Just as the two were in deep thoughts, a voice outside the tent interrupted them.
"My Lord, the troops from Waldr and Reztel has arrived. I brought their commander as you've wished."
'Finally." Prewell, let out a sigh in his mind. He has been worried all this time regarding Waldr's and Reztel's volunteers and garrison reserves. Afraid that like him they'll encounter an ambush in this woodland area.
After recomposing himself, Prewell allowed the person outside to enter.
Two men entered the tent and knelt before Prewell. These two were Ivan and the mounted soldier from before.
The soldier spoke as he remained on his knees. "My lord, the person beside me is Ivan, the deputy of Ser Wiegraf."
Prewell nodded at his soldier. Before addressing Ivan, he told the soldier some orders. "Rise. I have a task for you."
After thanking Prewell, the soldier asked his Lord on what the task given to him is about. "What is it, My lord?"
After writing some words on a piece of paper, Prewell folded it and handed it to the soldier. "Pass this towards the nearest Black Halberd, they'll know what to do. Thereafter, go and tell the troops to prepare, in three hours time will march for Hatr.
Tell the civilians that we'll leave for Hatr soon, half of the baggage train will accompany us and provide help in logistics and in dragging the wounded away from the battlefield."
After addressing the soldier, Prewell turned to Ecish and gave him a task aswell. "Ecish, please go and arrange a hundred militia to act as the guards of the civilian transporting the wounded."
As Prewell is about to dismiss the two, he remembered his subjects at Hatr.
The fighting in Hatr is going on for days now. What supplies the village had must've been consumed or nearly consumed by now.
Turning to the soldier once more, his gave his another taks. "Hmmm… one more thing. Tell the civilians that I'll send a fast rider here after we dealt with the goblins. I fear that Hatr will require a lot of help after the war. Just tell them to be prepared for an immediate summon."
Pausing for a while to confirm whether that's all. After his moment of silence, he turned to Ecish and soldier, dismissing both of them. "Go…convey my orders."
"As you will my Lord." Ecish and the soldier bowed. Turning outside the tent, then heading out. As they left the Baron of Zalsac still busied himself in the matters of the realm.
_________
"You, Ivan, tell me of the composition of the men you led, including the mercenaries and adventurers."
Hearing the baron, address him Ivan's pudgy face trembled. Sweat be to appear on his head because before him is the most powerful man in the North West region of the order.
The man who Ser Wiegraf, Ser Lancel, Sir Lucius, and Ser Ecish serves… also the master of the grim troops, the Black Halberd. Prewell Ih Leviathan, the callous lord of Zalsac.
According to the rumors his Lordship's gaze is capable of judging the value of a person.
Anyone who unfortunately missed the passing marks… they…
"Ivan!" A stern voice woke him from his dazed state.
Soon his face turned pale… he ignored the baron…
In a shaky voice he asked his Lord to repeat his question. "P… Parr.. do..n.., M..y.. Lor…d.."
Prewell's eyes twitched as he looked at Wiegraf's deputy. Pale faced, sweating buckets, trembling fat… is he so scary? Afraid that one of his subordinates deputy will pass out, he softened his voice and lowered its volume. "I asked you, what is the composition of troops you've brought?"
Seeing the baron not calling for the guards to drag him out and have him beheaded, Ivan heaved a sigh of relief.
Composing himself, he answered his lord's question. "My Lord! Ser Wiegraf was able to hire two companies of mercenaries! The first is the company of Ors, numbering around 200 men, their weapons of choice, swords, axes and clubs. The second is the Pikemen of Eldore a local mercenary company, composed of 100 pikemen.
As for the adventurers, 120 adventurers from the guild Cravens Den.
The rest were composed of either individual adventurers or small groups of adventurers. They are mostly men but also females who are experts in the art of healing…" Pausing to catch his breath, Ivan, began to report the next matter with a lower voice than before. "I also suspect a healing mage among the adventures, but they kept tight-lipped about such a matter."
With raised brows, Prewell, asked Ivan to confirm what he had just heard. "Healing Mage?"
Ivan, nodded as to confirm his lord's question. Even he didn't believe at first, but with the female adventurers attitude towards the suspected mage. It's difficult to deny such a notion that a mage joined a small adventuring party in the countryside of the dominion of the Order.
As for why an esteemed mage joined an adventurer party, more than likely it's a noble lady who finds it fun going on various adventures. "Yes, my Lord. I suspect a lady named Cassandra Du Lac to be the mage, the air around her just felt different from the rest. She's also being heavily guarded by the female adventures against the mercenaries and our adventures alike."
Prewell found the name familiar, he just couldn't remember where he had heard of it before. Shaking his head as he began mumbling to himself. "Du Lac… I have heard of the surname from somewhere… Olivia… no…"
After thinking for a while and coming out with no result, Prewell, told Ivan his current stance regarding mage. "As long as the mage don't do anything against our people, just ignore her for now."
Changing the topic towards a more important matter, he asked Ivan. "How's Waldr?"
Ivan answered vaguely and hesitantly, unsure of how to say the rest of the matter. "My lord… Waldr remains the same.. Except there is one thing worth mentioning…"
"Don't hesitate, out with it…" Seeing Ivan's dilemma, Prewell bluntly told him to speak frankly regarding whatever he wants to report.
With his Lord's permission, Ivan spoke of the matter which he had been hesitating to report about "Before we left the Waldr, some of the powerful men and the wealthy foreign merchants tried to interfere with the mobilization… The last thing I knew before leaving was Ser Wiegraf had mobilized what's left the garrison and the town halls attendants to try to pursue those men."
The atmosphere in the room turned eerily gray. As Prewell's indifferent face became completely devoid of all emotion. His finger began tapping the table.
*tap tap tap*
Ivan gulped, he didn't know what happened to his Lord. He had been lowering his head the moment he began his report.
The sudden tapping sound, and the eerie reaction of his Lord, is sending shivers down his spine. He felt cold, absolutely cold, like being cast in ice.
He stopped his movements, holding himself in place and trying to be completely still. Trying to avoid his Lord's attention.
The longer the tapping sound lasts, the more rigid he becomes. Unknowingly, he began holding his breath, as his lord's lack of reply, turned minutes of wait into what felt like an eternity for him.
With a final tap, Prewell, put the matter on the back of his mind, as he took out a small ledger in his inner garment and began jotting down some words.
Ignoring Ivan as he wrote some words on the ledger, he spoke to the frightened deputy, informing him of putting the matter on hold for the moment and dismissing the still terrified man "Hmmm… okay… we'll put the matter regarding Waldr on hold for now… Go and rest. In three hours we begin our march."
At his Lord's words, Ivan, bowed and with unsteady steps, he left the tent.
The moment he stood outside, he exhaled as he breathed in deeply, trying to get as much air as he can.
His Lord's sudden change of demeanor terrified him so much that he nearly passed out from suffocation. That eerie tapping and that face… only for a moment when he raised his to bow… he saw it… a face completely devoid of emotion.
Those crimson eyes that felt so hollow, so empty, like a void or an abyss, something you can't help but sink in. Ivan shuddered, walking away from the tent in with strides, he began to look for his companion as he tried to remove that image of the Lord in his mind.
______
Inside the tent
"Hmmm… so you took the chance after all…" A flat voice came out of Prewell's flat face.
"The Order…" Prewell eyes gleamed, as he lowered his head.
Staring down the map of the entire barony. Seconds turns to minutes, and then he finally began to move.
Reaching for a piece of clean paper, He began writing a lengthy letter. As he finished the letter, just as he was about to sign his name at the bottom, he halted.
Pausing for a while as he began to contemplate once more. Finally deciding on something, he folded the piece of paper.
Then taking out a small ledger from his inner clothing, opening it and putting the letter between the pages. Hiding the ledger once more. Pinching the candle kindling. He turned and left the tent.