The noblewoman laughed, he almost sounded like her father. Judge Burhan could be accused of being a shrewd businessman at times. The young woman reached for her tea whilst moving as little as possible, “I thought perhaps...people to help with the teaching more than the cost,” she smiled. Still, it was a good idea.
“What if we start smaller?” Elyna peered at the numbers. She had been trying to put some coin aside for her project, but the cost that Malcolm was suggesting seemed unreasonable. “What if we started with a house a similar size to our new home in the crown?” She frowned and rubbed a hand along her nose, thoughtful. “I guess, we need probably more of one large room for teaching lessons, and maybe a small kitchen for preparing the meals. If there is a second story we could use it for storage? Or perhaps, the more active classes could be taught upstairs...or the other way around?” She frowned, wondering if she was expressing herself clearly. “If there were two stories, you could teach downstairs and then any tables and chairs could be used for meals. If we kept the upstairs for storage, there would be enough space to put down some rushes for falls?”
Would a house the size of their current dwelling be sufficient? “We could always expand...”she frowned, space in the city was a premium. Yes, they could have more space beyond the city...but she worried about not being able to reach the people who needed them. It would be harder to coax the children beyond the city.
“Perhaps...we could extend our old house beyond the city in the future...if there are young people who are more committed?”
“Nothing wrong with that,” he agreed. They had just spent two thousand, four hundred on land and a new home near the crown. For that they could provide the poor with a small garden, big enough to installed some raised vegetable beds, and build a hall that was open plan downstairs, and had a few rooms upstairs for teaching or storage.
“I don't know if our friends can dedicate much time,” he said. “I know we both have the best intentions, but with two young children and very busy careers, I think we too will struggle to dedicate as much time as we would like.” Still, anything helped, Malcolm reminded himself.
He cut into his piece of pie and took a bite. “Furniture, that all costs money, but I bet Ben would help me build a couple of tables and chairs, with the right materials.”
The pie was good, not as nice as the pies Elyna cooked, but full of meat and mushrooms. Malcolm devoured a couple of the roast vegetables and set his fork down. “Something to think about,” he reached out and closed his hand over Elyna’s, rubbing the side of her wrist with his thumb.
Last edited by Malcolm on Tue Oct 08, 2019 9:55 pm, edited 1 time in total. word count: 200
“I think,” and it was hard to concentrate with his thumb moving over the soft skin of her arm. Tingles of energy seemed to spread light static lightning along her arm, leaving it almost numb with the intensity. Her stomach felt tight as she continued her own lunch, one handed. “I think it’s worth a try,” she looked up at him, dark eyes tinged with a soft gold and hopeful.
“If we just get the land and the building to start…it’s a start. That would be enough to start combat classes…even just one every few trials would be more than is offered now. If we have a little more time, and some more funds then we can get what you need for teaching, and again – even one less every five trials is more than they have…” she’d nearly devoured the whole meal, hungrier than she expected and trying to hide her mouth as she grew more excited. Elyna was growing more used to the idea that perhaps, she wouldn’t spend her life exploring the world. Not with young children, or if she achieved her lifelong dream as a skyrider and managed to bond with a Jacadon.
Duty and dreams had always pulled her in different directions. Duty to Burhan in opposition to her desire to be a Skyrider. That had become duty to the crown and peace in Rynmere in opposition to her longing to see the world. Now there was Elsie, and the baby not yet born, and Malcolm…and it felt selfish to hang onto the old dreams. Perhaps it was time to concentrate her energy on home, on the city and the improvements she could work towards, with Malcolm. Instead of against him. She liked the new found partnership they were creating. The ability to discuss what they both hoped to achieve.
With that, she turned in her seat and watched the snow falling, before she sighed. Elsie was comfortable in her arms, but the woman stood and carefully passed the sleeping baby to her Father, “I’d better go, I’m expected at the barracks,” she admitted with a faint smile. Paperwork. She hated paperwork.
“I will see you this evening?” She bowed to press a kiss to his cheek.
Elyna was right, something, anything was better than nothing. “We’ll do something,” he promised, and accepted Elsie as Elyna stood up to go.
Malcolm cradled the sleeping child and gave Elyna a perplexed look. “Work?” he frowned.
With a couple of days to enjoy time with family, Malcolm had hoped Elyna would take some time off to spend with him, but he supposed he could understand her commitments better than anyone. The warden got to his feet and pressed a kiss to Elyna’s cheek. “I'll see you later at home,” he forced a smile, and watched her go.
Last edited by Malcolm on Tue Oct 08, 2019 9:55 pm, edited 1 time in total. word count: 101
Story: 5/5 Collaboration: 5/5 Structure: 5/5 These points can/cannot be spent in magic
Awarded Knowledge
Business Management: Be Logical about Available Time
Business Management: Benefits of Wealthy Friends
Business Management: Source the Money First
Business Management: Start Small
Business Management: Use Investors
Business Management: Use the Space You Have
Cooking: Everyone Likes Potatoes?
Cooking: Make a List of Ingredients
Teaching: Educating a Child about Danger
Teaching: Our Own Scholarship
Teaching: Provides Discipline
Teaching: Vocational vs Academic
Awarded Extras
Loot & Losses
Injuries
+20 potatoes
None
-10gn (potatoes)
Fame
Devotion
+10: Overheard Plans for Teaching People
None
[/color]
Malcolm
Awarded Points
Story: 5/5 Collaboration: 5/5 Structure: 5/5 These points can/cannot be spent in magic
Awarded Knowledge
Business Management: Be Logical about Available Time
Business Management: Benefits of Wealthy Friends
Business Management: Source the Money First
Business Management: Start Small
Business Management: Use Investors
Business Management: Use the Space You Have
Elyna: Believes Slavery is Necessary
Elyna: The Perfect Mother
Elyna: Wants to End Slavery
Linguistics: Teaching New Words
Teaching: Our Own Scholarship
Teaching: Provides Discipline
Teaching: Vocational vs Academic
Awarded Extras
Loot & Losses
Injuries
-5gn (food)
None
Fame
Devotion
+10: Overheard Plans for Teaching People
None
[/color]
Comments
Again, a lovely thread - love the ideas springing up in this - would be great to see this become a reality, guys! I know it's not strictly a "business" but I classed it as such for the sake of Knowledge - if you guys would prefer something else, then let me know. Also I estimated the number of potatoes and made up the price of the tea/meal... because I couldn't find the meal prices anywhere and gave up - if you wish to contend this, I won't put up a fight!
If you have any questions, comments or criticism about your review, feel free to send me a PM and we can discuss it.
Thank ye.
