Getting supplies(1)

'So this is how it feels' Alpheo mused 'To lead men forward, your back showed to them as you hear the small jingling of stell pinching on steel. Knowing that they will draw it under your order.What a beautiful sound'

He turned around as he saw the half of a thousand of men following him .

Most of them were clad in simple chainmail armor and helmets, while a lucky few had managed to procure sturdy plate armor from one of the sacked tents. Each man carried a sword and shield or a lance, ready to fight for their life. You could see it in their eyes, they acquired freedom and they would never desert it .Like a unruly dog who sees the hand of his owner approaching his plate of food , snarling his teeth at it, regardless of the consequences.

Despite their ragtag appearance, they almost looked like a proper army as they marched forward.

'Give some kids some stick and they will think themselves soldiers' he mused .

Some were small in stature, likely due to years of hunger, but this could easily be remedied with a few good meals. He needed warriors who were strong and ready to fight, not frail skeletons who would blow away at the slightest winds, so the last thing Alpheo would do was ration the food.

The horses were positioned in the center of the formation, surrounding the precious treasure they had obtained. Counting it yesterday, he had tallied up 50 aureii and 120 silverii – enough to arm his army properly and provide them with food for their journey south. Speaking of food, their supplies were running low and would only last them another day or two. Fortunately, they were nearing some villages where they could replenish their provisions.

One of them was right before them, it must house no more than 500 people , there was no palisade , no defence, no guards, just families working the field not worrying about bandits or raiding armies.

"In my days," Egil remarked, turning to me with a hint of nostalgia in his voice, "we would have raided at least four of these every week. '' His eyes closed remembering the feeling of the wind carassing his face as he rode to slaughter . He then turned to his friend

''Alph, are you sure you don't want to raid this one? They look pretty well-off."

His gaze bore into Alpheoìs, seeking an answer that he would not give. Instead, he met his inquiry with a silent stare, allowing the weight of his words to linger between them. Egil seemed to grasp the unspoken response, his demeanor softening as he took a step back.

"Just asking," he muttered, retreating from the conversation with a hint of resignation.

Turning to Jarva,Alpheo found him already poised for action. He nodded in acknowledgment, gesturing toward the group of thirty men behind . Each one stood ready, clad in chainmail and armed to the teeth, their resolve mirroring that of their leader.

Despite Alpheo's desire for a breastplate, he opted to wear the same armor as my men, refusing to elevate himself above them. True it was just for show, but weren't looks everything?Also what was he going to do?Seize it from one of his men?

"Ready?" He asked Jarva, receiving as an answer a nod.

He motioned for his men to advance, knowing full well that the best negotations are those where you can threaten the other party . The path was clear: show them steel first, and then gold, allowing them to choose the way to go.

As Roosevelt said ''Speak softly and carry a big stick, and you will go far'' or something like that .

They halted the advance just beyond the outskirts of the village,it was empty. Well hardly a surprise, though he was more than ever pleased by the fact that they at least did not bother to come out armed with hoes.

'They must already know we're here,' he mused to myself, his gaze scanning the horizon for any sign of movement. After all, the sight of five hundred men marching through the countryside was not one easily overlooked.

They waited in tense silence, the minutes stretching on like hours as they awaited for someone to treat with . And then,an old man emerged from the village, his steps slow as he approached them, leaning heavily on a cane.

That's probably the village head, Alpheo thought as he tilted his head . He stopped few meters from them, before he spoke in Arlanian , which Alpheo did not understand . He turned towards Jarva, which reached closer to him and translated his words

"He asks us why we are here" Jarva explained. "He says that his lord must have already paid us and we should bring the matter to them.He think of us as soldiers"

Alpheo smiled, his mind already formulating a response. He leaned in closer to Jarva, instructing him on what to say next.

"Please tell him this: My good man, we are simply travelers in need of provisions. We are interested in buying food and water from you, and we are more than willing to pay. Assure him that there is no need for concern regarding our weapons; we mean no harm as long as we are treated with respect. Oh, and don't forget to ask for some oats for the horses,the beasts need food too" Alpheo directed.

Jarva nodded, relaying Alpheo's words to the old man. The elderly villager listened intently, his expression skeptical yet curious. After a moment, he responded in a harsh tone, prompting Jarva to translate once more.

"He contine to asks who we are," Jarva relayed.

Alpheo chuckled softly "Tell him not to ask stupid questions and to fetch the food while we're asking nicely and offering payment. Assure him that we mean no harm and won't cheat them , once again . Let's make this transaction smooth and beneficial for both parties."

After the old man's response, Jarva turned to Alpheo, relaying the villager's question. "He asks us how much food and water we need," Jarva explained.

Alpheo reached into his pocket, withdrawing a small pouch containing thirty silverii. With a confident smirk, he tossed the pouch toward the old man, indicating for him to take it. "Tell him to bring us as much food and water as this can buy, along with some urns for the water," Alpheo instructed Jarva.

The old man squabbled something in response, his tone uncertain. Jarva translated his words, not before giving out a sigh "He demands to know who we are."

Alpheo let out a weary sigh, as he approached the old man while holding his sword by the hilt.

"Maybe we don't want to answer that " he replied firmly.

The old man quivered slightly, clearly intimidated by Alpheo's presence. Despite the language barrier, Alpheo's tone conveyed his message clearly, they were not good people .

If there was someone that not so good people hated, was curious one, and right now Alpheo was understanding the reason .

 ----------------

Map of the continent: