A Guide to Kingdom Building

Sarda, Year of Severus, 18, I.R., the 83rd day of Spring, Broken Spring

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The townsfolk were still hesitant with Nullus plan but at this point, they don't have a choice. The townsfolk took the best cart they could find and placed three jars of the fermenting wine they made weeks prior. The fruity scent of the wine dissipated in the air as a few of its contents spilled from the transfer.

"The wine is very sweet!" One of the townsfolk commented. "I have never smelled such wonder aroma in all my years of drinking wine!" He added.

"Aelderman Hostea, are you sure it's alright to trust him in this?" Another elder asked.

"Sure, this man was a bad drunkard once, but remember how he saved us from hunger? No one never trusted him then, but he went on and made those watermelons work. So, if there's anyone here who has a good idea of what he's doing, that's Nullus." Aelderman Hostea looked at him and answered with a smile.

The old man stared at Nullus with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. In his many years of serving the town, he was never able to protect his townspeople against the knights. Regardless of whose House went through their town, they would leave with their strong able men or with their women or with their food supplies.

If there's any chance that a man in their town could change that fate, he would gladly take a gamble at it. After a few adjustments to the cart, it was all set and ready.

Nullus took a deep breath and secured the donkey to drag the cart. Hostea could see him solemnly praying while rubbing the donkey's cheek. The old man smiled and confidently went over to him.

"Nullus." He called his attention. "May I join you?"

Nullus looked at him baffled. "Y-you want to join me?" He scratched his head. "Alright. Let's go ahead."

The rest of the townsfolk opened the gates and waved their goodbyes to them. For the people, it might be the last time seeing them. Hostea thought of it the same, but he wanted to be hopeful with Nullus' plan.

Their journey began as they travelled the long and dusty path. It wasn't a very long trip up to the small hill where the knights have camped. The donkey slowly travelled up the slope and stopped just in front of the unflinching footmen.

"Good tidings, good Sers!" Nullus greeted and waved at the knights.

The knights remained motionless and seemed to be bored with what they saw in front of them. Aelderman Hostea understood the knights' indifference towards them. With the current goods they have brought, it was understandable why they were shunned by the knights.

Nullus seemed to be unfazed by how they were being treated and pushed on further.

"Good sers, I think you might be interested with the stuff we have!" He smiled and signaled to Aelderman Hostea to help him with the jars. They took the jars and placed it front of the knights. The fruity scent of the wine caught the knights' attention.

No matter how much they tried to hide their curiosity, the knights' eyes sparkled at the sight of the wine. The sweet scent of their watermelon wine was something that even the best grape-made wine couldn't attain. The sweet scent was refreshing and could energize anyone with a weary body.

Nullus left the jars and bowed. "My good sers!" He began. "This is what our town could offer! We have a few able-bodied men but we cannot give it to you due to our farming needs. We even have less women right now, unfortunately most of them died during the cold winter a year ago. However, we can supply you with wine. Not just any wine, but the best wine in the entire Principalia. Yes, I am claiming that and you can judge it for yourselves!" He smiled.

The knights were unimpressed and remained unmoving. Nullus bowed to them again and bade his farewell. Aelderman Hostea was baffled and angry at what happened. He burst out his anger and frustration as they made their way back in town.

"Fuck! We are doomed!" The old man said. "Nullus, we made a mistake! I shouldn't have listened to you… Damn it! We are doomed!" Hostea punched the chair he was sitting on.

"Relax, old man." Nullus calmly said. "They definitely took the bait."

Aelderman Hostea raised his eyebrow at him, "Just because their eyes sparkled over the scent of wine doesn't mean they would go for our plan!"

"Trust me on this Aelderman Hostea. You'll see what I mean later." Nullus confidently said. "For now, just keep silent and say nothing about what happened.

The town was uneasy the entire afternoon. Without any news of the knights ever moving from the overlooking road, the townsfolk turned their attention to Nullus and started shouting at him, demanding that he return to the knights and give them the rest of the wines they had.

But Nullus was adamant and gone out of his way to barricade the storeroom where the wines were placed.

"The knights will kill us if they don't get the proper supplies they need!" One of the townspeople spat.

"They won't!" Nullus confidently answered. "Listen to me. Why will they kill the people who they swore to protect and possibly provide them with fine wine?" He asked the crowd.

The crowd was silent. Not knowing what to answer him with, they resulted in whispering to themselves their answers.

"Why keep those answers to yourselves?!" Nullus asked. "If you think you cannot trust them or me then come up with a better idea that will save our asses! And I don't want to hear an answer regarding giving them all that we have! That is not going to work." He added.

The people stood there silently, not knowing what to do or what to react as they were getting more anxious. Just as the knights' silence was killing the people with anxiety, one of the watchers from the gate finally came shouting.

"The knights! The knights are moving!" He shouted with all his might.

The people immediately ran to the gates. Nullus along with Aelderman Hostea immediately went back out and waited for the knights to come. From the distance, they saw a small group of cavaliers approaching the town.

The knight leading the charge wore a shiny black armor, that shone against the crimson light of the setting sun. He wore a feathered helmet fashioned for a high-ranking officer and flowing cape to emphasize his status.

He rode a black Dressler clad in polished armor; a war horse taller than the rest of the horses. They rushed towards the town's gate, throttling arrogantly across the dusty road. Aelderman Hostea's heart pounded wildly in his chest as the knights came closer. He couldn't say the same Nullus as the man was stoic and emotionless while he stood at the gate.

The knights stopped in front of them, unmoving and without any plans of dismounting from their horse. Nullus stepped forward and bowed to them.

"Greetings good ser!" He began. "I hope you liked our little gift to your company."

The knights look at him with no emotion, "That wine was your product?"

"Yes." Nullus answered.

"My commander asks to bring him more of that wine." The high-ranking knight commanded.

"Good!" Nullus said. "We would like to get an audience with your commander." He asked.

The knight glared at him and immediately pulled out its sword. "You know you don't have any right to bargain!" He pointed the blade on Nullus' neck.

As the tension grew, Aelderman Hostea noticed how calm Nullus was with dealing against them. "There's no need to pull out your sword on an innocent man." He said.

"An innocent man knows how to abide the law." He pushed the blade a little more.

"Indeed, but what if this innocent man could offer more than just wine?" Nullus said.

"What do you mean?" The knight asked.

Nullus took a flask from his pocket and gave it to the knight. "This."

The knight opened the flask and smelled the sweet-smelling wine.

"This is the same wine you gave us!" The knight said.

"Yes, but its better!" Nullus argued. "Ever heard of Posca?"

"Posca?!" The knight laugh while dismounting from his horse. "Very well, citizen, how about if you taste it for me first?" The knight ordered while still holding his sword.