About T.A. 1700 there was one watermill just north of Brill, on the banks of the same small river that went through Cumba. Everyone brought their flour to the mill, since they were forced to admit however grudgingly that the miller did a fine job. The mill was not particularly large, but ample for the needs of Brill-land. Its huge mill stones had been cut by the finest craftsmen in Fornost. The grain was ground by the cutting action of the millstones, and the miller carefully adjusted their speed to the density of the grain. For some reason, millers were rarely popular in the districts they served. Many seemed to feel that the miller was taking bread out of their mouths, since he took payment in flour. There was also the feeling around town that millers grew prosperous from other peoples' sweat and labor. The Brill-men really had no cause for complaint with their miller. Bilila of the Rushlight was as honest and as cheerful as they came and would not think of cheating a customer. It was just that farmers, being self-sufficient, found it galling to have to go to another source to grind the grain that they grew. Bilila had as good a relationship as a miller could have with the farmers of the surrounding area. He was considered a fine, upstanding, well-to-do man. Hearts had softened towards him since his recent marriage to May of the Woodstock, a pretty but impecunious orphan. Everyone in Brill pitied her misfortunes, and all were pleased and surprised when Bilila, a confirmed bachelor, made her his wife. To add to the excitement, he whisked his new bride off to Fornost for the honeymoon. Although considered slightly crazy, the gesture increased the miller's popularity considerably, since the Brill-landers, solid farmers that they were, loved a romantic story.
Bilila was of medium height and had a broad build. May was twenty years old and was expecting the couple's first child very soon.
Notes[]
- Original form in MERP: Bill Rushlight → Bilila of the Rushlight. We have changed the name to an archaic form to better represent the temporal setting.
References[]
- MERP #8010: Bree and the Barrow-downs