Four Stories

[inheavenslight]

The Farmer
The man woke before the chickens as he stretched and looked at his wife. He had decided long ago she deserved to sleep in for as long as possible. She was his Solider, his knight in armor, and today was her day off. He slipped out of the bed and moved over to the living room where he tossed a log on the fire to help warm up the house that much more. The mornings were always cold it seemed as he set a kettle onto the flame.

He started to cut up the bread and get some jams out for the children as they awoke. Or at least two of them. His eldest, the boy, was already up and doing his morning routine. He had just finished his year out of the house to discover himself, and he decided that instead of an artist, he would want to stay on the farm. He knew he would, after all, it was what the boy was trained for as he heard the rooster crow. Stepping out of the girl’s room was his youngest, she had bright red hair in two tight braids.

“Mornin’ Papa” she said her accent heavy. “Er. I meant Good Morning my dearest father.” She was learning the language of the city. She was taken on to be a trader in the city so first she had to get an education. He smiled at her as he offered her some bread.

“Mornin’ Girlie-Girl.” He said as she smiled and nibbled into the bread. The middle daughter also got to sleep in. “What are your plans for the morning?”

She rubbed sleep from her eyes. “I was going to help Fina with the chickens so he could wash up before mass today. Last week was embarrassing.” Due to her position in life, she could have the time to wash up, while the boy was usually rushing. But then again, she was rushing come afternoon and the boy relaxing. The Father shook his head.

“No, you know he needs to learn how to do it quicker, I’ll go handle the cows, that should help.”

“Is that why you’re up now? I know you wanna sleep in to. Want To.”
He nodded, usually his wife and middle daughter left first marching to town. “So, you go get washed and try and pick out your brother’s clothes, alright?”

“Yessir.” She said as she finished her slice of bread and hurried to get some water and the father went out to help Fina.

The Priest
She woke up and ate bread and jam with some tea as she looked out the blue stained glass window of the dining hall of the church. Her hair was tied back in a tight ponytail as she hummed a song the choir was working on at the moment. Today was a special day, this would be her first sermon. She stood up, her light green cassock blending with the light, taking on a strong blue tint.

“Priest Lea.” A man said from behind her. “Do you have your sermon ready.”

“Yes Priest Sean.” She said with a smile, “I am covering when the First Man decided to write the Holy Doctrine. “ a wide smile. “I find it to be a good thing to talk about.”

The other priest cocked a brow as he looked at her. “Oh, how come about the first man’s writings?”

“Because, it teaches us that as we learn about the Faith, we should write it down so others can learn too. After all, everyone needs a reminder to look back on.”
The man nodded, “That seems like a good message, now hurry up. Everything will be starting soon.”

And with that she ran off, and the man picked up her plate. She was young, eager, but unaware of the Church fully yet. She only saw the preaching part, and not quite the following through. He could smell the incense wafting in from the chapel. The one modeled after a river, with stone trout and wooden leaves and deers hidden on draperies.

He knew she would do good.
The Solider
The Man sat on the pew waiting for the new woman to finish speaking. Her speech was rough, but she was learning. He looked over at his fellow knight sitting with her family. The boy was cleaned up at least and the middle child had her hair cut proper for training today.

The local military had an important duty to do. It was to protect the trade route, and luckily all the children in this town wanted to help somehow. From the ones taking over their family’s livelihoods to the ones who were going to one day leave this town. The woman kept on talking about writing and keeping track. He felt whomever did that was an idiot. If they messed something up, then they would keep on referencing bad material. She was nervous, but then again, he was sure she also knew The Judge was in town also.

The man was standing away from everyone else, beads clenched tight in his hands as he listened, like a child would. Maybe he was The Judge because he wasn’t so jaded by negativity and thought the best in everyone. He nodded, that must be it.

The Merchant
The Merchant stood up and bowed once the sermon was over and walked over to the girl with the braids. “Hey Allia.” She said to the girl. “Ready to go earn some Hyun today?” The girl nodded as her mother turned with the other child. “We got a lot to do, some silk is coming in and I am going to teach you how now to mess up.”

The girl bobbed her head more as the two started to head out, careful not to touch anyone despite the crowds. She noticed a boy crying while his friends ignored him. “Poor child.” She said as Allia looked over to see what was wrong. “Well, it’s a part of growing up.” Trying not to think on it too hard. Sure it hurt, but it also taught someone not to do bad things- that if they did, people would be upset.

Allia kept on looking. “Still, it hurts a lot.”

“So does sticking your hand into a fire, but we learn not to do that, just like he will learn to follow the rules.”

She nodded, as they headed to the trading post to meet up with the silk traders.

“Hallo Sisters.” The man said, his accent odd. Obviously from out of the lands. “Got some nice silk here, look it over tell me what you think.” The Merchant looked it over and frowned.

“There is no blue.”

“Yeah, someone bought it all off me at the last stop.”

“You knew we needed the blue. Last stop or not.”

“Supply and demand.”

Allia watched the two talk, as her Mentor finally told the man to leave. He frowned because he was supposed to be getting a sale. “Why did you send him off?”

“I sent the man off because he broke one of the laws, and the military will hear about it soon enough-“

Allia looked at her. “How did he break the law?”

“He had no blues. Law 56.a of silk trade states there must be at least one blue silk item per 10 the others. To show he respects the faith.”

Allia nodded, suddenly it made sense. The man was a heathen trying to get rich. “Maybe Mom will get him.” She smiled. The Merchant laughed. “If she does, I’ll get your brother a new shirt.”