Chapter 18: Day 21

The following morning, Matthias and Lilia had breakfast with her parents, and Matthias informed them of a decision he and Lilia had made the previous evening.

"We're going to move to Newtown today," Matthias stated. "There are pressing matters which require my immediate attention."

"That is, of course, your decision to make," Tranos agreed.

"If it's agreeable, Father," Lilia said, "we will come to the evening meal every half-moon."

"You are always welcome here, my daughter," Tranos replied.

"When will you know if you are with child?" Katia, Lilia's mother, inquired.

"In a ten-day," Lilia replied. "If not, we shall endeavor to ensure it happens next moon!"

Matthias nearly laughed aloud at Lilia telling her parents they would, as the phrase went back home, screw like bunny rabbits to ensure she was pregnant. Of course, that was expected for newlyweds, especially if they desired to conceive immediately.

"A grandchild will please us greatly," Tranos declared.

"A child will make us very happy," Matthias stated. "And more to follow."

"Four, if the gods are good," Lilia declared.

"Wonderful!" her mother, who had borne only Lilia, said happily.

They finished breakfast, and Matthias packed the few things he'd brought to Tranos' house, and Lilia, with help from a household servant, packed all her worldly belongings, including the wedding gifts. When they finished packing, a male servant loaded everything into a wagon, and they set off with Tranos' driver guiding the horses and wagon. Just under an hour later, all of their things were in the master bedchamber at Newtown.

Matthias' first act was to sit down with Jorah and Milos to review the household budget and determine the appropriate tax for the farms, taking into account what they would owe the King.

"We should construct a mill," Jorah suggested. "That would increase your overall income, even if we pay slightly more for grain. That, too, works to our advantage. The same is true of the forge you intend to construct. Both of those will defray costs such that they do not have to come from taxes or your personal wealth."

"We'll need oxen to turn the mill as they do the water wheel," Milos observed.

"No," Matthias countered. "We'll power it by the wind, which is nearly constant here."

"How so, my Lord?" Jorah inquired.

"A windmill. It has vanes covered with cloth, similar to sails. I can draw a diagram, and a tinker, a smith, and a carpenter can construct it. It can be constructed completely from wood, cloth, and hemp, with minimal iron fittings. If we build two, we can power both the water source and the grain mill."

"Where did you learn of such a device?" Jorah asked.

"Research and study," Matthias replied. "I will have other inventions to save work in the future."

"Amazing, my Lord!" Jorah declared. "Our goal should be to make the mill and forge self-sufficient as quickly as possible, and eventually turn a profit. That would allow us to retain a smith and a miller, which would generate even more revenue, in addition to meeting our needs here."

"Matthias," Milos inquired, "would you be willing to issue warrants to others to build these wind devices? That would be another source of income."

"Yes, I would," Matthias agreed.

"If so, the tinker, smith, and carpenter we engage should enter our employ," Jorah suggested. "You do not want them sharing the secrets of your inventions. They could then oversee the construction of the two mills in Newtown. You would, of course, have to fund initial construction from your personal wealth. When could you have the plans?"

"In two days," Matthias replied, happy he had taken both drafting and shop class before he discovered the possibility of a fencing scholarship, which would have allowed him to attend Harvard and study law back home ... except that Newtown was no longer home. Newtown in Nystria was home, and Matthias understood the importance of internalizing that.

"With your blessing," Jorah replied, "I will obtain the services of a smith, a tinker, and a carpenter."

"You have my blessing," Matthias agreed. "Have you staked out your desired property?"

"Yes, my Lord Count. Along the stream, about a hundred paces on each side. We will not fell all the trees, but the ones we do should provide sufficient wood for the windmills. I will have the felled trees taken to the sawmill on the Ful River once we determine what we need in the way of boards to construct them."

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"Welcome, my Lady!" Zoë exclaimed when she met Lilia. "I am Zoë, the house servant. I cook, clean, wash clothes, and do other tasks. If my Lady wishes me to do things in another way, simply say so."

"Continue as you have been doing," Lilia said. "I intend to hire another two girls before harvest, though Count Matthias must approve a household budget before I do so. Do you have a preference as to what you would wish to do?"

"I prefer not to work in the kitchen, my Lady."

"Then a cook shall be our first hire, and you will attend to Count Matthias and me, as well as the rest of the Manor."