Horizon of War Series

Chapter 39

Korelia Castle and its town were perched atop a plateau, providing a breathtaking view of the vast steppe that stretched out in all directions. The castle towered high on the hill, while the town was nestled on one side. The people of Korelia relied on a small stream that flowed from a nearby river for their survival.

To the north of Korelia lay their only forest, a verdant expanse of towering trees that stretched as far as the eye could see. In stark contrast, the eastern side of the region was characterized by sheer cliffs and treacherous, rocky terrain that posed a challenge for even the most skilled climbers.

Despite the presence of a meandering stream, the area had little arable land for farming, and most of the townsfolk were shepherds who tended to their flocks of sheep and goats that grazed on the sea of grass. A few brave families also raised ducks, which were almost as big as ponies and aggressive, yet they yielded prized eggs and feathers.

Located halfway between the east and west parts of Lowlandia, Korelia had the potential to become a trade hub. However, the city’s small population and the long arduous journey to the west discouraged most traders from doing business.

Despite being economically meager, Korelia was strategically significant as it served as the gateway between the east and west. Its possession meant military supremacy over the entirety of Lowlandia, and every ambitious lord sought to control it. While no House had ever united the entire province, the greed-fueled vision persisted.

The unforeseen losses suffered by Lord Robert, coupled with the unexpected emergence of Lansius as the new Lord of Korelia, shattered the precarious balance of power in the region. Almost instantly, the wheels of war turned once more, and the people of Lowlandia braced themselves for the inevitable storm that was to come.

Korelia Castle

Two weeks had passed since Lansius declared himself the new acting Lord of Korelia. There was no ceremony or preparation. He simply sent letters to adjacent neighbors notifying them of the change. Because of this, the Small Council chamber was abuzz with clerical and administrative tasks. Inside, two men worked tirelessly, facing each other across a long mahogany table.

Hugo glanced up from his work and asked Calub, who was poring over a scroll, “What do you make of our lord’s relationship with Audrey?”

“Well, I just think it might be good if they marry.” Hugo chuckled as he spoke.

“Midlandia wants Lansius to wed a nobleman’s daughter to secure his position,” Calub reminded him. “I believe Lord Robert’s daughter is the prime candidate.”

“I’m aware, but with them already allied, there’s little to gain.” Hugo gave his take and later added, “Meanwhile, the rumors are wild, I tell you.”

“Really?” Calub asked and gave his full attention to Hugo.

Hugo leaned over and lowered his voice. “Well, for a young and successful man without a lover. There are all kinds of rumors, even whispers about his virility.”

Calub exhaled deeply, sounding both amused and tired. “Give the man a break. He should have a good reason.”

“Well, the guys were just curious why he remains unmarried.” Hugo defended his men passionately, but he had exhausted the topic.

The two men returned to their work, busily tackling the daily tasks of running the small town. They were responsible for feeding and clothing soldiers for the winter, managing supplies, overseeing construction projects, and more.

Most of the clerical duties understandably fell into Calub’s hand. As a member of the Merchant-Alchemist guild, Calub was highly educated and had taken on most of the clerical duties, including the role of Lord Lansius’s treasurer. Meanwhile, Hugo’s background was more of a warrior, a squire with an enviable commanding experience.

Calub finally finished cross-checking Lansius’s calculations. These were the projected incomes for nascent House Lansius.

IncomeIn goldLord Robert’s captured baggage train1,400 Capitulation, a share of accumulated Lord Robert’s wealth

2,100Ransom payments from knights/squire families800Confiscated, looted items from war600A share of White Lake’s annual tax for next year300Korelia annual tax after harvest200Total in gold5,400Total in silver (1 gold is 20 silver)108,000Total in copper (1 silver is 12 copper)1,296,000 Calub mulled over the numbers. They looked impressive, but he knew the expenses would be equally staggering, especially considering the potential siege they anticipated next year.

As the man responsible for managing Korelia’s finances and ensuring that everyone, from the men-at-arms to the servants, was paid, Calub was constantly busy. Still, he wasn’t opposed to the idea of adding more men. He knew all too well that they still didn’t have enough. In the face of impending war, they needed every defender they could get.

While Lord Lansius managed to retain most of his forces with lucrative contracts, side jobs, and year-round housing and meals, a portion of their forces had returned to Midlandia. Anci and Thomas were among a dozen cavalrymen and scores of men who had returned.

As far as Calub knew, Anci wasn’t interested in the affairs of Lowlandia. He had only been there because Lord Arte wanted him to make a name for himself and for monetary gain.

Meanwhile, Thomas was motivated by more personal reasons. He wished to protect Lansius, and after seeing Lansius win the battle and command an army, he felt his presence was no longer needed. His loyalty ultimately lay with Sir Peter and House Arte.

Both returned to Lord Arte’s side to act as escorts. The future Lord of Arvena needed to make a personal appearance in the capital to plead his case and garner support. If he managed to gather enough, then a campaign to retake Arvena would be in sight.

Meanwhile, Sir Justin had been busy setting up his prize, a new manor just east of Korelia.

It was close to midday when Calub groaned, dropping a scroll onto the table.

“Problem with the blacksmiths again?” Hugo asked.

“No, it’s bigger. The food price keeps rising,” Calub answered as he rested his back against the chair.

Hugo knitted his eyebrows. “But the harvest was just last month?”

Calub sighed. “Indeed, but the price won’t come down.”

“That’s funny . . . Do we need to buy supplies from other towns?” Hugo suggested.

“I’m afraid we can’t. The letters say it’s the same everywhere,” Calub replied.

“In all Lowlandia?” Hugo was alarmed. “This doesn’t sound right . . . Anything we can do about this?”

“Not much, I’m afraid. The merchants noticed the disturbance and kept their stock tight,” Calub said pessimistically.

Hugo’s instincts told him that something was off. “Do you suspect foul play?”

“I do,” Calub replied. “They want to limit our supply. They’re probably planning for a siege next year.”

Hugo was alarmed. “Has Lord Lansius been informed?”

Calub shook his head. “No, he’s still recovering. I don’t want to burden him with this.”

Hugo made up his mind. “I’ll talk to Audrey first. This is too urgent to ignore.”

He left the council chamber in search of Audrey, knowing that rising food prices could lead to famine and spell disaster for Korelia. The town’s people were not wealthy enough to have food surpluses, and many depended on trading their livestock for grains to survive the winter.

If grain prices were rising high, then nobody in Korelia could afford it. With their troops stationed in the town, the shortage would only worsen. Famine was a dreaded word in this world, and if it were to strike Korelia, no strategy they possessed could save them from utter destruction.

Lansius had started to feel better this week, and despite Audrey’s wishes for him to rest longer, he was determined to check on the forest to the north. So, today they had gone for a ride, accompanied by ten riders and his entourage. At Lansius’s insistence, nobody walked. Audrey rode with the blond cup-bearer girl, and Stirling, the new squire, shared a ride with the pageboy.

Although many believed he was merely bored with the castle, Lansius had been conducting an inspection. After an hour or two, they returned to the castle.

As Lansius’s horses slowly climbed the small hill, they soon saw the sturdy oaken gate and the weathered stone curtain walls of Korelia Castle. The castle had endured many sieges, some victories, but many more losses.

As their group approached the castle, the guardsmen stationed at the gate readily opened the heavy wooden doors with a creak. The sound echoed through the courtyard as Lansius and his entourage rode in, the clatter of their horses’ hooves filling the air.

In the distance, they could see Hugo and some of the staff waiting near the entrance of the imposing Great Hall.

They dismounted near the entrance, and the stable boy took care of the horses.

Lansius asked Hugo, “Did anything happen while we were away?”

Hugo replied, “No, my lord, it’s been quiet around the castle.”

Lansius nodded while still getting used to being called a lord.

“My lord,” Hugo said again, “may I have a word or two with Lady Audrey?”

Audrey looked at Hugo questioningly.

Lansius chuckled and replied, “Sure, granted. Let’s not be too formal between us.”

“As you wish.” Hugo bowed his head slightly.

After a midday meal and some rest, Audrey informed Lansius about the rising grain prices. He froze momentarily but quickly formulated a contingency plan in his head.

He drank another cup of boiled water and went straight to the Small Council chamber, where Calub and Hugo were waiting for him.

“My lord.” The two rose from their seat.

“Help is coming.” Lansius tried to liven the mood, but deep inside he was deeply troubled.

Audrey closed the door behind them as Lansius headed straight for the wooden cabinet, where he kept his scrolls and parchments. He rummaged through it for some time, but despite his efforts, he couldn’t locate the specific item he sought.

“My lord, why don’t you tell me what you need and let me search for it?” Calub said.

“It’s all right, Calub. Maybe I missed it the first time,” Lansius said with a smile. He continued searching until he finally found the parchment he had been looking for.

Calub watched him intently as Lansius began to make calculations in his head. “Not enough,” he muttered after a few moments.

Calub let out a weak sigh while Hugo looked troubled.

“Is it about the grain?” Audrey asked.

Lansius nodded, then paused. “Give me a moment. I need to think,” he said, walking to his seat and slumping down. Audrey and Calub followed suit.

I should’ve known . . . Starving an opponent is a valid tactic, and price manipulations are as old as history. This also means we’re up against a capable opponent. Nasty and morally questionable, but possibly a genius.

The looming threat of famine could undo everything they had worked hard for in Korelia. If the people and troops rebelled due to food shortages, their defenses would be rendered useless.

Sitting across the large mahogany table, Hugo coughed once before speaking up. “My lord, I can arrange to get supplies from White Lake. I reckon we could make three return trips before winter sets in.”

Lansius looked at Hugo and replied, “I believe Robert is in the same situation. After our last battle, he needs fresh supplies. Asking him for food right now will risk a revolt from his men.”

“Can’t we just purchase more food? I know it’s expensive, but we got the money, right?” Audrey’s bluntness loosened up the tension somewhat.

“Well, we could buy enough, but at this price, that would put a big hole in our treasury,” Calub remarked.

Lansius disagreed. “We can’t do that. If we suddenly buy a great sum of food, the price will rise higher. Then everybody, including our allies, will suffer.”

Lansius’s explanation caused Hugo to cross his arms and exhale deeply in frustration. “We’re really in a mess then,” he muttered.

Silence hung heavily in the room as Lansius stared blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought. Meanwhile, Calub furrowed his brow as he scanned his scrolls, hoping to find a solution.

It had only been two weeks since their proclamation, and the emerging forces in Korelia had already witnessed the cruelty of the neighboring Lowlandia lords. Their gift to Lansius for his daring declaration was a famine in the face of their first winter.