Winter Returns Home

Winter Standing Outside the Farmhouse

Winter unlocked his door and walked into the musty room of his tree-house. He went over to the window and with a shove it opened flooding the room with sunlight.

Winter has just returned from Stonewick - a city across the eastern sea. His visit on the request of the Executor of his late and distant brother Helmut's last will and testament.

It had been a long and tiring journey, nearly a week sailing there and back again, spending only a week in the coastal city of Stonewick and the pastoral lands of Manitou.

He drew a parchment from his cloak and placed it on the desk. A long sigh escaped his lips as he sat his tired bones upon the chair. The chair creaked as he leaned forward to read the letter for the tenth time.

~~~~~

Winter Reading the Will of Helmut

The Estate of Helmut Silversmith

To my only brother Winter Silversmith. I bequeath the entire lands and livestock of our family farm and any monies in my possession and keep should he survive me.

~~~~~

"Monies in his possession!" Winter huffed loudly, "the danged fool, and any debts too I see". Winter looked into the dark empty abyss of his coin pouch. "If I had known I would get all of this debt I would have thought twice to meet with the Executor".

The rewarded lands of Silversmith, a modest farm of just over thirty-one thousand metres square, nestled along the southern shores of Manitou Village Proper, also bore a sizable debt..

It seems the Lord Helmut was as conservative with his drinking as he was with his spending, that is to say not at all. Winter had to make a down-payment of eight cows, four pigs and six chickens to save the farm from the debtors. Winter visited the farm briefly during his travels and met with the caretaker assigned by the Executor. Sympathetic to the situation Winter was given one year to settle the debt in order to keep the farm.

"I will have to speak to Master Jaekob about the sheep, perhaps I can sell the wool and mutton here at Cheshire to help settle the debt". Winter said aloud to the autumn leaves on the wood floor drying in the afternoon sun.