Lord of Reclamation: I Can Unlock Abilities By Building Civilizations
Chapter 36: Catches of the Day

Chapter 36: Catches of the Day

"We got loaches!"

Matt quickly bent down to snatch the loach in his hand, gripping it tight!

"I’ve got one too!"

Another slave hollered. A foot-long loach writhed and squirmed in his hand, looking downright tasty.

"Quick, grab a water bucket for the loaches! There’s got to be plenty more down here. If we catch enough, maybe the lord will throw us a reward!"

The slaves on shore jumped into action, snatching up buckets and diving into the mud pit.

Loaches are tough little critters. When their watery homes dry up or water levels drop something fierce, they often burrow down into the mud.

At that point, the loaches slow their roll and go into a kind of sleep to ride out the dry spell.

When water levels come back up or it rains, they’ll pop out and get active again.

Of course, if they run into a real bad drought, they’ll die in the cracked mud.

The slaves didn’t understand all that—they just knew you could often find loaches in rotting muck.

And loaches could be roasted or stewed, making a real treat when washed down with ale.

Matt and the others were responsible for turning over the mud while the shore slaves jumped down to collect behind them. Pretty soon they’d nearly filled a bucket with about sixty-six pounds.

"Since I’m the one who spotted the loaches, the lord’s reward sure won’t pass me by, hehe!"

Matt was feeling mighty pleased when he suddenly noticed a thick black shadow much bigger than his thumb burrowing into the mud nearby!

A whopper!

Matt didn’t think twice, dropped his shovel and rushed over, grabbing it with his bare hands!

"Big one! Over three feet long!"

Matt shouted excitedly, then suddenly realized this thing was twisting around with its head coming straight at him!

"That’s a snake! Drop it quick!"

A slave behind him yelled. Matt got so spooked he let go fast, slipped in his panic, and tumbled backward into the mud pit!

"Blast it!"

Matt cursed up a storm. Before he could get back on his feet, he suddenly felt sharp pain down below!

He looked down in a panic and discovered he’d grown a tail out front!

"Ahh!"

...

...

"Let’s beef up the militia first. Those fifteen fellows we picked from the slave crew last time—have them train alongside the militia under your watch."

In the wooden hall, Thane talked over future plans with Pamin.

Thane couldn’t put all his eggs in Eliric’s basket—training the townspeople was what really mattered.

"But we can’t let it mess with their work. Pick two or three afternoons each week for serious training."

Thane thought for a moment and added, "Anyone who shows up for training gets an extra pound of meat for dinner on training days."

"You work out the details."

Originally Thane had wanted to lay down military law, but considering how often these people would train, he figured it wouldn’t amount to much.

Two or three days a week of strict rules, then they’d go back to their old ways—not much point in that.

Now wasn’t the right time yet.

Thane didn’t have the cash or manpower to keep a full-time army going—he could only train and get ready in the style of backup militia.

After this year’s harvest, Thane was confident he could pull it off.

"Yes sir, I’ll give you a proper report starting tomorrow."

Pamin nodded.

He got ready to stand and leave, but Thane waved him back down.

Thane glanced at the darkening sky.

"It’s supper time. Stay and eat with us."

"Yes, Baron."

Pamin settled back at the table.

Knights eating with lords was pretty common.

Though the relationship was master and servant by rank, often the two were more like friends and brothers-in-arms.

Even after a lord got hitched, knights were often asked to family dinners.

Pamin didn’t think much of it, until Avril showed up with three figures trailing behind.

All women.

"Good evening, Miss Avril."

Pamin stood and bowed, looking somewhat rattled.

"Good evening, Knight Pamin." Avril returned the greeting with a sweet smile.

Thane gave Avril an approving nod, poured her a cup of water, added a spoonful of honey, and said,

"Just like I mentioned before, being on your own all the time isn’t good for you."

"Since Miss Avril is here, I asked her to pick out these three ladies for you."

Pamin was surrounded by men morning, noon, and night. Thane really didn’t have the patience to wait for him to stumble into love on his own.

The three women in front of them covered quite an age spread. Thane figured they were somewhere between eighteen and thirty years old.

Pamin hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. "Thank you for your kindness."

"Then let’s have Avril make the introductions."

Thane pointed to the young girl on the far right. "Start with her."

Avril nodded and stepped forward:

"She’s the carpenter’s daughter, Ruth, nineteen years old. She’s a hard worker and picked up quite a bit of carpentry from her father."

Ruth nodded, giving a somewhat nervous curtsy.

"The second is Stella, twenty-four, a hunter who came here from the Blackstone Mountains."

"The third is Teal, thirty-four, an ordinary but very capable woman. After her husband passed she moved back to her father’s house. She raises five rabbits, one rooster, and seven hens."

All three had sturdy builds, especially the third one, Teal, who could be called well-rounded and looked like she could bear children without trouble.

Among common folk, being skinny meant weakness—poor health and no good for work.

Such women weren’t much sought after.

The prettiest was the hunter Stella—tall and willowy, over five and a half feet tall, standing head and shoulders above the other two. Her face wasn’t what you’d call beautiful, but she had sharp green eyes that really caught your attention.

Ruth had a round face, shyly keeping her head down, nervously fidgeting with her hands, looking honest as the day is long.

After the introductions, Avril sat back beside Thane, looked at Pamin and asked quietly, "How do you feel? Is there a girl who catches your fancy?"

"They all seem real nice."

Thane stroked his chin, nodding somewhat dreamily.

Just as he was about to share his thoughts, Avril tugged his sleeve as a reminder.

Thane caught himself right away. "Of course, it’s mainly up to you, Pamin."

Unable to turn down Thane’s kindness, Pamin started thinking it over seriously.

The room went dead quiet all of a sudden.

Thane couldn’t help himself and spoke up. "Or maybe you could find chances to get to know them better down the road?"

"Good idea!"

Without missing a beat, Pamin nodded eagerly.

Avril nodded and said, "It’s already dark outside. Please have Knight Pamin see these three ladies home safely."

"Perfect." Thane agreed.

"Yes, Baron."

Pamin took a deep breath, stood up, forced a smile onto his face, and gestured to the three women.

"Ladies, if you please."

Pamin was being a real gentleman, but his movements were stiff as a board.

This made Thane and Avril bite back their laughter.

After Pamin left, Thane sighed. "If I weren’t in such a hurry, Pamin might really end up a lonely old bachelor."

"A lord should worry about such things for his knights."

Avril nodded, tasted the honey water in her cup, and kept stirring.

Not long after Pamin left, kitchen supervisor Martha came in to report that supper was ready and could be served anytime.

"Pamin’s missing out. It’s just you and me for supper now."

Thane had originally planned for all four to eat together once Pamin picked someone who struck his fancy, but that clearly wasn’t happening.

Avril took a small sip of honey water and nodded.

"That’s fine! This way when Knight Pamin chooses his beloved wife, I can still enjoy fine dinners."

Supper was served up quick. The main courses were apple cinnamon honey cakes and sweet barley porridge. The dishes were roasted venison with herbs, smoked herring, root vegetable stew, and rosemary snake soup.

"Snake soup?"

Thane paused and asked, "Did the hunting party bring this back?"