Over five hundred years ago, a land mass was discovered off of the coast of Longhorne. From the combined efforts of five powerful families, known as the Circle of Five, this land was sailed to and settled.
The city of Delle, a dukedom, is controlled by Trenton of Delle, brother to King Tannis of Delle. It remains a place of popularity since its settlement over one hundred years ago.
Morrys frowned, and twisted his knife further into the wood, upsetting a chip of wood. Alys smacked his hand away from her new kitchen table. He sighed, leaving the knife and stared frankly into his sister's face. "Should I?"
Beatrix sniffed at her pot and smiled at the scent. Lilliane, hovering as she was, peered over her shoulder and dipped a spoon into the pot. When she tasted the concoction, she smiled in pride.
"You're doing much better," she said. Beatrix beamed at the compliment. "I need to see to my husband. He hurt himself a few days ago in the rain and needs me."
"Yes, Mistress Wille." Beatrix sat herself on a three legged stool with a bowlful of stew. The air still had a faint chill from the rain a few days ago, so Beatrix was grateful to be constantly warmed by the cooking fire.
"If I must eat another one of Beatrix's meals, I will throw myself into that river." Tamora giggled at the thought of Medea diving into the shallow stream. "I mean it! I will not endure this hardship no longer!" Sighing, Medea threw herself onto the meadow's grass and looked to her sister and Tamora.
"Stop being so dramatic," sighed Anne. "It's not that bad, if you can swallow mustard."
A grin lit upon Tamora's face as she examined her surroundings. Walls, a roof, doors, and some holes cut out in the walls for windows. The floor was dirt, but what did that matter yet? Her feet danced over the packed dirt as she fluttered around, inspecting every inch. She had been working out in the fields for so long that she had not yet a chance to examine the homes that were being built. And this home was hers!
It was still dark when Joseph woke. He laid in his bedroll for the time, not wanting to move. His muscles were still protesting the previous day's labours. It was not only his muscles that kept him abed. There was the distinct sound of rain pattering all around him. He pulled his blanket further over his head.
Only when he could hear the sound of someone else shifting around did he move from his warm bedroll. Slipping out from the nest of blankets, he sighed. There would come a day when he did not have to sleep on a pad on the ground. He tended to toss and turn at night, and his blankets would eventually end up on the ground. They were often filthy, and his mother forced him to do his own washing now.
Beatrix expertly stirred the pot and tasted the concoction. "Hmm, this needs more spice."
Medea was watching from nearby, readying herself to help serve when the time came. She nudged the basket of spice bottles by her feet. "Which one would you like?"
"Uhm ... " Beatrix hemmed and hawed while Medea stared.
"I think this one would go well with rabbit stew." Medea held up a glass bottle with green and brown flakes inside. "I've found it to work well in the past."
The group stood back, pleased at their progress. One house had already been partially built, and provided some cover from the elements. Beatrix herself was first to stake a claim in the partial shelter. The wagon she had sheltered in during the journey had found misfortune first in mud, then from errant sparks from a fire. Since then Beatrix had resigned herself to a shabbily made tent of spare cloths.
The glow of firelight washed lightly over the camp. It helped to illuminate the shadows that came with nighttime, and eased the fears of those afraid of the darker forest.
Most nights, when the group was not too exhausted from their work, they would sit around these great fires and talk while they ate their dinners. It was a good treat when Maud produced a bag of dried corn kernels not yet ground for bread.
Each night he would lay his head on his bedroll and fall asleep instantly. Then he would be woken up when first light reached over the hills and eat cold, lumpy breakfast porridge. Then he would work until the sun grew too hot, and eat some hot, lumpy mash. The he would work until darkness fell over the camp, and he would sit down to eat more hot, lumpy mash. Then he would rest his head on his bedroll and fall asleep instantly.
This was Tobias’ life now, and it would remain this way for a long time.
It as difficult to survive, Frederick thought at the end of each day. Food, fuel, and friendships were what was necessary for survival, yet so difficult to find. His head ached when he laid down at night, since he ran around with the others all day.
It was fortunate that his father remembered much from his father's before him hand built home. It was Jeremiah who could press a hand to the ground and tell the others whether the land was good for building or planting.
Dane made himself useful for teaching the womenfolk what berries, nuts and root were edible. "Watch the birds and the forest rodents," he repeated slowly. "They do not eat the foods that kill them. What they eat, we may as well, though it may not taste as good as the market sweets in the city."
The younger girls watched him with awestruck eyes and he deftly plucked berries from thorny branches and snared nuts from before a squirrel's eyes.