"Those scattered stragglers would only become moving rations for the Orcs if they stayed on the plains. Gathering them together was their only path to survival!" Grand Duke Ocrean Yaso shook his head. What he did not say was that gathering them together meant putting all the eggs in one basket. If they could not hold it, everyone would die! And Grand Duke Ocrean Yaso could imagine with his toes just how much hatred this lone fortress would attract in the Wode Plains, where Orc infiltration was growing increasingly severe!
"That's true. Then it can only be done this way!" Count Laimon considered it briefly, then smiled and accepted Grand Duke Ocrean Yaso's proposal. Clearly, he had successfully talked himself into it. As for the kingdom's laws forbidding the arbitrary seizure of free citizens? He was saving people, all right! Rescuing those free citizens from the dire straits beneath the Orcs' iron hooves! Even if the matter went before the King, Count Laimon would have plenty to say! Were those border nobles supposed to sit around waiting for the Orcs to use them as targets?
"Mm! It's good that you think this way!" Grand Duke Ocrean Yaso praised Count Laimon for being teachable. It seemed the man had not gone insane enough to cling to that damned nobleman's moral fastidiousness. His ethical bottom line could still be adjusted! Otherwise, Grand Duke Ocrean Yaso would truly have a headache if, after all his running around and hard work, Count Laimon let everyone go again only days later. After going to such trouble to build the Orcs a fortress, that would be quite the joke. Grand Duke Ocrean Yaso said he could remove the Gale Family surname for him...
"Where is Pion? What is going on with your city defenses?" Roland