The sun was just starting to set as the guards at the main gate of Wodenshire glimpsed the procession heading there way. At least forty heavily armed and armored men guarding a carriage as it rolled up to them.
“Oy, Heinrich, were we expecting anyone today?” Ned, clad in his light gambeson and light chain asked, picking his halberd up from where he had been leaning on it and attempting to get into a more presentable state.
“I mean, Our lord his royal highness Vincent Ustral was supposed to arrive months ago, but it kept getting pushed back. I suppose he was supposed to arrive this week sometime, but I just assumed it had been pushed back yet again. You know he doesen't care about us out here in the sticks, not about the bandits or the witch or...” Heinrich began to ramble on.
“Now that ain't fair Heinrich. We're at war and his Highness has been fighting it. He can't nick off in the middle of a pitched battle to deal with a couple assholes what hold up merchants.” Ned countered, knowing full well his partner's anti-royal tendencies.
“And farmers. And travellers. And anyone who leaves the walls. It's gotten bad, he should have dealt with these issues months ago.”
“Technically keeping the roads clear is what we get paid for though. I mean he pays us a decent wage, and expected us to be able to do our jobs with it. Ain't his fault they outnumber us, uh....”
“Last estimates put them at... thirty to one?”
“Yeh, ain't his fault all of a sudden we get a bumper crop-o-bandits.”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“It's still his responsibility, that he's been shirking, if lord Indig was in charge our roads would be clear.”
“We talking about the same lord that has used the danger to his own lands from monsters and brigands and witches as a reason to refuse damn near all the royal summons for aid? Doesen't sound like his lands are doing any better if they are so much worse he can't leave to defend the kingdom. They HAVE to be doing worse than here for him to get away with that, right?” Ned said, smug at turning his partner's argument around on him as the first of the procession's horses reached them.
The first thing that hit him was the smell. Like dried rot for the most part, coming from the man on the horse. The man was wearing and old style chainmail hauberk and chauses, with a helmet that covered his face.
“Hoi! Who is it you are escorting? I don't recognize any heraldry on the carriage?” The man on the horse stopped, and slowly turned his head to look down at Ned. Something between a hiss and a groan began issuing from the man's mouth, before the driver of the carriage interjected.
“Introducing his royal highness Prince Vincent Ustral, lord of these lands and his wife to be, Elaina von Otterbach, princess of the kingdom of Planhaften. The lord and lady have had a long journey and will be spending the night in Lord Vincent's Manor. Spread the word.”
Hans had stood up while speaking and not sat down, flicking the reins of the horses to take them into town.
Ned gave Heinrich a look as the carriage and horses passed them in the streets. Things were about to change in their town.