64 - Plans Part Two

Aulis lets out a deep sigh.

"I'm glad we're almost through the mountains. I almost can't feel my buttocks anymore. The seat of this cart is way too hard to sit on."

"You’re whining, Aulis," Dew replies. "Have you ever driven a cart on the roads in Aran. Those little tracks that are often called a road there are more potholes than road. I know someone who was even thrown off of his own cart once because he drove too fast on such a road."

"That’s swell, but we could have brought a few cushions. Or just wait for a ship to take us to Centurion."

"Ha, I thought I was the old man here. You are a young boy, you can take some bouncing around. When I hear you talk like that, you sound like my grandfather. And weren't you the one who didn't want to wait for a ship, and see the road from Arana to Centurion?"

Aulis lets out a deep sigh.

"You're right Dew, but then I thought the road was in a better condition than I'm finding out."

"It could have been worse. If we hadn't removed all that vegetation, we would have had to go off the road for whole sections."

"That's it, we have removed all those trees and shrubs, but there is still so much earth and other junk on the road that it’s still quite difficult to pass in some places."

"Yes, but what do you want to do about that? We could clean those sections, although that is also quite a bit of work, but it will not be long before a lot of debris is back on there."

"I'm thinking about making a real trade route. The road itself is already there, but because it takes days to drive from Centurion to Arana, it might be a good idea to make some fixed resting places."

"What did you have in mind?"

"Well, Right now everyone going from Arana to Centurion and backwards, has to set up their own camp every night. What if we build an inn in different places? If we make those buildings sturdy enough, then they are safe from wild animals that may be there. I was thinking about a few buildings, with a sturdy wooden fence or palisade and a gate in between. In the courtyard that we create in this way, the carts of the traders can be parked safely."

"I think that that's a good plan. Right now we spend a lot of time making and breaking camp for the night. If there’s an inn at the end of the day, you could travel longer because you don't even have to set up camp and cook for yourself. And if you put a few extra horses in the stables, a messenger could also change horses if there is an important message."

"That's right! I hadn't even thought about that. Now, I was thinking about making such a resting place in three locations. We can start building those, and find the innkeepers later. Then the travelers could at least use them, and cook their own food."

"Why three places? Don’t we need more?"

"Well, I was thinking it's about four days of travel from Arana to Centurion. From the far end of the island even five or six days, but nobody lives there yet. If we plan from Arana, I would make one place just before you go into the mountains. That is just a little less than a day's drive, but then you can have the second day to get through the mountains. Then the second location would be on the other side of the mountains, approximately where we set up camp tonight. Then the third one between here and Centurion. Eventually we can also make one on the other side of Arana, but that is of later concern."

"Even then, I think three is too little. There are plenty of people who have to walk, or who are held up for whatever reason."

"It's not perfect, I know. But we don't have enough people now to do more. If more people live on the island, those other places will come naturally. As far as I'm concerned, this is the minimum we need to build."

"Well, this convoy is the first to go overland to Centurion. So it won't be very busy. I fear that we will have to help the people who are going to man those inns."

"Why not? Right now we also have to do everything together. In Arana it’s still the case that everyone works for the community. Eventually everyone will buy their own stuff, but that’s something for the future. By that time, the inns may also be able to live off the travelers."

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Ryker is off the coast at Centurion training new people for his ships, called sailors according to the old books. Yesterday a dozen fishermen's sons arrived in Centurion. These young men, most of them still almost boys, have come from Estera to try their luck on the great ships of the New Legion. At home, like before in Aran, there was a shortage of space on the fishing boats.

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With these new sailors, Ryker is able to divide his people into two groups. His first mate will take command of the first ship they have commissioned, the merchant ship. This allows Ryker to command the warship for the longer trips to the southern border, while the merchant ship, led by Marcel, takes over the shorter trips between Aran, Arana and Centurion. Maybe if he dares, he can even take a trip to Estera. This could greatly improve trade between these places.

"Sail on the horizon!" Is suddenly called from the rigging, the ropes that hold the mast upright and with which the sailors can climb up to the sail.

"What kind of ship is it?" Calls Ryker back.

"It looks like a fishing boat, captain. I think she's coming this way."

"Well, I'm curious what kind of disaster has happened this time. The weekly messenger is not expected until a few days from now." Ryker mumbles to himself.

A little later it becomes clear that it is indeed a fishing boat, and that it has set course for Ryker's ship. Soon the ship comes alongside and one of Morris' cavalrymen comes on board. He actually salutes for Ryker, and in the manner of the legion.

"So, I see that you are beginning to adopt the mannerisms of the legion. Or are you planning to switch to hoof it?"

"No sir, Captain Morris thinks it is good if we adapt a bit of the manners of the soldiers of the legion. After all, we are hardly part of the regular army anymore."

"Right, I can agree with that. If everyone follows different rules, misunderstandings quickly arise. But I assume you're here to speak to me?"

"Yes captain! I apologize for not telling my message right away."

"Yes, yes, just tell me. I think I was the one who just started asking you questions."

"Well sir, it's like this. Captain Raidon asks if you can get to the front line as quickly as possible, and even all the way to the border itself. The captain will make sure you have a safe place to dock there for the short time you’ll stay there."

"Well, I don't understand much about this yet, but if Captain Raidon needs us we will go to him as soon as possible. On the way to Centurion you can tell me exactly what the plan is. We will still have to stock up for a longer trip. Marcel! Set course for Centurion. It looks like you're getting your new ship sooner than we expected." The latter Ryker shouts over his shoulder to his first mate.

"Yes captain!" The man answers, after which he immediately changes course.

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The afternoon has already arrived when Raidon and First Company come into view of the harbor.

"Well, John has worked hard." Morris reports to Raidon. He himself can also see a little later what Morris could already see from the top of his horse. Almost nothing is left of the small cove on the coast. At the deepest part of the inlet is a pier built of tree trunks. This one seems quite coarse, but very sturdy. Around the inlet is a palisade, with a moat that connects to the sea. The palisade itself stands on an elevation, and within it there is room for a hundred tents, but at the moment there is only one lonely tent.

In the distance, Raidon can even spot a sail. "I think we timed this nicely, Morris. I think I can already see Ryker's ship arriving there."

"You may be right about that. Unless the pirates come to visit, which seems very unlikely to me."

Later in the afternoon, Sergeants Owen, Liam and Mark embarked with three full platoons. The seven soldiers who died in Linh's relief have all been replaced by soldiers from the two platoons that remain behind. Raidon goes through the last things on the pier with Harris, Ice and Mateo. "Sergeant Ice is now in charge of the two platoons that remain behind. Mateo, of course you are his second, but Ice has a strong insight into combat situations. Harris, when as you're back, Morris is once again in charge of the cavalry. I hope to see you again in a few weeks, so make sure you survive this!"

"Of course captain, we are the New Legion. We won't let ourselves be beaten that easily."

"Good, and make sure to keep it that way. And now let's get to work. Morris is expecting you back in the camp at Linh today!"

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Empress Alyena has a difficult discussion with one of her ministers.

"But your majesty, our nobles are beginning to insist more and more that you must choose someone. At the very least, you should show that you are actually looking, perhaps by throwing parties where you can meet the sons of the lords. That would probably also ensure that they pay their taxes on time. At the moment, confidence in the empire without a successor is very low."

"Minister Corneel, you have to stop. I have absolutely no intention of getting married yet. I'm young enough to rule for decades more, so I have plenty of time to make sure I have a successor. And if my nobles need feasts to pay their taxes, then something goes completely wrong."

"Yes, your majesty, but you must also understand that all those young sons who are currently staying in the capital are not here without a reason. They have all been sent to court you."

Empress Alyena is more than fed up with the direction of the conversation. For weeks, several of her ministers have been saying that they want her to look for a husband. Some even try to impose their own sons.

"Enough, Minister Corneel. Let's talk about taxes. You indicate that we will not be able to collect enough this year to pay the entire army?"

"That's right, your majesty. My estimates indicate that we need to reduce the pay by almost five percent to have enough left until the next season."

"How is that possible? I'm sure that during my father's reign we had more than enough income to pay the army and to boost the treasury. And that while his army was a lot bigger than we can currently deploy."

"That's right, your majesty. However, during your father's reign we had peace for a long time. The truce allowed the country to flourish. Furthermore, we still owned the northern province at that time, and there were not so many new warriors and equipment to be taken care of. When the northern army collapsed, a huge amount of their equipment was lost."

"But even then we should have more than enough! I can understand that there are expenses to make that lost equipment. That alone can never be enough to both empty the treasury, and ensure that we structurally have too little income. The problem lies somewhere else, and you're going to figure this out. I want to see a comprehensive report showing where our expenses are, what revenues we have, and also what the differences are from previous years. Call this an annual report, and make sure that from now on this is given to me once a year as standard."

“But your majesty..”

“No buts, minister. You’ve heard my order and you will comply. I will get to the bottom of this, even if I have to do all the work myself. Now get to it!”

The minister has no option but to do as his empress ordered. Surly he does as he’s told.

“Yes your majesty.”