Ashton Harbor

Thud!

The man hits the table hard with his hand, shaking everything that was on it, scaring the man in front of him, which he liked.

Though he is feeling too angry to feel any joy from it for more than a moment.

The retreat had already made him angry, but now, seeing the list of casualties, the anger in his eyes blazed again.

“Twenty-one Pre-Level 20, thirteen Level 30, including five necromancers and nearly a hundred thousand undead. We have lost so much and didn’t even attain the victory!” said the man with the staff.

“It is terrible. Wayne had messed up dearly,” said the armored man sitting in front of him.

“Do you want me to send him back to the island for the punishment?” he asked a moment later, but the man with the staff shook his head.

“No.” said the man with the staff.

“He deserves to be punished for this failure,” said the armored man. “He will be and the punishment. I have something in my mind for him that will be worse than anything he would get on the island,” replied the man with a staff.

The armored man wanted to ask him about it, but didn’t. He will know when it happens.

“How are the things in Gailhorn?” asked the man with the staff. “Very good. Our preparations were thorough; there was no resistance. Our man will declare himself as the lord of Gailhorn in a few hours and will start on our orders immediately,” replied the armored man.

“And the two battles?” he asked, and the armored man’s expression turned serious. “There is a greater resistance than we had thought, but I believe our forces will prevail,” replied, the armored man.

“Keep me updated,” said the man with a staff. …

Owlspring

“Well, it is surprising,” said the lord of Owlspring. Looking at the report in his hand. “Yes, our men didn’t have to move to aid them,” replied the man sitting in front of him.

They couldn’t let the Greltheaven or any city on the river fall into the hands of the undead.

It is the trade route they require and while the undead had promised them, they wouldn’t impede the trade with the empire, but undead are not to be believed. They would prefer to have the people they could control.

The conflict in empire had provided great provided a great opportunity to his city and he will be damned. If he lets anyone, mess with that.

The leadership had given him, complete freedom to act as he pleased. He had used that authority giving them aid and weapons and keeping his men close to step in if they couldn’t deal with the problem.

He read the whole report, before writing a few names down.

“Triple the offer; I want them with our city,” he said, pushing the note toward the man in front of him.

There are a couple of names on the list, with the first being Thaddaeus Stone.

“It will be done, my lord,” said the man and bowed as he took the list.

“What is the progress of the other battles?” he asked after a second of silence. “It is hard to say, but our men are ready in Deerpond to assist, if they need any help,” replied the man.

They care about the Deerpond, not much about Port Midlet. They only kept their scouts there, not men to aid.

Those privileges are only for Greltheaven, Deerpond, and Riverbell.

….

“My lord,”

The guards with the church of dusk emblem bowed as I entered the building.

Inside, I saw rows and rows of beds with the priests and doctors caring for the patients. Including the bishops and the paladins, who were on the battlefield not long ago.

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There are a lot of injured and we need everyone we could. I had even sent Zela to hospitals to help.

This hospital is run by the church of dusk. It is temporary, till their church is built. They are building a big church with an in-house hospital and other things.

They seemed to be investing more than what was wise, but I couldn’t blame them. Their condition in the merchant state isn't that good.

They need a new territory where there isn't an intense competition for the faithful.

“My lord,” greeted Bishop Merial. “Your Excellency; thank you for doing this,” I said, looking at all the patients.

“You don’t have to thank me, my lord. Helping people is our path,” she replied before she looked at me.

“You are injured, my lord, you should take rest,” she said, in a healer’s tone. “I will, your excellency, after I finished here,” I replied, and she looked at me, before sighing with the shake of her head.

I talked to her, for a minute before I let her do her job. I walked around and talked to a few patients before walking out.

Soon, the carriage took me to another hospital, where things weren’t as good as the church’s hospital, but all the healers and doctors were trying their all to save as many people as possible.

I have made preparations, but I would have loved it. If I had more healers and doctors; potions aren’t enough to save people.

I tried to recruit more, but it was hard. Few people want to come to a place, which could be attacked at any time. Let’s hope, the second attack gives them enough confidence to come to the city.

We really need more healers and doctors.

This battle isn't going to be the last battle; the next time, the undead come, they will come in an even bigger horde, and I need to be prepared to deal with every aspect of battle, they will bring to me.

Soon, I finished all the hospitals and sat back in the carriage.

It is not returning to the city hall, but moving toward the other destination. I wanted to visit since, I came back, but needed to do other things.

Hun!

Soon, I reached the empty area in the center of the city and was surprised to see people working. The tens that were here last night had disappeared and now there are only people working.

It was not just the park when I reached the establishment. I saw the people had started to work on the tower too.

Click!

The carriage stopped, and I got out. Only to see, a small form in a black dress come running toward me.

“Brother!” she cried and hugged me, but not as intensely as I had expected seeing her speed and the little girl seemed to be careful of my injuries.

The child couldn’t do this without knowing how. I sighed and patted her head lovingly.

“Why are you crying? I am fine, aren’t I?” I asked her as I took her in my arms. It is a little painful, but I bore it.

The girl didn’t say anything, just hugged me with her little hands.

“Have they slept?” I asked Bell, seeing both children having red eyes. She shook her head. “Barely, they have been worried about you,” she replied.

“Thank you,” I said, to which she smiled.

I talked to her, and the children for a while before handing them back into the care of their nanny.

The guards will take them back home while I conclude the business here.

“There is a person in a hidden city of Nova Alyra, that wants to look at the emotion slate of establishment before deciding whether to sell us the plants,” I said to Bell as we walked toward the sisters at a distance.

“Hidden City has one of the best magical knowledge and goods on the entire continent. If they are willing to trade with you, and the price isn't big, then you should do it,” she replied.

I had already made a decision before asking her opinion. Her answer just enforced that.

Soon, I reached the sisters, who were talking about the group of people but quickly excused them after seeing me coming.

“Congratulations on your victory, Lord Silver,” said Lady Blackwell. It is not a victory; the enemy just retreated.

“Thank you, Lady Blackwell,” I thanked.

It is technically a victory, and I should accept, lest I sound like a humble brag.

“You have started the work early,” I said, looking around. “We decided, is better to keep people busy with work, than their thoughts,” replied Miss Ulaxasys.

“Which is wise,” I said.

I wouldn’t want people to leave with their thoughts alone. It is a recipe for disaster. Keeping them busy will keep them away from their thoughts; it will make fewer people leave the city.

We are already running on a tight schedule, and I don’t want anything to delay it.

I talked to them for a few minutes, before putting my hand in the bag and taking out a small box.

“This is the emotion slate of the establishment. Please send it to your contact in Nova Elyra,” I said, and the eyes of the sisters lit up in excitement.

“I will do that, immediately,” said Miss Ulaxasys. She is too happy; it seems like, their contact in the Nova Elyra is big enough to make her act like a teenage girl.

I watched her leave and turned to the elder sister.

“Lord Ignatius would like you to be in Amberhold as soon as possible,” I said, and the woman smiled.

“He worries too much,” she said, waving her hand.

She didn’t have any intention of leaving, which made me relieved. If her people saw her leave, many would have left as well; it is the last thing, I want to happen.

A few minutes later, I finished my business with her and walked toward Edmore. He had also joined the battle; he was on the wall, fighting alongside Colonel Cardin.

They, too, had quite a battle. They had destroyed every undead who came for the wall, not letting even a single one pass through.

The damage to the wall is also limited; it is less last time. This is good; the wall is damn expensive to fix as it is not just the wall, but also wards; they are what cost the most money.

It had been three hours since the battle was over, and he was here. He hasn’t slept; more focused on work than anything.

An hour later, I was in my carriage again, which moved toward the barracks.

It was an hour and a half more when the carriage finally stopped in front of the mansion. I got out and wanted to go to the suite directly, but went to the kitchen and ate something light.

It is not good to sleep on a hungry stomach. It messes up the sleep.

Click!

“Don’t wake me up, unless it is something important,” I said to my guards as I entered the suite.

A minute later; I was in my bed, sleeping.

Praying that I wouldn’t be woken up by any bad news. I had enough of them and don’t want any more for a week or two.