1st Cylus, Arc 717
It was early and if it hadn't been Cylus the sun still wouldn't have risen yet. It made him forget that it would not rise at all, as it felt like it was any other winter morning. This morning was to be dedicated to unloading all the supplies from the wagon that would soon be outside of the North Krome House. As Steward it was his job to make sure the slaves worked to get the food into the House quickly, safely and efficiently. Luckily for them there had been a small break in the snowing but Xander doubted it would last long and so he had assembled the servants. All seven servants, he had left the priest out, he had no need for a priest here. So they were all stood around the door before him, awaiting the arrival of the wagon with the supplies for Cylus. He looked over the rag tag crew, they were an odd mixture but they served him well and so he began to give them their orders.
"Okay, listen to me, I will only explain this once." He waited until he had all their attention. They watched him where he stood on the same level as them, he could have done this from the stairs. A more pompous man might have done this from the stairs but he had found that if you presented yourself as an equal people were quicker to give you their respect. "Helart, Boldrick and I shall go out first and collect the heavy items, the casks and the barrels for example. Once we have collected the heavier items, Badon, Enar and Elisa will collect the remainder of the supplies leaving anything that is too heavy so it can be carried by either Boldrick, Helart or myself." He paused for a second to let that settle in before continuing. "Cannie and Ilrae, you shall remain in the kitchens and direct us on where to put the items. Are we all clear?"
He listened to the resounding yes and smiled happily, the servants quickly began to get ready and move to their positions. Xander was a little disappointed when he saw Enar heading for the kitchen, he should have known that if any of them were to get confused it would be the young boy. Xander caught him gently by the arm and squatted down to his height. "Wrong way, think about what I said you are a smart boy just pay more attention okay, now get over there with Badon." He sighed as he ruffled the boys hair and let him meander his way over to the older man. One day he would find a way to communicate so the boy understood. He wondered if he worded it wrong but instead of worrying about it he moved to stand with Boldrick and Helart.
"Okay lads, we need to be quick and efficient, first job is to get all the heavy things here in the lobby. Once they are all in here we can then think about moving them to the kitchen. That way it means the others can get onto the smaller things faster." He patted the two men on their arms. He peered through one of the windows by the door and could see the wagon pulling in. The snow was still in respite but with the clouds overhead Xander was sure it wouldn't last long. "Come let us collect the heavy things. He tugged the arms of the men and opened the door, immediately causing a cold wind to spread across the lobby, all the other doors had been closed to contain this. The three men exited in a line heading over to the wagon.
Boldrick was first taking up a large cask of ale and carrying it like a baby towards the house, next was Helart he took down a barrel that must have been full with something heavy as the young man almost lost his grip on it. Xander quickly moved to support the man who managed to gain control of it. "Good lad, get it in side you have it now." He smiled at the young man, an encouraging and impressed smile. He had hoped his look of approval would inspire the younger fellow to keep at his hard work. Xander himself took hold of two large sacks of flower. He slide them off the wagon and onto his back holding the neck of the bags over his shoulders. He compressed his legs as the extra wait came heavily onto him, the pressure being absorbed by them rather than his back. Once he had a good hold he walked them to the house gripping the sacks tightly in his hands.
Once inside he placed the sacks along side the cask and the barrel making sure to bend at the knee when placing them down. He could feel the muscles burning as they flexed in his arms when holding the sacks. He tuned on his heels and walked briskly back to the wagon, Boldrick had already taken the other cask and Helart the two sacks of potatoes. This left Xander with a large crate of vegetables. He wrapped his hands around the handles of the crate and pulled it gently from the wagon. He tensed his arms to stop them from unfolding and dropping the crate. The burn was almost immediate but he worked through it, he lowered them to around waist height and walked as fast as he could to the lobby. The other three streamed past him around half way across the from yard. He smiled as he saw his plan was working, the smile suddenly turned to a frown, however, as he saw the snow flakes landing on his sleeves.
"Quick the snow is coming, everyone double time we need to work extra quick now." He barked out the order and saw the other two heavy lifters quickly leave the house to collect more supplies from the wagon. "Let us get it all inside and then worry about the Kitchen." He rushed himself a little more making it inside with the heavy crate and lowering it to the ground ignoring the burning in his legs and arms. He too hurried out to help with the lighter items.
He and the Servants rushed back and forth with items bundled in arms as the snow got heavier around them. The wagon was emptying fast and Xander found comfort in the fact that his team of servants could work so well as a team. Only a couple more trips and then it would all be gone. Those two trips went by fast and once finished Xander quickly dismissed the wagon driver and came inside closing the door behind him. The room had lost most of its heat and it felt the same as outside but at least it wasn't snowing in there.
"Well, that went quite well, I am impressed with all of you and tonight we shall sup together." He said smiling at the slaves who he found himself more akin too than the nobles he was a part of. "Now let us move this to the kitchen then we are done for this task and you can return to going about your normal duties." He took up the crate again his muscles shaking in protest as he managed to get it to the kitchen to be sorted by the cooks. The process went quickly, the short distance between the kitchen and lobby made it easy to get all the items there. He himself continued to work with the servants, eh hoped that by spending time with them and showing his equal views of them that they would trust him. Trusting and loyal slaves made some of the best spies after all, also they make some of the best company. Having Servants and treating them well often gives you an insight into multiple different cultures.
The moving was over quickly and before returning to the normal procedure for the day they regrouped in the cold lobby. "I have told the cooks to make a meal for us all tonight, I will see you all then. Now back to work you lot, this place won't clean itself and neither will the food cook itself." He waved his arms dismissively and turned to head back up stairs. He had to make note of the delivery in his schedule and other expenditure notes, he didn't want his father thinking money was missing. That man was particular about accurate records and he cared about them more than he did Xander. So Xander entered his room and moved to his desk where he began the process for noting the delivery. The final task in his household chores beside making sure everyone went about the rest of their business for the day. However, that was a task that was more passive than active and he could make sure of it while he went about his won personal business, not to mention his parents when they left their rooms would shout at any servants stood idle. Something that definitely put them out of favour with the workers of the house. Something Xander was glad he had.
It was early and if it hadn't been Cylus the sun still wouldn't have risen yet. It made him forget that it would not rise at all, as it felt like it was any other winter morning. This morning was to be dedicated to unloading all the supplies from the wagon that would soon be outside of the North Krome House. As Steward it was his job to make sure the slaves worked to get the food into the House quickly, safely and efficiently. Luckily for them there had been a small break in the snowing but Xander doubted it would last long and so he had assembled the servants. All seven servants, he had left the priest out, he had no need for a priest here. So they were all stood around the door before him, awaiting the arrival of the wagon with the supplies for Cylus. He looked over the rag tag crew, they were an odd mixture but they served him well and so he began to give them their orders.
"Okay, listen to me, I will only explain this once." He waited until he had all their attention. They watched him where he stood on the same level as them, he could have done this from the stairs. A more pompous man might have done this from the stairs but he had found that if you presented yourself as an equal people were quicker to give you their respect. "Helart, Boldrick and I shall go out first and collect the heavy items, the casks and the barrels for example. Once we have collected the heavier items, Badon, Enar and Elisa will collect the remainder of the supplies leaving anything that is too heavy so it can be carried by either Boldrick, Helart or myself." He paused for a second to let that settle in before continuing. "Cannie and Ilrae, you shall remain in the kitchens and direct us on where to put the items. Are we all clear?"
He listened to the resounding yes and smiled happily, the servants quickly began to get ready and move to their positions. Xander was a little disappointed when he saw Enar heading for the kitchen, he should have known that if any of them were to get confused it would be the young boy. Xander caught him gently by the arm and squatted down to his height. "Wrong way, think about what I said you are a smart boy just pay more attention okay, now get over there with Badon." He sighed as he ruffled the boys hair and let him meander his way over to the older man. One day he would find a way to communicate so the boy understood. He wondered if he worded it wrong but instead of worrying about it he moved to stand with Boldrick and Helart.
"Okay lads, we need to be quick and efficient, first job is to get all the heavy things here in the lobby. Once they are all in here we can then think about moving them to the kitchen. That way it means the others can get onto the smaller things faster." He patted the two men on their arms. He peered through one of the windows by the door and could see the wagon pulling in. The snow was still in respite but with the clouds overhead Xander was sure it wouldn't last long. "Come let us collect the heavy things. He tugged the arms of the men and opened the door, immediately causing a cold wind to spread across the lobby, all the other doors had been closed to contain this. The three men exited in a line heading over to the wagon.
Boldrick was first taking up a large cask of ale and carrying it like a baby towards the house, next was Helart he took down a barrel that must have been full with something heavy as the young man almost lost his grip on it. Xander quickly moved to support the man who managed to gain control of it. "Good lad, get it in side you have it now." He smiled at the young man, an encouraging and impressed smile. He had hoped his look of approval would inspire the younger fellow to keep at his hard work. Xander himself took hold of two large sacks of flower. He slide them off the wagon and onto his back holding the neck of the bags over his shoulders. He compressed his legs as the extra wait came heavily onto him, the pressure being absorbed by them rather than his back. Once he had a good hold he walked them to the house gripping the sacks tightly in his hands.
Once inside he placed the sacks along side the cask and the barrel making sure to bend at the knee when placing them down. He could feel the muscles burning as they flexed in his arms when holding the sacks. He tuned on his heels and walked briskly back to the wagon, Boldrick had already taken the other cask and Helart the two sacks of potatoes. This left Xander with a large crate of vegetables. He wrapped his hands around the handles of the crate and pulled it gently from the wagon. He tensed his arms to stop them from unfolding and dropping the crate. The burn was almost immediate but he worked through it, he lowered them to around waist height and walked as fast as he could to the lobby. The other three streamed past him around half way across the from yard. He smiled as he saw his plan was working, the smile suddenly turned to a frown, however, as he saw the snow flakes landing on his sleeves.
"Quick the snow is coming, everyone double time we need to work extra quick now." He barked out the order and saw the other two heavy lifters quickly leave the house to collect more supplies from the wagon. "Let us get it all inside and then worry about the Kitchen." He rushed himself a little more making it inside with the heavy crate and lowering it to the ground ignoring the burning in his legs and arms. He too hurried out to help with the lighter items.
He and the Servants rushed back and forth with items bundled in arms as the snow got heavier around them. The wagon was emptying fast and Xander found comfort in the fact that his team of servants could work so well as a team. Only a couple more trips and then it would all be gone. Those two trips went by fast and once finished Xander quickly dismissed the wagon driver and came inside closing the door behind him. The room had lost most of its heat and it felt the same as outside but at least it wasn't snowing in there.
"Well, that went quite well, I am impressed with all of you and tonight we shall sup together." He said smiling at the slaves who he found himself more akin too than the nobles he was a part of. "Now let us move this to the kitchen then we are done for this task and you can return to going about your normal duties." He took up the crate again his muscles shaking in protest as he managed to get it to the kitchen to be sorted by the cooks. The process went quickly, the short distance between the kitchen and lobby made it easy to get all the items there. He himself continued to work with the servants, eh hoped that by spending time with them and showing his equal views of them that they would trust him. Trusting and loyal slaves made some of the best spies after all, also they make some of the best company. Having Servants and treating them well often gives you an insight into multiple different cultures.
The moving was over quickly and before returning to the normal procedure for the day they regrouped in the cold lobby. "I have told the cooks to make a meal for us all tonight, I will see you all then. Now back to work you lot, this place won't clean itself and neither will the food cook itself." He waved his arms dismissively and turned to head back up stairs. He had to make note of the delivery in his schedule and other expenditure notes, he didn't want his father thinking money was missing. That man was particular about accurate records and he cared about them more than he did Xander. So Xander entered his room and moved to his desk where he began the process for noting the delivery. The final task in his household chores beside making sure everyone went about the rest of their business for the day. However, that was a task that was more passive than active and he could make sure of it while he went about his won personal business, not to mention his parents when they left their rooms would shout at any servants stood idle. Something that definitely put them out of favour with the workers of the house. Something Xander was glad he had.
