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 Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 4:20 pm
It was hot today in the kitchen, and even the dog was outside trying to keep cool. Stepping back from the counter, the large heavy-set man wiped his forehead with the back of his arm and spit on the floor. Picking up the flagon of mead next to him he walked outside to take a quick breather. Settling down on a chair set against the outside of the kitchen, he patted the top of the old dog's head gently and set about cooling off and catching his breath. Clearing his throat and just watching the folk in the village.
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 4:36 pm
"I'm am so hungry" say Marcus walking down a road in the village. He had been begging for food all morning. Looking around, he saw a house with a man sitting in front of it. Thinking "I think I will be lucky at this house", he head toward the man. When he was near the man, Marcus said "May I have some food please."
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 4:45 pm
A bit startled for he had nodded off a bit, Jon sharply looks up.
"Eh wots this now? Yer lookin fer food? Well now ye've got a bit o' guts to ye if'n ye 'ad to come all the way up 'ere. But ole Jon 'ere just doesn't 'and out scraps now. At least not with out hearin yer name then. Well, speak up lad, I ain't got all afternoon, " His voice is very gruff and some what muffled due to his beard.
The old dog next to him barely lifts it's head and a weak "wuff" stirs the dust in front of him, he then procedes to go back to sleep.
"Ahh you lazy mutt, ye get up fast enough when food is mentioned," Jon says shaking his head exasperated.
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 4:58 pm
Marcus look up to the man face, and said "My name is Marcus Herring." Marcus thought to himself, this guy sound and look tough, but he is quite nice, maybe I had a chance with this one.
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 5:12 pm
"Marcus eh? Well then Marcus what can ye do? I'm not much for just givin away food to every stranger who walks up ta my kitchen. You'll 'ave ta work fer yer meal. An if'n I think yer trust worthy I may 'ave a place fer ye yet, now then," With a bit of a grunt Jon slowly stands up. Compared to most other folk Jon is a big man and about as thick a tree. If one were to pay attention they would notice that though there is fat, it's mostly muscle.
"Alright let's get ye inside and somewhat cleaned up. I'll not ave you dirtying up my floor with vermin, after that we'll get ye feed and then set ye ta work, " stepping back into the hot kitchen he waves him in with out looking back at him.
Inside the kitchen it is spacious and somewhat clean...In the corner is a trough of water which he points at and then stands there with his arms crossed. "Now don't be shy 'ere we cn afford water, besides ye'll be refilling that when yer done. I'll be over at the counter, but don't think ye can off and swipe somethin. Fer one i'll know and two even though that mutt out there don' look a lick of good at anythin, but 'e can take down a full grown man when 'e wants to. Get to it lad."
With that he goes back to kneading some dough on a board.
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 5:26 pm
Marcus went inside and went to the trough of water. When he get there, he use it to clean himself up, but he did it carefully, so he won't dirty up the floor, and anger the man. After Marcus clean himself up, he went to the counter, and said to the man, "What can I do to help you, Jon?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 5:36 pm
"Cripes boy ye were quick about that! Well fer one ye can go an 'ave a seat there and I'll get ye somethin to eat. Can't 'ave you passin out on me now can I," Jon shoos him off while walking towards the fire pit, Grabbing a hunk of very stale hard bread Jon plops that in front of Marcus and Goes back to the fire and with a metal hook carries over a large iron pot with something brown that bubbles and smells wonderful. Spooning out a large amount of stew on the bread, Jon set it back near the flames and then grabs a large mug and fills it with some water with a pinkish tint to it(ie water with wine to give it flavor).
"There ye go lad, ye eat yer truncheon and when yer done, ye just give whatever is left to the dog. If'n there is any left! Goodness boy, you look like a half starved mule!" With a deep belly laugh, filled with warm mirth, he claps Marcus on the back and goes back to work.
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 5:58 pm
Marcus sat down where Jon told him to sit, and look at the food, and thought to himself finally, some food, and with that, he scarf down the bread, and drink the water very fast. After that, he look at the door, and thought maybe I should get out of here when that man is not looking, but decided not to do that. The man was nice enough to give him some food, and he should return the favor. Marcus stand up, went to Jon, and said "I'm done eating, sir. What can I do to help?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 6:26 pm
Slapping down the dough now and grabbing a very large rolling pin he set to work flattening the dough out. "Whelp, now that your done, ye can start to emptying and refilling the trough I had ye wash in, after that ye can sweep and ye'll be done yer work fer me. 'Ow's that sound eh lad? Not too 'ard fer ya I hope. The bucket is over thar, and the well is in the courtyard. If anyone gives ye guff just tell 'im that I sent ye and if'n they has a problem to take it up wit me."
With a knife he starts to cut the dough into squares and setting them in round tins. "If ye do good work ah may just 'ave a job fer ye if ye like, it'd hard but honest work and ye'd get a roof ova yer 'ead and a couple meals in ye a day. If yer interested, after yer done sweepin ye can come back and talk to me."
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 7:33 pm
"Okay" says Marcus and he went to get the bucket, and he went back to the trough, and he start to emptying it. Marcus put the bucketfull of dirty water outside the house. After that, Marcus start to go to the well in the courtyard. When he went to the well, he put the bucket on the rope, and got an hearvy bucket full of water. He thought to himself this is all going to be wronth it in the end as he slowly go back to the house.
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Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:29 pm
After Marcus left Jon looked at the old mutt and shook his head, "Boy doesn't talk much, eh pooch? Ah we'll get 'im to open up more if'n he takes the job."
Taking down a huge slab of smoked pork, Jon proceeds to take a cleaver to it cutting off slabs to later dice for the meat pies to be baked. Into the pies goes, carrots, potatoes, turnips, and other assorted root veggies. Taking a break from cutting Jon goes and set the broom out or the lad.
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Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:37 pm
Marcus slowly went back to the house. He was being carefull so he won't spill the bucket. It was a hard job, but Marcus knows he can do it. When he got near the house, he saw Jon sitting outside.
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:01 am
"Alright boy I'll take that from here and you get to sweepin out tha place. Ye just be careful near the fire asin the dang thing with catch on the slightest spark," As he turned back towards the building he stopped, almost as an after thought. "Ye did good though lad."
At that he picked up the bucket easily and set it near his work station, and got back to work cleaning and making the meat pies. The dog limped it's way in and settled down near the fire and looks as if it won't move for anything, not even a broom or piece of food. After a while Jon starts to hum then softly sing a song in another language, it is soft and deep and sounds almost as if it's a lullaby of some sort.
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 5:26 pm
"Okay" says Marcus as he get the broom. Compared to carrying the bucket, sweeping up the place is very easy. Marcus was very careful around the fireplace so the broom won't caught on fire. After a while, Marcus start to hear a song. Even thought it was in a different language, it was very soft. Marcus turn around and follow the direction on where the song is coming from. It turn out it was coming from Jon. "Thats a pretty good song, Jon", said Marcus, "I don't what it is about, or the language of the song, but it sounds very familar to me."
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 6:58 pm
"Aye? Well I'm a wee bit surprised ye have lad. Me gran would sing it too me while makin the bread. She used ta tell me it was from a lan' of the name 'O Ireland. Ifn' ya like I can tell ye the words of the song," He sounded a bit eager to tell him, his voice gaining a bit of a lift to it. "Though don't ask me ta sing it in a way ye can understand the words can be changed but they don't fit the song."
Sealing the top of the pies he set them on a flat board and carried them towards a sort of brick oven. Where he proceeded to shovel the pies into it after opening a small door.
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