Chapter 204: Prep For War; Intermission

Although I made a clear food for protection deal with the Spriggan, I realized just in time that the village, Demme having their own luck of food and security is not good business on my part. 

The people of Demme need a leash to be kept on them so they know to stay in line and under my rule. That leash just so happens to be food.

So, while I still had the spirit, I added something to the bill, "But I'll let you know when and in what quantities to keep the land arable and fresh."

Though I'm speaking to her through the simple grass manifestation of her will, I sense her give a feeling of confusion. 

And I'm right. She asks, "You wish me not to give it my best?"

I shrug, "Your best produce sure but not your best bulk delivery, if you catch my drift."

…

…

She doesn't, "Yes, yes I want you to be subpar with the food when I need you to, trust me, this all works in your favour."

She seems to scoff, "You wish to rule over their lives with the threat of food being pulled away. You are truly a Necromancer, evil and fickle with death. But very well, your kind are a bother to me anyhow."

Her voice begins to recede and I know she's taking her due leave, "When you need me, I will be where I always am, within the Forest."

I wait a moment before moving even an inch, I wait until the grasses and the scrubs begin to shiver and shrink, I wait till she's gone entirely.

Letting out a grateful sigh, I look up and find Anselm hanging in the air as always.

His still face slowly splits into a green as he descends to my side, "It was rough and certainly not how you planned it going, but you're alive and you have accomplished the goal you set out for, and even managed to please Lotar, I'm sure."

"Hahah! I couldn't have done it without you!" I say in a rather exaggerated manner, one that causes him to fix me with a stern look afterwards. "Fine, I couldn't have done it without you…and Shaco, and Panda, or Juri and the men."

Moderately satisfied, he nods, "Speaking of which…what now? Where to next?"

I look to the village, the lights have long since gone up as the day drew to a close and at the bottom of the wall Juri, the militia and undoubtably a few commoners gather at the opening.

I shrug at the question, "Well, I think that wall needs to be shut."

"You know what I mean."

I do. "For someone that supposedly read a prophesy about me, you sure seem in the dark about my next moves, I think I should be asking you actually."

He doesn't say anything at this, simple floats beside me as we head back to the village, careful to stay as far away from the beheaded corpse of Icktar.

"But it should be obvious," I start, get the warriors, the militia to gather up at Aste. There I will address the entirety of the military there, every single one of them. Since I can't exactly afford to go to the three remaining villages and subsume them like have done here, they'll need to set out and do it themselves."

Anselm seems to take a pause at this, "You're conquering the villages?"

"I'll be inviting the villages with a sword to join me, the two cities and villages in my control or take be conquered and beaten into the ground."

"That's what I said."

"Is it?"

He shakes his head, "Fine, I can't judge any longer, there is little time for diplomacy anyway, but I just wish you'd consider it even a little bit." He sighs.

But at least he recognizes why I have to push for control as fast and brutally as I can. I'll be needing a standing army soon and currently the militia I'm approaching only number a rough hundred men strong.

And many are without the kind of resourceful out of the box tactical thinking my war against the Kingdom will be needing.

"Shaco, where are you?"

"I'm sorry Master, all of the bodies I've found were at great distances to each other and all buried." He apologizes immediately.

"No, don't worry about that anymore, it's been settled. But I need eyes on those two, Red and Quen, I think its about time we have a discussion."

"On my way there Master."

"Why do you specifically need those two anyway?" Anselm suddenly asks. "If it's because of their skills, the ones used against us that day then I'm sure the Hunter's Guild could find you some fine Hunters willing to accommodate you."

"That's true, the Hunter's could provide me with a pool of untapped and talented generals for my army." I agree, "But I don't need that many, I just need these two to set up a training system that can then be ported across all of my occupied territories."

"And why do you need them specifically?" He insists.

Inhaling deeply, I answer truthfully, "Because Serue chose them, out of all the other Hunters, he chose them to slow my advance and they did. They're worth the investment."

Before Anselm can respond to any of this, we're approached by a frightened looking Juri, Alric and Fragas.

"What happened out there?" Alric is first to speak, "Is it over? Are we safe?"

I chuckle at the question, "No, not until I'm fully prepared."

Fragas looks too nervous to ask but he manages to anyway, "And when will that be?"

I smile thinly, "When I'm a god." I say simple as that, "For now though, the threat of the Benefactor and the attacks from the forest will simply loom over you. I'd advise you worship Lotar with as much fervour as you can. Figure out whatever rituals you want to give in his name and carry it out, Lotar and I are your last defences against the Benefactor."

"And what of food?" Alric asks, quickly getting the gist of it all and moving on to the next most pressing matter, "If we're going to be a vassal under you then I'll need to ensure your peoples needs are met, and those needs include food."

A grin splits my face, "You sure have slid into your new role nicely, Alric," I raise my hand to pet his head but think better of it, he deserves that much respect after all.

"I'll be heading back to Aste with my captured prizes and the Warriors like I said I would." Fragas flinches at this and I turn my focus to him, "Don't worry, if I can help it, you won't be at the frontlines…my undead will."

He turns away from my gaze, as though embarrassed by his fear.

Nevertheless, I continue to address Alric's concern, "Oh don't worry Alric, once we get beck to Aste I'll arrange for a caravan to bring you the food promised on my part. Your people will not starve on my watch."

I feel justified at myself. Yes, if not me then who else can and is willing to help these people, and as one of the first to be conquered by my great mission to unite this land under my single, just and fair rule, he and every single one of Demme's residents are essentially the most important of my people.

I tell him, "Yes, after all, are they not my people now?" 

He scowls at this, doing little to hide his remaining inhibitions. "Very well, I will trust your word, you're more invested in this anyway." He says with a shrug. "If I fall up on the wrong side of any of this then I'm simple an old Mayor who got upshot by a terrifying Necromage to the King and not in fact a defector."

I smile brightly at him, "Yes, but if all goes well and I win," I start, emphasizing on the last word as my victory over the Kingdom of Ire, and the establishment of Kingdom of my own is all but assured, "You will have the favour of the first and only ruling body of a new and powerful Kingdom."

He chuckles greedily to himself, "Yes, not a particularly bad deal I suppose."

I clap my hands, cheerily at this, "Brilliant, now, if you don't mind, I'll scouting my newest military recruits, the ones who will train me the army I desire." I say in quick stride as I move past him.

I look to Juri as I move by hurriedly, "Get the men ready, travel ready. Every single one of you soldiers are moving back to Aste, its time to do some regrouping!"

The thought of getting back to Aste in three days excites me, I'd left Kaylin in charge for the time being as I couldn't very well have Hastra, albeit being a brilliant Steward, is effectively a stranger to me.

And although I wanted Aren to lead Aste, he being stubbornly unconscious gave me little choice in picking my last remaining option, that being Kaylin.

Although, for the fact that she wanted the job so bad she straight up asked must mean she has the willpower to plough through whipping my disarrayed subjects into place.

I can only wonder now what Aste looks like.