Upon our return to Lodroestein, it was still bright out, just a bit afternoon. Thus, I'd wasted no time, immediately setting out to gather wood to construct the extension to our house. I'd taken the axe that we often used to gather wood for wintering, and made my way to the woods to begin chopping down some trees. Much to my surprise, father came along to aid in the construction.
"Father? I thought you were still at the house aiding mother and Nelwynn?"
Somehow I knew he'd already informed mother about the duties that Nelwynn and I would be taking, and thus decided to aid me in gathering wood for Nelwynn's room.
"I was, Nelwynn is already assisting your mother with the housework. You however, will need assistance in processing the wood won't you? You don't plan on using raw logs for the extension, right?"
Father was shrewd as ever. I'd needed to have the logs cut down and processed into lumber in order to produce Nelwynn's room. However I had plans to do such once the appropriate amount of lumber was accquired. However, there were other materials I'd need to produce an adequate extension, and thus I'd asked father after I'd responded to his questions.
"I will father, and I've no intention on using raw logs. However, I must ask father, if we've any nails to use for the construction?"
Father's look of satisfaction then turned to one of surprise. Afterall, much of our house was of the primitive medieval style, which was made using sticks, mud, and straw. Though he was also surprised by my desire to utilize wood, as the use of wood for housing was often reserved for wealthier families.
However, father could see how determined I was to make use of wood for Nelwynn's extension, and thus decided it best to inform me of my need to speak to the local smithy. Our smithy was by no means on par with Alan, however, he did still produce the horseshoes for the stablemasters, thus he should be more than capable of producing nails. Father began hauling away some of the logs I'd fell, taking them to our local woodworker for processing, however, of the wood that is processed, we were only permitted 30%.
The reason for such was simple, lumber was valuable, and thus, the woodworker would maintain some for their own stock, while permitting the provider to keep 30%, to either use as they please. This was the reason I'd needed to chop more trees than I'd desired to, however, it was a duty that must be done in order to provide Nelwynn appropriate accomadations.
As the sun had begun to set, I'd made my way back to the house, drenched in sweat from tirelessy cutting down trees. On entry, I was greeted by mother and Nelwynn, preparing the dinner.
"Ah, Landyn! we just finished making the dinner!"
Immediately, Nelwynn rushed towards me, hugging me, telling me the fun she'd had in helping my mother with preparing the meal. During this time, mother had looked upon us with a sly smile, a smile which made me worry just what else she might have "taught" Nelwynn. However, I'd placed my worries aside as we'd made our way to the table to consume the dinner that Nelwynn and mother had made.
Shortly after we'd taken our seats at the table, father had made his way in, informing me that the last of the wood had been delivered and was being processed. In turn, I'd smiled towards father before speaking up.
"Thank you father, tomorrow, I will make way for the local smithy to accquire nails, perhaps a small hammer as well."
Mother then looked at me in surprise, much like father, she was aware that lumber was reserved for lower nobles, craftsmen, and wealthy merchants.
"Oh my, you're really going above and beyond for Nelwynn, Landyn!"
Realizing mother's intention, i'd snubbed her off, with a simple retort.
"Not at all mother, actually I'd like to make the entire home into one of lumber someday."
Hearing this, both father and mother nearly choked on their meals upon my retort. Where father quickly swallowed his food and looked at me sternly.
"Landyn, the lumber you intend on using for Nelwynn's room is acceptable. However, if you were to use lumber for the entire house, the lord's tax collectors would immediately begin increasing our tax. I understand your desire to improve our situation, but improving the house to such an extent will only increase our burden."
Hearing this, I was no more sullen of the news, and once more filled with anger towards Oswin and the nobles. So much so that I'd taken to ask father the simple question, "Why?"
Father had looked puzzled upon my question, unsure of how to answer, even though he was fully aware of what the answer was. It was greed, greed to fill Oswin's coffer, the nobles' coffers. Thus, father had provided the answer, though under guise of a falsehood.
"They'd belive us to be wealthier, Landyn, which would mean a higer tax on us."
This in turn prompted another question from me.
"Then why do the nobles not pay substansially more in their tax?"
By this point, father had looked at me in shock. However, he'd answered again, this time providing an outright lie.
"Well, they often end up becoming knights, like during the war with Kotesh."
While not a toal lie, it was a lie. The Royal Army was made entirepy of nobles, however, they were made up of knights who'd made names for themselves in battles, proving themselves capable on the battlefield. However I then prompted one final question to father.
"Then why do our taxes, and the taxes of those who were levied increase? The ones who could not send anyone to the levies had their taxes increased outright, however, even after sending someone to join the levy, the taxes for them too was increased. So why?"
Father was now dumbstruck, as it was true, that even following the war, despite my participation in the levy, our tax had increased, albeit not as substansially as those who'd sent no one to join the levies. Thus, father was then left with no answer, simply turning to his meal and consuming the remainder of the soup that had been so carefully prepared by both Nelwynn and mother. Shortly after, he'd made his way to bed, though not before making his final statement of the night.
"It's getting late, finish your food and head for bed. You'll be accquiring the nails and lumber tomorrow for Nelwynn's room."
Mother too looked to now be in a somewhat depressed mood, realizing that what I'd said was true, however, much like father, she'd recognized the futility of complaining, as there was naught she nor father could do against the Royal Army, against Oswin. Much like father, she'd begun to finish her meal and head for bed.
Thus, only Nelwynn and I remained at the table, with Nelwynn looking at me with a degree of contempt, before quitely responding.
"Landyn, why would you say that?"
Seeing Nelwynn somewhat angry over what I'd asked, I'd realized that I'd told both mother and father the truth too harshly. Realizing this, I did not even defend myself, instead looking to Nelwynn and had apologized.
"I'm sorry, I'd no intention of creating such tensions, especially during dinner."
Nelwynn continued lookin on me, angry by how I'd ruined the dinner she and mother had made.
"I'll... I'll apologize to mother and father in the morning. Thank you for the meal."
Realizing I'd upset Nelwynn, I'd finished my meal, and so to did I head for bed. Before I got up though, Nelwynn had pulled me, not looking at me. She did not say anything, though I'd remembered before that Nelwynn did not wish to be alone, and thus I'd sat at the table with her while she finished eating.
After she'd finished her fill, she began to get up, looking back on me as she did. Naturally, I'd followed suit. As we made our way to my room, Nelwynn took her place on the bed, however, she'd done so in a way to prevent me from sleeping on the bed. Realizing this, I'd asked Nelwynn it I could get into bed.
Nelwynn did not answer, instead situating herself in a mor comfrotable position. Realizing I'd upset her, I'd taken simply to sleeping on the floor, not wishing to upset Nelwynn more than I already have.