Approaching the fortress of Altis, Lawrence could see that a larger force has made camp in it. As the four of them rode towards the fortress, they were stopped by a man with a cone-shaped helmet and chainmail that almost reached his knee. If Lawrence didn't know better, it looked as if it was a size too big for the man.
"Halt! In the name of all that is good and holy, state your purpose, travellers!" the guard said loudly, and Lawrence watched as several guards with bows peeked over the battlements as well.
"Rest for the night? We're just four people from the Singing Gardens, in fact, if Father Karl Franz is still around, he would know me. My name is Lawrence Carstein, perhaps Marilyn or Maniard?" Lawrence asked, putting his most friendly smile in an attempt to persuade the guard.
"They are okay, let them through! Wahaha! Look who is back!"
A familiar voice sounded and Lawrence looked up and at the battlements, the torches illuminated the face of a man that Lawrence has pulled from death's door. The elderly Father Karl Franz.
The guard promptly stepped aside and placed his hand on his chest, bowing his head a little. As Lawrence and Craig went on ahead, Berg and Ha'ad simply seemed to be more at ease having entered a fortified stronghold to pass the night. After all, what is safer than being behind thick walls and strong men?
As they entered, a few young boys, in the darkness of the night, could be seen scrubbing the fortress grounds, while others seemed to be drawing water from a nearby well. The disgusted looks of the acolytes were obvious to all. Scrubbing remains, rotten remains at that, was terrible business.
"I see you come back to me in one piece from The Singing Gardens no less! Tell me, was that place as screwed up as I told my men to begin with?" Karl Franz asked, placing a hand on Lawrence's shoulder as he gestured for his boys to take care of the horses.
"Guests, this way please," one of the acolytes bowed, talking to Craig, Berg and Ha'ad. Craig looked over to Lawrence who nodded as he went with Father Karl Franz. It almost feels like taking a walk in the moonlight, as Lawrence related details the fight and attempted flight of Venti Laughlin to Father Karl Franz, though omitting several facts, such as the use of Divine Judgement, instead choosing to tell the elderly father that his way of purging the evil as thanks to his sword, which was blessed with holy energy.
"You would make a fine crusader or paladin, or even a member of the clergy, if you so preferred!" Karl Franz praised, giving Lawrence a thumbs up. The two of them passed soldiers carrying crates of supplies, more acolytes cleaning and rows upon rows of coffins.
"The dead deserve a proper rest. Courtesy of Marquis Van Shelk," Karl Franz said, pointing at two members in robes of a priest saying prayers and laying each rotting body into the coffin before an acolyte sealed them.
"We spend our lives purging evil, blessing and healing people. Or at least we try to. I thought the chapter on my book was closed but you, my friend, have allowed me to write a few more pages," Father Karl Franz said happily.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
"I thought Priscilla was going to have my body dumped in the ocean for dying on her so early, but at least that is averted for awhile now," Karl smiled, watching the acolytes hammer a nail into a coffin.
"What are your plans for this castle?" Lawrence asked and Father Karl Franz looked to the ground for a moment.
"Do you want it?" Karl asked and Lawrence took a step back, startled. The idea of owning a fortress was infinitely appealing but he made a promise...
"Can I propose something?" Lawrence asked and Karl Franz opened his arms in welcome.
"I would like to be the caretaker of the fortress until someone appropriate is found and... We can discuss recouping my investments into the fortress... Something like that..." Lawrence said and Father Karl Franz kept quiet for a moment.
"When I go back to Tir Envar, I'll see that something is done about your request," Karl Franz laughed, patting Lawrence on the shoulder.
"I wish you good fortunes in the wars to come," Karl Franz said as he left and the next morning, Lawrence and company departed.
Just three days after reaching Black Bay Village, Lawrence was welcomed back by Roland and Jacob, with the two being thrilled to entertain Ha'ad and Berg. However, before Lawrence could rest proper, another guest appeared in the town. This one, requiring a huge act to be put up.
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“I regret to inform you that Lawrence Carstein is not in his log cabin at the moment. I do recall that he said something about training the Owl Guards…” Jacob, who had come forward to receive Lord Black and his entourage said, scratching his chin.
Roland, on the other hand, had made ready for the finest inn for Lord Black, ‘The Honoured’ rooms.
However, Lord Black was not going to waste time waiting around. In fact, he had only left his meagre luggage inside the inn.
“Milord, perhaps we should wait at the inn,” Kaisenberg said but Edward Black refused. Only a fool will wait for a living walking bank to run away.
“Where are the barracks?” Edward asked and Jacob had brought his own horse, leading the entourage past the massive fields that were growing four crops at once.
“What is the logic for this?” Johannes asked, pointing at the four crops growing in each field.
“Ah, this is something that Lawrence insisted on. He says that in the long run, it will benefit the farmers and the people that it is feeding.” Jacob replied, leading the entourage forward past the rows of shops in the wide paved roads, which was slowly gaining steam from the various crafts being sold there.
“I think to give this place a few years and Ludium will be in its shadow,” Kaisenberg whispered to Johannes who nodded silently. However, the entourage stopped at the visitors turned their heads to observe a group of soldiers, clad in dark blue heavy armour, a small group of crossbow-wielding soldiers clad in blue cloth walked past.
“That is the Internal Security force. Lawrence asked that it be created to police the streets. It's basically guards.” Jacob explained, nudging the horse onward.
“Then, the entourage went past the large meadows with grazing animals before finally reaching a large, fence that fenced off the field.
Just beyond the fence, as the entourage laid eyes on them, there were audible gasps and Lord Black himself stared, in awe.
Formations of horsemen clad entirely in armour moved about to what seemed to be against the beat of a drum as if they moved entirely as one form and matter with almost pinpoint precision.
The soldiers behind were also clad in plated armour, their shields large and tall, marching in tightly knit formations. The longbowmen march behind, orderly and with their arrows nocked.
The drum beats stop.
A loud voice carries itself over the field, “Now, the enemy rains arrows, what do you do!? Squad leaders, issue your instructions!”