Horizon of War Series

Chapter 40

The chill of autumn crept through the small window of the Small Council chamber, causing shivers among those gathered inside. Within the nerve center of Korelia’s bureaucratic operations, the new lord and his most trusted retinue strained their minds against the looming threat of famine.

Despite their efforts, they were still struggling to devise a plan.

“Say, Korelia’s townsfolk are mostly herders, right?” Audrey brought up an interesting point. “Can’t they survive by eating the livestock?”

“A butchered lamb can feed a family for two weeks. But if you trade that lamb, you can get enough grain to last more than two months,” Calub explained from a practical standpoint.

Audrey nodded in agreement with Calub’s explanation.

Meat is many times more expensive than grain. To survive winter with just meat would be impossibly expensive.

Lansius had a sudden idea. “What’s the current price of food in Midlandia?” he asked.

Calub quickly searched through his scrolls. “It’s normal,” he replied. “In fact, the price of grain in Midlandia is currently at its lowest.”

Turning to Hugo, Lansius’s mind was already focused on the most efficient way to travel. “Can we travel directly to Midlandia?” he inquired.

“We can,” Hugo answered with a renewed spirit. “We’ll need cavalry escorts to deter outlaws, but that’s easy to arrange.”

“Hold on,” Calub interjected. “We only have ten horse-drawn carts. They’re narrow and can only hold three barrels. If we want to transport larger quantities, we’ll have to use the merchants’ wider carts.”

“Hugo, can the wider carts travel alongside ours?” Lansius asked.

“Speed and terrain may be a problem, but the ground is firm this season. I’m sure we can find someone who knows the route,” Hugo replied.

Lansius tapped the table softly, lost in thought. He realized that even with the fastest carts available, a second trip would be too risky. If winter arrived sooner than expected, they could get stranded. “That’s all right. We probably can only manage one trip,” he remarked.

Calub expressed his doubt. “Only one trip?”

Meanwhile, Hugo and Audrey exchanged surprised glances.

Calub pressed on. “Even if we managed to convince all the merchants to lend us their carts, we would only have around thirty at most.”

“Still,” Audrey chimed in, “thirty cartloads full of grain sounds like a lot to me.”

“It may be so, but the grain isn’t just for winter alone. We also need enough for next spring and summer. There’s no trade going on in spring with the roads muddy from winter and the start of the rainy season. Come summer, they’re probably already marching on us,” Calub warned.

Audrey clicked her tongue and looked at Lansius with concern. She had been the one who drove Lansius to claim Korelia instead of returning to Midlandia.

“It’s okay. War is inherently chaotic, but we can be flexible and adapt to changes.”

The chamber fell silent.

Calub massaged his forehead, having been mulling over this problem since morning. Meanwhile, Lansius gazed at the ceiling to collect his thoughts.

Thirty carts . . . With one return trip, I can probably feed the troops with rationing, but there won’t be enough for the townsfolk to get through a famine.

He could follow Hugo’s suggestion of three return trips or settle with two, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was still too risky. There was always the potential for an unforeseen variable.

We have the money, but not the transport.

Lansius took a deep breath as he found his position ironic. Medieval-era transport was crude, inefficient, and largely ineffective.

If only there were other places to buy food . . . Hang on . . . this isn’t a food shortage.

In a fit of surprise, Lansius slapped the table, attracting everyone’s attention. “Get that cup-bearer girl.”

“You’re that thirsty?” Audrey misunderstood and went to the door.

Lansius let it slide. “Ah, yeah, tell her to bring drinks too. We could use some refreshment.”

Non-council members were forbidden to enter the chamber, so their entourage waited outside.

Calub read through Lansius’s actions, but before he could voice his suspicion, a lovely girl entered the chamber. Cecile’s hair wasn’t the usual brown, but a pale blonde.

“You asked for me, my lord,” Cecile said gracefully with a hint of fear.

It was understandable, as she had only known Lansius for two weeks, and rumors about the black-haired foreign lord who defeated the Lion were rampant among the servants.

“Relax, nobody will try to harm you,” Audrey said in a friendly tone as she snatched the embroidery-covered flask from Cecile’s hand and proceeded to pour drinks for them.

“I believe you can ride a horse?” Lansius asked Cecile as calmly as possible. He didn’t want to look brutish in front of a new employee.

“Indeed, my lord. I’m able to ride,” Cecile replied.

“Good. Go with Carla and Stirling, and please summon Sir Callahan for me,” Lansius ordered gently.

Cecile was surprised. Nonetheless, she bowed gracefully, and left the room. Her father, Sir Callahan, was the first of Lord Robert’s knights who had switched allegiance to Lansius.

Soon, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” Lansius answered.

A swordswoman who had gained fame in the last battle entered the room with Stirling, the new squire.

“My lord, I’ve been told to escort the cup-bearer lady to her estate and summon Sir Callahan?”

“Indeed. Can I trust you two with this task?” Lansius asked.

“At once,” Carla answered firmly.

“Stirling,” Lansius called out before they left.

“My lord,” the good-looking lad responded.

“Audrey mentioned that you’re a skilled rider and familiar with my horse’s temperament,” Lansius said, mulling over his thoughts but not hesitating. “I want you to ride it. If you can handle it, I’ll put you in the cavalry.”

Stirling’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Yes, my lord,” he replied, bowing slightly before closing the door behind him.

One of Lansius’s constant thoughts was to strengthen his cavalry, but there was also another more personal reason.

Audrey brought Lansius his cup. “He’s a good lad.”

Lansius nodded and took a sip of pale ale.

“I heard his knight master died in the trench,” Hugo said.

“A crossbow bolt to the jugular,” Lansius answered. “Likely mine.”

Audrey leaned in closer to Lansius, her voice low and serious. “His knight master was abusive. He hated him.”

“If you want to, I could rotate Roger with him,” Hugo suggested, fearing Lansius might feel guilty whenever he saw Stirling.

“No need. He’s under my care, now,” Lansius replied, taking a sip of ale and putting aside his guilt. He rested his back on the solid wood chair and tried to focus on the matter at hand.

Now that things are in motion. I’ve got to plan for contingencies.

Sensing a lull, Calub cleared his throat, gathering everyone’s attention. “My lord, you’ve yet to explain your plan?”

“Well, we can’t purchase grain in Lowlandia, so our only option is Midlandia,” Lansius explained ever so briefly.

“Midlandia’s prices are better, but it’s a month-long journey. We also don’t know how much the merchants would ask for their carts,” Calub reminded them.

“Who says I’m going to pay for their carts?” Lansius refuted his assumption, causing confusion to run over the trio’s faces.

Ignoring them, Lansius rose and approached the window for some cool breeze.

“Then how do you suppose . . .” Hugo’s face turned serious. “My lord, do you intend to force them by arms?”

Lansius glanced at Hugo. “No, we don’t need to. Just tell them that we’re going to assemble a return journey to Midlandia. If they apply, then we’ll provide escorts for a small fee.”

“That’s all? You sure they would take it?” Hugo wasn’t convinced.

“Of course, merchants love cheap escorts. Also, there’s a big opportunity for profit in Midlandia,” Lansius explained passionately.

“I see . . . but why the fee?” Hugo asked curiously.

“Merchants are suspicious by nature.” Lansius snorted, “If they hear that something is free, then they’ll get worried about unseen risks.”

Hugo nodded slowly, impressed by Lansius’s explanation. He had never considered the merchants’ distrust, but it made sense.

Still, Calub saw a flaw in the apparent plan. “My lord, we have no control over what the merchants will load into their carts,” he pointed out.

“I realize that. They may load other goods, but I reckon mostly grain and foodstuff because profit dictates so.”

“That solves one problem. Still, even if they all buy grain, a mere thirty cartloads won’t be enough. And there’s no guarantee they’ll sell it cheaply when they return.” Calub’s words alarmed the room.

Hugo and Audrey stared at Lansius, who gestured for them to calm down.

“It’s true that thirty carts won’t be enough. After all, there are six thousand people in Korelia. It also true that it won’t be enough to push the grain price back to normal.”

Calub nodded and asked, “Then, my lord, why are you smiling?”

“Eh?” Lansius licked his lips, trying to hide it from the rest.

“You have a plan?” Hugo was surprised.

“Lans!” Audrey vehemently protested. Like hungry wolves, they pressed him for an answer.

“All right, I might have a solution, but it’s a gamble and a risky one at that,” Lansius finally conceded, revealing his plan. “First, we buy salt. Nothing but salt.”

Everyone was taken aback. Before anyone could question him, Lansius motioned for silence and continued. “The issue with Korelia isn’t grain; it’s currency.”

Calub instantly understood, having worked with the scrolls. “My lord, are you serious? You intend to pay people in salt?”

“Why salt?” Hugo inquired, looking puzzled, but was ignored.

Lansius let out a sharp exhale. “That’s why I said it’s a gamble.”

Hugo cleared his throat. “I still don’t understand, but how do you plan to pay for it? Even a cart is worth tens of gold coins.”

Lansius licked his lips and murmured, “The Seneschal of Midlandia, our supreme benefactor, Lord Bengrieve.”

Hugo groaned, while Audrey scoffed.

“My lord, please don’t say you’re taking a loan from him,” Calub objected.

Lansius nodded resolutely. “It’s better than facing a famine.”

Their relationship with Lord Bengrieve had become strained after their recent victory. Furthermore, the seneschal was a formidable figure in his own right. They owed him a great deal, and he held all their dirty secrets. Even Lord Arte and Lansius’s family were at his mercy.

Calub sighed, realizing they had no other choice. He helped Lansius write two letters. Once finished, he dripped purple wax onto each, and Lansius used his newly minted silver signet ring to seal them.

“Do you think this will work?” Lansius asked Calub afterward.

Calub patted Lansius on the shoulder and replied, “It had better, or else . . .” He shook his head, leaving the consequences unspoken.