Popularity War

Just Broccoli

Popularity War

Chapter 12

Eva sighed heavily and tried not to cry out in frustration as the cow refused to sit still and knocked over the bucket of milk. There was not much liquid for Eva had a hard time milking the cow on Eragon’s farm. After much persistence, Eragon had managed to let Eva live and work on the farm. Being her fifth day, she was already flustered. She knew the work would be hard, but she had hoped to be a quick learner. However, that was not the case. She struggled with most of the tasks presented to her. Eragon kept telling her that she will get better in time, but she was not convinced.

He was sitting next to her in a stool and tried not to look disappointed at her repeated failure. “Why don’t you stop for today? I’ll finish this and then we can make breakfast.”

Eva said nothing as she stood up and allowed Eragon to take her seat to milk the cow. She watched him easily extract the milk from the udders, upset that she could not do the same. Back inside, Eva grabbed a frying pan to cook some eggs. At least she could cook, which delighted the three men she lived with. Typically they had eaten cold meat, cheese, or bread in the morning, but since she arrived, she had been giving them proper food for their morning meal. “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” she insisted.

After another long day on the farm with Eva struggling to keep up, Garrow had to talk to Eragon in private before dinner. As much as he wanted to help Eva, he could not afford to lose precious time during the harvest to have Eva trained. When she wasn’t having trouble completing a task, she was in the way of the men, or so Garrow concluded.  “Eragon, we need to find Eva another job. Her performance here is not working out, I’m sorry.”

“Uncle, it’s only been a few days; give her more time, please.” Eragon was afraid his uncle would comment on Eva’s work and he was bound to keep her working on their farm.

Garrow took off his straw hat to wipe the sweat from his brow. “I understand. If it wasn’t during the harvest, I would not be as concerned, but we have much work to get done and she’s not helping matters. She’s not strong enough to continuously dig up the vegetables and haul them to the storage barn. She can wash them down, but that task does not take long. She can’t milk the cows yet. All her tasks around here are not complex or hard, but she still cannot do them.

“I know it is not her fault, but I know she is upset because she cannot help and I can’t bear to have her sit around doing nothing while we work. That is not fair to her nor to me. Nothing against her, but she needs to earn her keep here.” He scratched his chin when he finished.

Eragon understood his uncle’s complaint, but he could not send her back to the village to find work. “Listen, maybe we are giving her the wrong chores. You’ve seen her in the kitchen; she excels in there. Eva is not meant for hard labor, so why not have her help out in the house? I will keep helping her with milking, and she can take care of the animals, cooks meals, clean, sew, etc. instead. She will be working and it’s work she can do. We’ve been so keen on manual labor here that we’ve neglected the house itself and all the work that needs to be done there.”

Eragon held his breath as his uncle processed what he said. After about a minute, she saw him nod his head, seemingly satisfied. “You know, I never did think of that. There has not been a woman living here in ages and I have not been able to keep up on the housework. Eva can give that a try. Why don’t you tell Eva her new duties after dinner and after a few days, I’ll see if she can stay or not?”

“Thank you uncle!” Eragon whooped. He knew Eva would not let his uncle down this time.

Eva hummed while she cleaned the kitchen counter, excited about the traders’ annual visit to Carvahall. The traders were a group of specialized tradesmen and women who traveled around Alagaesia selling their goods. They typically stayed a few days in each city or village they visit and Eva always looked forward to their coming. Not only did they sell goods, but they also had entertainers, so in the evening they would put on shows. There was talk that they would be in Carvahall within the month.