Lord of Reclamation: I Can Unlock Abilities By Building Civilizations Chapter 24: Curved Blade

"Can this thing be made?"

Thane stared down the carpenter and asked.

The carpenter felt intimidated under his gaze and stamred: "Y-yes, should be doable."

Thane turned to look at Pegin: "The outer layer of this plowshare is iron—can you handle it?"

"Yes, my lord."

Pegin nodded confidently: "About two days should do it."

With apprentices helping out, Pegin was feeling more confident.

"Good, drop everything else and forge this curved moldboard plow first," Thane ordered without hesitation.

Right then Otto stepped in front of Thane and said worriedly: "This is a plow? But we don’t have enough oxen, sir."

Fontdr Town only had six cattle, all being used for hauling carts.

"We don’t necessarily need oxen."

Thane put his hands on his hips and looked at Otto: "People can pull it too—four-person teams taking turns."

The plowshare of the curved moldboard plow Thane had drawn was iron-wrapped wood. The front plowshare was expected to weigh about 11 pounds, totally manageable by human power.

But a light plowshare didn’t an shallow plowing. As long as the pullers and plow-handlers got their coordination right, they could still make the plowshare dig deep into the soil.

Of course, this would wear out the pullers more, and the land couldn’t be virgin wilderness or have too many rocks.

These were all lessons Thane had learned from hands-on experience in his previous life.

Otto seed to get it but was still confused, nodding like a bobblehead.

Pegin didn’t give a damn about Otto’s opinion and imdiately started prepping materials for making the plowshare.

The lord’s word was law—that’s what he needed to follow.

Thane kept working on Pamin’s single-handed sword.

Every other day he checked the manure pits to keep tabs on ferntation progress.

Kept working on the single-handed sword.

Pegin cranked out the plowshare fast, finishing by afternoon.

The carpenter took three days to finish the full plow body.

Thane personally went to the fields to show farrs the ropes.

"The curved moldboard plow needs two people working as a team—one pulls the plow up front, one guides it from behind."

"The guy pulling up front can grab this rope, or tie the rope around his waist."

"If one person gets wiped out, use a wooden pole through the hemp rope, then two people can carry the pole together and pull forward."

"Listen up: the puller has to keep steady steps, lean forward, try to stay at the sa angle walking in straight lines."

"The guy guiding the plow from behind has it easy—just hold it steady and push down. If the soil’s hard, adjust the plow angle to go deeper."

Thane demonstrated while explaining. After covering how to use it, his expression got serious:

"But before plowing, clear every damn stone from the field.

Rember this: when you hit stones or other hard stuff, lift that plowshare right away. Don’t let it break, or I’ll tan the hide of whoever does it!"

"Yes, my lord!"

The farrs responded all together.

"Nothing else too tricky. Just keep an eye on the plow parts, especially don’t let the wedge blocks fall off."

Thane’s attitude chilled out as he waved his hand: "Alright, take turns giving it a shot."

Pegin and the carpenter were still cranking out curved moldboard plows. After these farrs got the hang of it, new plows would keep rolling out.

Few farrs in Fontdr Town had ever used plows, and they weren’t exactly rocket scientists either.

But people rise to the occasion when they have to.

With Thane—a lord packing Dragon Slayer intimidation—breathing down their necks, everyone gave it their all and really focused on learning.

By the end of the day, they’d pretty much nailed it.

Thane headed back to the blacksmith shop shelter to keep smithing, working on that single-handed sword.

Just as Thane finished forging the single-handed sword, Pamin got back from the border city.

...

...

Under the blacksmith shop shelter.

"Give it a try—your new sword."

Thane casually tossed the freshly forged single-handed sword to Pamin who’d co to give his report:

"The weight’s about the sa as your old sword, but you’d better test it out."

Thane had crafted a standard knight’s single-handed sword—handle and blade totaling just over three feet, weighing about 7.7 pounds.

This let Pamin swing it fast with one hand while keeping the sword’s stability and killing power.

But because his homade sword had armor-piercing enchantnt effects, Thane had specifically made the blade wider to make it better for slashing.

"Thank you for this gift."

After checking out his new sword, Pamin suddenly snapped to attention, feet together, right fist on his left chest, head slightly lowered—the standard knight’s salute:

"I will repay with eternal loyalty, cutting through thorns that get in the way of carrying out your will."

Pamin had been wanting to say these words for a long ti but never had the chance.

Getting this sword fulfilled Thane’s original promise, so naturally Pamin completed the ceremony he’d been missing.

Thane nodded firmly in response: "And enemy armor."

The two n locked eyes, each seeing determination and sincerity in the other’s gaze.

Thane then grinned and said: "Where are my books?"

"Got ’em."

Pamin untied the cloth bag from his horse and handed it to Thane, explaining: "Three books, total cost 90 silver coins."

"That much?" Thane’s eyes went wide.

Ninety silver coins could almost buy six regular longswords!

Pamin looked kind of embarrassed and explained: "Sorry my lord, I don’t know how to haggle and might have tipped my hand."

"It’s fine, I don’t bla you."

Books were luxury items to begin with, especially illustrated story types with crazy unpredictable pricing.

Sharp rchants would jack up prices on purpose based on what custors needed.

"What was the na of the rchant who sold you the books? If they’re garbage I’ll go trash his shop in the border city!"

"Koris Goldsand."

"Huh?"

Thane was shocked hearing this na and asked: "Kralfard’s brother?"

"Based on age and looks, probably, but I didn’t ask," Pamin answered.

"Then it’s gotta be him."

Thane didn’t look too closely, picking up the cloth bag: "Co on, back to the manor to check them out.

If they’re no good, I’ll kick Kralfard’s butt twice to blow off steam."

Pamin’s face cracked a smile, but he knew Thane was just ssing around.

"Baron, what’s this sword’s na?"

"Why are you like Ryan?"

Thane shook his head slightly. Seed like his guys all had a thing for ceremony, while his own sword was still just called Fine Steel Claymore.

"No na, make one up yourself."

"Yes, Baron."

Pamin followed behind Thane, thinking for a long ti: "How about Thornbreaker?"

Thane found this word kind of familiar but couldn’t rember where he’d heard it.

"By the way, Baron, there’s so gossip from the border city I think I should fill you in on."

Thane heard the serious tone in Pamin’s voice, stopped trying to rember, turned around and stood still:

"Shoot."

"First is about the lord of Razor Plains from the Redgriffin family—he got whacked. They say his body was dumped in the wilderness and torn apart by wilderness wolves, never found."

"Word is the original folks living in Razor Plains and beastn did it together, but this news isn’t solid."

Pamin’s words made Thane frown.

Razor Plains was only separated from Thane’s Shadowpine Ridge by Icepeak Valley.

But Icepeak Valley was shaped like an upside-down triangle, wide in the west and narrow in the east, wedged between Shadowpine Ridge and Razor Plains.

So so spots between Shadowpine Ridge and Razor Plains were only about 18 miles apart as the crow flies.

Cavalry could cover that distance in two hours, even on foot would take about half a day.

The two territories were basically next-door neighbors.

Original inhabitants weren’t much to worry about—beastn tribes were the real problem.

"Any word on how the Redgriffin family’s taking it?" Thane asked.

"Nothing yet, but I bet there will be soon. The news has already made the rounds in the border city, so the Redgriffin family should hear about it pretty quick."

Pamin had heard this news five days ago in the border city. The Redgriffin family territory was real close to the border city.

Even if the news was hot off the press when Pamin learned it, five days was plenty of ti to reach the Redgriffin family.

If the Redgriffin family made a move, their forces would probably pass through Shadowpine Ridge, and Thane should know about it.

Maybe even collect so toll money.

"Here’s what we’ll do: pick three guards, plus have Ryan choose two hunters to form a patrol team. Hunt while keeping an eye on wilderness activity."

After thinking it over, Thane arranged: "Once you spot anything, don’t do anything stupid—priority is getting back to report."

"Got it, Baron."

Pamin nodded and kept going: "That’s the only wilderness news. The other thing I ran into by accident.

The border city seems to have spellcasters."