One More Step

With hands filled with so many things, Kyra felt safer. She was still worried about the plots.

Anna saw her expression. "What is it?"

"Two plots of good land seem to be nice at the first moment but how we will be able to handle it alone. Sigh..."

Anna walked slowly next to Kyra and suddenly she had an idea. " I am not sure of is this a good idea or not. We can rent someone one plot this year. They can help us with planting the other field and give us some percentage of the stuff they plant. Like that we don't need to worry too much. Those plots are really big."

Kyra stopped to give her an astonished look. "Your idea... I wouldn't ever have it. Yes, we can do as you said. Maybe Chief Jafar has someone who needs more space."

Anna nodded. "Let's bring this home and run to his house before darkness hits."

They rushed back home left all the plants on the table as it is and was about to leave as Kyra remembered.

"Anna, by the time we come back it will be dark. Let us light a fire now and leave a few big logs on it. Like that, we won't have trouble when we come back."

Said, done. They light a fire in one of the fireplace in the kitchen, put two big logs on it and stormed towards the mid if village.

Chief Jafar told them through the taking that his house is in the middle of the village. As they walked through it at a quick pace but with big smiles the villagers just greeted them.

They arrived at his house quite fast and as they panted they knocked on the door.

The door was opened by a young man with a beard. "Good evening. Hmmm. Two girls together at this time of day. Is some urgency?"

Kyra shook her head while Anna tried still to catch a breath. "We need to talk to Chief Jafar. He told us to come if we need anything. Can you please announce to us?"

He laughed loudly and just turned his head and started yelling in a language they never heard before. Kyra sighed. She did know some Asian languages as she often worked in these parts of the world, but this language...

Suddenly steady steps could be heard and Chief Jafar came out with a big smile. "Is there anything? Osman, these girls are those I told you about. If I am not home you help them, understood?"

Osman smiled at them and then nodded. "I certainly will help. After all, we need all to stick together."

Chief Jafar then turned his head to the girls and looked at them with kind eyes. "Uhm, how can I help you."

Anna looked at Kyra and stepped next to her. "Actually, we talked about it and those lands are really too much for us to handle this year around."

Chief Jafar knew that they would have trouble with such large fields and wanted to propose something to them, but was not sure how would they react. So he just silently looked at them.

Kyra suddenly stopped Anna's talk as she realized one more thing. So suddenly a big smile emerged in her face.

Anna blinked at her but then just let her continue to talk. As usual, Kyra didn't disappoint her with the further ideas.

"Chief, number one the fields are way too big for us. Number two we will need time to gather money for seeds and whole work. Until the time we start planting it will be too late. It makes no sense. Number three, it is too far. So our idea is to rent the plots. Do you know someone who would need it?"

Chief Jafar looked at his son and smiled. "Actually, our plots are just before yours. I planned to rent it from you today but felt that it was too shameless so I didn't bring it up. If you don't mind we will rent it. Is there something you want from us for it?"

Girl's faces were looking complicated. Anna was worried because Kyra gave both plots of land and Kyra was worried about how he would react to her idea.

"Actually, I have an idea. Next to our home, up to the forest, there is kind of meadowland. Its just half of the size of our plots, but fie the two of us it's just enough. If you could clear the land and then help us with plowing and everything else there we could let you use one if plots free and the other plot for a certain amount percentage from the produce."

He looked at his son in astonishment. The land they were talking about was the best around the capital and very sought for all kind of produce. They could get a really good renting price for it.

"Girls I can't be shameless to that extent. I will pay you the price of the rent of land compared to the city rules. From that amount, I will take away the amount for the clearing of the land and cultivating your land bear your home. The rest if the money you can get from me directly. The other field I plant to plant some high yield and good quality wheat. I will give you the amount of it for the price of the rent. "

His son calculated it in his head. "The good quality seat is quite expensive but can be used in many places. I think by the current rent of good land we should give you around 20% of the yield. Is that fine with you?"

The girls looked at each other with big smiles. This worked out very well for them. Like this, they won't have to run all the way to the other side of the village for their vegetables.

Chief Jafar could see the two girls being satisfied with such an outcome and was relieved. "I have to tell you something. They're everywhere around the capital small villages and fiefs, but ours is famous as a good earth. Usually, plots of land are just a quarter of the size of our every plot in other villages. But an Emperor long time ago gave us this land and since then we have such big plots."

The girls understood that the plots were not normal by the size. They turned their gaze towards him and waited for the rest.

He saw that their gazes looked at him and coughed lightly. "One plot in other villages is just a quarter of our size. Adding the quality to it, we can get any time good renting price. The normal renting price per plot in other villages is 2 silver stones and 20 bronze coins. Adding to four times more land it is 8 silver stones and 80 bronze coins. But adding that our land is almost double the price you will get 17 silver stones and 60 bronze coins."

The girls never had anything to do with money so they just nodded. They had no real perception of the amount they are about to get.

"Considering that that land near the forest is filled with weeds and all kinds of stuff, I assume that the boys will need at least three says to clear the field, plow and help you plant. As it is Indeed more work than just plowing field I will let you pay 50 bronze coins per day and you don't have to worry about their meals as they will bring their own. All together it is 1 silver stone and 50 bronze. I owe you 16 silver stones and 10 bronze. Son go get the money."

Kyra suddenly stopped him. "Make it 4 silver stones then. I will need them for one more thing."

He nodded to his son to get money and looked then at girls curiously.

Kyra smiled lightly. "I need to extend my yard. We could need someone to build us chicken and rabbit coop. We are two little girls. Taking care if bigger animals are not possible at the moment. With the money you give us, we can just buy a pig in summer let it grow until winter and for the two of us is more than enough meat for the whole winter."

Chief Jafar was no pig eater but had to nod. For the two of them with few chickens and one pig, the food is enough.

"I will let them prepare everything. You two don't need to sit next to them. Let them finish the field and then you can make them build what you need."

Kyra was more than satisfied and looking at Anna's face she was happy as well.

Osman came back with two money bags. "Here are 13 silver stones. In the other bag are 80 bronze coins. Please count it."

Kyra shook her head as she took the money. "I trust you completely. We need to go to the city tomorrow. Is there anyone in the village that will go there?"

Chief Jafar needed a moment and then nodded. "Actually, we have a man that drives there and back very often. If you want to drive with him come to my house in the early morning. He will drive the two if you for couple coins. If you plan to buy something he will help you carry it and drive you back for a dozen coins. With that amount you can rent him for a whole day."

Girls were happy about that outcome. They could go to the city in the early morning, walk to the medical hall and check those flowers. Afterward they could go to buy some rice, flour, oil, salt, and seasonings.

On the way home, they chatted happily about their plans as they hurried. Their tummies started grumbling for a while and they felt quite hungry.

Spring nights were still fresh so when they entered the warm room they felt cozy. They unpacked the fern sprouts and greens from their bags.

Anna went to wash them near the house while Kyra prepared the pots for the dinner.

When Anna brought back washed vegetables

she blanched in hot water the greens and put them aside. Kyra used the other pot, she put oil inside and started frying the rabbit meat from that morning. The wonderful smell started spreading making their stomach grumble even louder.

As their laugh resounded in their room, a pair of eyes could be seen looking through the window. Suddenly a swish out shadows could be heard and the person disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Two people shot a glance at the house where the girls unknowingly had their fun cooking.

The two people looked around one more time and disappeared in opposite directions.

What those people didn't know is that girls were ready to fight for their dear lives. If that person entered the house he would have met two little demons. One held hot oil in her hands while the other took the daggers to shoot.

After they couldn't feel that man's presence they relaxed, knowing that their protectors did their job.

Finally, the meat was ready. Kyra added a bit of water and precooked greens, the shots and the white parts from cattail were set inside the pot.

The brown pods were set by the fire to fry like corn. Anna inhaled sharply the smell and opened widely her eyes in astonishment.

The food was quickly done as Kyra didn't have the wish to turn the food into porridge. She scooped food into two little bowls and they slowly ate the brew with the cattail pods as accompaniment.

The pods tasted bit like baked corn so it was a quite good substitute for anything filling.

After they ate there was still some food left for breakfast and they were happy about it.

They washed in warm water and went into bed next door. This time they choose to sleep together in the same bed as the room was little fresh and teh blankets they got were thin.

Sleepily Kyra started at thin blankets. ''Anna, if we ear some money we can buy at least one down blanket. It will be enough for the two of us.''

Anna drowsily nodded and hugged Kyra and fell asleep instantly.

Kyra still had another thought, they can just put one bed in the kitchen but then gave up that idea.

They could die from the smoke.

New... blanket.. need... to... buy...

Her mind slowly slipped away as even breaths could be heard from her mouth.

What will their days bring them?

Who knows?

...