Day 112

I feel like it has been an extraordinarily long time since last I recorded my observations about the barbarians. I've been feeling a bit under the weather for the past fortnight, but I'm back on top of my game today.

At the end of this week, I will be opening a trading stall in the market to rid myself of some old furs and things. I've been busily preparing for this endeavor and I begin to question my own sanity. What could possibly have possessed me to even consider opening a market stall? Even for two days it's been more work than I could have possibly anticipated.

The eldest barbarian has been exceptionally reluctant to attend the Halls of Learning of late. Down to resisting so violently I've actually been tempted to allow him remain at the settlement a time or two. A week ago, I went down to the Halls of Learning at the mid-day and joined the barbarian horde for luncheon. After the meal with the eldest, I adjourned with the horde outside.

I believe that I have discovered the source behind the eldest barbarian's reluctance to attend the Halls of Learning. While out of doors, another barbarian has been - for lack of a better word - assaulting him. This barbarian, while the same age as the eldest of my settlement, is much larger than his slight frame and quite capable of overpowering him. The colossal barbarian was so used to grappling the barbarian from my settlement, that she did so even in front of me.

It goes without saying that I spoke with the eldest barbarian's Wise Woman about the event. I attended luncheon with the elder barbarians again today and again went out of doors with them after. I was pleased to see that the colossal barbarian's interactions with the eldest of my settlement was much less aggressive. I would wonder if I had done the right thing by bringing the aggravation to the Wise Woman's attention, but the eldest barbarian has not expressed the least bit of reluctance to attend the Halls of Learning.

The middle barbarian has been having some difficulties at the Halls of Learning as well, though his have more to do with an abundance of manic energy than anything else. Now that Spring has officially arrived in more than just name, the warm weather has created a certain frantic energy among the barbarians of my settlement. They have resumed visitations to neighboring settlements. I am learning that there are many more barbarian settlements in my area than I had first estimated.

The littlest barbarian has discovered that the outdoors can be more than the frigid wasteland she had become accustomed to over the long and grueling winter. She has decided that she would spend every waking moment out there if she could. This has encouraged me to get out more than I had been. I am both anticipating and dreading the coming of Summer. The Halls of Learning will be closed and I will be trapped at the settlement with all three barbarians much of the time.  I have planned a number of outings which I hope will keep us busy and out of trouble over the Summer.

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