Ledecestre, Enulf"s Estates, 720 AD
Established in his new hall and feeling the most blessed man in the world, Enulf gathered his thegns to get to know them better but also to understand the management of his lands. With this in mind, he ordered them to saddle horses and to lead him around the boundaries of the important settlements.
The high, fleecy clouds in a blue sky did little to obscure the sun, which cast deep shadows emphasising the contours of the land. The horsemen came to a field where men were working the earth with adzes and hoes.
Enulf reined in his horse, bringing his companions to a halt.
“What"s this?” he cried.
“A barley field, Lord.”
“I mean why are they turning the soil by hand? Where is the plough?”
The thegn laughed but changed it to a discreet cough, better no
