10 The Aftermath

As the sun rises and the light glimmers at the head knight who was standing at the corpse of the beheaded ork warboss Skulznapper. The reflection upon his armor made a dazzling light that would (temporarily) blind a man. He looked like a warrior, a leader and best of all... He was venerated by the Isstvanians as a Hero.

The head knight of the Holland family as wells all knightages within the city as the sole commander to them. His loyalty to the Cromwells is unpar with the rest of the banner knights and the Chevalier's. These ranks are below the title of head knight and I estimated it to be equal to captain and lieutenant.

It seems that once I restabilize the city's economy, I should also reorganize the military structure so it would be a little easier to discern them from their rank but for now... I should let Charles enjoy his triumph. After all, he was the one who defeated that beast, not me. As soon as Charles made his victory pose; he comedictly fell to the ground.

CLANK

Charles fell, face first and then went into deep slumber while his lower half is bended like mountain. He was now tired and exhausted. Seeing the man drop to the ground – the elhein ranger immediately rush towards him. She runs like an elegant women dashing towards her lover's side.

'Huh, so they're that close?' Richard thought to himself.

As the elhein ranger went towards Charles after making a sideway slide – she grabs Charles by the shoulder then by the abdomen. Revealing the battered red face of him and several scars were now showing into his face.

She finds it sort of appealing but shook her head just by the thought of it. As she touches Charles face, the elhein ranger removes her hood, displaying her natural appearance as a proud elhein ranger. As I walk towards the two cuddlers – slowly striding. Then I stop right in front of the head knight's unconscious body.

I stood there, surveying every inch of the man's beaten face. I remove my cape and put on Charles as a blanket. The elhein ranger doesn't acknowledge my presence as she was caressing his hair in her thighs – giving Charles a lap pillow.

As took a closer look at her face, she was what I expect she would. Her slender body structure was distinctive for an elf, as well as her long pointy ears but what was more eye catching was her red, velvety hair.

Her pupils were dark blue in saphire appearance — her skin was pale as the moon and smooth as an unripple surface of fresh water. 'I have to say Charles, you got yourself a fine lover. No doubt about it.' I thought then turn around until I heard the sound of coughing.

"*Cough Cough* Your grace... I... defeated the ork and... *Inhale, Exhale* I'm still alive somehow..." said the exacerbated head knight who was breathing heavily.

Richard chuckles. "Yes you did, yes indeed you did. I am proud that you are my head knight, Charles Holland. You should rest and heal your wounds." He commented to him and turned my back to where he was heading towards the battered wall and then he stops. "What is your name, miss ranger?" he said, only turning my head slightly towards the two couple with only one side of my face not showing.

She glared at me with unrelenting fury and distrust. She was somehow mad at something that I or more specifically, Richard; that did something to aggravate the elhein ranger. Sensing her animosity towards his lord, Charles strenuously holds her hands — shaking uncontrollably. She then bows her head to the ground; not facing the duke of Isstvan.

"My name is Cellica Perquinal." She coldly said and then face back at Charles who beam her with delight.

"You would make a fine partner for my head knight. Please, take care of him for me miss Perquinal." Richard said then strolls over to the now damaged northern gate.

As I approach the walls of the now eroding and breaking walls that were around since my grandfather's founding of the city (Ryan Cromwell to be precise).

Many of the knights and footmen were bewildered to see the duke in the aftermath. Usually most nobles of higher rank would normally go straight to their mansions and manors to prepare a feast of victory but the duke didn't went home.

Instead he inspected the remains of the falling wall and greeted some of the soldiers who were injured, giving them compensation for defending Isstvan and preventing it from total annihilation. The grateful soldiers were shock and obediently nodded at the rewards given by the duke.

Such benevolence was beneath them in many ways but it was already given to them by the man they were under their control. They swore fealty to Richard but he shrugged and stated that

'That won't be needed since you are already loyal to me.'

He then strolled through the piles of dead carcasses. All of whom were filed in a row where the dead rest — putting on a blanket to signify that the person laying is naught but gone. My face was expressionless but deep down inside; all I feel is pity and sorrow for these men (despite showing a poker face).

They all died for the sake of the city's future and survival; what choice do they have when no other Isstvanian was willing to put their life for the city since this is a trading hub for commerce.

They can just book a ship to somewhere safe and move far away from the inevitable destruction. I can see why there weren't that many staff and personnel to man the walls of Isstvan... We didn't have the luxury of time to recruit more knights and footmen.

I shook my head as I have many things that I have to improve the livelihood to this backwater city — even though we are port city, that doesn't mean standard of living is any better. I'll might have to think of ways to enhance the average citizen's life so they won't leave the city as easily like the others.

Richard then squatted at one of the corpse and opens the white clothe it was hiding. There he can see a man's ripped face taken away by the brutal greenskins. He puts the clothe down out of disgust — just staring at it for too long almost made his stomach churned. Then he looks at the row of bodies again, only realizing the horror further.

There were features that wasn't reminiscent to a man's body structure but are similar to a woman and child. This made a grimace look on his face and turns his head around out of spite.

After inspecting the corpses and the remains of the fallen, I ask one of my guards to tell banner knight to send the remains back to their love ones. The guard, a bit confused — complied to my orders and went to the banner knight.

As I see them chatting; an idea came to my mind 'Maybe I should start refurbishing the city layout instead?' I thought to myself. Before I could ponder it further the guard came back and said that the knight would gladly do what his lord orders him. I said my thanks and I then went back to the wounded.

When I saw the injured men all laying and sitting in benches and floor mats, I then faced my guard who I forgot to mention was named Philandrus Pius. He is a normal commonfolk guard in my mansion. They aren't as skilled as the knights in my house or others but they get the job done.

"Pius, is there a clinic or hospital nearby? We should treat these battered men and let them heal. They've had enough fighting for tonight." Richard said as casual as possible.

"Umm... I am sorry my lord but what is this clinic and hospital you speak of? I have not heard anything that resembles what you speak of your grace." Philandrus said confusingly

"Ahh... I-I see now... *grunts* Then who is the one tending them as of the moment?" Richard said in a awkward tone.

While I was speaking with Philandrus, a man appeared and was wearing a white tunic similar to that of greek and roman. Carrying with him some bandages and a few pink bottles of what they call [Potion of Healing].

At first I didn't believe such a thing never existed but after seeing the effects of the [Strength Potion], I slowly began to accept the concept of magic.

This not only further solidifies the world I am in is from the medieval time but I was also in a fantasy one too. As I was contemplating my thoughts on how I should utilize and study the us of magic in this world, a man went towards me with eyes of concern.

"[Excuse me your grace, my name is Valerian Letinus. First medical officer in Isstvan as well as a physician.]" The man in the white tunic said in lethin. Conveniently enough, I too also speak the Lethin dialect.

"Yes, what seems to be the problem... Medicus?" Richard said, raising an eyebrow.

"[I am currently short on hands, Your grace. There are simply too many of wounded to be healed as I have very few staff to maintain this many injured. Would your grace spare me a few men to aid me for these soldiers needs?]" Valerian said and I gave him my nod of approval.

"Yes, I will send 20 men to help you." I said in Lethin and faced another guard next to me. "Give this man 20 people that are capable of how to bandage a wound." Richard said in Draconic.

"Yes your grace." The guard replied back and marches towards his comrades.

"[Thank you, your grace. I am grateful you care for these men's survival.]" He said and then goes back to his post.

"Oh, and I will also be helping too if you don't mind." Richard said before he could leave.

Valerian looked shock and bewildered, he took a good look at his lord and wonders if he isn't joking. Seeing the Doctors perplexed face — Richard chuckles and puts on a serious stare.

"As I said Medicus, I will be helping you tend to the wounded." Said Richard and proceeds to remove his iron gloves that he was wearing in his armor.

"[I... Uh... Thank you, your grace. I am very much grateful that you wish to succor but do you know how to treat a man? Let alone bandage a bleeding one?]" The medicus spoke with concern as to make sure the duke wasn't fooling around like the other nobility.

Richard grins and puts his ungloved hand over the shoulder to the young Physician. "You'll see, Letinus. You'll see."

4 hours later.

A couple of yards away from the duke — the two couple were still snuggling at each other at a nearby shed that was covering them. Cellica did not want to let her knight and lover go, so they stayed with each other for a long time.

Charles stared at the duke chatting with the other men and just casually being friendly towards the other soldiers. This was not like the duke for he knows that he was a very odd person to talk to.

Hence we sometimes call him the weird leader for he rarely talks to anyone that isn't close to him. The Richard Cromwell only speaks when he is needed to, like in ceremonies and maritime business meetings etc. This however was his first time seeing the man interact with his citizens.

People that only belong in the less furbish houses that no noble or rich merchants can never hope to live in a shoddy home. The commonfolk are usually beneath the nobles but for Richard though... He speaks to them as if they are his equals — such humility is unknown to the nobility.

While Charles was pondering on the actions of the duke as he was concern about his safety and reputation; he felt a grip of slender hands touch his cheeks. They were soft and delicate; he faced to the person who was still giving him a lap-pillow.

"This man is strange... I don't quite feel he is normal but not abnormal. As if he is something between them." Cellica said as she was tugging Charles in an embrace — arms crossed betwixt on Charles battered chest-plated armor.

"Hehe... You do not need to worry about him for the time being... I am his knight and it is my duty as one to never question my sovereigns authority." Charles replied in an more tired yet polite tone.

She scoffs at him and rolls her eyes. "We need to get you a place to rest first, so I can heal you quickly. Maybe "they'll" have some space for me to heal your wounds." Cellica said, embracing Charles tighter.

Charles smiles and lifts his hand unto Cellicas arms. "And why is that? Are you that eager for me to pounce at you again like last time."

She grins back at him — the sunlight illuminating her facial features. "You never change have you, Charles?" She replied.

When Charles and Cellica were busy trying to get him up, a man with muscle like features in his armor was approaching the duke while he was helping the injured. These men wore strange armor unlike the normal knight or footman. They were actually the Astrapans and with them a few men wearing in Chitons — I can tell they were Nasethians.

'What are they were going to talk about?' Charles thought.

When the men reach to the duke, one Astrapan warrior grabbed the shirt of Richard and pins him to the wall. This alarmed Charles and immediately runs towards Richards safety as fast as he could — despite the pain growing more and more.

The nearby knights and footman too saw this and draw their blades, pointing at the red-caped men. In responds, one blew a whistle and immediately they made a shield formation covering their commander and points their Dory spears at their threatener. Charles grabbed a sword he picked at the ground. It wasn't as polish as his previous sword but it'll do for this engagement.

Before they could eventually trade blows at one another, the men wearing yellow Chitons spoke in Labonice.

"[Halt, Cease this at once! We have come here to discuss, not to brawl, Tagmatarkhis!]" He said — speaking in a raspy voice. Richard though didn't understood what the Labonice words mean.

"[Then why hasn't he decided to come and see us back at his megálo spíti?]" Said the Astrapan, gripping Richards shirt. Judging from the color of his plume on top of his helmet, he must be a commander or of higher rank.

"[It's megálo fantachteró spíti, actually.]" Another Astrapan said but with a more silly tone. He laughs and then the rest of his comrades also chuckles but not the one with the plume of black and white stripes. His attention was the duke and the Nasethian.

Richard was still pinned to the wall like a glued brick — his feet were afloat, thanks to the Astrapans brawny arms. He however was calmed and expressionless. Even though he was being pushed to the wall and then be lifted up like a bullied nerd. But it did not surprised him a bit as he still has that poker face on. He then raised an eyebrow; twitching his lips in a more passive demeanor.

"Then shall we go to my mansion to talk things out? or do you prefer to discuss it right here inside your mikró fantachteró spíti?" Richard sarcastically said to the man carrying him. Speaking in Draconic.