NOVEL FROG 51. Training Grounds – Part I
Map of southern Reslinor:
Taniok acknowledged the concern with a grimace. "There's no denying they won't be cheap, my Lord," he conceded. "But using iron nails would save a considerable amount of time that would otherwise be spent crafting a vast number of wooden nails, which is the traditional binding method. Especially considering I'm the only one in Tiranat skilled in crafting them."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice turning serious. "While wooden pegs and nails are certainly an option, they simply wouldn't be feasible given the time constraints of completing the longhouses before the harsh winter arrives. Usually, I would resort to using only wooden nails, but there just aren't enough hours in the day for me to craft enough of them on my own, while I'm constructing the longhouses at the same time." He added after a moment, "And my apprentice is simply not skilled enough yet to make them."
Taking a moment to think about it, Kivamus added, "But can't we buy wooden nails from Cinran then? That has to be cheaper than buying iron nails."
Taniok shook his head slowly. "That is just not an option, my Lord. No carpenter worth his salt would keep a big enough stock of wooden nails for our purposes, since in this climate they don't last long enough to be usable after some time of crafting them. In nearly all cases, they are produced as needed, at the same time as constructing any wooden building. And that system works fine, since the carpenters don't usually have to work under a strict time constraint like us."
Kivamus nodded, his expression grim. He was painfully aware that every additional expense would further deplete their already limited funds. However, the reality was that with only a single carpenter and his apprentice at their disposal, they needed every advantage to speed up construction and ensure the villagers wouldn't be left to face the harsh winter elements without proper shelter.
"While I can't guarantee a surplus of iron nails just yet," he admitted, "acquiring them for your supplies will be a priority. Now, is there anything else you anticipate needing, Taniok?"
Taniok added, "Nothing much, my Lord. Maybe a few hammers and some iron hinges… and a small number of other things like that. But Cedoron should be able to supply those easily." He pondered for a moment, his calloused finger tapping his chin thoughtfully. "With the materials I've mentioned so far," he finally said, "we should be able to construct the outer structure of the longhouses."
Kivamus raised an eyebrow. "The outer structure? But that does include the floor as well, right?"
Taniok chuckled softly. "Well, my Lord," he began, "most dwellings in Tiranat, including the barns you mentioned, have nothing more than simple dirt floors. However, some of the finer houses in the village, like this manor house itself, utilize wooden planks to create a more stable and comfortable floor."
He cleared his throat and continued, "But I purposely left that detail out, my Lord, because as you rightly pointed out, our immediate priority is to complete the structure itself before winter arrives."
Kivamus nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Indeed, that takes precedence," he acknowledged. "However, once the walls and the roof are completed, putting wooden planks on the floor as well would be better than just using the dirt as floor. Since we're prioritizing the completion of a single longhouse initially, it means we'll likely house a lot more people in it than its intended capacity, at least until the second one is built. During that time, having a wooden floor would make sleeping on the ground more bearable in the cold, otherwise there would be fights for places on the bunks we'll be constructing along the sides."
Taniok absorbed this information with a curt nod. "Of course, my Lord," he replied. "I'll add a wooden floor into the plan, to be put in place once the main structure is completed."
Gorsazo added after a moment, "There is a simple solution to prevent any argument over the sleeping arrangements, my Lord. We can house the children, the women, and the elderly on the bunks, which will be much more comfortable and warmer than the floor, while the adult men can sleep on the floor initially. Since they are the ones most likely to get in fights for places on the bunks, making it a rule that until the second longhouse is completed, they will only sleep on the floor would easily prevent any fights. Of course, having a wooden floor would make it much easier to convince them, compared to making them sleep on the dirt in the winter."
"That's a good idea," Kivamus commented. "We'll do that."
All this talk of constructing a building, made Kivamus reminisce about a commonplace building material back on Earth - concrete. But here, in this world, there were no vast cement factories churning out the versatile material. But in the future, once Tiranat's situation had stabilized, and the basic needs of its people were met, he'd have to seriously consider it.
Truthfully, he wasn't even sure if he would be able to get all the materials for producing cement here, but the possibility of manufacturing concrete was an exciting one. Not only would it provide a superior building material for houses, but if he could produce it in a large enough quantity, it could even pave the way for the construction of a tall, fortified concrete wall around the village, a feat that would make Tiranat one of the most secure settlements outside of a castle. Those were dreams for the future, however. The present dire situation of the village demanded his full attention for now.
"Alright, Taniok," Kivamus said, addressing the carpenter, "discuss your estimates with Duvas and provide him with your best calculations for the quantity of nails and any other materials required for constructing the two longhouses before you leave. Later we'll assess the capabilities of the village artisans and smith to see how much they can realistically produce and how much we'll need to buy from Cinran. And of course, you should report to Duvas tomorrow along with your apprentice, so you can start sawing the logs from the trees tomorrow itself."
Taniok gave a respectful nod. "Of course, my Lord."
He then turned his gaze towards Gorsazo. "Come on," he beckoned, rising from his chair. "Let's take a look outside."
Gorsazo rose promptly. "As you wish, my Lord," he replied.
With that, Kivamus and Gorsazo exited the manor hall, leaving Taniok and Duvas to delve into the specifics of the required materials and their costs for constructing the longhouses.
The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the exterior of the manor house, its rays slanting low in the western sky. The hustle and bustle of activity that had filled the air earlier had calmed down. The last of the grain sacks had been meticulously transferred to the storage barns, and the six wagons stood fully loaded with coal, ready for their journey to Cinran. A seventh wagon, its undercarriage damaged and deemed unfit for cargo, stood behind the rest. Though unable to carry a load, it would still be pulled to Cinran for repairs.
Kivamus scanned the manor grounds, searching for Pydas. Not finding him, he turned to a nearby maid, his brow furrowed in inquiry. "Have you seen Pydas?"
The maid, a young woman with bright eyes and a respectful demeanor, curtsied slightly. "He left for the village a short while ago, my Lord," she replied.
"I told him to speak with me before departing," Kivamus muttered.
"He did say that he would be back within an hour, my Lord," the maid added.
Kivamus dismissed the maid with a curt nod. He decided to set off on a tour of the manor grounds, casting an observant eye over the ongoing tasks. Once he started walking, a distant clamor of yelling and cheers drew his attention towards the southeast. Curiosity piqued, he followed the sound, his steps quickening. As he rounded the corner of the manor house, a cacophony of shouts and the rhythmic clash of wood on wood reached his ears.
There, in the designated training area near the grain storage barns, right next to the walls in the southeastern corner of the manor, he came upon the group of potential guards Hudan had brought in from the village. Most of them bore the marks of hard labor - threadbare tunics and patched trousers, their attire a testament to their simple but difficult lives. A few off duty guards were standing there as well, keeping an eye on the recruits.
They were gathered in a loose circle, their rapt attention focused on two figures in the center - their fellow recruits locked in a mock duel. The combatants, armed with wooden swords and shields, were locked in a fierce struggle, their movements reflecting an intense determination to overpower their opponent. Despite the cool afternoon air, sweat beaded on their brows as they parried and lunged, their bodies straining with the effort.
Hudan stood amidst the watchful onlookers, his keen eyes dissecting their every move. He barked out instructions, correcting their stances and offering pointers on how to improve their technique. Kivamus observed Hudan's animated gestures, his own lips curling into a faint smile. It was reassuring to see the former knight-trainee putting his experience to good use.
Beyond the impromptu dueling ring, another training and testing session was underway. Looking further along the eastern palisade wall, Kivamus spotted Feroy and another guard overseeing a smaller group of villagers holding bows and arrows. The makeshift targets - straw figures designed to resemble humans - stood propped up at varying distances in front of the walls. These recruits were taking aim one by one at the straw targets, their bows taut and their eyes narrowed in focus.
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