Heather and she came by my side and wrapped her arms around mine. She observed for some time and discovered that indeed the men and women in that group was wearing clothes that represented the Church or something. If not how would they be wearing that in the first place?
"Well, dear. I think they wish to send the word of God over here in Gracehaven. As you can see, we don't even have a Chapel or anything like that. How are teenagers going to get married? Witnessed by us and by God, Himself again?"
What Heather mentioned was true. So far only a pair of teenagers had gotten married and they were one of Jennings' daughter with the Strongbow. It was unexpected and well, it is more like love at first sight. Their simple ceremony was witnessed and blessed by us and they also have gotten a house of their own too.
I saw old Kayla went over from her fireplace and went to the dining table and joined them. She pointed to the domain where everyone turned and look as we both waved our welcome to the visitors.
Close to 3 months had passed since our inauguration and since after that, everything had been going clockwork and autonomous. Daily takings were monitored by Eagle and we managed to gain back more than 75% of the coins we used to pay the citizens.
Everyone was happy and life was bliss and peaceful. There was not a single squabble between neighbours and friends and everyone was living rather harmoniously. Everyone shared their workload among each other.
"Many hands make light work" and this proverb really lived up to its day here in Gracehaven. As I played this thought in my mind, I was interrupted by Eagle.
"Excuse me, Your Majesty, do you have any qualms over Witches and Sorcerers? I have to raise this question because I have a high level of perception that they are both Witches and Sorcerers by the way they dressed and the belongings they carry."
Eagle asked me after he greeted and addressed himself.
"No, our dear Secretary. We do not have any qualms against Witches and Sorcerers because we treat everyone as equal here in Gracehaven. If we do evil, we get its payment right on the spot. But if we do kindness, good would always be on our side."
"Come, we wait for them in the conference hall and invite them inside once they have taken their meals. We can have our questions and answers ready for later."
I voiced my suggestions and the three of us walked down the stairwell and down to the conference hall where we waited for our visitors to finish their meals.
While waiting, Heather and I listened to Eagle as he narrated to us about Witches and Sorcerers for our general knowledge.
- Writer
