Marks on the Hall Doorframe

Not a book at all — a column of knife-notches cut into the surviving doorframe of the Foldfast hall, each with a name and a year, the last two marks close together and never added to.

(The hall's north doorframe is the one wall the fallen roof spared. Someone measured children against it for a long time.)

SERA — spring, the year of the good ewes SERA — the wet year DEL — first mark, he can stand now SERA — she is nearly to the latch DEL — the dry summer SERA & DEL, same day, so they would stop arguing which was taller DEL — the year the assay came back thin

(Below the last mark, in a different, older hand, pressed hard enough to split the wood:)

We will cut the next one at the new place. Whatever it costs. I am not measuring my children against a debt.

(There is no next mark. The Broken Lances have nailed a kit-rack over the lower notches and do not appear to have read them.)