Chapter 58 – Speed of Light (1)

Cyra looked at the ceiling, she blinked, and, sat up. She rubbed her eyes. She looked at the window, taking a glimpse of the morning sky. There was a faint smell of flowers riding over the wind. It was time to get up so she washed, change, and then braided her hair. She looked at a green brooch place on top of the side table near her bed. She nodded her head in affirmation, walking out of the room, out of her house where she observed the busy road of Edawick.

She scuttled with a basket hung on her elbow. She patted her skirt and walked idly while basking under the sun. Her house was only minutes away from the Town’s bakery. Once she arrived in the bakery, she laid her basket on a long table. She grabs her apron in one of the hangers, she wore it and readied the ovens.

Moments long, she heard someone enter the bakery. She saw the workers of the bakery. She also saw the newcomer of the town’s bakery entering. He wore a simple shirt with an overcoat, with pants tucked inside his boots. He was limping a bit, and his right hand was covered in bandages.

“Good Morning, Joshua.”

“Hello, early, as usual, aren’t you, Cyra?” Joshua smiled.

Cyra patted the side of the oven. “Well, someone has to start the ovens. Are you helping us again?”

Joshua nodded. “Yes, Miss Nana had to take care of the rest, though.”

“I think Miss Nana appreciates your hard work.”

“I know. I am actually thankful that I get to help her and Dan.” Joshua walked near Cyra. “I have been living with them and I don’t want to burden them. This is something I could do.”

“You make good bread. So no complains here.”

Joshua grinned at that. “Anyway, do we have any specific orders today?”

“There’s someone purchasing a bulk of bread today. The alderman said that we need to bake for them.”

“Buying a bulk of bread?” said Joshua. “Are they having a feast?”

“I don’t think so,” said Cyra, shaking her head. “The alderman did say that they are innovators and excavators working on something. Edawick is a part of their route when going to their site so they stop here and buy supplies. The alderman was notified about them so we are to bake bread for them.”

Joshua folded his arms. He inspected the kitchen. “I think we are going to need help from the other bakers. Are they coming soon?”

“They should arrive past twelve.”

“I see,” Joshua said, stretching his arms. “Very well, let’s start this then. We’ll ask the others to help us once more arrive.”

Before long, Cyra and Joshua coordinated together in baking the bread. The other bakers also helped them in this and by twelve when the bulk buyer arrived. Most of the bread was ready and was sitting in wooden trays, looking piping hot and giving off this sweet sugared smell.

Cyra was a bit tired. She sat in one of the stools, taking a breather. She looked at Joshua. He was taking a break as well, shaking his wrist.

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“Does it hurt?” asked Cyra.

“A bit, but I can endure it.”

Cyra thought of what he heard from Miss Nana. She has heard that the reason why Joshua was limping or has bandages around was that of escaping from a slaver. “Are your wounds healing well?”

“They are healing, but it takes time, a broken bone doesn’t heal that fast.”

“True, though I think you are doing well despite it.”

“It’s better than not moving it.”

Cyra looked at Joshua. She then turns her face to the counter where she saw men in black clothing, wearing capes over their shoulders enter the bakery’s front. She stood up, walked to the counter and said. “Are you the people that the alderman said that would come?”

‘Yes, do you have the bread ready?”

“They are ready, can you please wait?” Cyra took her leave and made everyone arrange the bread in a neat orderly fashion inside the baskets. Carrying them to the front where the man that Cyra speak to began to taste one of the bread inside the basket.

“These are good. Better than we had. I applaud your bakers.”

“Thank you, Sir. We bring our best as asked.”

The man nodded at that. He folded his arms, leaned back and ate the bread. He gestured to his comrade and the two ate some bread satisfied. Cyra and the other bakers carefully brought all of the bread that they made. The men who wanted the bread took them. They paid with a bag of gold, which the bakers were quite surprised at.

“This should be enough right?” said the man.

Cyra nodded. “Yes, thank you for the patronage, Sir!”

“We’ll come back if we ever need another bulk to buy.” The man said, taking his leave.

Cyra watched him go and then went to the owner where she handed the bag of gold. The owner was satisfied. She called everyone to her office and everyone was handed a one hundred coins for their good work. Cyra was quite happy for the reward. Her shift was done, so she took her share, and untied her apron and put it back on the hanger. The bakery need to restock so she decided to go out.

“Taking your leave?” asked Joshua who was leaving as well.

“Yeah, are you going to the workshop again?”

“I am, actually, can you help me with those dresses for the dolls? Or should I ask for another time?”

“Oh, I can help right now. But let me buy some things in the market for a while.”

“Okay, then I’ll accompany you.”

Cyra nodded her head. Together, the two walked to the marketplace. Joshua watched Cyra haggle with the shopkeepers for a good hour before returning back to her home. Once she put the things she bought. She and Joshua went to the workshop and started preparing the materials. Joshua started making the dolls, adjusting the stuffing, sewing the rag close, while Cyra earnestly sews the dresses that the straw dolls will be wearing.