Rickard returned to his study in tge afternoon after showering post his knightly training. Just in front of his study door Gilbar Carnhide was waiting with a girl, who seemed like servant girl, with deep black eyes and copper colred hair and was no more than 12 years old.
"Have you arranged everything?" Rickard asked Gilbar before opening the door.
"I have, young master. I also have arranged a carriage for you."
°°°
Rickard and Carnhide left the mansion and walked towards the carriage. The copper haired girl also followed them and got onto carriage with them. Rickard, unable hold his curiosity any longer, asked Gilbar
" Who is this girl? "
" Young lord, she is my daughter. Her name is Nira. She is proficient in arithmetic and can run errands for you. I hope young lord can accept this request from me." Gilbar answered in a humble tone.
"Has my mom accepted this?" Rickard was sceptical of this arrangement.
"Yes, young lord. The Lady suggested this."
Steward confirmed.
"Do you know why she suggested it?" Rickard didn't know the intention behind it. Is she a informant? Or am I thinking too much. He pondered.
---
The carriage came to halt infront of the Black smithy. This black smith was responsible for forging and maintenance of armor and weapons for the Flint family and its retainers.
Gidden Smith, owner of the smithy, had stout build, slightly shorter than typical northerner and wore wool pant and no upper garments. Smithy was as usual as hot as sun in midsummer's day.
"Can you make plate armor?" Rodrick asked Gidden after the introduction by the steward.
"Yes, young lord." Gidden answered.
"Then I want you to make 2500 arrrowheads,10 plate armor, 10 daggers, 10 great swords. Also digging bar, pickaxe, grab hoe, soil turning plough 100 each." Rickard ordered.
"Young lord, all of that would require months to make.Might even take more than 6 months. Also only iron parts of farming tools can be made here"
"It isn't a problem. As long as you can make them. Make an estimate as to how much it will cost. That copper haired girl will come next week."
°°°
Fletcher is someone who assembled arrows. Rickard having ordered arrowheads in the smithy now had to commission fletcher to complete the arrows. He did exactly that. Jukel was the name of the fletcher.
Next stop was to a bow maker. Rickard ordered 25 long bows in Barroth Vass's bow maker shop.
All that was left was to purchase wagons and aurochs to pull them.
"Young master, If you allow it I want Nira to complete ordering for Wagons and Aurochs." Gilbar suddenly said.
Rickard thought for a second and surmised that this could be used to see how the steward had taught his prodigy.
Rickard nodded. "Okay, wagons should have covered roofs and sides. Aurochs should be strong enough to pull them. If you can get additional female aurochs, that would be lovely."
Gilbar turned to Nira "Have you heard what young lord said. Complete it with full sincerity and without mishaps."
Nira nodded her head up down vigorously.
°°°
When Rickard returned Tom, scribe who was helping with census, was waiting before the mansion. As soon as he saw the young lord, he hurried to him and gave a slight bow.
" Young lord, most of the census data has come to the office."
"I see, then I'll see you tomorrow."
Rickard now saw incredibly busy days ahead of him. It was time to finsh his first big project.