Chapter 26

Chapter 26
"Jane, ye're allowed to visit only the first training site if ye want to watch," Tavish advised sternly. "Tis what the laird said."
"Got it."
Jane nodded and rolled her eyes heavenward, no longer focused on the many intimidating structures on the left of the Keep.
Her attention was on the decent structure to its right.
Compared with the other buildings, this was very simple, only having a single floor.
"Tavish, what's that?"
"Hey! That's our very own private Bakery and Brewery House!" Tavish pridefully announced, pointing her nose to the sky.
"What? Aren’t these done in the kitchen?"
"Well, the Laird's special breed is indeed made in the main building's kitchen by a selected few, but everyone's bread typically comes from here."
Jane nodded in understanding.
Bread was a dietary staple in these times, with many eating it for every meal, whether it was breakfast, lunch or supper.
Bread with beans, bread mushed with rice, bread with soup, bread with meat, and you name it. Bread was seen as a necessity.
Thus, with the thousands and thousands of knights training vigorously, the number of bread produced daily was also insane.
The main kitchen alone wouldn't be able to handle the daunting task, since the stoves were mostly occupied with cooking actual meals.
This was why a separate bakery was a must.
Nonetheless, it wasn't every day that the bread was served. From Tavish's words, bread was only served on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
On Mondays, it is served three times a day. On Tuesdays, it's served twice and on Fridays and Saturdays, it's served only once and that was for breakfast.
Such was the bread schedule.
Since it wasn't a prohibited building, Tavish wasted no time taking her in. Part of the building was a bakery and the other part was a brewery for ale making.
There was a running stream adjacent to the building, which made water gathering easier. The stream also flowed a little less close to the Keep. To keep it always fresh and clean, the waters which usually exited the Keep from its Scullery and baths were diverted further away from it.
The entire castle structure was a work of art. A hill away from here, were the stables, with enough open space behind them for the horses to run and flex.
Beside the stables was another area of hustle-and-bustle, called the Cattle Keep. And behind this keep was a stone wash about shoulder length which enclosed an entire hill, till it reached the fortress's main walls.
In the open space, one could see pigs, sheep, goats and other animals grazing about.
In winter, these animals would be kept inside the massive building. They were also butchered there too.
To another corner, Jane spotted the Great Hall, which was a separate building for hosting private parties that could take up to hundreds and thousands of guests. Its pillars and double-sided doors looked like they were meant for a giant. Hosting a grand ball here was doable.
And the open space in front of it was the size of a football field, with a stone holding at its center for massive bonfires. At other times, guests could keep their carriages there leaving immediately after the ball. For those sleeping over, their carriages were typically kept in the parking spaces beside the stables.
There were also private 2-story private homes on a single hill dedicated to special members of the clan.
Gwen lived in one of those stone buildings with her husband Amos, and so did Lydia, Susu, Anne, and Claris if they weren't staying overnight on duty in the keep or other places.
They lived there with their families. It was a special privilege for their services.
On another slope, was a single building designed like a dormitory for the clans women who had to sleep over for work purposes. It was a temporal sleeping quarter, with several mats patted heavily with straw.
The last building Tavish took Jane to was the chapel, which also connected to the priest's house at the back.
Jane began feeling nervous for some reason. It has been a long time since she truly spoke to God. She felt guilty for not going to church for this long.
The priest who entered the chapel not too long ago was taken by their presence. Not many people came to worship at this hour.
"Please Father, stay still. You don’t have to stand for us."
Father Gregory nodded with a smile, resting his painful buttocks on his chair.
Though not serious, he took a hard tumble last night which left his old bones in pain.
"Lady Jane. I believe we've not been properly introduced. I'm Father Gregory."
It was not hard to understand him, despite his thick accent. The man's voice was as loud as his oddly colored hair. Jane has never seen someone with 3 difficult hair colors from birth.
His front hair was black, his right front hair was blond and his back hair was all silver.
There was a difference between white aging hair and Silver hair. Father Gregory's hair almost seems metallic in her eyes.
Jane felt her eardrums threatening to explode with how loud Gregory's voice was. No wonder he was a preacher. With such a job, his natural talent wasn't in vain.
'Maybe Father Gregory will give me helpful information.' Jane thought. But for Tavish, the moment she saw Father Gregory, she looked like she had seen a ghost.
"Erm... Jane, I just remembered I have something to do. I forgot I have to mop the grass. Don't worry. I'll be back before you know it!"
Mop the grass? Who mops the grass?
Jane, who was confused by Tavish's words, soon understood why the poor girl suddenly changed her demeanor.
BANG!
The door was closed shut by Father Gregory's bullseye attack.
Jane's jaws dropped to the floor, seeing the Holy Chalice/goblet of the church stuck used for target practice.
Who am I? Where am I? What am I? Jane suddenly felt the priest was a demon in human clothing.
"And where do you think ye're going, Tavish?"