It started raining again; the rainy season was far from over. The elves and Aiu finished eating the stew from yesterday. Also they have cleaned up the hut a bit, making it look more orderly. It was a single room hut after all. Besides cleaning, there was little else to do then it rained this heavy.

“I am not going to pay you for just sitting around you. Even if it rains you have to work.” The Guardian was tired of them doing next to nothing.

“We will do what we can Master, but rain is too heavy for the most jobs.”

“It will be miserable for you but you will need to come and help me to hunt.”

“And then butchering and smoking the meat.” Aiu added.

“Master, will you be taking charge of the hunt.” Ell was keen to learn some tricks from a great hunter like him.

“Only occasionally. Later, you will be expected to hunt on your own, without my assistance.”

Ell was not equipped for that, if he could be a hunter he would have. He lived in slums for a reason.

“Isn’t the forest too dangerous, even if there will be two of us?” He was referring to going hunting with his sister.

“Do not worry about the wolves and other predators, you will be given repellents. Aiu will assist you too.”

“Wont that be too expensive? For al three of us?” Anabique asked.

“Normaly it would, but since we make it ourselves it will be fine. Get your stuff and lets go. Aiu you too.”

He took the three into the depths of forest. Actually, the time like this was quite suitable for hunting. The sound of rain muffled their steps and water washed their smell, it was perfect for an ambush. Animals themselves were looking for shelter or already huddled in one, may be it under the big tree or a small cave.

Guardian was acting as a guide only, he did not plan to actively participate. He wanted to test elves skills. Eventually, they stumbled upon a pack of boars. He instructed his group of newbies to start the hunt.

The trio aimed their bows and shot their arrows at the same target. It was a male boar. As expected elves were naturally good with bows. Some of their arrows missed but a few have hit, just before the boar ran too far and hid behind the trees. Most of Aiu arrows missed, she was still pretty much a beginner with this.

The boar was bleeding and slowed down, his strength was running out, but he still was alive.

The hunting party reclaimed their missed arrows quickly. Next they had to track their quarry. The ground was muddy and soft, boar left imprints of its hooves In it. Tracking it down was easier than they expected.

“Did you two have hunted before? You are quite good.” He praised the elves.

“No, not like this. You must know we have sharp sight and good dexterity. This helps with bows.”

“We picked the bow only when the situation got rough. Mostly to kill city critters and birds for food.”

“I used to eat rats too.” Aiu added reflecting on her past.

They were getting close, they could see fresh drops off blood which were being washed off by the rain.

“Here it is.” Ana pointed her finger and Ell shot an arrow. It hit finding its mark.

They started to chase the boar again, shooting at it. Running and firing a bow was not easy; a lot of arrows missed. Only few have hit. But every time they hit their prey got closer to death. The boar squealed once more and dropped down exhausted.

“We got it!” Ell exclaimed. This was their first proper kill.

“Aiu finish it and use skin.”

She slit the boar’s throat with her skinning knife. She waited for the boar to bleed out and die. Then she used her skill on it. It worked well. Its hide turned into glowing sparks and travelled to her hands leaving naked corpse behind. She was holding boars hide in her hands.

“Magic!” gasped Ell.

“You possess hunting skills? So you are not just a herbalist.” Ana was surprised to find this.

“I am not a hunter. I am more of a ...” Aiu was looking for the right word.

“Harvester and a support.” Guardian helped.

“Yes harvester. I can harvest herbs and animals. Look.” She removed boars eye manually by hand then used harvest on it. Its head glowed and the other eye appeared in her hand.

“Eww messy.” Ana was not too pleased. She did not enjoy killing animals, she only did it out of necessity.

“That is cool.” Ell was reacting slightly different. No he did not enjoy killing animals, he was neutral about it. He wanted to be a hunter so he was fascinated by the skill.

“Stop playing around and take the meat before it got too dirty.”

He boar was gutted. Elves tied it to a stick and carried it, each holding one end of it. It was quite big and heavy. Its flesh was still leaking fresh blood.

It was very poor idea to skin the boar before they got home. Not only it was messy, it would attract the predators as well. However, it did not matter this time.

“How did you lean to preserve meat, Ell?” Aiu asked the elf.

“It might be hard to believe but our uncle who took care of us was a butcher. He would preserve the meats hunters brought to him. Then rich folk would come and buy it. The life was better for us two back in that time.”

“Our uncle suddenly passed away and from there it just kept getting worse.” Anabique added knowing that Aiu would ask what happened.

“Are you confident that you can build a smoke house?”

“Possitively, provided you have the coin, Master.”

“I do. What do we need?”

“Some boards, nails, brick and mortar.”

“You will come with me we. We will buy the stuff in the city.”

They stopped by the hut.

“Wont Ell get sick in this rain?” Aiu asked worried.

“We don’t look like it, but we elves are quite resistant to elements of nature.”

“So just like Guardian.”

“Possibly.” Ell nodded. It was clear that his master was resistant as he already was wearing next to no clothing and was fine with it.

Aiu quickly cut as much fat as she could from the boar carcass and waved goodbye to the men. After the men left the girls took of the clothes and left them to dry by the fire. The fat was cut and left to melt to lard.

Guardian carried the meat by himself it was meant as a bribe to the shopkeeper he knew. Ell walked by his side all miserable, drenched in water.

It was not just building materials Guardian was after. After giving the meat to the shopkeeper he bought an alchemists licence which was necessary to sell specialised concoctions and potions. It was a small plate of copper with a stamp and some writing on it, it had to be custom made. They took a mark of his fingerprint on some hot vax. This will be etched on copper plate so it could not be forged. The process on how they did it was a secret. He would have to pick it later. This costed him a small fortune of 10g. Also, he played 1g to register as a shop owner. The shop itself did not exist yet. He would need to rent one or make one.

Elf was tagging along all bored and miserable, leaving wet puddles everywhere he went.

Then they went to the carpenter’s workshop and purchased a wheelbarrow. This was followed by a visit to mudbrick maker. His shop was closed as it was raining. But they managed to purchase the bricks and mixture for mortar. This was done by loud shouting for shopkeeper to answer, and a loud banding to the door. Most people had their shops incorporated into their houses.

They loaded the bricks into the barrel. They have bought a 100 of them and this costed 6silver. Plus 2 silver for wheelbarrow. Then he visited the blacksmith to get some nails and tools. This costed him another 1g.

Lastly, they visited woodworkers to get a good amount of boards. With some convincing he purchased tools for working the wood too. They were used tools, but well looked after. This cost him 6silver.

He tied the boards with rope in a big bundle and carried them on his back. The elf was left to push the wheelbarrow. This was not an easy task during rain as the dirt path was getting muddy. He strained his muscles and struggled to push, but did his job without complaining.

The big man dropped the boards by the side of the hut and entered it. The elf woman inside rustled and rushed to put her tunic on. It was not completely dry but it will have to do.

“Where is my brother?”

“He will be here shortly.”

The elf was taking his time to push the wheelbarrow through rough terrain.

“Take this. You know what it is?”

“Stone axe?” she guessed.

“Precisely. Enough of idleness, lets go back to work. You too Aiu, come.” He had to work them hard.

It was still raining but it was only few drops now and then. Ana’s job was to expand the clearing, cutting small bushes and trees. Another job an elf would despise to do, but she had no choice.

He himself was taking care of bigger trees. Once a tree was cut Aiu would cut small branches off preparing the timber.

Eventually Ellonwar wheeled the bricks. He was panting heavy. Seeing as everyone was working he dreaded to be given another task straight away. However, he was pleased to be assigned to make a smokehouse. It was not an actual house, more of an oversized cupboard.

Ellonwar dug and levelled the ground, this was the hardest task. Then he put some water into the mortar mix and started laying the bricks down, making a small furnace. He was not a mason or a carpenter but this particular construction was not a complex one he knew he can manage.

After finishing the furnace he built a ‘house’ out of wood boards. The whole job took a while but it was done before it got dark. It looked a bit wonky but it will be able to serve its purpose. He cowered the furnace with branches and leaves so the mortar does not get washed. It still needed to get dry and it will take a while.

Then he joined the others.