Learning to survive part3

My hands were dirtied by the sweat and labor of toiling alongside my people. The market had been finished a few days ago and I had spent a small amount in the purchase of tools. Axes, shovels, hammers, spades, pickaxes, and hoes. I had purchased hundreds, so there was no need to buy them in small amounts. It was odd how it had worked, but rather useful.

When I had stepped up to the platform in the market a similar box to the forum appeared, but these Bulletins listed things for sale, and it instantly took the required currency from one's purse. As it was able to do that was beyond comprehension I delved deeper into the mystery, only to discover it was Gom, protecting the integrity of the world while giving us an opportunity to rebuild ourselves.

The village had expanded greatly since those first few days, and normally I would not have participated in such menial life labor. However I had decided some time ago that I would raise a temple to Zystim, and it would be a glorious one. This was something I was not willing to let be built and not have contributed to it.

At the moment it was but a small, humble shrine built in Zystim's honor. It didn't even have a proper statue as a tribute to the goddess, merely a small altar inside the prayer hall. I nodded to those around me, passing the water skin around after taking a few satisfying gulps.

So much, and yet so little had changed. The first crop had been planted in the reclaimed land that had been fenced. Isok and his father had built themselves a small little smithy and fixed what tools broke or needed repair. Yelda and Li-li had opened a new tailors, mending people's worn clothing.

There was not much in the way of business, however what few coins there were in the village were beginning to change hands. Something of a rudimentary economy was beginning to take shape.

Aunt Kathy had been something of a lifesaver, greeting all the new arrivals, getting them familiar with Hadran, finding what they had done before coming here, and putting them where their talents would be the most use. Of course, I had felt the need to reward her, but she had turned it down. In the end, I had created a governmental department, the department of human services.

Its mission was to make a register of the people of the territory and offer them support, whether that be in finding a home, a job, or financially. Of course, aunt Kathy was jubilant, especially when I made a formal budget for the department. In the end, it had a starting capital of some two hundred denars. A sizable sum for any individual.

With this department formed I decided to create another, the department of public works. Naturally, it centered around the construction and maintenance of the territory. I named uncle Josiah as head of the department as he was already doing what was essentially the job he'd been doing. As this department was of much more importance for the moment I allowed it a starting budget of five hundred denars.

I returned to the manor, I cleaned myself up from a water basin, splashing water on my face. I wiped my face with a towel, setting it in the edge of the table holding the basin. A knock on the door drew my attention.

"Enter." Aunt Kathy came inside, her face brightening as she saw me.

"How's my girl doing?" She cooed as she embraced me.

It felt strange, but I returned the embrace. I was a noble again, this was something that even my family had rarely done. "A bit tired," I said truthfully.

"You wouldn't be if you didn't swing that thing around every morning," Kathy said.

"But if I don't how would I stay in a state that allows me to defend myself?" I asked.

"Should a lady not have a Knight to be her sword and shield?" Kathy grumbled. "It's not ladylike to carry your own weapons."

"If the village had a militia I would not be forced to defend us all," I said quietly. But that quiet statement was interpreted very differently by Kathy. It became something more along the lines of, 'if we had a militia, my daughter would not train and do all these silly war things that men like to die over.'

A determined look crossed her face. I worried for a moment but the look passed quickly and she smiled again. "Have you been able to wear the dress I asked Yelda to make you?"

I shook my head. "It only arrived this morning and I wanted to help build Zystim's shrine."

Kathy clucked like a hen and began to drag me to my wardrobe. "You were certainly going to wear those the rest of the day weren't you?" She looked at me with disappointment, "Well I will not have it! You are a lady. You should look the part!"

At the moment I had no means of auguring with her on this point. I had no pressing duties to attend at the moment, worse I doubted there was another person in the manor at the moment to help me if I tried to escape. I didn't put up a resistance beyond what was required for a bantering atmosphere to be created.

So off came my cherished shirt and trousers. On went a dress of rather fine make considering the lack of material. The dress was a dark green in color there were several white accents. But aunt Kathy was not done yet.

"Your hair is a mess." She scolded as she sat me in front of the vanity and grabbing a brush. "It's such beautiful hair, you need to take better care of it Elizabeth." I agreed, mostly so as to not have this conversation drag on far longer than it needed to. She brushed and then braided my hair for perhaps ten minutes or so until it was done to her satisfaction.

"Oh, I almost forgot." She smacked her forehead. "there's a player here to see you."