Spring arrived.
The trees stretched out branches tipped with tender yellow-green leaves, gently swaying in the faint spring breeze. Some trees had also blossomed with bright flowers, their fragrance drawing countless little bees that hummed, sang, and danced.
A breeze blew in, carrying a fresh, delicate fragrance straight toward them, while brilliant sunlight shone everywhere.
"Madam, the ships in the harbor... are ready!" Shakat saluted. He was already old, his hair entirely white, yet he was still the fleet admiral.
"Of course, Lord Shakat. The navy and fleet are at your disposal. Choose one of these ships as the flagship, and select the fleet admiral for this expeditionary force." Eileen said, "Although I will travel with the fleet, I am not a commander at sea."
"Yes, Madam. Admiral Peke is capable of the task!" Shakat declared loudly.
Peke was actually forty years old already. This might well be his chance.
"As you wish, Admiral Peke. The fleet is under your command."
"Yes, Madam. Please rest assured. The fleet will depart safely and return safely." Admiral Peke saluted as he spoke.
Eileen looked up and smiled. Ten three-hundred-ton warships stood fully loaded with grain and seeds, even carrying some small animals.
Naturally, even more eye-catching were the soldiers aboard each ship. There were five hundred in all, practically every naval soldier in the territory.
Behind them came a dense mass of merchant ships. Most were one-hundred-ton seagoing vessels, not particularly large, fitted with square sails and triangular sails. They could easily make use of winds from every direction and were highly maneuverable.
There were also large two-hundred-and-fifty-ton merchant ships loaded with supplies.
It seemed that the Pilgrimage Trading Guild and the trading guilds connected to it had indeed spared no effort for Romon's sake in preparing this fleet. The supplies and