Volume One: The Forest Knight Chapter 20: The Gamlin Family

Taking payment to resolve troubles, Viscount Merry demanded that Berion lead at least thirty soldiers and join the force he was sending to reclaim Maple Leaf Manor no later than one month before the summer harvest. This way, the harvest would not be delayed, and the manor could be restored before the royal court inspector arrived.

Counting from now, Berion had just over three months. In that time, he needed to train not only a fighting force but one capable of winning a siege—a tight schedule, indeed. However, with experienced leaders like Iome, Beth, Tur, Barin, and Barrett, and the thirty seasoned militiamen of Norlandburg, Berion was confident he could forge a battle-worthy unit.

Of course, Viscount Merry, while granting Berion so many benefits, made it clear that since Berion had agreed to his terms, if he failed to produce an elite force and recover Maple Leaf Manor, Merry would punish him severely before the court even had the chance. Not only would Berion face retribution, but Norlandburg would lose its ten-year tax exemption—then Berion could expect crushing levies.

That night, at the governor’s banquet, Berion was honored as the hero of the hour and plied with wine by every guest. Fortunately, Iome helped shield him from some of the drinking, sparing Berion from drunkenness—something that would surely have clouded his mind and judgment.

The next morning, Berion, accompanied by Iome, Tur, and several guards, first went to the rural estates outside the city. There they selected fifty healthy young male serfs. After bribing two estate stewards with a hundred denars, Berion purchased thirty young female serfs at thirty denars apiece—nine hundred in total.

His reason for bringing in young women was not due to any base desire as a lord, but out of two practical concerns. First, Norlandburg’s gender ratio was severely unbalanced: besides twenty-some young women, many already married, Berion had just received fifty more young male serfs from Viscount Merry, worsening the imbalance.

It was imperative to introduce young women, or chaos might erupt. Secondly, Berion planned to help his battle-hardened soldiers and the craftsmen who had distinguished themselves establish families, binding them closer to himself, rooting them in Norlandburg, and truly inspiring them to treat it as their home.

All eighty serfs were gathered on a country estate, guarded by Tur and his Free Company mercenaries. Meanwhile, Berion and Iome took a cart to the city warehouse and armory to collect the supplies granted by Viscount Merry. With the official documents, and their recent renown for heroism, Berion easily obtained the equipment and arms—though the Amandine city armory was so shabby that he abandoned any thought of pilfering extra. Instead, he planned to have his own smiths forge the weapons he desired once home.

After loading the wagons, Berion and Iome sent the soldiers ahead to the rural estate, then set out to bid farewell to Viscount Merry. Unfortunately, the viscount was out inspecting his lands that morning, and they missed him. With noon approaching, the two found a small tavern in Amandine and took a simple meal at a window seat facing the street.

As they ate, a commotion broke out outside. Like most in the tavern, they looked to the street and saw a gang of roughs harassing a family of four.

The thugs—eleven or twelve strong, armed with clubs and axes—were menacing and fierce. The family’s father, a sturdy man in his thirties, and his fifteen- or sixteen-year-old son each wielded a staff, shielding their wife and daughter behind them. The mother and daughter were terrified; the girl, about thirteen or fourteen, clung to her mother in tears. She had beautiful golden hair and fair skin, a true beauty even at her young age.

The leader of the ruffians, his face twisted with rage, shouted at the father, “Gamlin, you’d best be sensible! Your wife borrowed money from me to treat your injuries. I’ve been generous not to turn your whole family into serfs for repayment! Besides, your daughter’s caught the eye of the new Deputy Constable, Sir Sack. Hand over the girl and your debt is forgiven. You’ll live well under the knight’s protection—why are you being so foolish?”

“Dog Oak, Vera only borrowed five denars from you! You heartless cur, you’re demanding fifty back after just a week! You’re only after my daughter. I’m warning you, forget it!” the father, Gamlin, glared at the thug leader, Oak, his eyes burning with fury.

“If you lay a finger on my sister, I’ll cut your dog’s head off!” Tho