Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World C.136 Graham and Benjamin

The feast had lasted through the whole night, accompanied by drinks and laughter. The crackling fire at the heart of the village cast a comforting glow, warding off the encroaching darkness and offering a sanctuary for all. Henry had retired to his temporary quarters in the house of the village chief, his exhaustion evident as he passed through the door with sluggish steps. Leier followed closely behind, standing guard at the door with a watchful gaze, ensuring no one approached the house. The following morning, Henry emerged from the house, straightening his black furred coat as he surveyed the area around the bonfire, a thin thread of smoke still rising to the skies. His soldiers were already up and ready with a lingering haze of the previous night's happenings. A few of the soldiers wore wide smiles as they exchanged glances with the women by the doors, who were throwing at them bashful smiles.

"The previous night had certainly been lively" - Henry thought, giving a slight smile - "It seems they won't need another such stop until we reach the bay."

Leier and the twenty other cavalrymen were busy saddling their horses, their movements precise as they ensured the ropes were securely fastened. The creak of the wooden door opening caught her attention, and she turned to see the young black-haired man - "Good morning, my liege!" - she greeted with a slight bow, followed by the other soldiers.

Henry noticed that her eye was red, a sign that she likely hadn't slept at all and had stayed up all night guarding his door - "Is everything prepared for our departure?"- he asked, striding toward his Snowfire horse. It was the largest and most imposing one in the group, already saddled and ready to go, with his sword hanging by the horse's side. Leier took a brief moment to glance at the infantry and cavalrymen, confirming that everything was in order before nodding - "The soldiers are ready, my liege" - she reported.

Henry nodded in acknowledgment, lightly patting his horse's head. The horse responded with a snort, its movement seeming to caress Henry's palms - "Good boy"- Henry praised with a smile.

"Where are the two scribes?" - The king asked, his eyes searching for the two scribes he had brought with him. He couldn't find them amongst the soldiers.

He had brought with him two scribes, who were distant relatives of some noble families that had fled the kingdom. While they were not considered nobles themselves and only shared a small kinship with them, this connection had afforded them the opportunity to learn basic reading and writing skills. As a result, they had been placed under Luke's guidance, assisting him with administrative tasks. The noble class had been decimated, and although Henry had yet to formally abolish this social system, the remaining distant relatives held no significant power.

"Graham! Benjamin!" Henry's voice boomed, seeming to reverberate through the village, echoing down its narrow streets.

After a brief moment, Henry heard two consecutive creaking noises as two figures hurriedly emerged from different houses. They scrambled to fix their clothes, hastily pulling up their pants and straightening their furred coats, while two women watched helplessly from the door. The women quickly hid themselves as Henry briefly glanced their way. They stopped in front of Henry, not daring to look into the king's eyes.

Graham was a young man with curly golden hair, approximately nineteen years old. Tall and slender, he lacked muscles, as if he had never lifted anything heavier than a feather pen. His blue eyes sparkled with a sharp, almost cunning intelligence, always seeking an advantage, much like a gambler.

Benjamin wasn't as tall as Graham, standing at least two heads shorter, but there were visible muscles on him, likely a result of his few months on the military line before being found by Luke. His hair was red, and his brown eyes were a rare sight in this part of the North. He was also young, about the same age as Graham.

Observing the two scribes, Henry scratched his forehead, taking a deep breath. "What were my orders?" - he inquired, fixing his gaze on the two young men.

The pair fidgeted, heads bowed, exchanging uneasy glances between each other. Despite their silent and almost chaotic communication, neither seemed willing to speak up. They screwed up.

"Answer me," Henry demanded, his voice low, betraying a hint of frustration. He understood the necessity of maintaining discipline among his troops; hierarchy and rules were paramount.

Graham was the first to break the silence, casting a subservient look up at the king - "Your Majesty ordered us to be prepared to leave as soon as the sun rises" - he responded.

"And why didn't I see both of you here this early morning?" - Henry asked, his gaze fixed on them as he awaited their explanation, though he already had a good idea of what they had been up to the entire night.

The pair exchanged glances once more, and this time, they seemed to have a prepared response. Benjamin stepped forward, retrieving a rolled parchment from his furred coat. He bowed respectfully to Henry, extending the item to him.

"We apologize for our late arrival, Your Majesty" - Benjamin began - "We spent the entire night diligently working on the map and the report about Langten. Seeing our fatigued mind and body, two kind-hearted young ladies graciously offered us shelter in their homes for some rest. We accepted it."

"We understand that our mistake cannot be excused and we expect to be punished, my king." - Graham said, bowing his head, with Benjamin following suit. Henry accepted the parchment in his hands - "You are forgiven, but there must be consequences. Two lashes with the whip, and let that be the end of it. Do not let it happen again," he declared, delivering a mild punishment, one that even a regular soldier could endure. Benjamin nodded, already accustomed to such discipline, while Graham swallowed hard, refraining from speaking as both the king and the stern woman behind him watched intently. "Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty" - They both expressed in unison, bowing before turning to the infantryman, who looked at them with a mixture of sympathy and understanding. Most of the soldiers had faced similar experiences the previous night, yet their training compelled them to rise at their usual time and prepare. It had become a routine that saved them.

Henry watched as they made their way toward the soldiers. The punishments would be enacted out later, adhering to the cultural tradition that decreed all punishments must be administered at midday, under the sun's highest point. This practice had been passed down through generations, and Henry saw no reason to change it.

"Where is the village chief?"- Henry asked as he skillfully mounted his horse, with Leier doing the same."

"He's at the front gates, my liege" - Leier responded - "He spent the night preparing the provisions and also sent someone with your majesty's letter to the capital."

"Good" - Henry acknowledged - "Let's not waste any more time. We have a long journey ahead of us. We must visit all the villages along our route and convey my decree. We must bring change to this kingdom."