Chapter 41

Chapter 41

The following morning, Lansius met with Sir Callahan at the castle. After a brief conversation, he shared the details of the plan and handed Sir Callahan letters to be opened in the presence of Seneschal Bengrieve of Midlandia.

Sir Callahan, Cecile’s father, was chosen for his charisma and intelligence, qualities that enabled him to effectively connect with both nobles and merchants. His blond hair bore evidence of his northern aristocratic lineage. With this background and gifts from Lansius, Callahan was expected to help smooth relations between Korelia and Midlandia.

Lansius also entrusted Sir Callahan with five keys to chests filled with gold, silver, and jewelry from their recent victory. Although there were five chests, they were intentionally filled to less than half capacity to mitigate the risk of an attack on the convoy or betrayal by one of their own.

Callahan was considered trustworthy enough to handle the vast sum of money involved. In this regard, his daughter’s employment at Korelia Castle served as an added layer of security, making Cecile akin to a hostage.

Without delay, preparations began, and news of a planned return trip to Midlandia with an armed escort spread throughout Korelia. Lansius gathered all the military carts he had and loaded them with leathers, furs, and other local commodities.

Since winter was approaching, he believed he could make a profit by selling these items to offset their expenses. As expected, all merchants who owned horse-drawn carts jumped at the opportunity. Affordable armed escorts and a direct route to Midlandia were too good to pass up.

By the end of the week, preparations were complete, and the last element of Lansius’s plan arrived: Sir Justin and forty riders, half of whom were new recruits. Though satisfied with Sir Callahan, he wanted people from different backgrounds as an extra measure of protection to prevent collusion.

Now, with Sir Justin on the team, the convoy escort consisted of a diverse mix of Lowlandians, Arvenians, and Midlandians.

The following morning, just after dawn, Lansius bid farewell to the caravan and cavalry escort. Cecile’s farewell to her father was particularly emotional. The last time they had parted, Callahan had returned with a large gash on his back.

With a gentle stare and a nod, the two silently said their goodbyes. Cecile held back her tears until the caravan and her father were out of sight. The fate of Korelia now rested squarely on the caravan and its cavalry escort.

Three weeks after the caravan’s departure, the air in Korelia turned dry, and a chilly wind blew from the north. Animals such as bears and foxes had gone into hibernation, signaling the onset of winter.

Despite the usual slow season, Korelia bustled with activity this year. Digging work accelerated, and two wooden towers were under construction. An enlarged, crude picket fence encircled the west side of the town, its sharpened tips positioned to deter cavalry attacks.

The upcoming war weighed heavily on Lansius’s mind. After surveying the region, he realized that nothing would stop an enemy from the west from reaching Korelia Castle. With no river, bridge, or natural bottleneck, the open steppe left Korelia vulnerable. Despite its size, Korelia was like a city-state with only the castle and town worth protecting.

As winter approached, Lansius faced challenges in improving his situation. The Lowlandian nobles predictably wouldn’t build relations with him, as doing so would mean recognizing his claim over Korelia. Furthermore, he was a non-Lowlandian, non-noble, and not even Imperium-born, so his neighboring lords would treat him like a pariah, lest they attract hatred from their peers.

Lansius planned to train his troops, but Sir Justin, his new marshal, advised against it. Although Lansius introduced a new system and paid salaries, a lord could typically muster his troops for only forty days, and Lansius had already exceeded that limit.

Quietly abandoning the plan, he recognized that the concept of a standing army was still foreign in this era. After surveying their billets, he also realized that he might be asking too much from his men. They were primarily Midlandians, and this year they had marched, fought an uneven battle, and dug trenches to earn extra money. Now they spent their winter away from home to guard Korelia from daring surprise attacks. So, Lansius decided to tread carefully, lest his men grow resentful and desert.

Instead, he concentrated on bolstering defenses and producing crossbows. Interestingly, while no Lowlandian nobles sought him out, a steady stream of guests arrived, eager to meet the new Lord of Korelia.

Baronets, knights, and village elders with nothing to do in their lands after the harvest ended traveling to Korelia for hospitality, as was customary for a new lord. They had no immediate reason for the trip other than boredom and the chance to enjoy a free feast at the new lord’s expense.

For Lansius, the guests were a source of constant annoyance. Because of them, he needed to dress up in bright, colorful, and uncomfortable tunics and fur coats to show his status.

He referred to them as his circus costume, but wearing them alone was not so bad. For him, the worst part was engaging the guests in pleasantries.

Lansius dreaded small talk. On a personal level, he found the exchanges mostly hollow and superficial. He also had a lingering suspicion that people ridiculed him behind his back because of his crude language and abysmal social skills.

Nevertheless, his sense of responsibility and the presence of Audrey made him tolerate it. She became his social and emotional crutch during social events, giving him the confidence he rarely possessed.

As was customary, the lord would dine together with his retinue, old and new, along with socializing with the guests.

That day, a pair of elderly knights had come to greet Lansius. Although they were too old to answer his call, Lansius wanted to show his benevolence and invited them to join him for supper in the great hall.

The airy hall was filled with a warm glow from the chandeliers, casting flickering shadows across the polished floor. The high ceiling soared above, supported by old but sturdy wooden beams.

Long wooden tables with benches ran down the center of the hall and were adorned with platters of roasted meats, loaves of bread, and bowls of steaming vegetables.

At the far end of the hall, a massive fireplace blazed, its crackling flames casting cheerful light and warmth throughout the room. The walls were decorated with tapestries of ancient battles, while at one end of the room stood a raised platform where Lansius and his closest companions sat.

They grew to respect Lansius despite his lack of superior physical or social qualities.

They took the stairs, and Lansius turned around to address them. “Thank you for the day. You may retire now.”

“My lord.” The two bowed their heads.

“Thank you and good night,” Lansius warmly said.

The two left the premises. Stirling headed to the great hall where squires and other male servants slept for the night. Meanwhile, Cecile went to a room she shared with Carla and another servant.

Even without them, Lansius and Audrey couldn’t spend their time together. The guard posted on the stairs kept a watchful eye.

Lansius could tell them to leave, but that would arouse even greater gossip.

That didn’t stop intoxicated Lansius from trying. “Don’t you want to come in?” he asked.

Audrey’s answer was a strong gaze that made Lansius blink and shudder. “It went off again.”

“Not sorry,” Audrey said with a pout.

Lansius grinned, remembering what the magus they had befriended in Midlandia had said about Audrey’s eyes. She said they were not normal and likely the result of an unknown magic Audrey’s master had bestowed upon her without her knowledge.

“So, see you tomorrow?” Lansius asked.

Audrey nodded. “Good night, Lans,” she said with a smile and left for the night.

While Lansius was openly showing affection, Audrey was more reserved about it. She had grown to care for Lansius, but she feared she would be a hindrance.

Despite her expensive gown and silver accessories, Audrey knew she had no land or estate to her name, and her social status was unclear. Not even a bastard, her adoption into a baronet family held little weight.

Audrey couldn’t help but feel like a burden to Lansius, knowing that he would gain nothing from marrying her. As a rising star, it seemed inevitable that Lansius would eventually wed the daughter of another nobleman.

Pausing by a small window, Audrey took a moment to breathe in the cool evening breeze, a welcome respite from her swirling thoughts. Each day was a renewed struggle to maintain a careful distance from Lansius, yet each day, he managed to draw her in afresh, making her fall in love all over again. With these conflicting emotions swirling in her mind, she retreated to the sanctuary of her guest chamber for the night.

A week had passed, and a new day dawned in Korelia, marked by its bustling routine. Ever since the new lord had settled in, there had been no idle moment. Each day brought progress, whether in building up the inside or outside the city.

The defensive network advanced rapidly until today’s busy work was interrupted by a single cry. “They’re back. I’ve seen them. The caravan is back!”

Just after midday, the trade caravan from Midlandia was spotted in the distance. In droves, hundreds of men, women, and children rushed out to catch a glimpse of it.

The return of the caravan quickly became the highlight of the day. With rising grain prices, their return was filled with hope, especially for the most impoverished, who could barely afford even the cheapest grain for their bread.

As they watched, they noticed an additional ten horse-drawn carts. Now, there were forty carts of different sizes, accompanied by a hundred cavalry escorts. For the first time in weeks, the most impoverished had a sparkle in their eyes. Not even the hot midday sun could dampen their spirits.

As the first caravan made its way into the city, a wave of cheering erupted, filling the air with excitement and anticipation.

The jubilant crowd soon discovered that the ten additional carts were a gift from the Lord of Midlandia to commemorate Lansius’s victory, and the news spread like wildfire. The cheers grew louder, echoing through the main road and into the surrounding streets. It was a moment of pure joy and celebration.

The merchants wasted no time, quickly unloading their goods at their respective shops and immediately opening for business. Hundreds of eager customers lined up to purchase the affordable grain, with the long queues lasting until sundown.

For a few days, the arrival of affordable grain led to a dip in local market prices. However, this brief respite was short-lived, as prices began to rise again on the fourth day.

Despite the arrival of the grain caravan, Korelia’s situation only experienced a slight improvement before continuing to decline. The crisis had not been averted, and Calub’s words of caution rang true.