25 A Banquet and an Inauguration. (1/2)
The banquet was rather stark in terms of food and drink. But most of the important people of the fief were there. Including a few new faces, Galahad spent most of the early banquet making small talk and relaxing. An hour after the banquet had started, Ludwig arrived before Galahad followed in tow by a taller than average thin and muscular woman, her hair was long and messy while simultaneously glossy and dirty. She had a strong odor carrying a mix of several scents with the ones standing out being the smell of flowers, rain, and earth.
Both of them bowed.
Galahad smiled and motioned for them to stand up.
After they stood up Ludwig said.
”Greetings Sire I have come to make you an acquaintance to miss Telenia Dentrathil. Our sharpest tracker.”
Telenia then said in a feminine but steely voice.
”It is good to finally meet you, Sire.”
Galahad nodded and responded neutrally.
”It is good to meet you Telenia. How have the locals been treating you?”
Telenia smiled softly and responded with a slightly warmer tone.
”It was rough at first. But when they realized I brought food to the table the quickly accepted my presence. After all, I don't look that different to them.”
Galahad nodded and responded.
”Tell me Telenia how do you feel about the fief's expansion into the forest and the rest of the virtually unoccupied lands.”
Telenia locked eyes with Galahad and said.
”I understand why you decided to do so. But nature strikes back, nature always strikes back.”
Galahad looked down at his goblet and started slowly revolving it. While in thought, the precious crimson liquid making a small vortex in the goblet.
Galahad then looked back at her and said.
”Humanity has been fighting nature since the time of Argon the Builder. There was a time in the common story of humanity when the whole region that is today Boreia was nothing but a faraway myth. Nature is the most dangerous when it hasn't been quelled yet. Tell me how many goblin attacks has the capital endured in the past five hundred years? The answer is zero, a hundred years before that? It was ten, a hundred years before that? it was thirty.”
Telenia shook her head and said.
”That is a narrow frame of mind. It might take a thousand years but nature will take its revenge.”
Galahad smiled and responded.
”The first human city has been destroyed and rebuilt who knows how many times. Sometimes it was damaged thanks to an earthquake or a famine, but the city was only been truly destroyed and left abandoned when we humanity laid it to waste. We humanity through the means of magic, technology, and sheer grit we will tame every damn inch of this world.”
Telenia smiled and said.
”Only time will tell.”
Galahad nodded and agreed.
”Indeed, only time will tell.”
Galahad then looked at Telenia inquisitively before saying.
”I plan to make you my personal scout and bodyguard. If you have any concerns, please voice them now. Additionally, I will not force you if you are unwilling.”
Telenia thought for a moment and responded.
”I really don't care if I will be stationed here or follow you around. But either way, it is theoretically a position of honor and pretty much an order. So I will graciously accept.”
Galahad nodded and said.
”Kneel.”
Telenia kneeled, Galahad stood up and placed his signet ring upon her forehead and then softly said.
”Prosperity through adversity.”
For a moment nothing happened then a smell of burned flesh filled the room. As Galahad removed the ring from her forehead he revealed a mark looking like a black crow.
Galahad nodded in satisfaction and said.
”Rise, from now on you will be my second pair of eyes and my most deadly arrow. But for now, go rest.”
Telenia nodded and left the hall. Most of the night was spent in mild drinking and idle chatter.
After the crowd had whittled down to Galahad, Katerina, and Ludwig.
Galahad looked at Ludwig and asked.
”So do you have any ideas on how to develop your fief?”
Ludwig scratched his head and said.
”I was planning to first build some houses then make some farms and mostly rely on hunting for food.”
Galahad looked at Ludwig and shook his head before saying.
”The refugees will be your own subjects and as such your own responsibility. But you need to remember that most of them are women and children. In short, they are not especially fit for hunting. Instead, I would suggest you first cut down the nearby trees to create some farmland and build a palisade wall. By starting the land cleaning so early you can hopefully manage to plant root vegetables in June. Then towards the end of summer, you should start building houses. Perhaps as a winter industry, maybe you could expand westwards towards the semi bay area and start constructing some small fishing vessels. Also, try to keep your people at bay and minimize their confrontations with my brother's workers.”
Ludwig nodded and said.
”Fair points I will do as you suggest.”
Galahad nodded and said.
”Remember you are the lord of that fief right now in all but name. For now, I am not planning to tax you. As for your serfs, I will give you two hundred most of them widowed women and orphaned children and most are farmers by trade. Secondly, you should probably get hitched soon. Preferably to some rich merchant girl. You will need money to see your fief expand and prosper after all.”
Ludwig bowed and said.
”I will keep your advice in mind my Liege and don't worry it is to my own benefit to not antagonize your brother's workers.”
Galahad nodded and said.
”Good, tomorrow we have the new water tank ceremony. I will see you there, after that, with the help of the worker's boats, we will get you and your serfs on the other side of the river. But for now, you are dismissed have a good night.”
Soon after only Galahad and his wife were left in the great hall. After Katerina made sure that none was in the immediate facility.
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She looked at Galahad and smiled coldly before saying.
”Dear husband, who is she?”
Galahad looked at her and scratched his head before asking.