Chapter 101: Dulce Bellum Inexpertis

Chapter 101: Dulce Bellum Inexpertis

Dulce Bellum Inexpertis

War is sweet to the inexperienced

Fall of the Elven Calendar, 4425. Despite the ongoing succession crisis in Midlandia, at the behest of the Tiberia and Elandia provinces, which were struggling against Lord Gottfried's assault from Arvena, Lord Bengrieve decided to act, marching his troops to the border.

Externally, this action demonstrated Midlandia's loyalty to the Imperium. However, Bengrieve harbored a different motive. He had secretly entertained an open pact with Gottfried by agreeing not to wage war or compete against each other. Therefore, Midlandia's move towards Elandia was essentially an annexation, veiled as a relief force.

The catalyst for this decisive move was a critical piece of information: the Capital had not mobilized its army to resolve the Nicopolan crisis. Bengrieve interpreted the absence of military movement in the face of a major threat as a clear indication of the Emperor's demise.

This revelation emboldened and spurred Bengrieve to accelerate his plans for Midlandia. Even the absence of Audrey, the person he saw as most fit for the purpose, did not stop him. Bengrieve settled on Hannei as his future head of state—a figurehead for the theocratic rule he deemed most effective for controlling the masses.

Meanwhile, outside Midlandia, at least three other Lords saw through the Imperium's indecisiveness. Born into power and with little understanding of the horrors of war and the age of strife, these nobles maneuvered to advance their own agendas, treating the situation as nothing more than a game of politics.

Lord Gottfried had gained a foothold in east Tiberia and began spreading rumors that the Ageless One was dying and had been taken hostage by the High Lords. As refugees traveled westward to avoid the war, the rumors traveled with them. This way, Gottfried successfully sowed chaos among the Imperium's populace.

With Nicopola, Elandia, and now Tiberia engulfed in turmoil, the Imperium faced its darkest hours.

***

New Korelia

"Dear Lord and Lady, your vassal, Sir Justin, writes to report on the progress in Korelia. I hope this letter finds you well. The building project for Korelia is progressing smoothly. The city wall on the western side is beginning to..." The Marshal seemed to ponder about the correct words.

"To take shape?" Calub suggested, and Sir Justin motioned with his hand, prompting Cecile to write it down.

Sir Justin then waited for Cecile to catch up. "Now, what comes after the wall?" he asked afterward.

Calub massaged his temple. "Well, we have reports from the newly opened farms, its windbreaker, and windmill..."

"I think we also need to report about the orphanage, guild hall, and bazaar," Cecile commented while jotting in her waxed tablet.

"I guess we can report on the orphanage," Sir Justin mulled. "But there is almost little to no progress on the other two."

"We also have the mud houses for winter, the duck project, and the market posts," Cecile offered more suggestions.

Sir Justin whistled at the suggestions. "You know, when I learned Sterling had arrived I was overjoyed. I thought that I could just report all this verbally to him. So unfortunate that he left so soon to Korimor."

The other two chuckled upon hearing the confession.

"Well, he is with Anci, and he is always unpredictable," Calub commented, followed by Cecile, "Which reminds me, we have news of the coming of officials from the Capital and the noble patent."

Calub leaned forward. "I think we should write it down first since it is the most important. That and the grain shipment from White Lake and the East Lowlandia Merchants."

Sir Justin nodded in agreement. "As long as Cecile can keep track."

"Let me add that to the draft. What else?" she asked.

Sir Justin pondered. "I want to report that the military training for levied troops using crossbows is progressing smoothly."

Calub added, "The spinning wheel device the Lord ordered has also arrived. Also, Lord Robert had sent his staff to begin the work on his estate."

Cecile wrote what they had said on her wax tablet.

"There is also a... What should we write about the bathhouse?" Sir Justin asked with a big grin.

Calub chuckled. "A slight error?"

"A happy accident?" Cecile suggested.

Sir Justin returned to the letter at hand and muttered as he read, "You'll send them to South Hill with enough escorts and using horse carts or simple carriages as much as possible so they could reach South Hill with haste. You're also to pack a hundred crossbows and bolts for the future campaign..."

He nodded in understanding and said, "It seems we have our work cut out for us." He then drew a deep breath and called, "Squire."

"Yes, Sir."

"Summon Maester Calub, the Captain of the Guard, and the Stable Maester. Let's get to work. Lord Lansius is waiting."

***

South Hill

A young girl clad in simple brown garments, typically worn by the farming community, ran hastily along the dirt road, barefooted, her small brother's hand tightly in hers. Shouts and cries echoed from the direction of their humble home, but she did not dare look back. Her breaths soon failed her, yet she managed to put some distance between them and the Lord’s men.

Her brother pulled at his hand, feeling pain in his wrist. As they caught their breaths, a group of minstrels on a journey stumbled upon them.

“What happened? A bandit?” the closest man in flute and bright yellow garb asked.

Panting, the girl warned amidst her breathlessness, “Do not go there. The Lord’s men are at it again... Just now, they were beating our parents.”

The troupe, a motley crew adorned in colorful garb, turned tense.

The one who looked like a leader in red garb with a small harp slung across his back stepped forward and knelt. “Do not worry. You are safe with us. We'll protect you.”

Another member expressed his displeasure openly. "But why? What could provoke them to beat the peasant so close to harvest?"

“The lord demands more time spent on his lands, but our own fields... they are being neglected,” the girl boldly explained. “My brother and uncle went to Korelia and have not returned. We cannot tend to both, or our harvest... will fail.”

The red minstrel nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. “Without a good harvest, there will not be enough food for winter.”

The girl nodded, her eyes darting back toward the direction of their home, fear and concern obvious in her gaze.

The leader motioned to his band. “I think we need to meet these men and play some music.”

Ruckus and lively banter appeared out of nowhere until one said, “Sigmund, are you sure?”

“What, you are going to let these lord's men to exact violence?” the red minstrel asked.

“No, but I do not want to get on the Lord and Lady’s bad side.”

The man named Sigmund smiled jovially and patted the sister and brother’s shoulders. “You see Dietrich. That is why we have them.”

“Oh, that's clever..." the ones named Dietrich nodded.

Sigmund smiled. “Kids, we will help your parents.” Then, to the rest of the group, “Men, onward. Don't let anyone escape.”

The men in bright clothing laughed and walked steadily with purpose. The children watched them, finding it bizarre to see a circus of colors with flutes and other musical instruments marching with determination and wide, sinister grins.

“But Maester, you are only minstrels,” she cautioned, while the boy continued to hide behind her.

“Don't worry, we are strong enough to handle bandits,” Sigmund replied.

“But the Lord has many men,” she warned them again.

The skald chuckled while Dietrich patted the girl's head and spoke, “No worries, soon we will have hundreds of friends. And tomorrow, probably more friends than you have learned to count.”

***