Chapter 23: The Spoils of War

Post-battle, Gwyneth took stock of the spoils. They included over 300 finished and semi-finished furs of deer, boars, wolves, etc., several tons of fresh, smoked, and dried meats, and a great assortment of animal organs, teeth, horns, hooves. The bounty was enormous, leaving Gwyneth torn between laughter and tears.

On one hand, these captured goods would significantly boost his treasury. On the other, they were stolen from his own lands, merely a fraction of what was taken over the years. The haul was worth over ten gold coins, highlighting his substantial losses.

What irked him more was that these poachers operated under the nose of Windermere's mayor, Lord Boon. Gwyneth was skeptical of Boon's ignorance of the group trafficking quality furs and meats. Regardless of the truth, Boon had to be held accountable.

Among the captured goods were over a dozen fine hunting bows, hundreds of arrows, several leather armors, and an assortment of iron swords, daggers, and axes. These would greatly reinforce Gwyneth's armory, now providing each of his 82 guards with a leather armor and an iron sword.

"All found items, pack up and take back!" Gwyneth ordered. "The living, tie them up and bring along. The dead as well, and even those chopped into pieces – pick them all up and bag them!"

Gwyneth didn't have to issue the command himself, as Jervis was already directing the guards. The man who was split in two was, of course, Gwyneth's handiwork.

As the guards busied themselves, Jervis approached Gwyneth with a bulging bag. "Lord, this contains all the coins found at the site for your inspection."

Gwyneth nodded and counted the coins – silver and copper amounting to about eight gold coins. "Well done, everyone. There will be a reward once we return."

The valuable items were soon packed. Remaining tents and immovable items were set ablaze. By night, the victorious party returned to the castle, which was brilliantly lit up, with people ready to welcome them.

The injured were settled down for Rosalyn's healing. The looted goods were moved to the storeroom and kitchen, exciting the hounds with the scent of blood. Baldwin promptly organized workers to erect hanging cages at the execution ground, tossing all captured poachers, dead or alive, inside.

Finally, the execution ground was enveloped in a thick scent of blood. Faintly illuminated by the hazy firelight, one could barely make out various limbs and chunks of flesh in the hanging cages. The occasional wails, pleas, and screams of the living prisoners made the scene akin to hell. The castle only quieted down in the late night.

The next day was spent busily by Baldwin, arranging transport for the spoils. All the captured goods, along with the furs found at the forester's cabin, were sold to the Windermere market's merchants.

Gwyneth had no doubt the merchants would buy. Regardless of Lord Boon's involvement with the poaching ring, these furs and meats were precious commodities, rarely available due to the monopoly of local lords. The Windermere market readily accepted the deal, valuing all the sold goods at 12 gold coins and 8 silver coins.

Including the cash seized from the poacher's camp and the forester's cabin, the total amounted to 24 gold coins and 4 silver coins. Adding Gwyneth's remaining 4 silver coins, his total assets were now 24 gold coins and 8 silver coins.

With such a significant income, Gwyneth's spirits lifted from the cloud of losing numerous animals. That night, he ordered rewards for those directly involved in the operation: 2 copper coins for each guard and 1 copper coin for supporting maids and workers. The total cost was 224 copper coins, equivalent to 0.89 gold coins.

These rewards, though seemingly small, equaled a month's salary for the guards. With 2 copper coins, one could buy half a bushel of rye, enough for a month's sustenance. In a time where full meals were a luxury, this was significant. Many commoners outside the castle had never seen a real kingdom silver coin.

As everyone lined up to receive their share from Baldwin, each was beaming with joy. They carefully tucked the coins into their clothing, boasting about their bravery during the battle. Tales of Gwyneth's valor were exaggerated, some even claiming to have seen him split both a poacher and a pig in half with a single sword strike.

After the storytelling, the kitchen delivered pots of meat soup and roasted meat, with plenty of beer. The castle hall was once again abuzz with cheers for Gwyneth's bravery and leadership.

Needing a break from the overwhelming adulation, Gwyneth stepped outside for fresh air. Just then, he received a notification: "Successfully leading troops to eliminate criminals in the territory, prestige among the guards increased." He earned an additional 200 governance points.

Considering his increasing governance points, Gwyneth thought it was time to explore the rewards from the marketplace. But he pondered over the logistics of suddenly acquiring a large quantity of black rye seeds without causing alarm.

As Gwyneth contemplated, a shadow approached him.