Penned in precise and evenly lined sentences, a blank page near the middle of a slightly scuffed, top-grain leather journal is newly inscribed. If one were to flip past the filled pages to the very beginning, one would find the first page titled with: Bernie Tweed, Bree-land followed by a series of odd symbols.
14 Thrimidge
Home, Bree-land
• Tend to bee garden, weeding and watering. Cover well. Eat up fresh food in the larder.
√ Pack day bag for a few days' trip. Bring fishing pole? Should find a nice walking stick too.
← Sanders will have to wait a while longer. Have bigger fish to fry.
≡ Had been mulling over ways to leave my homestead for the walkabout with Miss Indoril without having the whole place abandoned during the busy season, when fortune smiled on me.
Miss Kitowyn happened to come up to work again this morn. Though she were newly trained, I was in need of someone to handle the hives for a time and she had need of coin. Brought her in the house for a meal and laid out my offer: bit of coin upfront to come round the place and tend to things, and when I return I'll pay her due. The girl had no bartering bone in her body so seemed happy with the food and a bit of metal weighing her pocket.
To be honest here for my journal: I expect half my hives to be dead when I get back. But seeing as I've a good store of last year's production, I think I can risk it. Miss Indoril is damned pretty and that makes a man's head do loopy things.
Else, I've nothing to worry over! Going to leave the door key hidden in the removable brick on my porch, and I've just to inform Miss Indoril that I shall be ready for her straight away.
