Quoted By:
If these three boats had not passed on to your hands, it is certain that all (with exception of Ragnvald) would have succumbed to the temptation of easy money. Even your uncle cannot help but grumble a little when he sees the other sailors relaxing by the pier, their day's work accomplished, while he spends himself in hard labor.
But when it comes time to sell the catch, the tune of the crew changes completely. It is true that the lack of competition makes the work easy, but, as you had hoped, there is hardly any one else to sell fish. And the demand for fish, in fact, increases. Many of the newcomers are nobility, and as such, are privy to the lord's hospitality. Each evening the lord must host a magnificent feast for his guests and there is only so much cattle and poultry to go around.
In short, the fishmonger is able to purchase your daily catch for twice its usual price. All told, in just three weeks you manage to make a whopping 1,656 silver pieces. It is almost enough to buy all four boats outright and represents a profit far beyond even the reeve's wildest dreams. You've managed to accomplish in less than one month what Amelia had wagered, and some might argue wagered boldly, would take you two seasons. Even if all this was mostly a product of circumstance, your crewmen now regard you as a being different from themselves, a man touched by the grace of God. Haroldson's cousins become your most devoted worshippers, not merely because of the money, but because of how astutely you were able to predict the outcome.
The good fortune is marred somewhat by Harold suddenly falling ill. Haroldson's wife, being pregnant, is not able to give her father-in-law his due care (and Harold does not help matters when he insists that he be allowed to die in peace). Harold would like to hire some help from the castle, but knowing the reeve is loathe to lend money to a former delinquent, comes hat in hand to you for the funds. It is not an insubstantial sum (40 silver pieces) and it is unlikely to repaid in kind, the most Haroldson can offer is the labor of his wife for a season after she has delivered their child (which should be in a month or so), for such things as laundering and mending clothes, preparing food, keeping the house clean, and so forth. She even knows something of cheesemaking, being a cowherd's daughter, but this art, though profitable, is seldom practiced here.
You decide to:
>Give the coin gratis, asking for nothing in return. It is good to help your fellow man when he is in need.
>Give the coin in exchange for the promised labor. It would at least relieve your Gran of such duties.
>Refuse to grant him anything. The old geezer is likely to die anyway. It's a waste of good coin.
>Write-in
