Chapter 23: Act 1: Chapter 18

Seventh day, First Moon, 237 AC

"To the right! Little bit more. Little… Little… There! Hold it there! Almost got it… Good! You can let go!"

Koryn was standing atop the new house we were building in the village, as part of the village expansion that started last month, and was directing the beam into place. The village had seen some new additions over the past month, as some people filtered in from the north in search of a better life. Some came from the same villages; a few others made the trips just themselves or their families. It seemed that the tax collectors talked of our village a bit, enough that it encouraged some to make the trip.

Most were people who had lived through the flooding with little to their name and did not recover what they hoped to after the first year. I had talked with a few of them, and they all said that the tax collectors had made mention of how much more tax there was in this village compared to theirs. They hoped that meant that there was more to be had here and decided to take the risk. Their villages had been mostly wiped out, with only a few families remaining.

Some few individuals made the trip hoping to start a life. These were the youngest sons, who might have been taught by their parents at whatever they did, but there was no room or opportunity for them to live. Instead of trying to eke out a living in their family's home with their parents and siblings and their sibling's families, they made their way here in hopes of a better life. All told another 50 people had arrived, putting the village total to just under 100 people.

So, Koryn and I had been helping put up new buildings in the village, mostly homes, along with a few others and the soon to be owners of each building. We made the agreement to trade our labor now, for their labor come harvest. Materials would also be exchanged for labor, though a few would lend their services. A blacksmith had come to the village, but by his own admission, he was not overly skilled. He would be a big help for farm tools and the like, but he had never made any types of weapons or armor. Still, he would be a big help for even things like nails.

It seemed our little village was growing, for which I was happy. It was especially helpful in throwing off the tax collectors. Which, was the main reason I was helping. My hope was that when the collectors next came, they would see the village growing even more and continue to not investigate why we made so much food.

I helped Koryn climb down and we started to collect our tools as the sun was beginning to set. We both still had our own work to do on our farms but did our best to help the village as much as possible.

We began to walk back to our farms, and as we passed through the village I noted the buildings we had already put up. So far, we had 4 houses up and we were working on the fifth, and we had completed the forge for the blacksmith so that he could start making tools.

I said to Koryn as we were walking, "It's interesting to see the village grow eh?"

He laughed and replied, "Aye. It'll be nice to not buy from traveling merchants so much. Cheaper too."

I nodded, "Yeah, though I'm not sure what Bronn, the blacksmith, is going to do about coal and iron. I told him that there are some in the hills to the east, but he might try and buy some instead."

Koryn looked puzzled, "Who would bring it though?"

"Well, Rodrick might I suppose. He sells in Deepwood and Barrowton, so he can get it from there. Or maybe by boat? I'm not really sure who would do that though."

He shrugged, "Sounds better than trying to mine it himself."

"I suppose. He would need a few people and probably need to take a week or so to go do it, since its like a day and a half away from here. I'm not really sure how that would work."

Koryn shrugged again, "Not really our problem is it? 'Sides, I'm dead tired and I still have work to do at the farm."

I looked at him from the corner of my eye as we walked and noted that he was looking pretty tired and withdrawn today. I asked, "Is something keeping you up?"

He nodded, "Aye. Tarla's been sick since yesterday morning. Mostly just some coughing, but she didn't sleep much last night. I'm a bit worried."

I grimaced. Tarla was still at the age where children died so easily in this world, and a cough could easily turn deadly. I asked him, "Has Alessa been keeping everything in the house clean?"

He nodded wearily, "Aye, keeps everything nice and clean. Makes and uses that soap o' yours. Today she was going to wash all the bedding, see if that helps any."

I nodded, and we continued to walk. I didn't have the heart to tell him that the bedsheet cleaning probably wouldn't help at this point, since it was more of a preventative measure. It wouldn't hurt certainly, but it wouldn't cure her. I could only hope that it would help a little and she would get better.

Damn it, I should have paid more attention in class. Of course, I remembered basic things, like the outline of Germ Theory. But damned if I knew any specifics or anything about it that could help, if there even was anything that would help. My rubbing alcohol would help sanitize things but wouldn't fight a sickness like Tarla had. Penicillin would help I think? It was supposed to be made from mold or moss? Damn, there are too many things like that. Things that I know the general outline of, and maybe the starting and ending point. But the actual steps? The consequences? The details?

It felt like I was failing. I didn't know why I was in this world; there was no grand message or God telling me what to do. Was I supposed to have brought medicine to this world? Or technology? Religion? I felt like I should know better, I should be better. I tried to brush it away, but that feeling lingered. The time for lessons was passed and going forward I would have to rely on my wits.

I just hoped I was up to the task.