Banished Prince Charming

Chapter 20 - Making A Sign

"Awright geeezzaa! So, did yew managed ter 'ave some sweet lovyn last night? We 'eard a scream an' then i' was silence after that." the moment Frank saw me walking towards the riverbank to wash up, he pulled me aside.

"No, Frank, the one who screamed was a banshee last night and nothing of that sort happened. Just get some sugar that's all." I sort of blushed a bit in embarrassment thinking that these neighbours of mine really were anticipating some kind of action last night.

"Hohoho... Let's get cracking, young master...! Well done on your first try...!" Frank slapped me across my back and I nearly choked on the water that I was gurgling earlier. My goodness, what's wrong with these people? Love can't be forced and last night... Well, it was one new experience in my life...! And I like it...!!

Of course, I didn't voice out my thoughts or I would be chided the whole day and even till the end of a week for sure. Definitely, they would feel happy for me but I do have my reasons and thoughts.

No matter what happens, the most important past would be for me to build this settlement. A Phoenix would definitely rise from the ashes and GraceHaven was going to be that phoenix for sure.

I was thinking to myself that the development of a settlement, no matter how big or small it would be, everything depends on coins and I sure need lots of it for sure. If I am a tradesman, I am sure I would have the inkling on how to generate income for the expansion of GraceHaven.

Right now, we have the production of the broom, weaving mat, pelts, cured leather and perhaps hunting bows. I felt a bit pity for Jack who was unable to display his expertise in this environment but maybe there are some jobs he would be able to undertake if he had a sponsor for the tools of his trade.

However, it would be best to speak his mind since he was the only person that understands it the most. Furthermore, I have a small project for him since he had nothing much to do except helping others and moping around.

After a hearty breakfast, everyone went along together with Gwen towards the location of the bamboo overgrowth. Seeing Jack attending to the children frol.i.c.k.i.n.g in the shallow waters of the river, I approached him and asked, "Jack, I would like to make a sign for GraceHaven."

"What do you have in mind, young master?" he asked as he inched closer as he would like to contribute to this part as much as possible.

"If I could get a single piece of wood of this size, then I would be glad to be able to make a sign then." I drew on the ground the intended size of a sign that u wishes to make but without the proper materials on hand, it was almost close to impossible.

A single piece of the size means we have to chop down a tree and then saw it accordingly. But to make a single sign, would it be wasteful of we were to cut down a single whole tree? Furthermore, we need to have a lumber saw and we don't have any right now."

I placed my hand on my chin and thought that what he said might be true. I can't be selfish to think about the settlers to chop a single tree just to make a single piece of signboard.

Besides, even if we have enough tools, we need to have several loggers to be able to give me what I need by then. When I was about to give up on the idea, Jack spoke up.

"We could use several pieces of stout branches and joined them together. We halved the branch and to join them together, we would be making a groove of a joint behind it to secure them in place."

"All we need is 2 stout branches, saw them according to the length. Chop them equally into halves like firewood does and then chisel the back to make a groove for the joints." Jack suggested and I thought it would be the best idea I've ever gotten to solve the predicament.

Then suddenly I had a stroke of an idea. This idea came from the clay oven that was drying under the sun naturally from dawn to dusk. Since it was made with clay, it could be moulded into whatever shape I wished. Besides, during the moulding process, I would be able to write the inscriptions and let it be sun-baked and once it is dry, it could be hung on both ends of the settlements instead.

I related the stroke of ingenuity and Jack just snorted in agreement. "You wouldn't mind getting your hands dirty to mould some clay, do you?" I threw a question at Jack and he smiled back while hollered at the children, "Young ones...come aaaht from da water an' 'elp grandpa ter collect some clay ter make somethin' fer aaahr young master 'ere. Rattle an' Hum on now, let's get busy."

After hearing the hollerings from Jack, the children scrambled up and quickly took some mud and clay from the riverbank and then scrambled next to their grandpa.

The children immediately began to mould the intended shape and carefully mixed the right viscosity of the clay mixture to design the intended shape, size and thickness.

After two similarly sized clay moulds had been made, I quickly took a stick and wrote the words 'GRACEHAVEN' on to it and made two holes each on the top and bottom of the sign.

I sprinkled some dry soil and dabbed it down on the 'engravings' that I had made on the clay signboards and hopefully it would dry up and hold the soil in place.

With the four holes, it could be firmly be secured to a flat wall or a tree branch or even a signpost. This way it would look pretty presentable for any incoming visitors and even merchants.

"Wow, Big Brother, you really know how to write. It seems the both you and Sister Heather had ever been to school before. Would you be able to teach us somewhere in the future instead?"

"I wished to go to school and meet new friends but its just too bad. From what my mother had told me, it would be best staying alive than to go to school and learn a few skills."

"Would there be a chance for us to be in school sometime soon?" one of the twins spoke up and voiced his thoughts of learning.

"I guess so. If there's an opportunity, all 4 of you would be the first to enrol in school. At least you would be able to learn how to read and write as well as learn how to count. Would it be better to learn such skills so that you would be able to be a learned person instead?"

"At this moment though, it would be best to learn some life skills so that it would be beneficial to all of you in the future," I added and gave them some assurance about the future. At the very least, it would be able to give me and the rest something to look forward in the nearest future.

The children helped to put the mouldings slightly away from the riverbank and then let it be sun-baked in the clearings next to the oven. Once the clay signboard had been set, it would be fired in the oven as well to make it bisque dry.

I thanked the children and Jack as I went to the farmlands to observe the progress of the tenderlings. I scooped pots of water and slowly watered the sides of the tenderlings while repeating the whole process until the planting beds were properly watered.

30 rows of plantations and 10 types of vegetables. These would yield bountiful harvest between 45 days to 120 days depending on their types.

Sir Blackie was by my side as he accompanied me to the farmlands. His life is simpler than I thought since he would spend his days under the shades and would be active only during the night as he would lie down in front of my doorway with one ear perked up to listen to any forms of intrusions.

Its behaviour is akin to a cat that would immediately pounce on any mice scurrying around the ground!

After performing my tasks, I sat down near the fireplace and stocked some firewood in it. As I sat down alone, I was suddenly overcome with visions of the unfateful events that led to the demise of my parents and sister and I felt a pang of remorse.

It had been 2 weeks since the events occurred and a tear began jerking at the corner of my eye. Sir Blackie let out a soft bark and I turned my head at it. I immediately patted my its head and I pulled it close to me and I buried my face into its thick fur.

Even the animals could detect if one was feeling sad and down. "Come on, let's feed the fowls," I called out to Sir Blackie and made our way to the riverbank and started to dig at the ground and dig some worms and went over to the enclosure.

As I called the fowls, I dangled a piece of fat earthworm in front of it as they hurriedly sort of 'waddled' over to me and fed them. A little while later I heard the group returning to the settlement. The two couples were lifting the bamboos on their shoulders at both ends while carrying a basket on the other hand.

I noticed Kayla and Heather were carrying the baskets and were filled with to the brim with stuff that I could not even describe from afar. Heather waved her hand at me and I stood up and waved back.

"What do you have in those 4 baskets?"