20 Tough titties
The fact that they haven't drawn their weapons means they don't know it was me, thank god….I was mainly paranoid due to me getting a little cocky towards the end of my midnight excursion and almost forgoing sneakiness.
But that brought up another question in my mind, the second I thought these guys were here to make trouble, my first response was murder and cannibalism, what does that say about me?
Well no use crying over spilt milk, I wonder what these fellas are here for, they wouldn't travel all this way just to warn me of the "iron born" blight in the area….so what could this be about?
"Well met friends from afar, what would this terrible tragedy that has befallen your Lords land be?"
The pack of de mounted Glover men approach with a steady gait with what seems to be anger in their eyes….not directed at me though, probably just angry at the situation.
"greetings Lord Fenris, my name is Rickard and I serve as one ofLord Glovers stewards and we come bearing grim news, the iron born have raided deepwood motte and pillaged most of the city's supplies"
"Oh my stars!"
I clutch my invisible pearls in as much dramatic realism as I could without looking to sarcastic.
"How did that happen? Surely the iron born couldn't have just walked into the city and taken everything without a fight, and being Lord Glovers seat of power it would have been well protected….so how could they just make off with all of their loot?"
"We aren't quite sure how it happened my lord, it was a night raid and a very successful one at that, it was obviously planned in advanced as there was no alarm rung, no cry for help….nothing…..like thieves in the night they killed the guards with not a sound and made off with almost everything of value"
" oh goodness!, how many guards did you lose?"
" all said and done we lost about 80 men…."
Fuck me, I don't remember killing that many….but then again I did stop counting when I started to get bored of sneaking around and started taking out guards with trick shot axe throws
" while that is terrible news, And I thank you for letting me know, but why are you actually here?,"
My sentence began light and a tad sarcastic but the final stretched was me with a semi serious voice.
That stunned him up for a second, maybe remembering I may not be on the best of terms with his dickish lord after his little power play and turning away at the gate from being spoken down to by his people…
" *ahem* yes, Lord Glover has tasked me with asking for aid in tracking down the iron born scum who were responsible for this heinous and unprovoked attack on his lands and people, seeing how Lord Glover has no navy and word has spread of your feats of defeating and acquiring a few iron born raiding vessels, Lord Glover has requested to borrow a few of your ships to sail south and find the ones responsible"
"Ooooo hard pass on that, my ships are pretty busy right now….I have 2 ships not on current use but I'll be putting them to work soon enough with a couple projects I have in the works"
He seemed taken aback and quite offended at my refusal of his Lords request like he was expecting me to jump at it or something… so he shoots back with an aggressive smugness
"Are you sure that's a wise decision, Lord Fenris?…. I know you are unmatched on any battle field from the stories told, but you lack the know how to navigate politics, it would be a wise choice to make a good impression on your neighbouring lord, especially as a newly anointed lord in the north….as you would soon learn its hard facing winter alone in the cold….."
The smugness is almost unbearable, and I don't even know why he's so smug….is it because I'm shirtless covered in dirt and cement dust? Looking like a homeless giant…. Or is it because they think I wouldn't dare to show em their place?….I probably wouldn't though, it's probably more trouble then it's worth at the moment…..probably
His words almost hinted at a threat of "do what our lord says or he will make trouble" like I'm some feeble child surviving alone in the wilderness….
I knew Glover was a cunt from the moment I found out about the "bandits" but it really goes to show you the majority of people are fucking pricks when you're not some protagonist…
As I was about to give a polite "go fuck yourself" the clip clops of a horse with the squeaking of wood on wood came from behind the group as everyone turned to look…
It's my cement lads come back with a wagon load sifted wood ash and dirt ready for another batch of cement….
Doing everything myself when working with wood is so much quicker because it's just precise cuts for joins and hammering together…but building with rock and brick requires cement…..it it takes time to mix and mush it all together….so I have a team of 4 blokes working with me through the days purely for mixing cement as I work…
It's taking about 40 people all up just to keep one kiln running full time, that's like 1/3 of the village….people for digging shale from the earth to crushing and mixing to moulding the bricks to keeping the kiln running at all times and loading and unloading…..it's a pretty big operation, but it's still not even close to the amount we are gonna to need over the next few years…but it comes down again to not having enough people to really kick it into high gear
I pay them very little…BUT…they don't have to worry about food or shelter as I provide all meals and will eventually show them how to build their own houses, while teaching them valuable skills that will make them bank in the future…
My cement lads kind of ignore what's going on between me and the Glover men and just keep the horse moseying toward my big open basement ready to start mixing up some cement with the primitive hand crank cement mixer i cobbled together a few days ago..
I snap out of my brief distraction and turn back to my "guests" to let them know exactly what I think….My anger is starting to get harder to reign in, I should end this quickly…
"Listen mate, I couldn't give a fuck about politics or Glover to be honest, it's sad that you guys were raided by the "iron born" but maybe beef up your security a tad so it's not so easy next time....and for you to march into my lands and demand anything from me is laughable, especially after that little power play bullshit Glover tried to pull when I went to visit…..so take your little gaggle wannabe thugs and fuck off back home to lick your wounds while I continue to not give a fuck about Glover and work on my home"
They seemed stunned again at my little impromptu speech of telling them how little I cared about their problems and Lord….a few of them were even reaching for their swords….I hope they do, it would give me cause to openly massacre them
But before they could their "leader", the man I've been speaking to turns around and gives them a "stay your blades!" Before turning back to me with a grim face and somehow an ever grimer voice…
"I think you should reconsider Lo-"
" tough titties mate….you 20 seconds to be back on your horse before I send you all to meet your ancestors"
Again they looked ready to pull their blade forgetting just who the fuck I am…I also notice Will has moved around behind them with his hand on his sword that's attached to his hip….even the cement lads are quietly moving behind them with their "weapons" which consist of shovels and trowels i made at the same time I made the mixer…
But again the leader seemed to grasp the situation as he noticed the axe in my hand tightened in my grip and the men positioning behind the ready to give them the business if they made a move…
He frowned hard and looked toward me with a feral scowl as he commented
"Very well Lord Fenris, we shall take our leave, but don't think this is over….Lord Glover will hear of this and will respond in kind"
"Cool story bro, now on your way….oh and if you and your boys cause any, ANY trouble on the way out of town to any of my small folk you best hope you have the fastest horses this world has ever seen, or my axes with be separating your heads from your bodies within the hour"
With some angry mumbles the Glover me were back on then road home to tell their lord just how little I cared for his bullshit or his "iron born" problems…
My only regret now is not taking more shit….
But after an hour of calming down and finishing off the last vestiges of my basement I start working on the foundation for my floors for my new mansion…
I have a few years before winter hits, but I have a decent list of things to do before hand….but I'm 90% sure I'll have a thriving, self sustaining little city before it hits….
I'll take a step back on working once the bare bones basic necessities are up and running and teach a few people some different crafts….but before that….I need to conduct some raids…
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Had a bit of writer block lately so the chapters are coming to me slow
Hit me with some stones and maybe a review of you have the time and are enjoying the story so far :)
