The First Winter
Maester Calub, the Alchemist, Treasurer of Korelia
The harsh lady of winter had blanketed the Korelia landscape in fresh, pristine white snow. It was a cycle that had begun since time immemorial. At first glance, it appeared that nothing had changed in Korelia; the cold and bitter winds that battered the landscape were the same that their forefather endured.
However, upon closer inspection, one could see that the Korelians this year had a different look in their eyes. Warmer, but more vigorous, as they no longer had to abandon their unlucky neighbors to die at the height of winter.
Although nothing appeared to have changed from the outside, a long-lost hope had been rekindled within. Everywhere in Korelia, whether at home or in winter shelters, people spoke highly of the new Lord of Korelia.
The old mentioned his name in their toasts, while the young were eager to pledge their support to his cause. Not even the cold winter weather could dampen their spirits.
Likewise, the scrawny troops from Midlandia shared the enthusiasm. Typically, contract soldiers like them were only called upon for wars and left to fend for themselves during winter and spring. However, the new Lord was providing them with steady pay, winter quarters complete with food and blankets.
Although the Lord sheltered inside his castle, his name was on everyone’s lips.
Calub, who had recently bought a house in Korelia town before winter, faced daily questions about what the Lord was like. Everybody who met him at the workshop was curious - the carpenter, fletcher, and local merchants all wanted to know.
The alchemist, who knew little about Lansius, only divulged small details, fearing he might reveal things he shouldn’t have. Although he knew from Audrey that Lansius used to work as a clerk and a teacher, he had never worked as a merchant or noble. However, Lansius was suspiciously knowledgeable about trade, military, and leadership.
No wonder Lord Bengrieve wanted him as his henchman.
Lord Lansius remained a mysterious figure, even to his closest confidants. Audrey, who had known him the longest, still didn’t know everything about him.
Calub’s move to a house in Korelia town was done hastily. Along with Hugo and the rest, he had planned to just stay in the Great Hall for winter. While as the treasurer, he had a separate room, but it was almost ancient and unsuitable for winter.
When Lansius heard about this, he urged Calub to buy a house in town, preferably close to the workshop, so he could easily reach the workshop if weather permitted.
Lansius was fully supportive of the move and even allowed Calub to bring along Margo, the pageboy, and Roger, who had recently recovered from his injury.
Calub was thrilled with the new arrangement. He was able to purchase a spacious two-story building with an attic at a discounted rate because the owner was keen to get into the new Lord’s good grace. But the most important feature was the cellar.
The house boasted a large stone-walled cellar that was perfect for his alchemy lab. With the winter downtime, he planned to replenish his dwindling supply of alchemy concoctions. Although he could conduct his experiments anywhere, he preferred not to do so in the castle, as it posed a risk of fire or hazardous gas leaks.
For Calub, following Lansius’s leadership had been a highly rewarding experience.
Better than crawling in the depth of the earth. Seeking a rare find in dwarven catacombs.
The memory was bittersweet for Calub and his comrades. They had lost a dear friend in the labyrinth. That was when Felis and another member decided to call it quits. They had made a name for themselves, but reality caught up with them. Entering the labyrinth was always a gamble with their lives.
Calub had buried many friends in that place, but the last one was special. She was a fifth-generation beastgirl - tough, headstrong, and playful like a child. They had met when they were little and grown to become adept explorers.
Like many who arrived on the vast shore of Progentia, the old continent, they tried to better their lives and their family. One big haul of artifacts from the depth of dwarven catacombs would net them enough money for life.
However, the depths of that underground world were home to horrors that claimed the subterranean as their lairs.
Stolen novel; please report.
Calub and his last team were among the few lucky ones who returned mostly intact. With enough money for retirement, Calub officially entered the Alchemist guild, while Felis started a tavern in Feodosia.
As a member of the prestigious guild, Calub mingled with the educated class in Midlandia and was quickly enamored with a number of freethinkers. With his capital, he sponsored several projects. The most ambitious of which was the school for the commoners and landless gentry.
For the educated Midlandians far from the center of the Imperium’s seat of power, the world was changing. In Midlandia, there were more landless gentries than ever before, intellectuals, guild members, or entrepreneurs who stood on their own without farmland to support them.
People like Felis and Calub became part of this burgeoning new social class. Although the term landless was a mockery from the nobility, they wore it proudly as a token of their free-willed spirits unbound to the old idea of feudalism.
***
A similar situation happened to Hugo and his band of guardsmen. They had planned to sleep at the Great Hall but were sent to a mansion east of town. The mansion was old and only a portion of its fifteen rooms were in good condition, but this freed out quite a space for people who stayed behind in the Castle.
Hugo’s nascent infantrymen, a project of his Lord, happily received this order. This arrangement gave them more freedom to socialize with the townsfolk in between winter and heavy snow.
The benefits went both ways. With Hugo gone, the castle staff could relax a bit. Audrey was the only high-ranking staff member left in the castle, and she tend to overlook minor issues and avoid any actions that might demoralize the staff.
Lansius knew that winter was a harsh season, and he took every precaution he could to make sure that the castle ran smoothly.
***
Lansius, the acting Lord of Korelia
“Ugh…” Lansius panted weakly after reading the letter from Midlandia. Despite sending ten of Lowlandia’s finest horses, Bengrieve’s reply was still razor sharp. That was why he had delayed opening the letter brought by Sir Justin and Callahan.
Audrey, on the other hand, was lively. She leaned from her chair to hear Lansius better. “Is there any mention of me?”
“No, you’re safe,” he reassured her.
“So, what does it say?”
“Well, he thanked me for the gift, but I’m still getting lectured.” Lansius sighed. “He wrote that I shouldn’t do rash things like purchasing ten cartloads of salt. And also, he advised me against playing a hero.”
Their benefactor wasn’t keen on risky gambling. Securing ten cartloads of salt without advance notice wasn’t easy even for Bengrieve.
“That salts must've been really expensive,” Audrey commented.
“Yeah, it cost a fortune. It could pay for an army for ten months. Thankfully, the salt plan worked.”
“If it didn’t, then Bengrieve would…” Audrey left the sentence unfinished, grinning mischievously.
“No, please don’t say it. That’s too much,” Lansius pleaded, slouching in his seat.
“I’m still curious how Bengrieve decided to help you.”
“Well, I assured him that I’m his pet. Inside those five chests were all the wealth left from our victory. Now, I’m nearly penniless. There was only enough for troops and the castle staff’s expenses.”
Audrey nodded her head. “So no more building projects next year.”
Lansius shook his head.
She sipped her drink and changed the subject. “I’m still curious that five chests can purchase that much salt.”
“I borrowed a little.”
“Eh?” Audrey was surprised. “And what’s the collateral?”
“Besides my neck and my family, also you…” admitted Lansius.
“I figured…” Audrey let out a sigh.
“I tried to pawn this castle, but he didn’t see the value.”
Audrey snorted at the notion. “At least he sees value in us. So, how much are we in debt?”
“Well, the plate armor we ordered, even just partial sets, was still quite a sum. But no worries, I’ll work hard and shear lots of sheep next summer,” Lansius joked, making Audrey chuckle.
Lansius sensed that Lord Bengrieve was supportive of his cause. As if the seneschal was gambling on Lansius’ future victory for reasons Lansius had yet to decipher.
Is he that rich to give me big loans so easily? Or is it simply cheaper to send money than men to help Korelia?
As Lansius pondered Bengrieve’s inexplicable support for his cause, despite refusing to send any form of reinforcement, the sun’s intense rays baked his bedchamber walls, located on the upper floor of the castle. He had removed his fur coat and mittens, feeling the warmth.
The staff referred to his chamber as the Lord’s chamber. It was furnished with tapestries hung on the wall. Made from thick wool like a carpet, the colorful tapestry served as decorations as well as insulation. The castle’s stone brick was frigid during winter, and without the tapestries, the room would feel like cold storage.
“Well... at least you solved the famine. The people loved it. Everybody got enough grain for winter and salt to do stuff. I’ve heard it’s the first time Korelia was this prepared for winter.”
Audrey’s words brought Lansius back from pondering. “Huh, really? Where did you hear such a thing?”
“Mm, is it from Cecile or probably Calub? Could be Sterling or Hugo, can’t remember.”
“Sterling?”
“Oh, that’s the squire’s real name. Turns out, his abusive knight-master even changed his name out of spite,” she explained.
“Poor lad...”
Audrey continued, “The point is, the Korelians are happy under your rule.”
The way she proudly said that made Lansius grin from ear to ear. “That’s funny. A long time ago, a certain squire told me that I’m dumb because I don’t know how to prepare my straw bed or clean a bowl using firewood ash.”
Audrey whistled nervously, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, My Lord.”
That made Lansius chuckle.
Audrey suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, I think it’s almost ready." And went to the fireplace.
At Lansius’ urge, they had prepared a pottage, a kind of stew cooked inside a metal cooking pot, inside his chamber.
The stew was made of wheat and beans, mixed with a bit of cheese and eggs. Although it was considered a poor man’s food, Lansius had been eating it for three years and felt that winter wouldn’t feel right without it.
As he enjoyed a bubble of peace and familiarity, Lansius asked himself just how long he could enjoy this peace before paying the price. He also wondered whether he could enjoy this again next year.
Where will I be next winter?
***