The Not-Immortal Blacksmith Chapter 9 - Baker

A/N: This should have actually come out after "The Kid II", but...meh. I think from this point forward, the Maxwell chapters are going to be a bit more detailed, and cover less lengthy periods of time.

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It's been a few weeks since I dropped the kid off with the army. He's not my problem any more, thank the ... never mind. I have traveled hard to escape the area and have arrived in Rorewell, a town of 3000 people, located west/southwest of Demonia. Some of the town's residents are beastmen and half bloods. While in a tavern one night, during a discussion about the current war, I mentioned that the Heretic had trained the newest hero on the eastern front.

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Bjorn stopped by my current lodging! We stepped out for food and drinks. He told me about the gods being annoying, etc etc. As the night progressed, he asked what I was going to do with my life now. I gave it a good amount of thought, before saying that I had always wondered how bread was made. To which he responded, "Well clean yourself up and go down the street to the bakery and ask!"

We parted company some time later, what with him having god things to do, and I'm off to bed.

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I cleaned myself up and went to the bakery this morning. I walked in, and said that I would like to learn how to cook. The young girl behind the counter turned around and yelled into the back, "Mom, don't worry about that help wanted sign, we got a fresh one!" After a quick chat with the proprietress, I start tomorrow.

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I have been learning to bake for three weeks. It is almost as intricate as making watered steel, and in some cases, more intricate. Most of my time is spent doing the prep work, watching the baked goods being made, and selling them. Next month I will be allowed to make the basic peasant bread.

The matron, Martha, is a young looking 30 something, widowed, and has almost no time to deal with anybody's shit. She is rather devout to the gods, though. Generally I like her. Her daughter on the other hand, a rambunctious 12 year old, is obviously trying to get us together. I will have to nip the bud off of this.

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I made Jenni cry today, when I explained that I lost my wife and didn't want to remarry. I hope she stops with the attempts at matchmaking.

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After several more weeks of work and practice, I put my first set of loaves up for sale today. A few sold, but not many. This is harder than it looks.

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Breakthrough! Mistress Martha says I am now able to make a "decent" loaf! Strong praise indeed.

It has been three months since I started here. I now know the basics of baking, but it will take several years to learn all of the recipes, and their variants. Bjorn stopped in today and bought a loaf. He said it was good, but not as good as Mistress Martha's. I'm glad for his honesty.

He has heard no news about the eastern front, so I assume the kid hasn't been sent out yet.

TTFN