Chapter 254: The Mason
The archers stared at him, their faces a mix of relief and exhaustion.
They had just ridden through the forest at impossible speed, their bodies still trembling from the experience, their minds still processing what had happened.
Some of them were still gripping the horns of the Horned Olfs, their knuckles white, their eyes wide.
Others had already dismounted and were standing on solid ground, their legs shaking, their faces pale.
Seren looked at Darion and said,
"Better than last time." Her voice was light, but there was a hint of genuine relief in it.
She had ridden an undead before, and the memory of that experience had been fresh in her mind.
This time, she had managed to stay upright and conscious, which was already an improvement.
They all went to the castle. The walk was short, the familiar walls of Percvale rising before them.
The hunt was over. The training was done. And they had all survived.
The archers dispersed, heading to their homes, their bodies heavy with exhaustion.
Seren walked beside Darion, her steps slow, her shoulders relaxed.
They entered the castle, and immediately Darion saw something unexpected.
A man, nobly dressed, was sitting at the great hall table, having a drink with Garren.
He was well-dressed, his clothes clean and well-fitted, his posture confident. He looked like someone who was used to being taken seriously.
Garren looked up as they entered, a smile spreading across his face. He stood and gestured toward the man. "Baron Darion, Seren, this is Ghan. The mason I went to find."
The man stood, his movements smooth. He was tall, with a weathered face and sharp eyes. He extended his hand to Darion.
"Baron Darion," he said, his voice calm. "I’ve heard a lot about you."
Fro. Garren definitely.
Darion shook his hand, his grip firm. "Good things, I hope."
Ghan smiled. "Interesting things. Percvale has been a topic of conversation in the region for a long time. A dying barony. But now, it seems to suddenly start recovering?"
Darion smiled. "Well, I’m glad to hear that."
They sat down at the table, the four of them, Darion, Seren, Garren, and Ghan.
Garren explained that it had taken him some time to find the right mason.
"I visited several," he said. "Some were too expensive, others weren’t skilled enough. Ghan came highly recommended, and after seeing his work, I knew he was the one."
Ghan nodded, reaching into his bag and pulling out a set of papers.
He spread them on the table, revealing detailed sketches of buildings, walls, and structural repairs.
"I’ve been doing this for over twenty years," he said. "I’ve worked on castles, manors, and fortresses across the region. I know what I’m doing, and I have the references to prove it."
He pointed to one of the sketches, a detailed drawing of a castle wall. "This is a project I completed last year. The wall had been damaged by a fire, and I had to rebuild it from the ground up. It’s still standing, and it will be standing for another hundred years."
Darion studied the sketches, impressed by the detail. The work was clearly high quality, the craftsmanship evident in every line.
Ghan continued, "Sir Garren showed me the whole place. I walked through every corridor, inspected every wall, and climbed onto the roof. The castle is indeed old, and lots of work will be going into rebuilding it. The foundations are still solid, but the upper sections need attention. The roofs are leaking in several places, the walls have cracks that need to be filled, and some of the floors are uneven."
He paused, looking at Darion. "I have to say, I’m glad Percvale is finally recovering enough to afford a mason. I’ve seen too many baronies fall apart because they couldn’t afford to maintain their buildings. It’s good to see one that’s actually investing in its future."
Darion nodded. "That’s the goal. We’re building something that will last."
Ghan smiled. "I can see that. And I have to say, I wouldn’t have come here if I wasn’t sure Garren was telling the truth. I’ve heard a lot of promises from desperate Barons over the years, and most of them never followed through. But Garren seemed serious, and after doing my research, I knew this was different."
Darion nodded. "We’re serious about rebuilding Percvale. And we need someone who can do the job right."
Ghan leaned back in his chair. "I can do the job right. But it’s not going to be cheap."
He named his price. "One thousand eight hundred and ninety gold coins."
Darion, Garren, and Seren exchanged glances. The number was significant, larger than Darion had expected. He had anticipated a high cost, but this was higher than he had hoped.
Darion found the price to be enormous. He had been thinking about the castle repairs for weeks, had mentally budgeted for them, but this was more than he had anticipated.
He thought about the other expenses, the farmland, the livestock, the archers’ training. Every coin was precious, and spending this much on the castle felt like a gamble.
Ghan noticed their hesitation and explained,
"It’s not just a simple patch job. I’ll be fixing the roofs, most of the walls, the floors, and changing some of the pillars. The roofs alone will take a significant amount of resources: good timber, proper tiles, and skilled labor. The walls need to be reinforced, and the floors need to be leveled. This is a comprehensive renovation, not a quick fix."
He paused, letting the words sink in. "To build a new castle from scratch would cost more than double this amount. Patching up an existing structure is actually more cost-effective, but it still requires a significant investment."
Darion scratched his beards. "We’re begging you to go a bit lower."
Ghan looked at the place, his eyes scanning the room. "This is including transport costs and all that. I come from far, and I have to bring my materials with me. Good materials aren’t cheap."
Darion thought about it. Sure, renovating and just adding some things shouldn’t be that costly. But Ghan had made a good point, the transport, the materials, the labor. Everything added up.
Darion and Garren moved aside to discuss briefly, leaving Seren with the man. They stepped to the corner of the room, their voices low.
"Is it too high?" Darion asked.
"No, m’lord," Garren told him. "From what I learned, things like this cost over a thousand coins. It’s actually a fair price for the amount of work he’s offering."
Darion sighed. He had been hoping for a lower number, but Garren’s words made sense. The work was extensive, and Ghan was clearly skilled. They needed this done right.
He nodded. "Alright. We’ll accept."
They went back to the table. Darion looked at Ghan. "We’ll pay."
Ghan smiled, but Darion wasn’t done. "Just remove anything," Darion urged. He remembered his mother always haggling over prices back on Earth. She would never accept the first offer, always pushing for a better deal. He would try doing that now.
Ghan considered for a moment, then nodded. "I’ll remove ninety gold coins. I’m being generous because I see you’re trying to rebuild a struggling barony, and I respect that. So, one thousand eight hundred gold coins."
Darion looked at Garren, then back at Ghan. He extended his hand. "Deal."
Ghan stood up and shook Darion’s hand firmly. "Deal."
Garren brought out a fresh piece of parchment and a quill.
Ghan took it and began writing: a simple, clear agreement listing the scope of the work, the total cost, and the payment terms.
He wrote quickly, his hand steady, the words flowing across the page. He had a good handwriting.
When he was done, he slid it across the table to Darion.
Darion read through it carefully. The language was straightforward, no hidden clauses, no tricky wording. Just a straightforward deal between two parties. He nodded and signed his name at the bottom.
Ghan signed below him. "A copy for you," he said, "and a copy for me. That way there’s no confusion."
Darion looked at Garren, who nodded. "I’ll get the coins."
Garren left the hall and returned a few minutes later with a heavy leather pouch. He set it on the table, nine hundred gold coins, half the total. Ghan opened the pouch, glanced inside, counted very quickly, and nodded.
"Good. I’ll return within the week with my crew and materials. The work will begin shortly after." He stood, extending his hand once more. "It’s been a pleasure doing business with you, Baron Darion."
Darion shook his hand. "The pleasure is mine. I look forward to seeing the results."
Ghan tucked the pouch into his bag and left the hall, his steps confident, his departure marking the beginning of something new. Darion watched him go, feeling the weight of the expense but also a quiet satisfaction.
One more step forward. One more piece of the puzzle falling into place.