Felix was rubbing his temples as he was going through the requests.
“And you’re certain we didn’t already bring this with us, Gil?”
Nodding solemnly, the Quartermaster assured him, “No, we traveled with only the essentials. Having established the Fort here, requests have been piling up for various equipment only found in the County. There was no way we could have brought this with us on that first trip.”
“Lets review the list then – I don’t want us sending a bunch of the boys out for something we can acquire or craft out here of appropriate quality.”
Gilbert looks a little tired, but tapped his quill against the ledger and begins the review without comment. “Alfred wants a fresh bellows skin, says hides up here don’t produce the same quality.”
Felix nods “He’s the expert.”
“Your brother wanted new boots.”
“He… convinced me. I know the cobbler to contract. Soft leather lining, wide toe, good Valerian leatherwork.” he tapped his own boot, “Same as the rest of us.”
Sir Minona requested dice, a folding table, and a screen. “For simulations,” Gilbert said.
Lady Lorelei requested silk ribbons, rosewater, a velvet lined box for letters, and a small mirror.
Sir Jaqueline’s list followed, the Quartermaster did not comment. Felix waved it through. The Knights got what they wanted.
Madam Leonora asked for shelving brackets, a press for flattening damp pages, and a bell to mark quiet hours. “That won’t survive a week,” Gilbert said. “Guy should be able to make a press – but let’s get the bell from home.”
Callie wanted a specific kind of chalk that comes from some cliffs in one of the County’s northern regions. “They don’t have chalk up here?” Felix asked.
“The taste is wrong for the job, apparently.” Gilbert answered.
Lucian needed a specific set of gears, surplus rivets, three identical measuring rods in case one proved wrong, and a few measuring chains from his workshop. “Sensible,” Gilbert noted, “If tedious.”
Rowan’s requests were practical as always. Some specific types of needles, some specific colors of thread, and a specific soap. “For washing out blood.”
Woodsman asked for spare wedges and a single iron spike. “For when trees argue,” Gilbert said.
Felix waved his hand, dismissing the request “Lets get Alfred on that, then. He makes all manner of argument-enders”
…and a whetstone from a particular quarry. “He swears others don’t sing right,” Gilbert said. Felix lowered his hand in clear defeat.
Tiffany’s list of reagents wasn’t clear if it was for potions or for making the meals taste a bit more like home.
Billy Bob was asking for some bells for the livestock, twine, and a book on northern soils. “Not that he can read.” Gilbert noted.
“Maybe he wants Leonora to read it to him,” Felix posited.
“Anything for Silvester?” asked Felix.
Gilbert shook his head. “He says he can take care of whatever he needs from what’s available.” Felix nodded with satisfaction.
The Quartermaster closed the ledger at last. “An army of specialists,” he said. “All of them convinced the world ends if they lack one small comfort.”
Felix sighed wearily. “Then we ship in the comforts. Lets get some lads to head south with Mitch. When people feel prepared they make themselves useful. And that’s how things get done.”
