Before the Battle

Marco had just returned from delivering grain with Steward Abel. When he heard the news, he became extremely excited. Walking up to Nord, he patted his chest and assured him.

"Lord Nord, please rest assured. Those fools only bully the weak and fear the strong. They're not even as good as the wild beasts in the mountains. At least wild beasts go mad when they smell blood. But them... heh!"

Nord saw that Marco was excited but showed no sign of nervousness or fear. Curious, he looked at the others and found them equally fired up, without the slightest tension. Was I worrying too much? As Nord pondered this, Marco continued.

"We all know those bandits outside are like a pack of hyenas. They can only bully defenseless caravans and lone travelers. Two years ago, Brother Ryman used his Hunting Bow to shoot down five men in a row by himself. The bandits who were robbing a caravan fled in panic."

Marco was immensely proud. He swept his right hand through the air as though it were his own achievement, clearly feeling very pleased with himself.

"I didn't know Ryman was so formidable. Why didn't you tell me earlier? How capable are those cavalrymen in combat?"

At the front of the convoy, Ryman heard Nord and Marco talking about him. He smiled somewhat bashfully. This straightforward, honest burly man actually blushed a little after being praised.

"Lord Nord, there's nothing much to say about that. Those bandits truly aren't much of a threat, but Bill and the other cavalrymen are another matter. I've never dealt with them, so we should remain cautious. After all, anything can happen on the battlefield."

"You're right. We can be confident, but we mustn't underestimate the enemy. Then let's prepare for battle. Marco, help Ryman later, and don't act rashly."

Marco was somewhat unconvinced, his desire for battle still burning fiercely, but he obediently went to Ryman's side to discuss what they needed to watch out for in the fight.

As the wagons moved forward, they arrived at the Shantytown Area. The gaunt, sallow-faced people there stared at the grain on the wagons with longing and fear. They feared the guards holding bows, yet their craving for food left them unable to move their feet or look away.

After passing through the entire Shantytown Area, it felt as though they had endured a silent inspection. Everywhere the wagons went, hungry crowds stopped in their tracks and watched them in silence.

Nord and his group grew heavy-hearted, as though invisible shackles had been placed upon their hearts, suffocating them beneath their weight. Even Marco and Reed, who had been lively among the crowd, fell quiet.

After leaving Crison Fort, Nord looked back. In his eyes stood both the towering fortress and the filthy, chaotic shanties.

I'll come back, Nord told himself, filled with both anger and helplessness.

As Nord was lost in thought, Ryman approached with Marco and Reed. Both young men wore resentful expressions, yet did not dare show them openly.

"Lord Nord, let Marco and Reed remain at your side. Though Marco is young, he is one of the best fighters in the village, but he lacks experience. I've trained Reed since he was little. He's still a bit thin, but his fighting ability is also quite good. They can protect you at your side, and it will keep them from getting hotheaded."

Nord looked at the two dejected young men before him and could not help but smile. Both longed for battle, yet Ryman had assigned them to the rear, leaving them rather dispirited.

"Let them stay with me. Go ahead and check the situation up front."

Ryman nodded to Nord and headed toward the front of the group. Nord looked back at the two beside him, then grew curious about Reed. After entering the market, Reed had greeted Nord and Ryman before slipping off alone. He had not returned until just before departure, and Ryman had scolded him for it.

"What did you go to the market for? You were gone for so long."

At Nord's question, Reed smiled again, as if he had forgotten his earlier frustration. Grinning, he answered.

"I went to buy things at the market. It's not easy to get a chance to come here. Father and Big Brother usually never let me come. I only got to visit the market today because of you, Lord Nord."

"I bought Father a hat, Sister Molly some linen, and malt candy for Art and Lysa. I bought Big Brother a pair of gloves too, but he still scolded me. Heh! I didn't know what you needed, so I didn't prepare anything for you. You won't blame me, will you?"

Nord shook his head with a smile.

"Of course not. It's the thought that counts. But where did you get so much money?"

"I traded the wild fruits and herbs I gathered in the mountains for it. The fruits and herbs I find are better than what other people find. That's my special talent. No one else can do it."

Reed looked quite smug, holding his head high like a proud rooster.

"That's quite a skill you have. How would you like to serve as a messenger at my side in the future? Are you interested?"

"Ah! Really? Lord Nord, I'm willing! Thank you, Lord Nord! I'll definitely do well."

Reed cheered with delight, nearly jumping into the air. His face was full of excitement, and he kept muttering, "Messenger," and "I'm a messenger now."

Nord temporarily ignored the overly excited fool and turned to Marco beside him.

"Marco, Ryman only sent you two to stay with us because he was afraid you would act rashly and get yourselves hurt. Don't worry. I'm not incapable of fighting either. If the need arises later, I'll lead you to help them fight. For now, stay by my side."

"Also, when we return to the village, my guard will need to expand. I heard you hold considerable influence among the young people there. When the time comes, I'll appoint you deputy captain to assist Ryman in managing the guard. What do you think?"

Marco felt much better after hearing Nord's reassurance. When he heard that Nord intended to appoint him deputy captain, his face broke into a broad grin, sweeping away all his earlier unhappiness.

"Don't worry, Lord Nord. I'll gather all the outstanding young people in the village for you. I know who has potential, and I'll study hard under Brother Ryman. I definitely won't disappoint your expectations."

Marco was now filled with enthusiasm as well. He wished he could return to the village at once, gather all his friends, and join Nord's guard together.

Seeing the two spirited young men, Nord let out a sigh of relief. They were both promising talents. With proper training, they would be of great use in the future. After all, it was easy to find a thousand soldiers but hard to find a single general. Talented people were rare in any age, and it was best if they could be cultivated slowly.

The land between Crison Fort and Tami Village was mostly mountainous, covered in dense forests and lush trees. Worried about ambushes, they moved with particular caution, advancing very slowly.

After more than half a day, they had covered only half the journey. Nord was growing anxious, but he could not urge Ryman onward. Ryman was far more experienced than he was. At most, Nord was like Zhao Kuo, who knew warfare only from books—perhaps he was not even as good as Zhao Kuo. After all, Zhao Kuo had studied military strategy thoroughly, while Nord had only watched a few films and read a few novels. Better not to give blind orders. He would leave it to the professionals.