Early the next morning, Newborn Town's central square was already bustling.
The craftsmen had spent the night sanding and repairing the Ironwood platform used for announcements, then covered it with a thick red felt carpet.
Behind the platform, a brand-new banner unfurled in the morning breeze.
Against its black background, silver-threaded thorns encircled a young shoot breaking through the earth-the coat of arms of Weilin Klein.
The square was packed.
There were soldiers who had taken off their leather armor, craftsmen covered in stone dust, and cooks wearing aprons, but most were Free Citizens who had come to Newborn Town to work and earn merit points.
Their eyes were all fixed on the platform, their whispered conversations blending into a steady hum.
As Veylin stepped onto the platform, the hum gradually subsided.
Roland followed behind him.
The Fifth-Rank Knight had changed into a handsome suit of ceremonial armor. He wore no helmet, and his blond hair was neatly combed.
"I, Roland Riyang, in my capacity as Baron, bear witness to today's honors and knighthoods."
Roland's voice carried across the square.
Having spoken, he stepped back and yielded the central position to Veylin.
Veylin walked to the front of the platform, his gaze sweeping over the nervous and expectant faces below.
He gave no lengthy speech.
"We have defeated the Lord of the Gray Swamp."
"Everyone who took part will be rewarded."
He turned sideways, and an attendant approached with a tray.
The tray was lined with velvet, and the medals upon it gleamed darkly in the sunlight.
The bodies of the medals had been polished from the finest scales on the Lord of the Gray Swamp's lower jaw, each inlaid with a coiled python in pure silver.
"This is the Snake-Slayer Medal, awarded to those who made outstanding contributions in