Heikko without much delay went to the backyard near the restricted area of the Main House, behind the walls of the restricted area was the Tree of Bonanza as they used to call it since it had been brought from the distant lands in Outerland, it was said that they were mysterious lands full of legendary and unknown creatures, some even suggested that they were lands of other worlds or something like that.
Heikko could remember the tree being similar to a birch tree but unlike the tree on earth it discarded a slight golden aura that was easy to see with the naked eye, apparently had some magical property and was therefore highly protected.
since it had been more than 600 years since it had been planted and it was still standing it was more than obvious that it was not a normal tree.
before the entrance gate to this restricted area were several combat areas of sand where the warriors used to practice before entering for the autumn festivities when it comes to worshiping the tree for good harvest and prosperity.
This was where Thurm was waiting for Heikko.
'' Young Heikko, will you still send your friend Tharos to do those kinds of tasks? I think you should concentrate on your practice, after all, your fight against Bolti will not be easy, you should also think about how to tell the Great Chief about what happened ... "
Thurm thought about adding more but thinking that the reaction of the Great Chief could vary as things resulted in the victory or loss of this fight he preferred to stay on the sidelines and let things take their course, so he hesitated to get even more in This matter, he had enough to be blamed if Heikko was hurt.
Heikko, seeing Thurm a little unsure of how to approach the subject, preferred to respond positively and energetically while he settled down to practice his way of standing and balancing his body.
'' neglect! What I ordered him to do is not a waste of time! Although I have sent him to do some work that I can not do since Ivenka does not let me leave the citadel, the benefit I get from this is not little. "
Thurm heard this, but looking behind him, a group of about 20 hens in heavy wooden cages, he could only sigh with hopelessness and with doubt asked Heikko.
'' even so young Heikko what are you going to do with all those animals? Should I remind you that most will be slaughtered before winter? It is more expensive to keep them in winter, also they can not eat since the soil hardens because of the cold. "
Heikko began to practice and in a stoic position with his feet firmly on the ground and with his knees slightly bent he answered Thurm's doubts.
'' Why should I kill them? It is only a matter of feeding them in winter and it will not be necessary to kill them! Also, each one of them cost me 2 silver coins and not to mention the cages that I entrusted to the father of Tharos that were a matter of 6 coins of copper! It's just a matter of having your food ready before winter and everything will be fixed. "
Thurm crossed his arms and without entering more into this topic, began to train Heikko in his combat position.
'' Well in those questions I do not know much so I will not say anything more Young Heikko, but in terms of your combat position, I have some things to say !, most of the guys start to learn to handle the sword from thing of 8 or 9 years old, it's a pity that you did not show the enthusiasm of the past, so I'll have to summarize the basics of those 3 years in 3 months, I hope and be prepared for it, not because of a conflict with that Bolti I'm going to speed up your training ''
Heikko gave a bitter smile and answered
'' ... I'm in your hands ''
.....
at the end of the day when the sun was beginning to set Heikko was sitting on a log with his sweaty face and a linen towel on his neck,
Beside him was Tharos, who was in a better condition.
Heikko could feel his muscles tremble even with the minimum effort, it seemed as if 1,000 ants walked inside his skin, it was an uncomfortable and pleasant sensation at the same time.
Thurm to see this felt a bit jealous, because while a boy in normal training would have to take about 3 days to recover from muscle damage, Heikko had Ivenka to apply the medicine that although it did not come from some magical plant of High level, this was the best for the initial phases of physical training.
Thurm could still remember how much he had to sweat before he was 12 years old and start to start his training in the barracks.
even after that, 1 year after they had gone on an expedition to the badlands, they had only gone as a support loading the food and adapting to the land, they had only been allowed to attack some badly injured Goblin in groups of 5, to which they did not they showed enough courage to send them back to the farms and those who passed this expedition would begin with the true training to be warriors.
with it having to tolerate 2 more years of expeditions and hard practices that would be until when they could use the same type of medication that Heikko had on hand at the moment.
Heikko to see that Thurm looked at him silently turned to see him for a few seconds, drying the sweat rose with an effort and with a tired voice I speak.
'' Something Thurm happens? Do you still have doubts about these animals? "
"It's nothing Young Heikko, just thinking that Ivenka will be happy to have him back after he's finished resting."
Heikko remained silent, felt some malice in the words of Thurm but there was not much to do, even though Ivenka's massages were painful, every morning he got up without the slightest hint of fatigue, with it, he could train every day without having any damage to your body.
Heikko stopped paying attention to Thurm because although he was an acquaintance, this was not a friend, this only fulfilled his work at the time of taking care of him and was only loyal to his father.
Heikko turned to see Tharos and returned the smile to his face.
'' and well did you get the best chickens? ''
Tharos had a complicated look on his face, in these days Heikko had given him a series of strange tasks to perform that he did not understand at all, he was happy for the fact that he had ordered 30 wooden cages from his father and thereby earning 180 copper coins or thing of 20 silver coins, removing the effort of getting the wood and the wear of tools his father had a benefit of almost 16 silver coins, which was what he earned in almost 1 month of work.
not only this but Heikko had sent him to go to some of the farms that surrounded the citadel and get the hens that put more eggs, the strangest thing of all was that he was willing to pay something of 2 silver coins per every 1 of these, not only that but the weirdest of all was that he preferred the hens that put more eggs but were thinner.
'' I could not say that they are the best, what I got is what you told me, that they put at least 1 egg every 4 days, that they are thin, young and with leafy plumage ... I still doubt what it is that you want to do, even if you say you need to eat more eggs, I think it would be cheaper to simply buy them instead of having to buy the whole chicken. "
Heikko, seeing that Tharos was confused, laughed a little and replied willingly.
'' Of course, it is important! Nutrition needs to be carried out strictly and with diligence, besides the ways of raising chickens lacks rigor and specification! That is why the best way to ensure that they improve is to raise them myself! since they are young and thin, it shows that they have not reached their maximum development as laying hens! "
Tharos to hear the words of Heikko was confused even more, in this Era did not pay much attention to the breeds of poultry species, so much so that the chickens that were more like wild birds of more developed muscles to flee from the prey animals, that to feed their human owners.
the hens that were kept in the citadel were lucky to weigh more than 2 kilos and to put more than 70 or 80 eggs annually, not only that but these eggs were also smaller in size than those that could be found in modern times.
'' I tell you that the artificial breeding of the species it is the future! only the beneficial characteristics for humans are worthy of being preserved! ... ''
Heikko, seeing that his tongue was gone, cleared his throat and spoke in a more serious tone to explain it so that Tharos understood.
"In a few words, only those chickens that grow fatter and that lay more eggs are worthy of continuing their bloodline, those that do not have these characteristics are unnecessary."
Tharos felt a chill run down his back to see Heikko looking at the chickens with cold eyes, it was the first time that Heikko transmitted this feeling, even Tharos could remember a situation in which someone else had given this impression.
'It seems that the seed does not fall so far from the tree ... now I understand my father's phrase, even though he said it about the young master Jarheid, we could not expect less from the second son ... maybe Heikko has kept a low profile so as not to alert others to their mentality? '
Tharos felt a little more reverence for Heikko, even though Heikko was only bad at acting on his own character and letting out some of the ideas that did not quite fit with the time he was.
For his part, Heikko was quite dissatisfied with the current chicken situation, most of the hens that Tharos had brought him first, were more like pheasants than the chickens he remembered.
if not for the peak and peak that are characteristic of the hens, he would say 100% sure that these were pheasants.
that is why Heikko had ordered to ask, that the chickens he bought were of thicker plumage.
but thin, so he could look better at the bone structure and the degree of domestication of the chickens.
even though it was a cold climate on the island, thanks to some kind of magic the area around 15 km from the citadel was a few degrees warmer, thereby allowing the hens to exist on the island, otherwise, it would be impossible for them to adapt to the cold weather.
but this same had limited the variety and the adaptation of the hens, without intensive breeding and directed to the climatic adaptation, these hens had barely changed their shape.
'' sigh, it's a pity that the chickens have less than 300 years to reach the island, even so, I think with these it will be enough to develop at least a new breed, right! Tharos, what about the other thing I asked you? "
Tharos to see that Heikko was heading back to him, had a strange face.
and the chicken was quite strange to him, even more, when he remembered Heikko's second request.
'' I found someone who agrees with your request ... even so, hiring a 'destitute' is ... are you sure of that? after all, these people are not to be trusted "
Tharos made one last attempt to dissuade Heikko from hiring a destitute but it was more than futile, even before reincarnating Heikko was stubborn as a mule.
'' haha, do not worry, even when the destitute are not reliable, they are cheap labor! I can not waste this opportunity and less now that my savings are about to run out, after all a free man would not work for a child who not even been outside the walls, even less with one who only has black bread as payment for their services, also with the prestige of my father they will not dare to do anything that hurts me. "
Tharos just shook his head and said goodbye to Heikko.
'' Sigh, you know what you're doing, although I'm worried that you've spent all your savings, I have to go, see you later Heikko ''
Heikko stared at the birds locked in their wooden cages in a satisfied tone.
'' hehe, you'll see when I have the chickens truths and not this imitation of pigeons ... ''
When he went to the front of the house, the smile on his face dissipated a bit and he took a swig of saliva.
In the distance, it could hear the shouts of the people and the hooves of the horses in the cobblestone streets that approached with each passing moment.
'trac, trac, trac'
Heikko was frozen at the moment and only the voice of Thurm that was on his side took him out of his trance and his nerves.
'' It seems that the Great Chief has returned from the council, we must go out to meet them at this time? ''
Heikko without thinking too much answered in a serious tone.
''we go!''
With a firm step and cursing that Tharos had left so untimely to be his excuse in the meeting that was to come and be able to leave faster, he went to the entrance of the inner walls where his father and other family members that would soon enter to the central area.