Chapter 644 - v4c29p1 The Princess and Princess(3)
v4c29p1
The Princess and Princess(3)
Once the war was on the agenda, the preparations raced forward like a wild horse free from its reins. Trentheim had long begun preparations for battle, the White Lion Infantry began to fill out its ranks, and since dissa’s return to the territory, the training of the Wind Archers also made it onto the schedule.
At the princess’s behest, the various lords adjoining Trentheim had also begun to expand their noble private armies, most of whom were originally hostile to the Firburs. However, ever since Count Radner suddenly stood as the opposing side to the kingdom, the amount of people kissing up to them increased.
Although Brendel did not think highly of these people, he was not going to turn them away.
As soon as the hazy moon of sumr passed by, before the Moon of the Scrolls ca, there was the sll of flowing fire on the land. The rising temperatures burned the leaves and the blazing sun licked the ground of the South day after day.
Vlada and the armies of the Southern Legion had finally arrived on schedule, although before the last festival of sumr, Brendel had allowed his people to calm down from all the nervous and restless energy. Before the last few weeks ca upon them, he had the Firbur hold its Championships Contest for the Festival of Fire as scheduled.
This tournant was slightly less formal than the winter hunting rituals, but it attracted lords and knights of all levels from the nearby area due to the open serving of alcohol.
The tournant was set up just outside of Coldwood Castle, and for a couple of days, the din of the tournant had set the entire territory ablaze.
But certain quiet locations remained relatively independent.
A thin wooden wall separated the noisy sea from the quietness of the bar, except for the occasional rcenary whistling loudly and impeding upon this relatively private space. A distinctive sll of boiled at and spices perated the hall.
There were several wooden tables with unique nas written on maple cards: Brendel,
Romaine, Amandina, etc. These seats belonged exclusively to the owner or a close friend.
The sign outside the hotel seed to be brand new. It had a three-masted sailing ship on it that read ‘Lord Romaine’s Smuggling Anchorage’, such a vulgar na clearly indicated who it belonged to.
However, the interior of the bar was relatively cozy. Scarlet sat at a wooden table against the southwest corner and saw more and more people gather outside – mostly young n from the White Lion Legion, or local lords, farrs – ever since the refugees started pouring into Trentheim. The re-expanded White Lion Legion was far more than the thirty or forty people that had been in the area when Carglise first joined. On top of that, as more and more settlers ca into the territory, tenant farrs, rchants, and craftsn had also begun to populate the countryside of the Firbur territory.
The open field outside the bar had beco the place of the Championships Contest of the Sumr Festival. Right now it was archery, and with many beautiful Tree Elves maidens on the field, the crowd of onlookers was unprecedented in size.
She looked back, seeing a girl in silver armor placing a bunch of daisies next to a wooden tray and then clasping her hands together and closing her eyes in silent prayer. Scarlet’s eyes reflected this image. She watched quietly, then asked, “Is her na Bessie?”
Freya opened her eyes, sadness clouding her brown eyes. Nodding silently, “Bessie loved a good ti. An archery tournant like this would’ve been her favorite, and to compete against the legendary Tree Elves...”
“Please don’t be sad. Miss Freya, the living always have to move on. In the past... veterans have often warned us that death is just a monolith without a na, but the living has to cross over it and bear even more as they continue their journey, which is why we have to be strong.” Scarlet consoled.
“I’m sorry, and I understand, but I can’t stop thinking about the past, especially at tis like this.” The young girl from the countryside of Bucce blinked softly as she sighed, “Sotis I wish I could go back to that ti and have start over, without the war...”
“I, understand...” replied, Scarlet cautiously.
“Huh?”
Scarlet looked at Freya’s face, thought for a mont, and said, “Because I’ve been in many battles since I was a kid. In every battle, almost all of my companions died, so of them were new people who I’ve only known for a short ti, while so of them were close friends who I’ve been with for a long ti. When I was a child, I would bawl my eyes out every ti, embarrassing myself. But little by little, I beca familiar with life and death.”
“How did...?” Freya was slightly startled and looked back at the girl next to her with so incredulity – Scarlet looked even younger than herself, but she was much more mature in her experience.
“I’m a rcenary, working tirelessly for money and survival; people like us will all die in a battle sooner or later. To us, this is just common sense, and I didn’t have any complaints originally.” Recalling her past, she held the wooden cup and shook the golden liquid inside, and said quietly, “But because of an accident, the Lord took from this life and showed that there was another way.”
“I... don’t know if I should thank the Lord. I can more or less understand the Lord’s mind, what he wants to pursue. ...But what else can I do but fight?”
“So then I’d rather be the one to die than soone else.”
“I’m sorry.” Freya said abruptly.
“Huh?” Scarlet stopped.
“I’m sorry, Scarlet, I never knew your life previously. I think my desire to go back in ti was perhaps a little too selfish. Brendel was right, no one can give us the peace and tranquility we want unless we earn it ourselves.” Freya replied quietly, “The people of Aouine are far from being able to enjoy peace and quiet.”
The rcenary girl looked at her dumbly.
Freya had gradually begun to understand so things that were still confusing for her.
That was when cheering sounds burst out from outside the house again, and the door to the bar slamd open. Romaine flew in with a large tub in her arms, yelling, “dissa’s got first place again! The malt liquor is sold out, so you guys need to help!”
“You be careful!” Freya hastened to remind her.
“I know I know,” and then there was a scream from the kitchen, “Ah, my roast at!”
Brendel ca in from outside with an exasperated shake of his head, although he seed to be in a good mood. He looked over at Freya and Scarlet and smiled, “These two beautiful ladies, won’t you go out and celebrate with us? Our little princess has won first place in archery, after all.”
The future Valkyrie glared at him with wide eyes. “Brendel, what are you wearing!”
“A uniform, Aouine’s cavalry uniform. How is it, looks legit, huh?” Brendel raised the kebab in his hand, revealing several obvious grease marks on the dark blue uniform – it looked like soone had wiped their hands on it.
“You...how can you wipe your hands on a uniform! The uniform represents the dignity of the kingdom and it is the greatest honor a soldier can have. Brendel you...you’ve gone too far!” Freya was seething with anger and even forgot her sadness for a mont.
“Oh, that...it was so convenient I didn’t even notice.” Brendel replied sowhat innocently.
“Convenient!”
“Ha, Freya, you get busy, I’ll go out again.” Brendel saw the future Valkyrie about to have a seizure and hastily retreated. Apparently, what the lady had learned at the Royal Cavalry Academy had left her with a bit too much honor.
“You stop right there, Brendel!”
Only idiots would stand still in that situation. Brendel had co to show off this cavalry uniform to Freya and Scarlet, and although he achieved his purpose, the end result was a bit unexpected.
Fortunately, this little interlude did not ruin his good mood.
The cavalry uniforms he was wearing ca from Firbur’s own cotton and dye workshops. Aside from the cotton, which was shipped by sea through Ampere Seale, the uniform ca almost entirely from Trentheim.
A territory that had once been barren, empty, and had produced almost nothing but silver.
The roots of the change ca from an increase in population. Because they were well-prepared before the war, refugees poured into or were shipped to Trentheim, and the food reserves from Ampere Seale quickly converted the increased population into a usable workforce.
Two months earlier, under the auspices of Bosley, cotton workshops, dyeing workshops, blacksmithing workshops, copper shops, clay and pottery, and even a weapons and armor bureau had been established. After nearly half a year of careful tending, Trentheim was no longer its forr barrenness, instead, it had gradually begun to produce so necessary products on its own.
Firstly, food and weapons, as well as a small amount of luxury goods.
After the season of storms, comrce with the north gradually beca more frequent. Sailboats with snow-white sails from Grey Harbor and Ampere Seale Port moored in the newly constructed deep-water docks of Port Gris, and keen rchants began to discover the potential of this place, and more and more rchants stayed in the harbor on a monthly basis since the beginning of the New Moon.
Along with the rchants, there were also a large number of craftsn. Just a few days ago, Brendel had t with a group of Dwarf Apparatchiks from the Black Mountain region, most of whom were also refugees from the war, apparently the war in the north with the Lion Beastn had begun to affect normal comrce, and it seed that the king’s eldest son had been forced by the temple to go to war with the Lions head-on.
Yet, this was the perfect opportunity for the south to grow and expand.
As Brendel looked out, wagons carrying goods traversed the avenues near Coldwood Castle. The fields on the border of the forest were no longer barren, and were instead populated with working farrs. A year, or even half a year earlier, none of this would have been a possible sight to see in Trentheim.
And this all had been brought about by his, and everyone’s, combined efforts.
He looked up, looking into the distance as a tall knight holding the victor’s triangular flag ran around the crowd. The silver, lily-embroidered flag fluttered high in the wind, as it had a thousand years ago, and a thousand years later, it flew once more over this land.
The people gave a deafening cheer.
Brendel saw the Silver Elf Princess being held up by the Tree Elf maidens, and she too watched the flag from afar, sothing shining in her eyes.
“dissa!”
“dissa!’
The leaders of the people shouted and raised their glasses of wine high. The streets were no longer lined with the straw huts of Graudin’s ti; with the assistance of the Red Bronze Dragon rcenaries and the workers under Odum, paved streets had been built along Coldwood Castle, flanked by neatly built huts, and right now, standing by them were adults and children, all sporting satisfied smiles on their faces.
As he passed through the streets, many people recognized him and bowed to him with genuine respect. Brendel returned the salute casually as well. Honestly, he had grown accustod to this life and no longer felt uncomfortable about being saluted.
Those perceptions from modern tis seed to be fading away. Although in the depths of his soul, the pride of being from an advanced civilization still supported his every word and action, at least he would never think that this respect and pride was innate.
He placed a copper coin in the hand of a little girl beside him, which ant a blessing from the Lord before the sumr. The little girl, flushed with excitent, ran to a woman, perhaps her mother, with the coin in both hands. The woman took the money in the little girl’s hands and saluted him.
“My Lord!”
“My Lord!”
The shouts were quickly overtaken by another voice, and the inhabitants of Firbur paid heartfelt tribute to the new Lord who had brought them all of this prosperity.
Brendel narrowed his eyes, understanding that such contentnt was illusory and temporary for all, just a little earlier the people were on edge, inquiring about the upcoming war.
Everyone during these troubled tis were trying to treasure the temporary peace around them.
There was nothing wrong with that, it was just that Aouine was far from being safe yet. So were bound to bleed and even give their lives to defend others. But at least, this was the Aouine that he wished to guard.
He walked through the crowd to the princess’ side. Gryphine was watching all of it. Her knightess was right beside her, one hand on her sword. But Brendel felt that she was watching him, although the feeling Maynild gave him was far less tense than what he had felt in Ampere Seale, which had made him tense every nerve in his body.
How could one be nervous in such an atmosphere?
“They like you very much, Mr. Brendel. If there is anyone else in Aouine who can claim to be an example of the ancient nobles, it would be you.” With sparkling eyes, Princess Gryphine’s said, slightly emotional.
“This is your highness’ dream. None of Aouine shall be trapped by poverty, war, and disaster any longer, and the tragedy of Buche will not be repeated.” Brendel replied.
Princess Gryphine blinked, “ Mr. Brendel, I understand that this is a bit too idealistic, but I at least wish to change this kingdom from its current situation . ...In the north, such as in Radner, Viero, and many other places, the wars and calamities caused by the nobles themselves continue, while the sons and grandsons of the late king, Erik, do nothing.”
“Yes, so Trentheim will not be stable for long. Every man, for the sake of his own future, must fight and make sacrifices.”
“Is Mr. Brendel ready for this?”
“All we need to do now is to wait to convince Duke Viero.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)