Nihonto, Schwarzenburg Square
Of course, given that the others were meant to return to him, Nihonto couldn't exactly leave the square. But he did have time to pen a short missive to his estate. They were to understand that he was marching north with a small band under unknown circumstances - and that until further notice, they were to prepare as though for war. His levy of roughly one hundred and forty souls would be outfitted and drilled. Sub-wartime taxation was to begin alongside procedures that would double down on the stockpiling valuable supplies. Because although the likelihood of a proper war was slim, he preferred to ere on the side of caution.
He gave this missive to a familiar tailow in the square, and a little bag of silver for his services.
It wasn't a large town, of course; he'd been given the lordship when he'd been knighted, reward for service to Sakana. He managed to make himself fairly liked in his own domain. But behind the scenes, his administration could be... messy; he was a peasant raised to knighthood - not a lord. He hardly knew what the title meant before his elevation; now he had to embrace all its responsibilities and it weighed on him. But he wouldn't have complained; he did his best, he liked to think. But he couldn't be there all the time - with his responsibilities to Sakana and his primary duties as a soldier, after all, much of the administration fell to permanent officials in the village.
In them, he felt, he could trust. They wouldn't miss him one bit.
Finally, Frey arrived - and Thorvald right behind her. He nearly rolled his eyes. "Meat's not that hard to find~. But! Tea was an excellent idea. I'll be sure to stop by a butcher's on the way out - I'm afraid I just can't get by on grain and tea, and I'd rather preserve strength than money for such a journey. Any case, most of the bandits here aren't much to be afraid of; just turn around and sock 'em in the face if you catch them creeping up on you, yeah?" He flashes Frey a grin full of teeth. "'Sides, most of them'll be no bigger than you."
He turned then to Thorvald, brow raised as he takes the box. "It sounds like you two had a hell of a time. But you're not wrong about Johan; he's a flake. But he knows what he's about. Only problem is, his prices are like the tides - without a lunar calendar and a goddamn sextant, you never know what to expect." He hands the bag of gold back with a chuckle. "But take it; consider it a token of goodwill. I'm not shy for gold, after all."
Of course, given that the others were meant to return to him, Nihonto couldn't exactly leave the square. But he did have time to pen a short missive to his estate. They were to understand that he was marching north with a small band under unknown circumstances - and that until further notice, they were to prepare as though for war. His levy of roughly one hundred and forty souls would be outfitted and drilled. Sub-wartime taxation was to begin alongside procedures that would double down on the stockpiling valuable supplies. Because although the likelihood of a proper war was slim, he preferred to ere on the side of caution.
He gave this missive to a familiar tailow in the square, and a little bag of silver for his services.
It wasn't a large town, of course; he'd been given the lordship when he'd been knighted, reward for service to Sakana. He managed to make himself fairly liked in his own domain. But behind the scenes, his administration could be... messy; he was a peasant raised to knighthood - not a lord. He hardly knew what the title meant before his elevation; now he had to embrace all its responsibilities and it weighed on him. But he wouldn't have complained; he did his best, he liked to think. But he couldn't be there all the time - with his responsibilities to Sakana and his primary duties as a soldier, after all, much of the administration fell to permanent officials in the village.
In them, he felt, he could trust. They wouldn't miss him one bit.
Finally, Frey arrived - and Thorvald right behind her. He nearly rolled his eyes. "Meat's not that hard to find~. But! Tea was an excellent idea. I'll be sure to stop by a butcher's on the way out - I'm afraid I just can't get by on grain and tea, and I'd rather preserve strength than money for such a journey. Any case, most of the bandits here aren't much to be afraid of; just turn around and sock 'em in the face if you catch them creeping up on you, yeah?" He flashes Frey a grin full of teeth. "'Sides, most of them'll be no bigger than you."
He turned then to Thorvald, brow raised as he takes the box. "It sounds like you two had a hell of a time. But you're not wrong about Johan; he's a flake. But he knows what he's about. Only problem is, his prices are like the tides - without a lunar calendar and a goddamn sextant, you never know what to expect." He hands the bag of gold back with a chuckle. "But take it; consider it a token of goodwill. I'm not shy for gold, after all."