Muddy waters - The pirates on the Bay (II)

It took Henry and his troops half an hour to finally arrive at Frostwave Bay, the snow slowly covering the tracks of the horses and people.

"Halt! Identify yourselves!!" - A cry pierced the air, halting their advance. A wavy-haired man stood before them, behind him were hundreds if not thousands of armed villagers filling the streets of the city, like ants.

They had never encountered anyone from the king's retinue aside from the General and his soldiers, and lacking any identifiable insignia, recognition was almost impossible. Henry hadn't prepared any banners with the Royal symbol to travel East, a tactic to travel more silently through this region. In the end, he just didn't wish to be bothered in every corner, mainly by merchants.

"Seems they've inherited the bandits' ways" - Henry mused, his gaze flickering with a crafting light - "Their militia knowledge might prove useful, not only their sailing techniques."