Trap
Currently, Lorist was standing on top of the outer, less fortified wall and looking towards the plains in the far distance.
Now that they had everything in place, they only had to wait. As long as they manage to trick the escort of the shipnt hired by the Kenmays Family into the valley beyond the wall, Lorist was confident that he would be able to make the Feathersoar rcenary Crew surrender and let him take over whatever resource they brought along the way. He believed that when the resources that the Kenmays Family had painstakingly shipped over fell into his hands, Viscount Kenmays and his father, the Kenmays family head, would definitely be wearing amusing expressions.
At dawn yesterday, Patt brought over 20 of the surrendered rcenaries back to the construction site. After having their afternoon al, the 20 rcenaries went to get so rest while Patt reported what had happened during his visit to Poplar Coast to Lorist.
According to him, when he made his way to the coast, his announcent of Lorist’s intentions had caused an uproar among the rcenaries stationed there. One of the rcenary leaders, Hausky, argued that an act like that violated the basic etiquette rcenaries should have, but his n had all been swayed by the lavish pay of participating in that mission and scrambled to join in. After hours of debate, they finally settled on 19 people who had been picked by a ballot who were joined by the vice leader, Jim, before they rushed back to the site.
Lorist breathed a sigh of relief as it seed that there would no longer be a problem on the side of the rcenaries. It’s no wonder that the rcenaries would cooperate with that plan. Given that most of them were rather poor, the paynt of ten gold Foredes was more than enough for them to settle down for a peaceful life. And all they had to do was to chat and wave to their fellow rcenaries to lure them beyond the walls.
The slave laborers had all stopped working outside the walls and were sent away by Telesti to collect more building materials such as sand, stones and clay. Only 200 of the more common laborers continued to clean up trash around the site so that they may aid with moving the stuff that would co with the shipnt later.
Naturally, the convoy that had co along with Lorist to the construction site as well as the people Lorist brought over from Wildnorth Town had all retreated to a camp beyond the inner walls that faced the Norton Family dominion so that they would leave no trace on the outside of the construction site where the shipnt and its escort would arrive at, lest they trigger the suspicion of the leader of the Feathersoar rcenary Crew. He also had Jim doublecheck everything just in case he missed anything out.
Jim circled the area for a bit before he returned with a suggestion: Lorist should have the soldiers who wore tal armor to go into hiding as rcenaries are commonly poor folk who wouldn’t be able to afford sothing like that. If three of such soldiers were to be discovered, Crew Leader Adams would easily notice the disparity.
The flag that was being flown at the construction site currently bore the Kenmays Family’s three-ringed insignia and on the walls were 12 ballistas which were covered with a waterproof green cloth to prevent them from being discovered.
At that mont, Josk was currently standing at one of the crenels[1] of the walls equipped poorly with leather armor while chewing a dried grass stalk within his mouth. His main task for the day was to watch the area from the walls to make sure that not a single person escapes after the escort is drawn into the construction site.
Lorist was also equipped with a grey leather armor himself and he was playing the role of the personal attendant of Butler Boris. He would also be accompanying him to receive and greet the Feathersoar rcenary Crew to complete the transaction.
"Don’t be so nervous," Lorist said to Boris. "We’re extrely well-prepared and they will definitely not notice anything amiss. You only have to act as you usually do. Isn’t it as easy as luring them inside and having so smalltalk with the leader of the rcenary crew? After you’re done, you can retreat sowhere so we can take over. Be assured that I will guarantee your safety."
Lorist’s opinion of that old butler was a good one in that he was a capable person that handled most of what he was instructed without trouble and was a talent in human resource managent and administration. The only flaw he had was that he was extrely fearful for his own life. If the opposite was the case, there was no way that he would surrender to Lorist’s forces so easily and work so earnestly for him in the first place.
"Butler Boris, after this operation, I will send so people to the Redriver Valley Bastide to save your family mbers. That is my promise to you in the na of the dominion lord," said Lorist seriously towards the butler.
"Milord, thank you... Thank you. I will definitely do my best to play my part," said Boris thankfully to the point of tears.
......
At around ten in the morning, two rcenaries of the crew ca on horseback from the convoy before the rest to check on the situation. One of the horsen was an acquaintance of Jim, thus they chatted for quite a bit before they ntioned that the convoy would take another two hours to arrive and requested the people at the construction site to prepare food and drinks for them. After refusing an offer from so of the rcenaries stationed at the walls to rest up first before the convoy arrived, the horsen rode back to join the rest of them.
The slow and tornting wait slowly passed as the sun gradually rose to its highest point in the skies with clouds of dust building up from the approaching convoy in the distance.
In another half an hour the Kenmays Family shipnt convoy could be seen with tens of n on horseback wearing helts decorated with white goose feathers riding over more quickly towards the gates of the walls. They stopped at a distance from the gates and got off their mounts before they all started to call out.
"Where are you guys?"
"I’m so worn out!"
"I want water..."
Reidy went forward with a few other guard squad mbers who were masquerading as slave laborers to quickly help the rcenaries with their mounts. Reidy pointed towards the tables and chairs which were set up beside the tents and said, "Fellow gentlen, please head over there to enjoy so smoked and grilled at, wheat porridge and at and potato stew. Butler Boris even ordered us to prepare a few barrels of ale for your enjoynt. If you are tired, you can also rest in the tents and please don’t hesitate to tell us if any of you want to take a bath. We can get the hot water prepared right away..."
One of the Feathersoar rcenaries said in surprise, "Wow, your chief manager really thought this out well. I say, apart from the lack of won, you are almost like an inn already..."
Another rcenary said, "Co on, what are you still waiting for? Instead of talking idly like that, why don’t you go get yourself so ale before the rest finish it before us?"
That’s great, thought Lorist as he looked at the n who were led towards the tents by Reidy. So far, everything was under control and the rcenaries that had arrived early didn’t notice anything suspicious and didn’t know any better.
The rest of the shipnt convoy finally arrived and when they were about 300 ters from the walls, a group of around 100 Feathersoar rcenaries departed from the convoy and arrived at the walls where they got into formation. A middle-aged man wearing a chain mail underneath a layer of leather armor and a cape walked towards the wall gates with two other attendants following behind him.
When the leader of the rcenaries saw Jim standing by the wall, he called out loudly, "Hehe, if it isn’t Razoraxe Jim! Where’s Hausky?"
"The boss is at the other wall all the way at the other side of the valley. He went there right after he heard that you were coming. You know how he feels about the Feathersoar rcenary Crew, right?" Jim said casually. He then asked, "What are you doing? Get in! Butler Boris spared no effort in preparing the food and ale for you guys! The rest are already enjoying it as we speak! Darn it, if only it wasn’t my shift today... Maybe I’ll go sneak a few drinks myself..."
"Then how about if I bring a barrel up to the walls to drink with you later?" Adams asked.
Jim started laughing out loud and said, "Then you better be quick! Don’t just bring ale, get so food too..."
At that mont, the other rcenaries beside Jim were greeting so other mbers of the Feathersoar rcenary Crew as well.
"Oh, Jim, I heard that you suffered quite a loss at that family’s bastide... Ah, the Nortons, was it?" asked Adams from beyond the wall.
"Tch, don’t ntion it anymore... We lost tens of people. But it was fortunate that only a few of my rcenaries were killed, mainly because we noticed the bad situation and didn’t try too hard on our part. The farr troops rallied by that viscount also lost 30 or so n. To be honest, the Norton Family bastide is really tough to take on. Why did you ask?" Jim asked.
"Hmm, us Feathersoars will later be stationed here. It’s already been almost half a year since we started escorting shipnt convoys, so it’s about ti we stopped for a while. During our shipnt next month, the viscount’s family’s main force will also arrive and by that ti, he will launch another assault on the Nortons and force them to submit," said Leader Adams as he nodded.
"The viscount’s main force? It couldn’t be those farr troops, right? If that is the case, then the viscount might as well not make that attack and let them defend this place instead, lest they suffer even more losses," said Jim as he started laughing out loud.
"Nope, this ti the Kenmays Family had spent quite so money at the royal capital to form a 2000 n unit over there which is mostly comprised of retired military officers and soldiers and they’re also rather well-ard. By the ti that army makes it back to the Northlands, the Kenmays Family will definitely be one of the top families in this area. Brother Jim, do your job properly and you may just be taken note of by the Kenmayses and be recruited into the ranks of their family knights. That way, you won’t need to work as a rcenary anymore," suggested Adams.
Jim waved his hands and said, "Ptoooey! I would never want an opportunity like that. You know that I just loathe dealing with nobles like those. Nobles are all greedy bastards who take advantage of everyone that’s weaker than them. To them, us rcenaries are nothing but lowly beasts who are willing to do their bidding for a little bit of their money. I, Razoraxe Jim, won’t bend myself over and look at those nobles’ expressions when I decide to do anything and is born for the life of a rcenary. As long as I’m able to earn so money to find a wife and raise a healthy child, I will die happy. Don’t you think so, guys?"
The other rcenaries on the wall started laughing out loud and showed their fervent agreent. So even said that one woman was not enough for Jim and suggested he find two...
Adams laughed out loud and said, "You darned bastards..."
......
Lorist and Butler Boris went down the walls to see Leader Adams.
"Crew Leader Adams, it must’ve been a tiring journey. There shouldn’t be a problem with the cargo during the shipnt, right?" Boris asked.
"Hehe, Butler Boris, good to see you. The cargo is in perfect condition, so don’t worry. The reputation of my Feathersoar rcenary Crew is nothing to laugh at and we won’t secretly sneak so of the goods away like the third-rate crews out there. Here is the list of items in the shipnt. Feel free to check if it’s all in place," Adams said as he brought out a few beastskin docunts.
"Hmm? Butler Boris, you don’t look too well. Is there anything wrong?"
Lorist stepped forward and received the docunts from Adams before he said, "Crew Leader Adams, Butler Boris was worried sick for the past few days about the safety of the shipnt before its arrival. To be honest, we’re only left with 3 to 4 days’ worth of food. His worry had caused him to lose sleep and catch a cold. He’s basically forcing himself to see you here. Look, he’s already shivering a bit... I even asked him to take a rest before this but he wouldn’t listen..."
"Oh, is that so? Butler Boris, you should really take better care of your body. Try not to get sick next ti," said Adams as he stared at Lorist. "Then, who are you?"
Lorist had already been prepared for that question and saluted the rcenary leader before he said, "Crew Leader Adams, I am Locke and I used to be a rcenary myself. Butler Boris noticed my talents and picked to be his personal attendant."
"Hmm, not bad. You must be a quick-witted person for you to be able to catch the attention of Boris. This is a great chance for you, so do your best and you will definitely have a bright future," said Adams as he nodded in praise at Lorist.
The rest of the convoy finally arrived and Boris said a little impatiently, "Leader Adams, I will go back into the walls first. You should let your n enter too. The food and tents are already prepared, so make sure to give them so proper rest."
Adams nodded and said, "Alright, I will bring them in right away..."
Boris left before Adams finished his sentence, and that matched his deanor of not liking to deal with rcenaries perfectly, leaving Lorist behind with the list of items while Adams and his two attendants led the rest of the convoy past the walls.
At that mont, Adams and the hundreds other rcenaries had already went into the valley and the rest of the rcenaries who had dismounted were led by Reidy and his n into the tents to rest and have their als. On the other hand, Adams and his two attendants stood by Lorist after they dismounted and chatted from ti to ti as they monitored the rest of the convoy as carriage after carriage flowed through the gates and lined up neatly at an empty space.
There were 400 carriages in total and it took two hours before all of them entered the valley. However, the presence of Adams and the other two attendants beside him made Lorist feel a little uncomfortable.
"Leader Adams, you should go to the tents to take a rest as well. There’s no need for you to stand here personally. I’ll notify you if anything happens," Lorist said as he tested the waters.
"There’s no rush. The ones left outside is the rearguard comprised of my n. It won’t be too late to rest when all of us are assembled," said Adams with a laugh.
Alright, then let’s play the waiting ga together then. Seeing the carriages filled with resources arranged neatly within the valley, Lorist gradually cald down. There were only around 60 carriages left outside the valley and by the ti all of them entered, the rcenaries would definitely all be near the tents. By then, he only had to give a single order to set the ambush in motion.
Right at that instant, a sudden ear-piercing cry rang out from within the valley. "Don’t co in! You guys were tricked! They are the enemy! They are the Nortons’ n!..."
[1] Crenels are openings on defensive structures that allow for ranged attackers to fire from behind the safety of a wall. See Wikipedia.
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