Raymond woke up early next day before Emma went to the city. I borrowed a paper from her to write a letter to his master. He is writing the letter to let his master know he is feeling better now and is ready for the apprentice exam.
Maa please pass this letter to master Smith for me. I am planning to take the apprentice exam as soon as possible . He said to Emma as he hands the letter over to her.
Are you confident sweetie and what are you planning to make for the exam? She asked as she kept the letter away safe.
I am going to make a sword. I have made it before and almost succeeded I will be able get it right this time. Ok. She said.
Maa I want to ask when is the due date for me to pay the tax ? Emma turned back to look at him she said.
It is exactly a month from your birthday so that is April 5th.she paused for a movement and said. I have been saving up some money for you but it was spent for the your doctor's bill. But don't worry about that I will arrange the rest of the money. She assured Ray . Maa how much do we have saved up?
I have 30 penny left with me and by the end of the month I will be able to collect the rest. She took a small pouch and opened it for him to see.
Raymond saw few copper coins in the bag. He took it to have a closer look. Don't worry about it mother.
I have some savings with me and I do have some plans to earn the rest.
Emma looked at Ray and smiled at him. Look at you acting all grown up
but without a job how are you going to earn money my boy?
She said as she was tying a bundle of hay together.
I have 10 pennies saved up so that make it 40 altogether and I just need to collect 60 more. I will figure that out in the coming days. Ray said. Ok keep that 30 with you I will do what I can to make up for the rest. Don't think too much of it.
So took everything and loaded them to a bullock cart. She turned back at Ray.
Ray take good rest and don't think too much I will sort the tax fee for you. You just get better soon and prepare for the apprentice exam. She left saying that.
Emma got on the bullock cart and waved goodbye to Raymond. Soon Raymond was out of her sight.
We are greeted with lush green trees and long stretches of gracing fields. They traveled down the hill towards the city. The city was located near a sea shore. Emma likes the journey back because she can see the city, the sea and the sunset at the same time.
The sun soon came up. Arounmd 10 am they reached the city entrance. There was always queue at the entrance around this time as it was the time most of the goods raw material and traders come in. Luckily the rush was almost over.
Emma got of from the cart and went forward with few others who were in the cart to pay the entry fee . She went to the the nearest guard and asked if she could meet sir Fredrick.
The soldier boy greated Emma and went inside . Soon she was allowed to enter the station and went directly to meet sir Frederick Captain of the watch.
She knocked and pushed open the Dutch door. Sir Fredrick she called out
Good morning Emma. Been a while since I saw you How are you? Fredrick looked up at Emma and greated.
Emma smiled at him and replied. Good morning Rick. Am good and we saw each other last week . Did you forget.
Hahaha ofcourse I didn't. How is your son?is he ok. Rick asked her.
Yes he is better now. Thank you for your concern but how did you hear it? She enquired.
I was talking to master Smith the other day at at builders guild. He said your kid couldn't make it for the apprentice graduation ceremony held by the guild. He said Ray got sick and couldn't participate in it. Rick said while he got up and invited her to sit.
She sat down and sighed. He fell unconscious a week before his birthday and started to have high fever. I tried giving some home made medicines but the fever didn't go down so after the second day I took him to the wise woman she prescribed few medicine and had him take it for 3 days. Yesterday night he finally woke up. He is slowly gaining his health back. In 2-3 days he will be back on his feet.
Fredrick offered her some ale.That's good atleast he is ok. He said. She accepted the ale.
Yes he is ok. Emma took a sip.
Don't worry Emma he can take the apprentice exam next year. Next year he will be able to get pass it without any hassle and even a letter of recommendation from the inspector. A letter of recommendation is like a certificate of honer. It is similar to getting hired by the government workshop. She was shocked.
What do you mean he is going to participate in the apprentice exam in a week. Master Smith promised me he will be able the finish the exam this term itself.
He is very invested in clearing it this year. He can't wait another year. She started to get worried.
Emma why not let him skip this year and take the exam next year. It is beneficial for him. I heard master Smith talked to the inspector and made some kind of deal with him for Raymond. Next year Raymond will get the letter of recommendation when he passes the exam. Why not look at the bright side.
Rick looked at Emma expectantly.
Emma was silent for few moments and said but master John Smith made a promise to me that Ray would be able to attend the exam . He said it's fine even if it's after the celebration ceremony by the guild.
Fredrick was not able to refuse to that after all master Smith did promise. But something else happened.
Rick took a sip from his glass and spoke. This time around we have a new guild master who got transferred from the Central. Because of this there was a lots of change under the guild leadership so many people was changed and moved around. It's a chaos inside townhall. So master Smith had to talk with the new inspector who is overlooking the exams and the graduates.
Ok. I will talk to master Smith when I meet him later. Emma replied.
There is a caravan going towards master smiths workshop. I will ask my men to put your things in that cart.
Thank you Rick. She was greatfull she had a friend like Rick. She finished her drinks and stood up. Before leaving she had to ask a favor, that's why she came here for.
Rick I don't have the entry free for this month can I give it to you next week.
It's fine you can pay it later. I will let the boys know. Fredrick said.
Thanking him Emma left for master smiths workshop.
Back at home Raymond was going through his memories in his apprentice era he was refreshing all the memories of forging. He was fascinated by smithing and forging back when he was in earth. After going thought them he had much deeper understanding of blacksmithing in this place. It felt like he was in early 14th century Europe. Where most of the iron is produced in bloomery.
Iron ore was layered with charcoal inside the furnace and heated to a high temperature around 1200 degree Celsius. This process produced a sponge porous mass of iron mixed with slag . The bloom was then removed and repeatedly heated and hammered by a blacksmith to consolidate iron and remove the slag creation wrought iron.
Raymond's originally had a deep knowledge about metallurgy and with the knowledge from the new body he feels like he can start the industrial revolution early on. But first he have to pass the hurdle first that is paying taxes
Soon it was noon no and his sister knocked on his door . Raymond looked up at her. Hey Ash. Her name was Ashley and she was 14. She started working on the fields around when she was 12 years old and nowadays mostly she looked after the animals at home together with Grandpa. For the last 2 years we had chickens, and goat. Hey day would consist of taking care of them milking goats, collecting egg, giving them food, and cooking food mostly as mother has to go to town everyday.
She was already a big girl and she got her good looks from her mother. She had golden hair with blue eyes she was wearing a brown kirtle and woven belt around her waist.
How are you feeling Ray. She asked.
Am good, feeling better thanks. Ray responded while putting away his slate. He stood up from his bed and walk towards the door.
Come, dinner is ready . Grandpa is waiting. She said. And she turned.
Coming said Raymond. He followed her towards the kitchen. This was the first time he went out front his room. Everything was new to him even tho he knows everything from his predissers memory. The house is made of wood and they have 3 rooms one is for Grandpa, one is my room and other one is where my mother and sister sleeps they have a living area and the other end of the room is where the kitchen is. There was a small dining table and a man was waiting there. This is Raymond's grandfather Joseph he is around 50 and we can see some gray hair on his head. He was a woodworker in his 30s but due to health problems he had to find other jobs. Now he works at the field as a day labourer.
Good morning Grandpa. Raymond greated the old man.
You are looking better boy, that's good, that's good. Come sit let's have food. You need to get your health back.
Thanks Grandpa. They all sat and started to have food. Raymond feels a bit awkward and don't know what to speak. So he just sat there and ate the food. The food was like yesterday pottage but without meat. Hey had lots of bread too. As Ray was eating Grandpa asked how is your apprentice exam, when are you going to take it.
Ray stopped eating and answered I have written to my master and I am expecting to take it soon . This week if possible.
Good good, but don't rush. Get your health good first so take your time. Joseph advised.
Thanks Grandpa I will be careful. Ray replied and started eating again. Soon Joseph finished eating and stood up.
Kids I am going back to the field, Ray take good rest don't think about the exam too much . He left as he said. Soon ray and Ashley also finished there dinner. Ashley left for her work saying goodbye. Ray also went back to his room he still have to make plans for the future.
The sun was starting to set and a bullock cart was slowly climbing up the hill. Emma was sitting back if the cart facing the other way. She could see the sun slowly setting and in an hour or so the sun will go down between the city. She had good and bad news for Raymond. The good news is he will be able to join the government fab if he could pass the apprentice exam next year and the bad news is he have to wait till next year to write the exam. That is she would have to come up with the tax money all by herself for another year, a citizen has to pay taxes every 4 months.
After 2 more hours she reached her house Ray was waiting outside the house expecting her arrival. She got of from the cart and grabbed a bundle with her. Ray came forward to her greeting her. How was your day mother.
Good I was able to sell everything. Lets get inside and we will talk. They went inside and Ray brought her some water to drink. She thanked him.
Did you give my letter to master Smith? Ray asked. After finishing the drink she replied avoiding his eyes.Yes.
Looking at his mother Ray felt strange. So he asked what happened?
She replied quick . You will get a letter of recommendation from the inspector after you pass the test.
Ray was surprised, that's a good news why are you sad? He asked
Emma replied after a sec but you can't take the test this year. You can only take it next year.
Ray quickly asked what do you mean.
You might not know last week the builders guild got a new guild master. It is said he got transferred from the capital. He implemented new changes to the whole system and this time around apprentice graduation was strictly monitored. So a missed exam defaults to failure. Master Smith did try to talk to the new inspector for your sack but he couldn't help but he was able to ask a favor from him for you and get a letter of recommendation for you. She replied hoping he won't get upset. Ray was silent for a while and he asked then what about the tax. How will I pay for the rest of the year without a job. Ray was worried.
You don't have to think about that too much I will arrange for the money. Emma consoled
No, I can't. I don't want to add more burden on you. I know how much we earn and how would we send Ashley to study apothecary? Ray raised his voice.
What do you want me to do Emma asked frustrated. Ray calmed down seeing Emma like this.
Sorry I didn't mean it like that. He could see Emma was tiered and he was sure she must have tried her best. He sat down next to her.
I will go to city tomorrow and meet master Smith. Let me talk to him. Ray said.
I did talk to him but it's no use. Emma replied
I know you did but let me go there and see if I can meet the new inspector. I will try my best and if it comes to that I will find some other job temporarily just for an year. Ray said.
Ok Emma nodded. You should freshen up and rest. Tomorrow morning I will travel to the city with you. They both went to bed soon enough.