The meeting began with Tashe reporting on crops, fields, and manpower. They had already purchased some seeds, though the supply was limited and the price was steep, Whitesand Town was not known for agriculture, given its proximity to the ocean. Still, it was a start, and they would see how it fared.
Next was Darte, who spoke regarding barns and fences. He suggested stationing a guard to watch over the livestock, Adrian agreed and ensured that someone would always be on watch.
The matter of horses was more complicated and required more time to explore, so little progress had been made, aside from Darte requesting a budget to buy foals from the town. Adrian took the request into consideration but decided against it for now.
Then came Becket, the most enthusiastic of the group. He spoke of their haul, cast nets, and methods for preserving the catch. He even went so far as to ambitiously suggest commissioning a ship specifically for deep-sea fishing. Adrian liked the idea, but a ship was too great an expense for the moment. He already had people building more boats, or at least learning how to improve their craft but a full-sized ship was beyond their current capability to manage.
Last was Colby, though Adrian was the one who spoke first. "How are the men you trained?" he asked the old soldier.
Colby grumbled, "Well enough to fight. I don't know about an actual battlefield, though… Will they need to fight?"
"Well… perhaps just for show." Adrian leaned back in his seat, his fingers tapping the table. "The prince plans a decisive attack to rid us of the Laluga clan threat… and I will need to show enthusiasm."
Colby's face darkened into a frown, while the other three common folk merely exchanged looks and remained silent. Ela, who had been briefed on this during breakfast, also said nothing.
Colby's lips pursed before he asked, confused "For show, milord?"
Adrian nodded, sighing, "I cannot lose people every time I assist the prince. We are already few as it is. I will try to see if I can find a step with the least casualties on our side."
He felt Sir Cordell shift in his chair beside him. "Step how, milord?"
"I'm still thinking about it." Adrian allowed himself a small smile before shaking his head and looking back at Colby.
"Nevertheless, prepare as many men as you can without weakening the castle's defense. Tell them they won't necessarily participate directly in the battle."
Colby's face set as he nodded. "I will, milord. And I will lead them and come with you."
To the old soldier's surprise, Adrian shook his head. As much as he valued a veteran as skilled and experienced as Colby, he was needed here.
"No, you must stay."
He then reiterated what Sir Cordell had told him regarding the surge of monsters from Creviceton. While the three commoners looked alarmed, Colby merely frowned.
"It isn't a sure thing that monsters will slip through and enter our territory, of course, but it is better to be prepared than not." He looked at the others at the table. "Let the people know as well."
Sir Cordell chimed in, "Milord, is it wise to inform the people of such danger?"
"People fear the unknown even more. It is better to let them know now but emphasize that the danger isn't great and that they simply need to be vigilant." Adrian turned back to Colby.
"Be prepared just in case. You may take command of the matter and employ people as necessary to deal with any monster situation, provided Lady Ela sees to it first."
Colby nodded, his face now solid as stone. "I will, milord."
The meeting turned to lighter topics after that before finally adjourning. The day passed in a blur of activity, though Adrian spent most of it in the yard, training as hard as he could. Finally, the next day arrived, and the time to leave was at hand.
--
The crude wooden lance Adrian had carved with his own hands felt slightly imbalanced as he held it. He didn't have time to complain, however, as his horse galloped forward. The target loomed closer, upon impact, Adrian let the lance fly from his hand as it pierced the wood. He quickly drew his sword and slashed at the next target they passed, the blade whistling through the cool evening air.
Adrian reined in his horse, coming to a stop before turning back. "How was that?" he called to the knight watching from horseback. Adrian approached him, and Sir Cordell responded.
"You didn't have to let go of the lance, milord. Use it to carve through the enemy until it is destroyed or until your hand and shoulder can take no more. Only then should you consider pulling your sword."
"If my shoulder isn't able, I wouldn't be able to use the sword either, would I?" Adrian grinned before turning to Dexton, who was now readying himself for his turn.
"Don't fall off the horse now!" Adrian taunted the young soldier.
"I wouldn't dream of embarrassing you, milord!" Dexton answered, leveling his lance.
"You would only embarrass yourself!" Adrian hollered back. Dexton let out a nervous chuckle, adjusting his grip on the rough wood.
It was currently a day after they had left the castle. As the sun began to disappear behind the horizon, Sir Cordell took the opportunity to teach Adrian and Dexton the basics of mounted combat.
Although the prince had not yet revealed his strategy, the knight guessed from the prince's actions that he intended to use some cavalry to dominate the land battle. A mounted charge was a proven and effective tactic, since the Laluga clan were islanders, they likely lacked enough horses to respond, unless they knew how to counter a charge.
Not that Adrian had enough soldiers or horses to create a true mounted force. He had brought only four horses and about thirty soldiers, combined with the ten back at the new port city, he would still only have forty men.
As Dexton charged, his lance struck the target, though barely and he continued toward the next until the simple wooden weapon snapped in two.
"How is his training?" Adrian asked the knight beside him as Dexton reined his horse to a halt.
"Well… he is determined and already somewhat trained," Sir Cordell said. "He still needs to become familiar with certain maneuvers, though. Also, I discovered he can barely read."
"After this, I'll have someone teach him his letters. Does he know?" Adrian asked.
"He has an inkling. It's hard not to have such thoughts when I am teaching him personally."
Adrian nodded, suddenly lost in thought before he asked the knight, "What is it like? A conflict on such a large scale?"
The knight raised an eyebrow. He gave Dexton an order to perform another charge before turning back to Adrian. "You have been in conflict before, milord."
Adrian shook his head. "Those were just small fights, a few hundred against hundreds. Compared to this next one involving thousands… I honestly don't know what to expect."
He wasn't exactly nervous, or rather, he was anxious because he didn't know what to watch out for.
Deep down, he was actually looking forward to the battle. As dangerous as it was, he couldn't deny the thrill of fighting, of defeating enemies and dancing on the edge of death.
It probably wasn't a healthy thought, but he finally understood why some men were so eager for war.
"It will be a different kind of battle indeed, milord. But just as you did before, all you need to do is survive." Sir Cordell said, narrowing his eyes.
"Remember, milord, the territory needs you. You must put your own life above others."
Adrian snorted at that but said nothing.
Soon Dexton returned, and Sir Cordell regaled them with advice on what to watch for during the coming conflict while Adrian and Dexton sparred on horseback. Night arrived and morning followed as their journey continued. By the morning of the third day, having stopped only briefly at Sawhead Castle, Adrian finally arrived at the site of the new port city.
His first sight was not the new wooden buildings of the port city or the Maester's layout coming together, but the army stationed not far off.
The muster had grown significantly. He spied the banners of the Earl of Highmere and the Viscount of Ironmere, alongside two other armies he didn't recognize. These forces were the largest, numbering easily in the hundreds each. Taking it all in, he reckoned there were now more than 1,500 soldiers gathered.
And he had thought the five hundred men from before were plenty, this was something else entirely.
Adrian didn't ride ahead as his group approached a cabin that Sir Cordell mentioned had been built specifically for him. The rising city showed signs of massive improvement, the layout of the roads was becoming clear, and the foundations of future buildings were taking shape. A small market had even been erected by servants and common workers. Seeing this, Adrian made a mental note to set up a stall for his own village, as one of the lords contributing to the city's construction, he knew he wouldn't have to pay a copper to do so.
Soon, the face of Steward Osway, whom he hadn't seen in some time, appeared and welcomed him excitedly.
"Milord! You're here!"
Adrian nodded as he dismounted. "Osway, it's good to see you. How are our people faring?"
"Well enough, milord. I've made sure they work hard, but also that they are rested and satisfied, just as you ordered." Osway said, bowing slightly before gesturing toward the cabin. "I have all your necessities and a bed inside, milord, prepared just for you."
Adrian nodded and gestured to the group behind him. "Help them settle in, will you?"
"Of course, milord." Osway immediately began directing the men.
Adrian scanned the surroundings. The change after being away for just one month was amazing.
Honestly, he wanted his own territory to experience the same transformation, to build and to improve.
'After this, I really should put more effort into my own lands' Adrian thought. Sir Cordell came to his side, noticing his expression, and Adrian gave him a short nod.
It was time to say hello to the prince and the other lords again, a task he wasn't particularly looking forward to.