In the aftermath of the barbaric battle within the dark cave, no more than 30 women remained standing out of the original 70 or so.

Edward, after a considerable time, decided to check his status. With a brief thought, a screen appeared in front of his eyes, displaying his current status.

Status:

Name - Edward Plantagenet

Age - 13

Title - Heir of Norfolk

Martial - 12

Diplomacy - 9

Intelligence - 29

Reputation - C+

Wealth - £1,873

Skills - Appraise (Lv. 6), Financial Literacy(Lv. 3), Oratory(Lv. 4), Alchemy(Lv. 3),

Leadership(Lv. 1)

Level - 10 [715/1000]

Spare Points - 0

Shop - 5 Pts

Edward gazed at the screen, taking in the changes. "Hmm... so, my martial skills have improved a bit, and it seems my reputation has taken a turn for the better. Oh, and a new skill, Leadership. That's quite useful," he thought, scratching his chin in contemplation.

He closed the Status Screen and turned his attention to the cave's surface. It resembled nothing more than a river of blood, with over a hundred lifeless bodies sprawled across the area. The grim aftermath of the battle weighed heavily on his mind.

He couldn't deny the harsh reality that surrounded him. He had been transported from the peaceful modern era into the brutal and unforgiving era of bloodshed—the Dark Ages. The evidence of this brutal transition lay in the gruesome scene before him.

Edward took charge of the situation, showing both leadership and compassion. He instructed the wounded to rest on the hay where the bandits had once slept. Meanwhile, he called upon the non-injured survivors among the women and asked them to assist in digging graves for the fallen.

With solemnity, they dug graves for the deceased women and placed crosses on their final resting places, offering them a measure of dignity in their tragic end. However, for the bandits, who had wrought suffering and cruelty upon others, Edward ordered a different fate. They were placed in a single unmarked grave, their deeds left to history without a memorial.

As dawn broke over the village of Besthorpe, Edward and his group prepared to depart. They had taken control of the bandits' horses, allowing the injured to sit on them for a more comfortable journey. The slow, three-hour ride brought them back to their village, but the scene that greeted them was one of devastation.

Charred houses and fields lay in ruins, with no signs of life except for the haunting bloodstains that marred the ground. The women, though aware of the grim reality that awaited them, had returned to their village with the determination to rebuild their lives, especially for the sake of their children.

Fortunately, Edward had made a wise decision to seize the grains stored in the bandits' granary. These provisions now served as their source of sustenance until further rations and official assistance could be sent from Norwich. They set up tents atop the remains of their houses, creating temporary shelters to weather the difficult times ahead.

As the moon reached its apex, Edward spent the night in one of the village’s tents. His knights had ventured into the village to release their pent-up sexual tension, engaging in transactions with the local women. In this medieval era, where poverty and hardship were pervasive, the women of the village also saw an opportunity to secure some much-needed income. Thus, a mutually beneficial trade emerged, where physical needs were met in exchange for financial support.

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While these arrangements might be considered morally questionable by modern standards, it was essential to understand the desperate realities of the time. Survival often took precedence over moral judgments in an era where daily life was marked by struggle and hardship.

As the dawn broke, Edward gathered all the women near the village’s square and stood up at a raised platform with Rufus and John at his sides.

Edward stood before the gathered villagers, who were only women now, his presence commanding attention. He began by revealing the harsh truth about the bandit attacks.

"As you all know," he began, "the bandit attacks that have turned our lives upside down were orchestrated by Baron Norwood to line his own pockets. I would dearly love to ride to Wymondham right now, confront that traitor, and make him pay for his crimes. But I lack both the authority and the strength for such a task."

A murmur of despair rippled through the crowd, but Edward's voice grew resolute. "However, do not despair, my people. I've taken swift action. I've sent one of my knights with our fastest horse to Norwich. He carries a letter from me to my father, the Earl, requesting reinforcements and rations. They will arrive within a week, and justice will be served in this barony."

His words sparked a glimmer of hope in the villagers' eyes. A woman in the crowd spoke up, her voice quivering with a mix of fear and anticipation, "Is there really hope for justice, Sir Edward?"

Edward met her gaze with determination. "Yes, my friend. We shall see justice done, and Baron Norwood will answer for his deeds."

The crowd nodded in agreement, their spirits bolstered by Edward's words.

Over the next five days, Edward and his group worked tirelessly to set up small trade camps near Besthorpe. They wanted to ensure that merchants passing through the area wouldn't bypass the village entirely. Besthorpe had a bountiful supply of cotton plants, which had been looted by the bandits but were now safely in Edward's possession.

The makeshift trade camps were strategically located along the well-traveled routes, enticing passing merchants with the prospect of trading for cotton and other valuable goods. Edward's efforts were not only aimed at helping the village recover economically but also at sending a clear message that Besthorpe was far from defeated.

As the days passed, merchants began to trickle into the camp, drawn by the promise of trade. The villagers, with newfound hope, engaged in commerce once more, selling their cotton and purchasing essential supplies. It was a step towards rebuilding their lives after the harrowing experiences with the bandits.

Edward's leadership and resourcefulness not only saved the villagers from the clutches of the bandits but also set them on a path toward recovery and prosperity. Besthorpe was slowly but surely regaining its place as a thriving community, thanks to Edward Plantagenet and his efficient actions.

On the sixth day's morning, the unmistakable sound of horses marching could be heard approaching the village. Edward stood at the entrance of Besthorpe, flanked by his three knights and a group of women standing beside them, all eagerly awaiting the arrival of the reinforcements.

As the minutes passed, the volume of hoofbeats grew louder until a large force came into view. At its front was a group of several dozen heavily armored cavalry led by none other than Sir Nathan, Edward's loyal comrade. The sight alone was enough to send shivers down the spines of any onlookers.

The approaching force was an impressive sight to behold, consisting of fully armored infantry and a formidable cavalry unit. Edward's well-laid plans had brought the much-needed support to the suffering lands, and the era of blood and lawlessness was drawing to a close.

The marching force came to a halt near the village's entrance, and as the dust settled, Sir Nathan dismounted from his horse. With a show of respect, he knelt before Edward and delivered his message with a determined tone, "I have brought a force consisting of over four hundred infantry and seventy-two cavaliers on the orders of Earl Thomas of Norfolk to eradicate the pest of Baron Norwood from his lands."

Edward, filled with gratitude and relief, nodded at Nathan and replied, "Your arrival is a beacon of hope for not only this suffering village but for the whole barony as well, Sir Nathan. We shall put an end to the tyranny that has plagued these lands for far too long."

Nathan nodded with a warm smile as he rose to his feet. He handed Edward a sealed letter, prominently stamped with the seal of Edward's father, the Earl. Edward eagerly accepted it, gently breaking the seal and reading the contents carefully.

After a brief moment of perusal, Edward carefully placed the letter back into its envelope. He turned to Nathan and relayed the instructions, "My father has entrusted the command of this operation to us. Rufus will lead the center flank, you will take command of the left flank, and John will lead the right. I shall remain with Rufus to gain valuable firsthand experience."

Nathan took a moment to introduce Edward to the three administrators he had brought along from Norwich. Each had a specific role to play in the rehabilitation of Besthorpe. One was tasked with managing the village's finances, another with overseeing the repair of the ravaged infrastructure, and the last was responsible for the welfare of the citizens and the ambitious task of repopulating the village by reaching out to nearby communities for support.

Edward instructed all three administrators to assess the village's condition throughout the day and devise appropriate plans. Meanwhile, he made his way to the nearby camp established by the army. In the central camp, where the commanders convened, his four knights and two courtiers from his father's court were present, ready to assist him in this ambitious undertaking.