Volume One: The Forest Knight Chapter 101: The Invitation

After Berian and Gamgi finished their discussion with the sheriff, they declined his invitation to stay for dinner. After all, they had already eaten, and having just been extorted for ten thousand dinars, they certainly had no mood to sit around and chat.

Berian and Gamgi, along with three others, and joined by Lochiel and Euromy, made a party of seven. After leaving the tavern, they headed straight to the courtyard near the mule and horse market where Lochiel’s group was renting lodgings.

Inside the courtyard were more than twenty burly men and over thirty warhorses. Lochiel had started as a horse trader, and his men were all skilled riders.

Berian agreed to fund them because he had a clear plan: training a cavalry unit from scratch would take three to five years at least, and who knew what chaos the world would be in by then?

Considering all this, when Berian met Lochiel, he had the idea that if he could bring these men under his banner, it would solve a major problem for him.

Once inside, Lochiel invited Berian and Gamgi into the house. After they sat down, Lochiel and Euromy performed a deep bow to express their gratitude.

Berian helped him up with a smile and said, “Uncle Lochiel, I grew up under your watch. You don’t have to go to such lengths for me.”

“Ah!” After everyone settled, Lochiel sighed deeply, then spoke with a hint of despair. “Since the horse trading business has gone sour, I invited some old comrades and merged them with my horse trading crew to form a small mercenary band. We registered with the Mercenary Guild in Yanvickshuo City.

“In the early years, business wasn’t booming, but livable. The men earned enough to save up and, after two or three years, return to their hometowns to buy land and build houses—becoming prosperous farmers.

“But in the past two years, it’s become harder and harder. Two main reasons: first, large mercenary groups like the Black Mountain Company have expanded relentlessly. Everyone trusts these long-established, reputable, and powerful groups, so our fledgling band of mercenaries can’t compete.

“Second, civil unrest and rampant banditry have cut off many trade routes. Our clients are mostly small and medium-sized caravans that can’t afford the large mercenary companies, so they hire us. The big caravans have their own sizeable private guards.

“But now, those smaller caravans either get swallowed up by the bigger ones after poor business, or get wiped out by bandits after a few attacks. Our mercenary group, which depends on escorting these small caravans, has fallen on hard times.

“If it weren’t for this, I’d never take on tax collector jobs. We were all farmers once and hate the oppressive tax officials. How could we ever team up to bully the farmers?

“When we arrived and saw their ruthless slaughter of villages resisting taxation, we realized this money is blood-stained and can’t bring peace to our hearts. But that also earned us the enmity of Sir Orsan. Though you helped us today, he’ll surely cause trouble again in the future.

“We can’t stay in Yanvickshuo City anymore. We’re afraid to disband the men; together, we look out for each other. If we split up, Orsan will send his taxmen and mercenaries to pick us off one by one.”

After this long explanation, Berian looked at him and asked, “What are your plans now?”

Lochiel shook his head. “None. We’ll find a small farm to hide out for a while and see what comes next.”

“Yes,” Euromy added, “where in this world can ordinary people find a paradise—somewhere to eat and sleep without fearing for their safety or their families’?”

Berian stood and walked to the window, gazing outside. “Searching for paradise on earth is a foolish dream. But finding a place free from bandits, free from lords and tax collectors oppressing you—that is possible.”

“Sir Berian, where might such a place be?” Lochiel, now embarrassed to address Berian by his first name, added the respectful title “Sir.”

Berian turned and met his gaze firmly. “My domain, Norlandenburg. There, I can guarantee your safety and provide homes and enough food for you and your families.”

Lochiel was struck speechless. After a long moment, he responded, “Are you helping us with the idea of recruiting us?”

Berian nodded openly. “Uncle Lochiel, of course I want you to join me. But if you don’t, will I refuse to help you? I help first, I don’t demand a promise before lending aid.”

Lochiel laughed awkwardly and scratched his head. He felt a bit petty for suspecting Berian’s generosity since he hadn’t imposed any conditions.

Now, just a friendly suggestion, yet he doubted the intentions of the one who extended a hand in friendship—that was indeed ungrateful.

Lochiel said nothing more, but Euromy piped up, “Sir Berian, honestly, I’m willing to follow you. If not for your help, I might not be alive now. I don’t want to end up in prison, forced to fight to the death!

“Lochiel is a good man, just a bit hesitant sometimes, but I don’t think he’ll object to following you. None of us can survive much longer in the North.

“Better to go to your domain—whether as soldiers or farmers. A knight of your noble character and distinguished achievements won’t treat us unfairly. I trust you completely.”

Lochiel punched Euromy lightly on the shoulder and scolded with a smile, “You little rascal, you said all the good things. It’s not like I’m refusing the lord. Get out of here and stop talking nonsense.”

“Ha ha ha!” The room brightened with laughter after this little exchange.

“You can’t stay in the city either way. In a few days, come with me to Norlandenburg. After you’ve settled there for a while, we’ll discuss whether you want to join me.

“I don’t like forcing people, but I believe after a month or so, you won’t want to leave.”

Berian knew Lochiel would need to consult his comrades before deciding, as they were a team of more than twenty men.

At this point, Berian spoke frankly. “Uncle Lochiel, I’ll pay the ten thousand dinars to the sheriff. Consider it the fee for hiring you to escort me back to Norlandenburg.

“You’ll stay there for at least a month. I’ll provide food and lodging. After that, you can decide whether to stay or leave. How does that sound?”

Lochiel nodded without hesitation. “No problem. We definitely can’t repay that ten thousand dinars. Let’s treat it as our hiring fee, though it is quite high.”

“Oh, that fee isn’t just high—it’s extremely high,” Euromy joked from the side.

Lochiel lifted his foot as if to kick him, but Euromy dodged. As he walked out laughing, he said, “Sir Berian, how about a drink with us tonight?”

“Sure, no problem,” Berian agreed cheerfully.

Euromy was even more delighted by Berian’s quick acceptance. He danced in place and exclaimed, “Great! I’ll go get the money from Grimber now and take everyone out to buy some wine and meat.” Saying that, he hurried away.

Lochiel watched Euromy and couldn’t help but smile wryly. He looked apologetically at Berian and said, “Don’t mind Euromy; though an adult, he’s got the heart of a child. We’re used to rough living outdoors and can’t prepare anything fancy.

“Sir Berian, Mr. Gamgi, and these three brothers, please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality.”

“Ha ha ha, Uncle Lochiel, you’re being too formal. Berian and I are used to rough living too. We’re not delicate city folk.

“We’re rough men who eat heartily and drink deeply—that’s what makes life enjoyable, isn’t it?” Gamgi responded with a laugh.

“Ha ha ha!” Lochiel laughed heartily and nodded. “Indeed, the sheriff’s tavern serves good food, but it’s too refined for rough men like us.”

The group continued joking inside while waiting for Euromy’s return. Gamgi glanced at Berian thoughtfully, deeply impressed.

It was only after the Battle of Sis Town that Gamgi truly believed this young knight, Berian, was no mere county sheriff. He was destined for greatness.

From the duel to the trial against Sir Dosog, to the scheme against Sister Mura, and now rallying a formidable mercenary band under his wing, Berian seemed to possess the bearing of a true leader.

Though Gamgi didn’t know the full story behind Sister Mura’s death, he knew it was tied to Berian. Only Berian could bring down such a cunning old nun with her own treacherous methods.

She had always falsely accused others of heresy, yet in the end, she was burned as a heretic herself—a cruel irony and clear revenge. And lately, among those who opposed Sister Mura, only Berian had the capability to pull that off.

Having traveled far and wide, Gamgi understood that a person’s ceiling in life was set by their leader. Following a viscount or baron, one might only rise so far; but following a count, promotion to viscount or baron was possible.

But what if you followed someone destined to be a king?

Gamgi shook his head, realizing how bold and naïve his thoughts were. Could this barely twenty-year-old truly become the man under the god of fire in this land?

As laughter and chatter filled the room, a sudden roar shattered the mood, freezing everyone in place.

“Absolutely not!”

A burly, one-eyed man strode in, his missing eye covered by a black patch. He marched straight up to Lochiel.

“You may go serve the nobles as their dogs, but don’t drag me and the brothers into this!”

Lochiel’s face darkened immediately. He stood and glared fiercely. “Shut your mouth and get out. Don’t be rude in front of our lord.”

The one-eyed man sneered coldly, looking down on Lochiel. Through gritted teeth he spat, “Where is that so-called honorable man now? Willing to be a noble’s dog for ten thousand dinars? That’s disgusting as hell!”