"Chirp, chirp, chirp ..."
Wolf opens his eyes as he hears the birds singing outside the window. The early sunlight gets into his house, a 50-square-meter space with a chimney, a bed, and a small table. A composite bow with quivers of arrows is hung on the walls, next to his hunt trophies consist mostly of stags. On the floor, a beer hide is lying there, telling the story about the owner of the place.
Getting rid of the peasants' rags on his body, Wolf changes into his captain's uniform: An armor made from animal furs, hide, and a breastplate. After equipping himself with a sword and a spear, the standard gear of a Norse Guardsman, Wolf made his way to the cliff, strolling up to the castle.
The rain yesterday has made a mess of the road. Wolf sighed. He does not like to get his shoes covered in mud, especially since he is going to meet Lord Ingstad today. The weather is a bit chilly, but Norses are strange people, gifted with a cold-resistant ability that no other races can compete with.
- "Good morning, Captain." Two Guardsmen guarding the Castle gate bow slightly to Wolf before returning to their duty.
The Castle is built on top of a hill in the southern part of the settlement, in a way that it can access fresh water easily. It is an architecture project made from both wood and stone, serving as a formidable defense as well as the jewel of the Frostborn settlement. Even being an amateur strategist, Wolf knows that even if an army breached the gate, the Frostborn citizens can retreat to the Castle and hold out for at least a year.
- "Oh my, look who it is?" A voice comes from behind as Wolf reaches the inner walls of the Castle.
- "Knuckle, can you not go and bother someone else?" Does not need to turn his back, Wolf replies. His fists tighten as if he is going to punch somebody.
Knuckle is a chubby man with a bald head and a small moustache. Even in this weather, sweat can still be seen visibly dropping on his face as if he just ran a marathon. Holding a few books in his hand, he chuckles:
- "If you are not nice to me, Wolf. I can cut the funding for the Guardsmen."
- "Then I will cut your watermelon head in half, Knuckle. Now go and play with your numbers." Wolf looks at the guy as if he were looking at a beggar. I do not believe a weak, jealous, and cowardly person like him can be a true Norse. Wolf continues to walk deep into the keep, leaving Knuckle behind.
Leaving his weapons to the Shieldbearers, the title reserved for the 10 strongest men in the settlement, serving as the lord's bodyguards, Wolf requested to meet Lord Instad. The servant leads him up the stairs to the top of the Castle.
Sitting behind a table with tons of papers, Lord Instad - a skinny man who is in his late 40s, lazily admiring the scenery of the foggy mountain range through the window. So he has just worked overnight again. Wolf thinks as he kneels on the ground:
- "My Lord, I am here for the weekly report."
- "Good morning, Wolf. Come closer and admire this scenery with me."
Still in his sleeping suit, Lord Ingstad and Wolf walk side by side closer to the window, where the whole town can be seen together with the Fernir mountain ranges - an unpassable terrain that separates the Nanban Kingdoms and the Shogunate of Tsubaki. The Guardsmen are exchanging shifts while the local merchants start to bring their wares to the town center.
"Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom." A series of gunshots disturbs the atmosphere, surprising Wolf. Looking around, he spots around 20 men standing side by side in Castle's yard, each holding a musket, firing in volleys toward wooden targets under the guidance of two Shieldbearers.
- "I did not know that we had muskets, my lord." Wolf speaks.
Lord Ingstad laughs gently at his follower's oblivion:
- "Your friend brought us 50 muskets and ammunition at the price of 500 gold coins last night."
So that's what he meant by "A deal" last night. Wolf thinks of the greedy merchant, a guy with a silver tongue and exceptional trading skills. However, Wolf grows anxious; he does not know why Lord Instad is willing to spend a large chunk of the coffers on weapons at the moment.
- "How many men do you have on the Guardsmen, Wolf?"
- "113 in total, my Lord. Each of them can fight on equal terms with those cocky Samurai from the Shogunate." Wolf speaks proudly. He knows each one of the Guardsmen personally and trains them regularly in combat.
Lord Ingstad grows silent as Wolf expresses growing concern. His next words shock the Captain:
- "The Shogunate is unhappy with our tribute."
- "UNHAPPY?" Wolf yells, "We paid them 3000 gold coins and 800 kokus of rice every year. We could have used those on our military and field 300 Guardsmen."
- "Be careful, Wolf. Hojo Tsubaki has eyes and ears everywhere."
Hearing his lord's answer, Wolf has no choice but to remain silent. Lord Ingstad continues:
- "I have just drafted 20 people that I trust, and we are training them into arquebusiers. I do not know how long our peace with the Shogunate can be maintained, but we need to prepare for war."
- "What can I do, my lord?" Wolf asks
Move back into his chair, Lord Instad looks at a few pieces of paper. It does not take a genius to tell that he has been overworking for the past few weeks.
- "We need to raise our fighting strength." He speaks. "In spring, your friend Adam will bring us 100 more guns and more ammunition, along with weapons and supplies. I need you to send men to nearby villages, asking them to move supplies and their possessions inside the walls of the settlements."
Pauses for a while, he continues:
- "I also need you to choose at least 400 men and start training them with spears and bows. They will be drafted as militias if war comes."
- "Is there anything we can do to avoid war, my lord?" Wolf slightly trembles; he can not imagine how traumatic the casualties will be if these militias fight the Samurais from the Tsubaki Clan. It will be a complete slaughter.
- "Well, Hojo Tsubaki wants to control our Sulfur mines instead of tributes in exchange for peace." The skinny Lord tightens his grip on the paper, causing it to turn into a mess. "I believe he needs it to continue his war effort against the Kochi Clan."
Wolf nearly swears in anger. The profit from the Sulfur mines is the only reason why Frostborn can pay the tributes for the last ten years. Making gunpowder and exporting it is the main way for the citizens to exchange for other resources, along with weapons to equip the Guardsmen.
"We can not give it up, my Lord. Many of our people are hunters. I can turn them into formidable siege defenders in 10 days." Wolf speaks.
"Good, we will have time until next summer. I will give you a formal decree, make sure that I have an army of 400 millitas that can fight like professional soldiers." Lord Ingstad
"How many men are we expecting to face, my lord?"
"From my source, his son-in-law, Monosuke Tosai, is marching north with an army of 200 Samurai and 500 Ashigaru and going to station right on the border. He will know that we are militarising and will be recruiting more men from their nearby areas. When the snow melts and accumulates enough supplies, he will march straight to us whether we accept their demand or not." Lord Ingstad speaks with a tired voice. A warrior who used to make his name by breaking enemies' shieldwalls is experiencing the disadvantages of old age.
Receiving the formal decree, Wolf's head feels like exploding. He has been training to fight since the day he could walk. His memory floods back to the time when he and his old mercenary band roamed the Northern Territories, striking fear into the hearts of their opponents. I have seen enough bloodshed in my life, but I can not escape from it this time.
Selina's smile appears in his imagination, fueling his determination to protect this town. Frostborn will not fall under that Tsubaki force. He can not imagine what they will do to the citizens of the city if he fails to defend it.
- "Your wish is my command, My Lord." Wolf kneels on his knee again, he wants to rush out of the room and get into preparation as soon as possible.
- "There is another thing before you go, Wolf." Lord Ingstad speaks loudly. "My son, Erik, will be coming of age this winter. He has been trained in the arts of fighting. I want you to take him with you to deal with the band of outlaws that has been ravaging the land."
- "You mean, the Brotherhood, my Lord?"
- "If that's what you want to call them!"
- "I think it might be too dangerous for the young master, my lord!" Wolf speaks hesitantly. He is not sure he can protect a 15-year-old when fighting against an infamous band of criminals.
- "He is a Norse, and he will have to prove himself." Lord Ingstad speaks with a firm voice, signaling that there will be no disobedience.
- "As you command!" Wolf leaves the room, leaving the overworked lord enjoying the breakfast the servants are bringing in.