"Sir Davis Tevalin" had never actually met this old, dried-up man, but he still reined in his horse in time.
Iron armor stood like mountains, spears like a forest, and war banners fluttered from the lances. On this none-too-wide street, a mere thirteen people somehow displayed the imposing might of thousands upon thousands of armored cavalrymen.
Nearly forty, pale and plump, Sir Ramai prided himself on his status and tried to maintain a knight's dignity.
Yet faced with such a disciplined cavalry unit, he could not help wondering, When did Tevalinburg get so many court knights? Could Davis be the illegitimate son of old Nordus Tervain? Why does it feel like he gave this nephew a little too much?
Sir Ramai still maintained his dignity, but the court knights were entirely different. Their attitude was even more respectful.
Regardless of how widely the rumors about Baroness Nordsa and Sir Davis had spread, as long as they still hoped to possess fiefs, they would not dare disrespect Sir Davis, who might become the baron.
Ergons, wearing Sir Davis Tevalin's face, looked around at the bowing court knights. He ignored the knight who was clearly somewhat cleaner than the others and did not mention what they had been doing.
"I want to ask you about someone's whereabouts. Where is the baron?"
Among the court knights, one who looked filthy and disheveled, with a face full of whiskers, answered, "The baron should be somewhere in the wilderness near Tevalinburg. He and his troops are currently heading to Tewain Village."
"I want to ask you: who is currently in charge of you? After gathering here, whose orders do you follow?"
Ergons's question made the court knights instinctively look toward Sir Ramai, the only one among them with a fief. The fat knight was straightforward enough. He lowered his head and said with a smile, "We gathered here, so naturally we follow the orders of the lord of Tervalin, Sir Tervalin!"
He deliberately spoke ambiguously, kicking the decision back to the other party. By retreating in order to advance, he waited for them to reveal their purpose.
After glancing at his brother-in-law, Ergons rebuked him without mercy. "Good. Now sort out the number of troops each of you commands and their affiliations, then establish a register for me. Also report the patrol duties you arranged earlier and their results.
"Explain verbally everything you know about the invading pirates, including but not limited to their numbers, movements, combat strength, the losses suffered by the villages they looted, casualties, your response strategy, future defensive priorities, rectification of discovered hazards, and lessons learned."
They were dumbfounded!
These nobles called knights were really little more than reckless men from decent backgrounds. When had they ever seen anything like this?
"With you acting like this, how can I trust you to become competent lords?"
Ergons deliberately furrowed his brow, and everyone present fell silent.
Even Sir Ramai, who had been dragged into the matter, instinctively straightened and sucked in his protruding belly.
"Put yourselves in order. Gather everyone at the village entrance. I want to call roll and assign you guard duties. Until the baron arrives, all actions will follow my orders."
None of them dared disobey the third most powerful person in the barony. They were lowering their heads and saying yes when a very inappropriate round of applause and cheers rang out.
"As expected of Sir Davis Tevalin, a leading figure of the Northern Knights! I am gratified that the duchy has such an outstanding young man!"
Priest Rams and his attendants had arrived on a mare. When the knights saw the black-robed priest, they restrained their displeasure at having been offended and nodded to him again.
"Dismissed. Go carry out Lord Tervalin's orders!"
Priest Rams greatly admired "Sir Davis Tevalin's" abilities. No wonder he was chosen by the bishop. Someone like him truly shouldn't be wasting his life here in these little towns and villages. If he went to Gaudy City, he would probably already be an important figure!
What was even more admirable was that Sir Davis Tevalin sincerely wanted to become a competent priest. Many senior deacons within the Church of the Bells praised him for it.
He might be greedy, but greed had never been the original sin. Lacking strength and ability was.
Once the straggling troops had all gathered at the village's northern gate, they displayed none of the imposing presence of the Northern Legion's elite forces. They chattered noisily among themselves. With so many people gathered, they were even louder than flies, buzzing incessantly and making one's head ache.
"Silence!"
Adamson stood at the northern gate, his body like an iron tower. Holding a huge war greatsword as though it were a one-handed sword, he cut an imposing figure.
After everyone quieted down somewhat, "Sir Davis" finally appeared.
"I'll begin the roll call. According to the assembly list you gave me, seventeen court knights should be present, but only seven are here. Seven landed knights should be present, but only two are here. I have twelve court knights and two members of the clergy with me. Sir Ramai has heavy infantry... twelve heavy infantrymen, five auxiliary soldiers, three military administrators assigned by the chancellor, and fifteen baggage soldiers?"
He did not actually call out every name. He merely tallied the numbers, then issued his orders. "First, the baggage soldiers and auxiliary soldiers will repair the watchtower at the bend of the river to the northwest. Everyone is to leave the village. Do not disturb the civilians.
"Second, everyone will bathe in shifts. Don't you know how bad you smell? Do you have any dignity as nobles?"
At first, no one objected to the arrangements for the auxiliary soldiers. But when they were ordered to leave the village, some became unhappy.
However, the seven court knights glanced at Sir Ramai and saw that he did not dare say a word either.
In terms of absolute strength, they truly had no confidence in opposing Sir Davis. Thus, the soldiers dawdled for half a day before finally withdrawing from the village.
The auxiliary soldiers, who were farmers on their own lands as well, were reluctant to bid farewell to their status as lords of the Northern Legion, throwing their weight around. Once again, they had no choice but to join the other farmers in the village to do the hauling and lifting.
The knightly lords and heavy infantrymen also had to train alongside the heavy cavalry under "Sir Davis."
"Don't be dissatisfied. Lord Tervalin is doing this for your own good. You soldiers are far too lax. Living among the villagers in the village means that if an emergency occurs, you won't be able to form an effective fighting force at all."
Whether the knights took Priest Rams's words to heart or not, they had to put on looks of sudden enlightenment.
Everyone sat around a bonfire roasting meat. Ergons was naturally present as well. He took everything in but offered no explanation.
It was William Adena who spoke first. "You all know what sort of shape you're in. Toby, do you want to remain a court knight for the rest of your life?
"I hear your second son can already walk, can't he? Do you really want the three of you—father and sons—to serve in the same court?"
The filthy, heavily bearded knight called Toby looked somewhat embarrassed. He rubbed the large wine cup bound with bent willow strips and remained silent.
William continued calling names. "Josev, don't think that being young will save you. With your skills, do you really think you can survive a pirate attack? Dream on!"
Even the youngest and most hot-blooded of them fell silent.
As the baron's nominal brother-in-law and a famous instructor in the Northern Knights, William Adena was not someone they could afford to fall out with.
Seeing that they had all fallen silent, William was satisfied and continued his tirade.
"There aren't many court knights in our Tevalinburg to begin with. We all know exactly what everyone is like. Those ten cowards who aren't here are no better than you in their usual state. Some are even worse!"
"Exactly! Luther and Joe are both lechers who can't take their eyes off women. Whenever they show up, they always cause trouble!"
Toby loudly chimed in, as though putting others down would make him seem less awful.
The other court knights also nodded one after another, listing the faults and failings of the ten absent court knights.
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