A Roll of the Die - 1. Inception
Copyright© 2026 by Michael Loucks
Chapter 63: Day 81
"Good morning, my Lord," Jorah said. "Welcome home."
"Thank you, Jorah. Before you provide your report, I should inform you that I have hired a clerk to assist you, the Sheriff, and the Captain of the Guard. Her name is Rose, and she is able to read and write, as well as do sums."
"I will speak with her when we finish. It will be good to have someone to handle the basic clerical duties."
"Your report, please."
Jorah gave his report, and Matthias was most interested in three items — the construction of the mill near Haven; the architect's plans for expanding the Manor House; and the land dispute.
"I agree completely with my Lady wife's judgments and am happy with the result. As for the mill, I am pleased we will soon see revenue from it and that John Tinker is ready to accept contracts to build mills and train additional teams. I'll review the plans for the Manor House this afternoon."
"Very good, my Lord."
"I'm pleased with how you've managed Newtown in my absence."
"Thank you, my Lord."
Matthias left and went to take his usual walk around the Estate. The vanes of both mills were turning in the light breeze, and Lucas and Thomas were tending to the horses in the newly completed stable. As he passed the barracks, Captain Michael came out the door with Mark and a new man.
"My Lord," Michael said. "This is Karl. He is a former Marine whose enlistment contract was up last year."
"Good morning," Matthias replied. "Welcome to Newtown, Karl."
"Thank you, my Lord Count."
"What's the right thing to say now, Captain?" Matthias inquired.
"Carry on," Captain Michael replied with a smile.
"Then carry on, Captain."
"Yes, my Lord!"
Matthias left them and continued around the Estate until he spied the construction of the Sheriff's office and jail just outside the walls. Soon enough, that building would be complete and have three cells, which Matthias hoped would never be used, but knew they inevitably would.
"Good morning, Lisette," he said when he came to the herb garden.
"Good morning!"
"We should speak about several things. Do you have time?"
"If you complete your tour of the grounds and return, I will be ready to converse without distraction."
Matthias nodded, and about five minutes later, returned to Lisette.
"I intend to use the planar travel device to retrieve some tomes on appropriate subjects, including the healing arts. How well do you read?"
"I suppose about average for someone who is not a scholar. If I read advanced tomes, I sometimes struggle with the meaning of words."
"A common problem, even in my OP. There, we have special tomes known as 'dictionaries' where one is able to look up the meaning of a word and how to properly say it."
"That would be very useful!"
"The books are printed on a device known as a 'press', and are much easier to read than handwritten texts, and you can make multiple copies with ease, rather than requiring a scribe to do it by hand."
"Could you construct such a device?"
"I know the principles, and one of the tomes I hope to retrieve will have plans for building one. A basic one requires only combining knowledge already available in Nystria. I will bring other tomes as well. In addition, I am going to try to bring seeds for corn and tomatoes, as well as bring potatoes, a good staple crop. All of those will improve the food supply and health of the people of Newtown and County Hamilton. One of the tomes I bring will explain how to expand crop yields, using only knowledge and items currently available in Nystria."
"You will need farmland."
"Only initially. Once we demonstrate how to grow the new crops and how to improve yields, our farmers can add the new crops and use the new techniques."
"When do you propose to go?"
"As soon as the situation in Haven is resolved. I'd say in no more than a ten-day."
"Do you believe the outcome in Haven is certain?" Lisette asked.
"I believe King Edward will be deposed, but he may find support amongst some of the Nobles and take up arms. It is also possible Dania will invade. In the worst case, both may happen. I hope neither of those things occurs, but I fear they will."
"You will side with Miri, will you not?"
Matthias smiled. "Very perceptive! I do have an important task for you."
"What's that?" Lisette inquired.
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