Mr. Jenkis' Weird Yesterday

"There is no need to be so worked up, Graham." Alfred said calmly. "It's good that those serfs are skeptical. After all, for those serfs my offer is too good to be true. Nathen, execute the next part of the plan and make sure those serfs do what they are told."

"As you say, My lord." Nathen said with a grin on his face.

In Nathen's reply Alfred nodded and started eating his breakfast.

...

"Mr. Jenkins don't you think today is a very wired day" Martin said while digging a mound of dirt from under his feet.

"Yes, Martin today is a very unusual day." Mr. Jenkins without paying much attention to Martin. He too was busy digging the dirt.

"Do you know why?" Martin asked, as he stopped digging, kept his wooden shovel to the side and took a breather. "I mean aren't we bought by the lord to fight beasts. Why do they now want us to dig in such cold winter?"

"I don't know, Martin." Mr Jenkins said as he continued to dig.

"But Mr Jenkins, someone must know something right? Its not like we are digging the ground without a purpose, right? If it is, that would be down right silly." Martin asked with curiosity.

Listening to Martins' words Mr Jenkins stopped digging, stood of up straight and buried the tip of the shovel into the ground with force. He was not angry with Martin nor was he annoyed at Martin curious questions. In fact, he too was somewhat caught off guard today.

Mr. Jenkins looked around. It was the first time in his halfling life, he had experienced so many weird things in that he experienced today. Everything probably started being weird from yesterday afternoon.

Yes, it was when that knight came to visit yesterday. It all stated from there. He was camping in the same tent as Martin. Both of them were resting near a bonfire, trying to keep away the cold. Both he and Martin were wearing rags and had not eaten for two days.

The reason was simple. They had no food to eat.

Well it was not the first time they were hungry though. After all they were serfs. They were the property of their lord. And they can only eat when the lord's man distributes the food. They have no other choice. Eating food from elsewhere was a crime for them. They had only one option wait for food to be given to them.

But food had not been distributed for two days. The reason was, the lord had been injured because of there incompetence and they were responsible for it. So, they were being punished for it.

Cold and hungry, he and Martin had eaten the last bit of bread they had saved few days ago and now they had nothing left to eat. Not just them none of the others had eaten anything for last few days. The mood in the camp was depressing to the extreme. Many had given up hope and were waiting for death to collect their lives.

It was during the afternoon, when the knight came, everything started to change. He said that the lord had recovered. And after hearing about their condition had taken pity on them. He then told everyone as long as they listen to him, they will receive bread to eat.

Everyone complied to the knight instruction. The knight asked few wired questions, like what was there name, there age, there profession before they became serf and noted their race. But after he was done with the questions, he handed everyone hard bread to eat.

The next weird thing happened in the evening; the knight returned ones again. This time he handed food to everyone and did not ask any questions. Everyone was happy when they received food and some even thanked the knight. But as everyone expected the knight did not go away after giving food. In stand he started to announce a bunch of things.

Like that if everyone worked hard and helped the lord defend the fortress for the winter, they can eat as much as they like. Not they could they could east till they fill their stomach. And if they work hard, they can free themselves from there servitude and become a free man again. Not only the lord will set them free, the lord will also give them their own land to farm.

In response, no one said anything. In fact, almost everyone including him thought that the knight was trying to make a joke. Free them? In their sweetest dreams. Why would anyone would want to free a serf after spending so much money to buy them? No one believed in the knight's words and kept silent.

Everyone except Martin. This guy, out of nowhere, stood up and asked the knight that if what he said was true. We all thought that Martin was a goner. Trying to question a noble? Was he out of mind? We all thought that Martin will be punished and at worst wiped till he was dead.

But to our surprise nothing of sort happened. In fact, Martin was not punished but was rewarded with a second piece of bread. The knight told Martin that everything he said was true and started to explain how he could do it.

Mr Jenkins on the hand, was not a little bit convinces and tried to listen to what the knight said. But most of the knight words flew over his head. But he understood that as long as he did as the lord said he will be able to earn back his freedom someday. He might even able to start a new life in north lands.

As for Martin, after the knight finished explaining, Martin was ones again rewarded with a warm blanket and something called 100 merits. The knight told Martin that if he wanted martin could get extra breakfast morning by spending merits. And told him that as long as he has enough merits, he could become a free man and buy some land for himself.

That night everyone was extremely envious of Martin. Especially looking at how warm the blanket was. If not the knight warning everyone not to mess with Martin, Mr. Jenkins was sure someone would beat Martin up and take his extra bread and blanket.

Martin on the other hand was did not use the blanket at night. In stand he tucked away in a safe place and told Mr Jenkins that he intends to treat it as a family heirloom.

The next weird thing happened in the early morning. Everyone was suddenly woken up by the lord's levies in the early morning and were told to gather in the training grounds. Everyone thought it was another beast attack. Afraid that they will be sent to front to become the beast's food, many resisted. After all no one wants to die.

But Martin on the other hand, stood up ate half of the bread, check the blanket for one last time and ran to the training grounds. But before he left, he left the other half of the bread for Mr. Jenkins and told him to take care of the blanket if something happens to him. Martin even said that he would rather become a beast's food that die of hunger before he left.

Mr. Jenkins unable to suppress his guilt, ate the remaining piece of bread and followed after Martin. But what greeted them was not beast attack but was food attack. To be clear, it was something the knight called breakfast.

Soon one by one, dragged by the lords' levies everyone gathered from the camp and were surprised to see that they were called to eat food. Everyone including Mr. Jenkins and Martin were embarrassed. Since when did they start fearing food? This was the question everyone had in their mind and the reason everyone was embarrassed.

Soon they were handed a bowl in their hands and were told to line up. One by one they were served something called porridge. Mr Jenkins was sure it was just bread boiled in hot water and sprinkled with salt. But in winter morning it was full filling for stomach. Everyone including Mr. Jenkins and Martin cleaned their bowl spotless.

Martin wanting to eat more, remembered the promise of extra food. He got up, went to server and showed his 100 merit promissory note. The server took the promissory note and handed Martin another bowl of porridge along with promissory note denoted with denominations of 50s and 10s. All in all, the server returned 80 merits worth of promissory notes to Martin.

Many who saw this understood what were those notes and what was there uses. After all many were ex solders and know about money Coupled with what they were told last night by the knight, it not hard to put two and two together and could make sense of what happened with Martin. But the biggest question was how can they get this merit?

As everyone was thinking about this question, Martin who also understood the use of merits, exchange another 20 merits for another bowl of porridge and brought it to Mr. Jenkins.

Looking at his friend's kindness Mr. Jenkins almost cried. He swore that he surely repay martin in the future and received the second bowl porridge.

Then suddenly the knight from the yesterday, came forward and announced that if anyone wanted to earn more merits, there are several tasks that require there help and at complication of these tasks they will be able to earn merits.

...

At the present time, after recalling the events of yesterday Mr. Jenkins sighed. Who would have thought that a cowardly serf of yesterday will be digging soil out of his own free will.

"Mr Jenkins are you ok?" Martin asked.