As Liam began his work, bringing out his first aid kit from his storage pouch, Grandma Liz and some of the other women came close to watch. But of course, it was dim with only a few candles to brighten the place, so they could barely see. Liam retrieved a portable crystal lamp and switched it on, turning the dial to high. Instantly, the cottage was flooded with brightness, and everyone gasped, stunned.
This light was nothing like a delicate flame of the candle or bonfire. This was the type of light they had never seen before. It gave out so much brightness, almost on par of a summer day and spread so wide.
Liam turned to the crowd and said, "I'm sorry if it's too bright, but I need to be able to see the patient's wound to work properly."
"What a marvelous lamp," one woman said.
"Is it magic, young man?" Grandma Liz asked.
"It's just a crystal lamp, Granny," Liam said. "I'm going to start inspecting Grant's wound now."
Grandma Liz nodded, and Liam began his work.
On the other side of the room, Connor said to Derek, "Is there a shed where we can keep the horses out of the elements?"
Derek nodded, his eyes on Liam giving Grant a small white pill and then undoing his brother's bandages. What were those box things with the red crosses? he wondered. And what was that pill?
"We have a shed at the back of the cottage where we used to keep our horses," Derek said. Horses that had been slaughtered by those bastard raiders, along with all their livestock.
"Good," Connor said. To the others, he asked, "Are there any able men around?"
Derek asked, "Do you need help with something?"
Connor nodded. "Just to bring in a few things."
Three men got up as volunteers, and Connor led them, along with Derek, outside. In front of the cottage just a few steps away, Derek saw crystal light here, too, which came from the lamp hanging on the side of the carriage. Because it was so bright, Derek could clearly see the details of the carriage, the likes of which he had never seen before.
How in heaven did Norsewood even acquire such a large, extravagant vehicle. Was it from the capital? He flicked his eyes to the horses next, and instantly, he felt his knees go weak. Bless the deities, but he had never seen such perfectly healthy, fit, and so very beautiful horses in his life until now.
He had the sudden desire to inspect the animal, run his hands through the coat, and feel the muscles, but Connor's voice came his way, drawing his attention, as well as the other men, who were obviously just as awestruck at the sight of the carriage and horses.
"Let's get the supplies," Connor said.
Derek and the men followed Connor to the back of the carriage where they met another soldier, Kevin, already unloading the boxes.
"These are only sleeping bags and jackets," Kevin said to the men.
"They don't need anything else until they're at Norsewood Lodge," Connor said.
Derek wanted to know what the sleeping bags were, but he suspected he'd find out soon enough. He was indeed very intrigued with the name Norsewood Lodge as he had never heard of it before.
He asked, "Norsewood Lodge?"
Connor said, "It's a temporary shelter Lady Quinn created for us Norsewood people until we can rebuild our homes again."
"A temporary shelter," Derek said. It must be a hall made of wood and straw like any other shelter, he suspected. But to have everyone fit into such a hall? Surely, there were at least a few hundred people already living there.
"It's very kind of Lady Norsewood, our lord's wife, to build us a temporary shelter, but wouldn't it be overly crowded?"
Connor raised a brow. "At times, especially during meal hours when everyone is in the dining hall, I suppose it does get rather rowdy, but other than that, it's very spacious and everyone is happy, warm and, well fed." He smiled. "I can understand your concern, Derek, but ease your fears, my friend. There will be a unit for each family and much that will occupy you, I can guarantee you that. Knowing how fond you are of farming and plants, no doubt you'll be joining the agriculture department run by Kent Ingram."
"Agriculture department?" Derek said, very confused as he picked up a strange-looking box, unlike anything he'd seen before. The material was light and soft, not hard and heavy like their usual wooden boxes.
Connor slapped his hand on Derek's shoulder and said, "You'll understand when you see Norsewood Lodge. For now, let's get everyone warm and fed."
Derek nodded, and along with the other men, headed into the cottage. Inside, Connor and Kevin opened the boxes and brought out sleeping bags and thick jackets, distributing them. Some of the jackets were a bit too big for the children, but they loved it, especially after Connor and Kevin showed them how to use the zippers. The sleeping bags, too, and Derek was dazed that such luxury items were given to them.
"These are from her ladyship?" one woman asked, her eyes misty, feeling utterly warm for the first time since winter had started.
Connor nodded. "Aye. When you get to Norsewood Lodge, you'll be receiving more."
At hearing that, everyone smiled in anticipation.
A man said, "We have a place to return to. We needn't sleep out in the cold." And the rest nodded in agreement.
Connor and Kevin opened the other packages, and this time, they brought out meal boxes, which drew everyone's attention. As they handed those out, Steven, Derek's son, age eight, asked, "What is this, sir?"
Connor winked. "It's a meal box, lad."
"It's warm, sir," the boy said. He brought it up to his nose and sniffed. Suddenly, he widened his eyes, having never smelled anything this good before. He turned to his mother and said, "Mama! It smells like food."
That got Connor chuckling, and he said, "Because it is food, lad."
Everyone noticed the delicious aroma, too, and brought their own meal boxes close to their nose, Derek included. Connor then proceeded to show everyone how to open the lid. One by one, as the lids of the meal boxes were opened, steam puffed out, along with a delectable scent that quickly filled the cottage. Before their very eyes were creamy chicken, potato, sweet potato, and carrot casserole served over steamed rice, the type of food no one here had ever seen, let alone tasted before. Naturally, they were stunned that something this luxurious was served to them.
Derek looked over at Connor and asked, "Is this really for us?"
Connor, who was now busy pouring hot cocoa from a magical jug into tin mugs, said, "The meal boxes are made by Lady Quinn. You'll only upset her if you don't eat." He chuckled in amusement.
One boy, starving, eagerly picked up the fork and started eating. The moment he tasted the creaminess of the dish, he started crying, and his mother asked, "What's the matter?"
He wiped his tears from his eyes and said, "It's so delicious, Mama. I've never tasted anything like this before. It's so soft and creamy."
At hearing that, everyone started digging right in as well, and soon, a sense of quietness descended over the room, followed by tears pouring and some sniffling.
Derek, looking around, noted that his wife as well as his mother and father were crying as well, and he wondered why. It was merely food, so why should anyone shed tears over it?
He picked up his fork and then started eating, too, and then... His eyes began to grow moist as overwhelming emotions filled him. This dish was soft, creamy, and utterly warm and hearty, a dish permeated with affection and tenderness, one that made one forget about the harsh bitterness of the world.
He drew in a shaky breath and then looked around the room again. Suddenly, he felt this sense of burden leaving him as he realized that come tomorrow, they'd be going to Norsewood Lodge, that Lord and Lady Norsewood would be taking them in, the sort of gesture no one had ever heard or seen done by any noble before, either here in Athol or abroad in other kingdoms, the sort of kindness that truly spoke volumes.
Indeed, other nobles in this country couldn't care less what plagued the people living on their land, the people who bled blood, sweat, and tears for them. During famine and diseases, such as it were currently across Athol, that lot simply turned a blind eye. Certainly, they were blind to such catastrophic events, for in their world, there was no such thing as famine and disease. In their world, it was full of wealth, entertainment, and luxury where food was plentiful and wine flowed endlessly, never mind that every gold coin they added to their overfilled coffers was squeezed relentlessly and mercilessly from the poor and the underprivileged—the peasant commoners serving under them.
Derek smiled as he gazed down at his meal box, knowing now that he needn't worry about how he was going to feed everyone any longer, and a sense of relief and gratitude filled his being.
"What is this dish called, Captain Connor?" Natalie asked.
Connor, who had started handing out mugs of hot cocoa to everyone, said over his shoulder, "I believe it's creamy chicken casserole served with steamed rice."
"Creamy," Steven said. "That's why it's so creamy."
The others nodded as they gobbled down their very delicious, warm, hearty meal.
Rice? Did Captain Connor just say that thing was rice?
Derek frowned and asked, his heart thumping fast, "Rice? You mean the animal feed rice grain?"
Connor chuckled, along with Kevin, who said, "Indeed, that animal feed rice. That's how everyone reacts when they first eat it."
One man said, "You mean this soft thing we're eating is rice, as in our rice we've grown in Norsewood for generations?"
Connor said, "It is that."
"How...?" another man asked. "Why have we not..." Clearly, he was too stunned to completely form his questions.
Connor said, "Lady Quinn said where she came from, rice is one of the staples, and there are many uses of it in dishes. Steaming it can be served with many dishes like this casserole, for example, or stew, and many others."
Kevin said, "We at Norsewood Lodge have tasted many different dishes with rice, and everyone loved them all. This is not official, but I heard it going around the lodge that Lord and Lady Norsewood will be promoting rice growing and introducing the grain as a staple food not only to Norsewood, but to other regions, too."
Derek asked, "Then there will be a market for rice in other regions?"
Kevin nodded. "Considering Norsewood is the only place in the world that grows rice, can you imagine how prosperous our land would be? If the price of rice is on par with wheat, how much money do you think you'd make? My parents have so much rice in their stock those bastard raiders didn't even bother to touch, I can't imagine how much gold coins they'd get if it sells well."
Derek nodded, thinking of his lot in the family's two barns. If the price was indeed on par with wheat, why then... No, but that was not important. What was important was that—
"With rice as a staple, doesn't that mean we no longer need to starve?" one woman said. "We no longer need to leave Norsewood."
Suddenly, all men and women nodded their heads in agreement, and smiles and chatter broke out. Nay, to them, it was not about how much they could sell their rice for, but rather, that they no longer needed to suffer where food shortage was concerned.
"I have tons in my barns," one said. He chuckled, shaking his head. "My family no longer needs to starve. We can survive on it alone for the next three to four years, perhaps more, without worries."
"Ours, too," another said.
"Now I can't wait to return home," yet another said.
It was a while later when everyone finally calmed down and Connor brought out a portable magical heater crystal created by Lady Quinn, warming up the place instantly, which made everyone sigh in bliss as they gulped down hot cocoa. Of course, the moment the heater was out, the cottage was rowdy once again as questions came firing at him and Kevin as to how the heater worked. Magic was their answer. Finally, they settled in for the night, and Liam, who had finished treating those with severe injuries, was finally able to eat and rest for the day, too. Soon, with the crystal lamp switch to a low dim glow, he was tucked in his sleeping bag, sound asleep like everyone else.