Chapter 7

Lindenford, his old home, is now in a growing desperate situation. The baron refuses to allow any wise person into his barony, based on the recommendations of the physicker and several mages, who claim to be able to do much better. All the village elders are rebuffed and they suffer. The foresters have killed or driven off all the wolves and most all of the foxes. Rabbits abound and do serious harm to the fields. Deer also ravage the fields, and the peasants struggle to eat. The baron doesn’t want to hear it, as his deer herds are large. The locals begin to slip over to adjacent holdings looking for food and care. The baron is incensed and threatens serious punishments. Then winter hits and the deer die in droves. His peasants all slip away as best they can, starving as they are. Rabbits also die everywhere and the barony is all but wiped out. It becomes so bad that the countess petitions the king to remove this baron, which after a short investigation is done. The mages and physicker see the hand writing and attempt to steal away but are caught, searched and all monies and things of value taken, they are then stripped of clothes, tarred and feathered and sent on their way. Their “Great Magics” help them not at all.

At a later time, the Pox is discovered far away, but it moves inexorably closer. The countess is most concerned and calls a meeting of the elders and includes Silas. Most of the recommendations are neither acceptable nor likely to work. Silas asks to have time to look through his records from his mother, as he seems to remember her telling him a way to prevent the pox. he contacts Sylvana to see what she remembers, and they have a small convention of wise folk, where they agree that giving each person a bit of cow pox, diluted in cooled boiled water, is the best hope. This idea is brought to the countess who is most skeptical. But the wise folk point out that any person having had cow pox, never gets the small pox. She agrees to try it, especially as it only requires a few moments of gentle sticking with a needle and a reading of the single pox a week later. Many resist, but she makes a decree. Her county, including her surrounding baronies, are saved the ravages that do great harm elsewhere. She makes Silas one of her senior advisors over any and all objections.