From Londoner To Lord

Hudan, his face an impassive mask, acknowledged their request with a nod. "The duty of a guard does carry a higher risk," he rumbled, "which is why they typically receive a higher wage than miners or laborers. To compensate for that risk, even though we are not able to pay you all in coin, the guards will still receive slightly larger portions of grain and coal each week compared to the laborers."

The announcement had a clear impact. The other hesitant recruit, swayed by the promise of more provisions, seemed to reconsider. He mumbled something under his breath and stepped back into the ranks of the guards-to-be. Finn, however, remained resolute. The thought of risking his life was seemingly not acceptable to him if there were other options to provide for his family. Hudan, with a curt nod of understanding, dismissed him and Finn returned to the crowd surrounding the center of the marketplace.

Scanning the crowd once more, Hudan addressed a new topic. "We are aware," he boomed, "that some of you have been cultivating vegetable gardens behind your homes, despite the lack of permission from the previous baron."

A flicker of apprehension ran through the crowd like a nervous breeze. Hudan's words brought back memories of the iron fist of the previous Baron. Tesyb's father had also been growing a few vegetables behind their now-damaged house, which had helped them a lot in recent times. Were they now facing punishment for those vegetable gardens?

Hudan, sensing the shift in mood, quickly interjected. "Hold on now, there's no need to worry!" he boomed in a reassuring voice. "Lord Kivamus is not going to punish anyone for simply trying to feed their families. He understands the hardships you've faced, especially with the recent grain shortage."

A collective sigh of relief washed over the villagers. Their defiance, born out of necessity, had been tacitly acknowledged, and perhaps even commended.

Hudan continued, his voice laced with a hint of empathy. "Lord Kivamus sees the value in self-sufficiency. That's why, starting today, he has lifted all restrictions on vegetable gardens. Every villager is free to cultivate whatever they can behind their houses, and the Baron even encourages you to expand them if possible. The more food you grow, the better!"

A cheer erupted from the crowd. Nervous glances were replaced by nods of approval and murmurs of gratitude. Women who had nurtured small vegetable patches in the shadows, fearing the Baron's wrath, now beamed openly.

"This new policy extends for hunting in the forests as well," Hudan continued. "While the forests belong to Lord Kivamus, he recognizes the village's desperate need for varied food sources." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd. The forest, though technically the Baron's domain, had always been a source of sustenance for the villagers, even if they had lived under fear of reprisal for hunting without getting any permission for it.

"Therefore," Hudan continued, his voice ringing with authority, "Lord Kivamus is granting permission for any skilled hunters among you to freely hunt within the forest!" A cheer erupted from the crowd again, this time laced with a newfound sense of empowerment.

"Now, we all know the dangers that lurk within those woods," Hudan added. "Dangerous beasts roam these forests, along with the ruthless bandits hiding there. To address this, Lord Kivamus has decided to establish organized hunting parties."

He continued, "We will make small groups of experienced hunters from the village, alongside some of our armed guards. This way, the hunters will have the protection of numbers while bringing back much-needed provisions. There will be more details about these hunting parties announced in the coming weeks."

The villagers exchanged excited glances. This new Baron, it seemed, wasn't just offering freedom, he was offering support. Men who had risked venturing into the nearby forest to hunt for rabbits or deer, a practice previously deemed unlawful, now thumped their chests in approval. Working together, with the added protection of guards, they could secure a steady source of meat without succumbing to the dangers that lurked within the woods.

Tesyb's gaze drifted towards the fringes of the crowd, where a cluster of older villagers huddled together, their faces etched with quiet despair. He spotted many younger faces as well amidst the crowd - orphans, many of them not even teenagers, their eyes dull with hopelessness that tugged at his heart. These were the marginalized, the forgotten souls of Tiranat. Even amidst the rising tide of optimism, Tesyb knew they would be left behind. The promise of work, of earning grain and coal, did little for those who were too frail or too young to contribute manual labor for food.

Lord Kivamus's pronouncements, however generous, seemed to have an invisible fence, one that left these unfortunate souls excluded, as always. If he died while working as a guard in the future, his parents might be sitting amongst them as well. Looking at their faces was even making him have second thoughts about working as a guard.

But Tesyb forced himself to tear his gaze away, a necessary act of self-preservation. He had his own family to worry about, and his own future to secure. In the future, if he could manage to save enough coin from the higher wages of a guard, he might be able to leave enough savings for his parents for them to survive a little longer, in case he did lose his life while fighting. But Hudan's next announcement snagged his attention, yanking him back to the present.

The guard captain raised his hand once more, silencing the enthusiastic chatter of the packed village square.

"Now, for our final announcement," he declared. "Lord Kivamus understands that not everyone here will be able to answer the call to manual labor tomorrow. The elderly, the children, especially the orphans with no one to care for them - they wouldn't be able to handle the physical demands of working as a laborer." He paused, letting his words sink in.

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd. Even the most able-bodied among them acknowledged the plight of the weak.

"However," Hudan continued, his voice firm but filled with a hint of compassion, "Lord Kivamus will leave no one behind. That's right. Every single villager, regardless of age or ability, will be looked after."

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Was the Baron truly considering everyone? Even those who couldn't work? This was a promise unlike any they had ever heard from a noble. A promise of compassion, of a society that valued all its members, was unheard of.

Hudan's next words brought the square to life. "This announcement," he boomed, his voice ringing with authority, "is for those very villagers. Starting this evening," he elaborated, "a warm meal of porridge or soup will be offered at the manor gates for every child and elder who needs it. In the coming weeks, when we can manage it, we'll include bread and some meat in the meals as well. We'll begin with two meals a day, and once our grain stores are replenished in a week, we'll increase it to three!"

The announcement was met with a deafening eruption of cheers and shouts that echoed throughout the village. The joy on the faces of the elderly and the orphans was a sight that warmed even the most hardened hearts. The very air vibrated with the villagers' jubilation as the cheers continued, soon reaching a fever pitch.

Even the birds perched on the thatched roofs squawked in startled protest before taking flight. A few infants, startled by the sudden uproar, let out wails, but Tesyb barely registered the noise. His heart overflowed with a happiness he hadn't felt in years. These children, oblivious to the hardships they had just escaped, were truly fortunate to be born under the rule of this new Baron.

It took a while for the joyous pandemonium to subside, and for the wave of euphoria to recede. Finally, when a semblance of order was restored, Hudan raised a hand for silence.

"Now, I must be clear," he finally spoke, his voice cutting through the lingering excitement. "Providing for so many mouths is no small feat, especially when there's no coin coming in to pay for it." He continued, his voice turning serious. "To prevent any misuse of this kindness, these free meals will only be provided to the young children, the elderly who can no longer work, and those with disabilities that prevent them from contributing through manual labor."

A murmur of understanding rippled through the crowd. The villagers, though basking in the afterglow of Lord Kivamus's generosity, were also practical. They understood the need for some limitations.

"So, the rest of you," Hudan boomed, his voice regaining its authoritative edge, "will have to earn your meals. There's a lot of work to be done in the village, so there will be enough opportunities for everyone in Tiranat to go to sleep on a full belly. Remember, Tiranat's future hinges on your efforts now." He roared, "Are you ready to rise to the challenge?"

Kuzunalis

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