Chapter 27
Working on the charter takes time and several nights I sit down talking about the language in the text with different people. In the end, I think almost everyone in the village has contributed in some way either directly or indirectly. The drafting once again convinces me I need to work on producing inexpensive paper, or at least bigger quantities of paper.
So I design a blueprint of a paper mill in between writing the charter. After having become more involved in the day to day working of both Bank and Rapid village I have a clearer outlook on what wood is worth. Had it not been for the rights of land I have the school would be an all stone construction. Wood is so expensive that it should be criminal of our Lord to not pay more in wages to Forrester. One three can be worth upwards of five hundred silver when it reaches the big cities. The reason is that most places wood can be sourced are occupied by sects or schools who don't want it cut. Forest is a more valuable resource than almost any other. To then get nice paper necessitates finding other sources of cellulose. Rice paper made by hand is at the moment the favoured solution in the land. Others use bamboo either in thin strips tied together. My solution is to use the same material in the pulp. Cliff has a substantial area with bamboo and can supply it easily to Bank, some are even exported at the moment. It will make Xia happy as well giving her hometown a new industry.
My plans stay just that for the time being though, the charter is a more pressing matter. "Looks pretty," my wife tells me when I show her the final draft of the charter. "Why have you left so much space empty at the end?" is her next question. "Well, I think it looks nice and I left it empty since I will need to add to it," I tell her and look it over myself. Drawing inspiration from art around me I wrote the text kind of small in the middle of the large document and painted on the sides. There are roses and water with hints of creatures around them. I am no great artist so I tried to keep it simple. "Well, whatever it looks pretty," Xia says and then shoo me off so I don't ruin it while she is serving dinner.
"Such an important document deserves a party," Tun says when he has had his time to peruse the document. "Hear Hear." Tatum and Xi call from their end of the table we sit around. "Well, I would consider this enough of a party," I tell them and lift my own tankard to my lips. The documents have gone around the table while we have been drinking. "No Su, Tun is right. We should sign the document and have a proper party. Maybe a bonfire in the main courtyard at the school." Ha says "Now put away that document before someone spills at it and Su have to do it all over."
It is late winter and the snow lies heavy both in the village and around. In this weather the sturdy construction of the houses in the village really comes to their right and seeing them piled high with snow is really pretty.
The men working on felling timber in the woods are tired and the whole village is looking forward to summer. Work on the school has stopped since there is no more that can be done before the snow clears. All in all is everyone very ready to have a party of some kind. After my tentative okay to it preparations were already on their way. My reputation would have taken a hit if I denied the people their party.
The men from the village have been even more eager than anyone for a party. Having exhausted their woods for threes fitting for feeling they are left with very little to do. Fishing and ice bathing have become activities, some have even taken up sculpting since their masonry skills are not useful for anything else in winter. Even I, the serious and studious, young master of the village is bored.
We make kind of a big deal out it though. "Thank you, everyone, for coming. Through hard work and dedication from all in this village and help from outside, we have found a school for healing and the arts." I say smiling at all gathered here. "Today we will celebrate the signing of the school charter by the first school board and I will guide everyone around the compound we have built." My speech is short and sweet, I think. It is followed by all the others on the school board and we then pack the charter away and begin the procession to the school.
"As you all know we needed to build a bigger mill to keep up with demand and we have plans for different mills in the same area. We, therefore, moved them and instead built a bridge over to the gardens of the school here." I show everyone the frankly beautiful stone bridge with a nice bow over the water. "It is decorated by our very own artists who I intend to let have a go at making all the sculptures in the school." We walk over the bridge and into the coming gardens. "It is the school boards intention to keep the gardens open for everyone in the village between sunup and sundown and we hope you will have as much use of it as any of our coming students." I lead the procession up the stairs all the way up to the top. There overlooking the village there is a clear view almost all the way out of the valley and down to lake Mao far beneath us.
"This party was a very good idea," Xi tells me while holding around a plastered Ha and steading her. They have been drinking and dancing around the big bonfire. Everyone has been drinking heavily to keep the cold out while we signed the charter of the school and ignited the bonfire piled heavy with dead trees. It burns very hot and has cleared a big part of the ground around it. I am sitting down on a skin Xia brought and having learned my lesson drink far less than anyone else. "Yeah, good that you convinced me, we should probably make this a yearly affair," I tell him and smile looking around. It is such times that should be treasured.
"Su, Master Su." I hear someone shouting at me. I was just about to find out how many layers of clothing Xia has packed herself into. I look up and look over at a boy coming up to me. "What?" I ask the young boy and look at him panting while trying to speak. "Stop, take a breath and then tell me."
"Someone is coming, I and Ioa were out playing scout and saw them." He says and I rise. I see them walking up the stairs from the garden beneath us and groan at the interruption. "Xi, Tion" I shout but in a lowered voice. "We have company," I tell them when I find them. "I will find out what they want. Prepare for them as best you can." I tell them. It is too bad they both seem to be drunk.