Penelope stepped into the tent with Tomas and sat down as the meeting began. First they just went over basic things, checking in with each other and making sure that the battalion would be ready in time for the next battle. Eventually, Mia clear her throat as the discussion died down, drawing attention to herself. "There is one more topic we need to discuss." She announced, glancing at Penelope. "Penelope has brought to my attention the damage that is caused by our own knights to the villages the war occurs at. She believes that we should take measures to ensure that we are protecting the villages rather than aiding in its destruction."
"This is absurd." Edward growled nearly immediately. "War brings unavoidable destruction. It's just how it is."
The female knight glanced over at her baroness. Mia looked over at Penelope expectantly, silently conveying it was now her turn to take control of the conversation. Feeling a surge of determination, she sat up a bit straighter and met Edward's gaze. "Not quite. Of course we can't prevent every casualty but there are steps we can take to make sure we're not killing our own people. Brerratic knights were killing just as many villagers as Younisian knights. They fought recklessly until I spread word of an order to be more mindful of the village."
"An order that was not actually made either." Layth growled from where he sat. "You were out of line to do such a thing."
"She's my lieutenant. I'll decide what is out of line." Mia told him, narrowing her eyes at the male knight.
"Regardless, it had a positive effect. Many lives were saved." Tomas input looking between Bennet and Edward.
"So you want to make this an official rule? That there will be no reckless fighting within villages?" Bennet asked.
"Yes." Penelope nodded. "We're supposed to be defending our kingdom and that includes the people in it, wouldn't you agree?"
"We're doing our job. They're just getting in the way." Edward snorted. "If we hold back like you're suggesting, we'll lose this war fast. We can't afford to try and please the outer villages while we're out here risking our lives and fighting for the kingdom."
A mumble of agreement from Bennet caused for a small spark of anger in the knight. They were cold, only thinking about themselves. No wonder the war had been so devastating to the outer villages with these two barons having been at the head of it. It was unlikely for her to get them to empathize with the villagers so she'd have to try a different approach if she wanted them to agree with her. Gavin's words flashed into her mind and she quickly came up with an idea.
"Well, if that's the case, then I suppose you'll have to start contributing more gold into funding this war." She mused. The two barons exchanged a glance.
"What do you mean?" Bennet huffed.
"Saving the outer villages is an investment." Penelope stated, despising the argument she was about to make. "Tax season is coming up and the money collected from the outer villages will likely be used to keep funding us with supplies. However, if we continue to fight as recklessly as we do, pretty soon there won't be as much income from the villages as the people are killed. Consider it an investment."
"We'll still have the rest of Brerra to help fund this war." Layth argued with a snort.
"That may be true but regardless, the funding will dip without the contribution of these villages. Supplies that are plentiful now may become scarce as this war continues." She remarked swiftly, shooting her brother a stern look.
Silence had fallen over the two barons, seeming to consider her proposal much more seriously now. Though the method of getting them to that point felt wrong to her, she was glad that she seemed to have stricken a cord with them. Penelope looked between Edward and Bennet. "Our knights are skilled and strong. Surely you can trust your forces to still win battles while protecting the people of this kingdom.. Unless, it would be too much of a challenge for them." She stated boldly.
Mia looked across at Penelope with a pleased look. She grinned widely and glanced at the other two barons. "I of course support this. Faas, Vermillion, what do you say?"
"It seems to be a smart move to make.." Bennet mused before finally nodding his head. "I'll agree to this."
"Edward?" Mia asked again turning her head to look over at the other baron. Edward crossed his arms over his chest and curled his lip, seeming displeased with the situation.
"Fine." He growled at last. "I'll agree to it for now."
"Then it's settled. We'll alert our battalion to the new rule." Mia said with a nod of approval.
--
Penelope was in a rather good mood for the rest of the day. She had managed to convince the barons to agree to the new rule and that meant the outer villages would now have more support from the knights of their kingdom. She couldn't wait to tell Crow the good news. As night fell, she quickly got ready, her heart beating excitedly at the thought of seeing him again especially with the good news she had.
"Off again?" Olivia's voice caught Penelope's attention. The female knight looked over at her friend and nodded her head.
"Yeah.. Will you be on guard duty tonight?" She asked quietly, wanting to find out if she would have an easy time sneaking back in.
"Yep. So I'll see you when you get back." Olivia paused before giving a mischievous wink. "If anything exciting happens be sure to tell me."
Penelope rolled her eyes at the other knight before moving onward towards Myrefall. She was rather focused on getting to the tavern. With Crow and her beginning to be on better terms, the anxiety that had come with meeting him before had begun to melt away, allowing her to feel a bit more joyful about seeing him despite herself. So much so, that she didn't realize that Gavin had spotted her before she had fully disappeared from sight. Or that Olivia had decided to tell him to follow her to see where she would go.
It wasn't long before she reached the tavern in Myrefall. She stepped inside and glanced around for Crow, trying to hide her eagerness to tell him the news.
"This is absurd." Edward growled nearly immediately. "War brings unavoidable destruction. It's just how it is."
The female knight glanced over at her baroness. Mia looked over at Penelope expectantly, silently conveying it was now her turn to take control of the conversation. Feeling a surge of determination, she sat up a bit straighter and met Edward's gaze. "Not quite. Of course we can't prevent every casualty but there are steps we can take to make sure we're not killing our own people. Brerratic knights were killing just as many villagers as Younisian knights. They fought recklessly until I spread word of an order to be more mindful of the village."
"An order that was not actually made either." Layth growled from where he sat. "You were out of line to do such a thing."
"She's my lieutenant. I'll decide what is out of line." Mia told him, narrowing her eyes at the male knight.
"Regardless, it had a positive effect. Many lives were saved." Tomas input looking between Bennet and Edward.
"So you want to make this an official rule? That there will be no reckless fighting within villages?" Bennet asked.
"Yes." Penelope nodded. "We're supposed to be defending our kingdom and that includes the people in it, wouldn't you agree?"
"We're doing our job. They're just getting in the way." Edward snorted. "If we hold back like you're suggesting, we'll lose this war fast. We can't afford to try and please the outer villages while we're out here risking our lives and fighting for the kingdom."
A mumble of agreement from Bennet caused for a small spark of anger in the knight. They were cold, only thinking about themselves. No wonder the war had been so devastating to the outer villages with these two barons having been at the head of it. It was unlikely for her to get them to empathize with the villagers so she'd have to try a different approach if she wanted them to agree with her. Gavin's words flashed into her mind and she quickly came up with an idea.
"Well, if that's the case, then I suppose you'll have to start contributing more gold into funding this war." She mused. The two barons exchanged a glance.
"What do you mean?" Bennet huffed.
"Saving the outer villages is an investment." Penelope stated, despising the argument she was about to make. "Tax season is coming up and the money collected from the outer villages will likely be used to keep funding us with supplies. However, if we continue to fight as recklessly as we do, pretty soon there won't be as much income from the villages as the people are killed. Consider it an investment."
"We'll still have the rest of Brerra to help fund this war." Layth argued with a snort.
"That may be true but regardless, the funding will dip without the contribution of these villages. Supplies that are plentiful now may become scarce as this war continues." She remarked swiftly, shooting her brother a stern look.
Silence had fallen over the two barons, seeming to consider her proposal much more seriously now. Though the method of getting them to that point felt wrong to her, she was glad that she seemed to have stricken a cord with them. Penelope looked between Edward and Bennet. "Our knights are skilled and strong. Surely you can trust your forces to still win battles while protecting the people of this kingdom.. Unless, it would be too much of a challenge for them." She stated boldly.
Mia looked across at Penelope with a pleased look. She grinned widely and glanced at the other two barons. "I of course support this. Faas, Vermillion, what do you say?"
"It seems to be a smart move to make.." Bennet mused before finally nodding his head. "I'll agree to this."
"Edward?" Mia asked again turning her head to look over at the other baron. Edward crossed his arms over his chest and curled his lip, seeming displeased with the situation.
"Fine." He growled at last. "I'll agree to it for now."
"Then it's settled. We'll alert our battalion to the new rule." Mia said with a nod of approval.
--
Penelope was in a rather good mood for the rest of the day. She had managed to convince the barons to agree to the new rule and that meant the outer villages would now have more support from the knights of their kingdom. She couldn't wait to tell Crow the good news. As night fell, she quickly got ready, her heart beating excitedly at the thought of seeing him again especially with the good news she had.
"Off again?" Olivia's voice caught Penelope's attention. The female knight looked over at her friend and nodded her head.
"Yeah.. Will you be on guard duty tonight?" She asked quietly, wanting to find out if she would have an easy time sneaking back in.
"Yep. So I'll see you when you get back." Olivia paused before giving a mischievous wink. "If anything exciting happens be sure to tell me."
Penelope rolled her eyes at the other knight before moving onward towards Myrefall. She was rather focused on getting to the tavern. With Crow and her beginning to be on better terms, the anxiety that had come with meeting him before had begun to melt away, allowing her to feel a bit more joyful about seeing him despite herself. So much so, that she didn't realize that Gavin had spotted her before she had fully disappeared from sight. Or that Olivia had decided to tell him to follow her to see where she would go.
It wasn't long before she reached the tavern in Myrefall. She stepped inside and glanced around for Crow, trying to hide her eagerness to tell him the news.