A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor
Chapter 1655 - 1655: Swirling Fires - Part 8

"And what good would it be to ruin the forest for spring, when we're going to be in dire need of fresh meat? There are ways of working around it."

"Have the contributions from hunting been that significant?" The Colonel asked.

"Not as much as you'd want, but aye, it makes a difference, 'specially it's just bloomin' dried meat that you're relying on," Greeves said. "Oh, I see the look on your face there, Colonel. Surprising, ain't it? In winter? But this little shit, I'd reckon she's the best the kingdom has when it comes to hunting. You don't want to hear a word out of her mouth, but as far as hunting, you'd take her over anyone. She's even managed to guess some use out of the soldiers we sent with her. Yoreholder men, they were…"

"She's a huntress?" The Colonel asked. "From the way you spoke, I'd thought that she was most certainly more of the warrior inclination. Like our young Lady Blackthorn that has – against all our understanding – sworn fealty to your Lord."

"No, I hate fighting," Nila said, only then realizing the irony in still having her bow drawn, and deciding to bring it loose again with a small blush. "…I only fight when it's something worth fighting for."

"And these merchants?" The Colonel said, drawing them back to the initial question. "What sort of men would risk delivering to a war zone? Were the shipments really that sizable?"

Greeves laughed at the question. "What sort of men? Have you never heard of calculated risk? That's the foundation of the merchant's business. This city is littered with things worth selling. Our General Patrick has forbidden me from selling a good portion of those, but there's still enough to make it worth the while of some of the greedier sorts. And we took a sizable bounty from the Emersons. Nothin' off the soldiers themselves, but still snatched enough from Prince Hendrick and the Generals to get some food in. See, our General Patrick doesn't seem satisfied unless he can see us all fed for up to six months. He's been a bother trying to please him in that."

"Six months..?" The Colonel asked. "That's rather ambitious."

"Aye, sort of defines him, don't ya think?" Greeves said.

The Colonel tapped his finger against his head. "…You've been far more resourceful than we could have expected you to be. You are a long way off your projected six months, but based on the figures you've given us, you could see your own men, and your prisoners fed for at least two. An impressive feat merchant, impressive indeed… I would give my compliments to your team."

"There is no team," Greeves said. "It would be a waste of men."

"Then, I suppose, I give my compliments to the two of you, for seeing your people fed…" the Colonel said.

"But now you've brought five thousand peasants with you, and all your troops. And you're going to throw the burden of seeing them fed as well, ain't ya?" Greeves said. "My bloody burden only grows bigger, and that bastard boy is going to take it easy on me."

"You speak awfully lightly, at times, about a man that you were so ready to die for," Colonel Stopdon said. "I do not understand this loyalty that General Patrick inspires."

"You should. You lot have the same thing for your General, don't ya?" Greeves said.

"Naturally. But we are trained, and disciplined. You have no such training, no such reasoning… You're a rabble, to put it mildly. And yet, somehow, I suppose you are effective," the Colonel said. "You need not worry about feeding the peasantry. They have come with their own supply of food, courtesy of Queen Asabel. Three months worth she sent for them – and naturally, we have a similar supply for our own soldiers."

"Ah, now there's a pissin' relief," Greeves said. "'Cos, I don't think I'm going to be getting many outside shipments sent this way anymore. We're likely going to be forced to rely on all that we currently have."

"Well, yes… That should be the natural state of things," the Colonel said. "We ought to have been relying on what we have – that you were able to get anything more is an impressive feat of resourcefulness. Enticing merchants in especially is of interest to me."

"I wouldn't think they'd trust the sweet lulling of a nobleman," Greeves said. "You lot seem to think that in times of war, you can take whatever you want for the sake of your 'war effort'. That's too much risk for them. At least with me, they know they're getting paid. I have that part of my reputation to keep, after all."

"Even though they still think you're a slimy man and they hardly trust you in any other area," Nila said.

"Even then," Greeves said. "They trust me enough to take the risk."

"Mm," the Colonel grunted. "This has been a profitable discussion… And I do pray for the sake of your manhood that those figures you gave me are accurate… And I pray for my own sake as well. Our General has been particularly concerned about the state of supplies. He was convinced that when we arrived we would find you half starved. That you have these numbers to reassure him with – that will be most welcome."

"Aye, well, I'd say our General will be pleased the same, when he finds out that the peasants you've brought have come with food to see them fed," Greeves said. "He'll be excited to bring them in to training."

"…Yes, indeed," the Colonel said. "And I shall be excited to watch, I do think. To see how it is that he raises peasants up to be as useful as they need to be, to secure the sort of victory that you did against the Emersons."

"There you go," Greeves said. "Now you see the worth of it as well. And you better convince your General of it. 'Cos our General Patrick has been doing too much to be having to pick fights with his own allies as well."