At least that's what one the books in the giveaway box outside suggested. "From Rome's horn of plenty" - it was a cookbook, how to cook like in Roman times. Not very appetizing actually, judging by what I could tell from skimming through it. It also had one about symbols and allegories, a variety of books on local history, and a map with interesting destinations in the surrounding area, which I decided to take with me.
The place itself here however offers nothing to eat or drink at all. It's only full of knives in all shapes and sizes. Knives, knives, knives, and the occasional axe and pair of scissors. I think I've also seen some scythes hanging on a wall. Had I known that, I might've picked up the arrow I found in the forest the other day. Way too small for me, with a wooden shaft and a suction cup for a tip, meant for a small toy bow. The kind I was allowed to have only once for carnival, when I dressed up as Robin Hood. But still, you bet I could've made that thing some kind of functional! Just tear off the suction cup and grind the shaft to a point on some rocks, voila! Still way too short to shoot it from a normal sized bow, but you sure could stab someone with that. Except, why use a rock when you have professional tools available!
Because, that's what this place really is: One of the last remaining "Schleiferkotten", meaning, a knife grinding mill. Built for sharpening all sorts of blades back when things that broke still got fixed instead of replaced. And it has quite a few ways to startle you. Things moving and making noises in almost every corner. Belts, sprockets, the big waterwheel powering the whole thing... selling some water or coffee perhaps might make it quite a bit more popular though, not gonna lie.
Something else I found telling, was the chimney sweeper's tools here on the wall. That too apparently was something you were expected to do yourself way back when. Or, expected... supposed? Required? Allowed? Either way I appreciate that the option existed at least. Doing things yourself is so underrated nowadays.
