" I... I ... Will fight for you my lady, until I die."
Alana smiled softly.
"I don't need you to do that, how would that be of any good to me if you die? " She smiled.
Mr. Theodor and Mrs Clair both left a big loud sight like they were holding their breath for a long time.
" If you want to serve me that's fine, you just need to find yourself useful, not just for me but for everyone under your care, right? " She said petting his head, is stern face softened like a little kid.
He cleaned his face and turned to leave.
"Wait... Aren't you going to take a potato?" Asked Alana.
"No, I must find something first that can be useful for everyone, so I can deserve my potato. " Rahul smiled and bowed and left limping.
As Alana walked inside and Mrs. Clair and Mr Theodor followed closing the door, Alana collapsed butt on the floor, the two servants ran to her trying to help her up.
" My lady hasn't rest since you got here. You must be very tired, I will help you up."
" I am fine I need maybe a little water, and something to eat. I can get myself up, don't worry" It was almost noon and they hadn't eaten at all. Mr. Theodor went to fetch some clean snow to make water while Mrs Clair went to the kitchen to cook something with the potatoes.
Alana was still sitting on the floor, she lift her hand and it was trembling, she couldn't believe she faced the mob and even come up with proposal of trading on the spot. She couldn't blame Tera for the audacity either. She tried to pull herself up but her legs were still trembling, she hold herself steady by leaning against a nearby wall.
After a while the girl that proposed to be her seamstress arrived bringing some cloth, and fur. Her name was Tâmiah, she was the daughter of one of the knights, her father was fierce knight that always fought along the master. She looked very proud of her father. Her features were very delicate her pale complexion looked like she were glass, she seemed she would brake if she fell, she was probably not older than 16 and yet she was already responsible for two young brother and sister.
She measured the lady and made notes.
"My father would bring me all this fur whenever he cameback from hunting or from any campaign with the master." She said with a bright smile.
'According to Mrs. Clair the master left around 5 to 6 months ago, the bandits attacked one month later after hearing that the Master of this town had died. Her father was also in this campaign so he is also likely to be dead, none of the people who went has returned. So how do this people know that their Master died, I wonder!'
"All done my lady, I can prepare one outfit, in 2 days if work day and night"
"Don't overwork yourself, if you fall ill your brother and sister won't have anyone to take care of them. You will be given potatoes for everyday you work on a outfit, that includes for everyone in town. So don't worry." Tâmiah was in a daze hearing those words she could do anyone's clothes and she still would get some portion for her and her brother's.
She was so happy she wanted to hug the lady, but she held herself.
" For now could you make some modifications so this clothes fit me while I wait for you to finish the outfit?"
"Ohh yes, my lady. Even though this are men clothing they fit you very well, my lady.if you put also a corset on top it will make it more feminine. Even though the pants are baggy we could just maken them tighter..." She was rumbling.
"I do like these pants like this I have more room to move around. "
" Oh I see, I see my lady. I will then just make two points on the waist to make it more tightly. Yes may fit great with the corset here, and this there. Oh my lady I made these fur arm sleeves they will help with the cold too also for the legs. You can also use under your pants. Normally we use under the dresses but it also works under your pants since they are wide." Tâmiah was very excited, she was even blushing of excitement.
"Okay okay" said Alana smiling. " I guess I am in your care" The girl smiled greatly.
Downstairs it could be heard loud noises of bumping and things falling down. Alana left the room in hurry and went downstairs.
"What's with all this noise ?" Alana asked Theodor who was cleaning the entrance.
"My lady ... the cow...the cow has arrived."
"Oh my lady ... I brought the cow like I said I would" said the girl smiling as Alana come down the kitchen stairs. Mrs. Clair looked troubled, what would she do with a cow in her kitchen, it not like they had that much space there. The cow was also bigger than Alana imagined, it was thin but big.
"My lady what should we with it? " Mrs. Clair was very troubled, she was almost panicking. Alana was kind of amused seeing the caos on Mrs. Clair face. She shook those mean thoughts away .
"Alright, Mrs. Clair don't we have stables around here for the horses?"
Mrs Clair almost scold herself for forgetting about that. " Yes my lady, yes of course. I will you there Malaica, comeand bring your cow."
"Yes Mrs. Clair."
'So her name was Malaica, she is pretty."
"The lady is very beautiful." Said Malaica pulling the cow right behind her.
"She is also kind... And kind of unique. " Said Mrs.Clair pushing open the stables doors. It was big, and was not in a bad shape.
"Here Mimi this will be your new home, and you will have what to eat everyday." Malaica hugged her dear cow showing off her new home.
After a few days the town was busy, the Wood Master made a cosy place for Mimi the cow in the stables, many women and children and young lads come and joined the rebuilding of the walls around the town.
The work on the wintergarden was going smoothly every fend was closed,under the day sun the turtle shell shaped Dome was hot and night was colder but not freezing which was good. Alana transferred the half onion that was sprouting in the kitchen and the clove that had found its roots by staying dipped in water.
The little Edah and other volunteers were helping at dome. Some would collect Mimi's waste and add it to the compost. Others would treat to soil that was not being used. Half of dome was being left empty, and the other half was being used for the crops, potatoes were also being sown into the soil. The days have been good the food was not plenty but they were seeing that soon they will have something more.
"My lady the butter churn is ready, I finished making it, but it will be a while until the cow produces any milk" said the wood master.
" Well she is get bigger and healthier. " Intruded Malaica very proud for the growth of her cow. Alana just smiled, they could now make butter as soon Mimi produced enough milk.
As she walk around in the manor she could see many people busy around helping with producing, the little ones helped clean, some collected wood.
"Good day my lady" bowed Rahul.
"Good morning Rahul, I hear you've been helping with training some of the people. "
"Yes my lady,I guess I found something I can help with."
"Well you also been helping around with building the protective walls."
"Ohh that ... " Rahul scratched his head embarrassed. " I am doing what I can to help."
"Hmm" Alana smiled. Her head turned as she seemed to hear some faded screams from somewhere, it was very faint but she could hear it.
"Rahu?" She asked.
"Yes my lady I can hear it too." For untrained hears there was nothing wrong but to Rahul who was a trained warrior, he could hear it clearly, he pointed at the direction. He limped as fast as he could grabbing a tool on the way. Alana who had her bow with her at all times rushed in front of him to the said direction.
"Please anyone that can fight please come forward there's something happening outside of the Manor" Rahul rawred loud and fiercely.
Closer to the woods the kids were picking mashrooms, before they noticed they were going deeper inside of the forest. It was a dangerous place to be since any kind of monster could be lerking around.
" Hey shouldn't we had back ? " Asked one of the girls of the group.
" Why are you scared? " Asked one boy that was tall enough to be perceived as young adult.
"No,but we getting further and further away from the town."
" My father is Knight in our master's great army" said a little boy looking fiercely and brave.
"Well little guy he probably was, all our fathers uncles and brothers were but they aren't anymore. They are no longer here." Said one of the older kids.
"Stop it . Don't say that." Said the first girl.
"Why isn't it true?" As they were fighting something was approaching, their untrained hears could not protect them, without a warning they were attacked by white wolves, their sharp teeth bit off a part of the leg of the tallest boy there, which made the kids scream in terror.
They were surrounded, the wolfs just spread around while the kids cried and screamed, as the pack leader was jumping an arrow hit him in the back that made him fall to the side, he lift himself up and looked around grawling fiercely.
The pack change their attention to incoming arrows that were flying in. The pack was ready to attacked when they heard the scream of incoming people . The kids wanted to run off, but the white wolf's were between them their homes.
The people in town brave enough, and with enough strength to find were standing before the wolfs.
Rahul arrived limping walked to front line. He looked up and saw Alana up in a tree aiming at the wolfs. Her arrows were not strong enough to kill a White wolf's but they could cause some hindrance.
" Kids are you okay?" Yelled Rahul.
"We are fine but Lock had part his leg bitten off. He is unconscious right now"
" I see... Grab onto him. And don't let go. " Rahul with one hand looked more fierce than anyone there standing with two arms and two good legs.
"Rahul... are you sure about this?"
"I will fight... Who's with me." Rahul's Rawr resonated with everyone, their master spirit was there with them.
"Let's go" they all scream as they ran forward.