Lunch was a simple but hearty stew, a welcome warmth after the morning’s chill. As we ate, the conversation quickly turned to business.
"According to our assessment," Vice Captain Elria began, her tone all efficiency, "the western perimeter will require significant timber, nails, and at least thirty able-bodied individuals working for several days to make it secure. The current militia is too few, occupied, and too exhausted."
"Twenty..." The town elder wrung his hands. "We barely have ten free men who can lift an axe without collapsing from cold and hunger."
"That brings us to our findings," Princess Aurelia said, her voice calm but concerned. She laid out their analysis of the town’s stores. "The food shortage is even more critical than we feared. The granary is nearly empty. What little remains must be rationed strictly, or people will start starving within the week."
A heavy silence fell over the table. It became heavier since we were eating such good meals.
But yeah, the problems were immense and interconnected: no food meant weak workers; a broken fence meant no safety to even attempt to hunt or forage.
I felt a gentle nudge in my mind. It was Cassandra.
<I’ve already run the numbers,> she said. <I can have a caravan with enough food to last a month here in three days. I’ll frame it as a ’merchant’s investment’ in a promising new market. The baron can ’approve’ the transaction as a local lord stimulating trade. It bypasses the trial’s rules completely. But...>
<But we can’t solve everything for her,> I finished for her. <She needs her own victories.>
<Exactly. We give them the food to survive. But the fence, and the morale boost that comes with fixing it, have to be her own.>
After finishing our quick exchange, I faced the group and reported our observations. "From the infirmary, the situation is stable but fragile. Heron and I can treat the wounds and purge the corruption, but even after they’re healed, it will take days, if not weeks, for the injured to regain the strength to work properly. They are in no condition to help with manual labor."
Then, Vance started signing. Princess Aurelia helped him translate smoothly for us, well, I was an exception since I already knew what he was going to say.
"He says that the people are starting to lose hope. He overheard some families whispering about abandoning the town altogether if something doesn’t change soon."
The elder paled, the truth of the statement hitting him hard.
Vance signed again, his expression determined. Aurelia continued translating, "He suggests we use the bandits from the ambush. They are able-bodied and currently doing nothing. We can offer them a choice: labor on the fence in exchange for food, a place to sleep, and perhaps a chance at a pardon, instead of rotting tied to a post. With them, and with... his help, we can make up the twenty men needed."
"B-Bandits?!" The town elder looked horrified. "W-Working with us? They’ll slit our throats the first chance they get!"
"Your fear is understandable, Elder, and under normal circumstances, I would agree completely." I leaned forward slightly, my tone pragmatic. "But these are not normal circumstances. We have no other viable choice if we want to fix that fence before the next attack. Besides," I added, a hard edge entering my voice as I glanced at Elria, "if they are foolish enough to retaliate while under the Vice Captain’s watch, she can remind them exactly how bad a mistake they have made."
Somehow, the image of a certain overworked, not-so-handsome, scheming engineer from a story I vaguely recalled flashed in my mind.
"Mmm." Elria’s hand rested casually on the hilt of her sword. "They won’t forget the lesson this time."
"!" The elder shivered, the combined weight of our logic and the unspoken threat finally overwhelming his objections.
"And yes, I also approve," Elria added, giving Vance an approving nod.
"Me too," Cassandra raised her hand. "That is clever use of available resources."
Aurelia looked at Vance, her expression filled with pride at her loyal knight. "It’s really an amazing and smart plan."
Under the weight of our collective support, the elder’s objections crumbled completely. Well, he had no other choice either. His people, along with his position, were at stake after all. And from what I have seen and heard, he seems to value his people more, hence all this desperation. I guess we can attribute it to him being born and raised here and not sent from other places.
"Well then, what about the food problem?" Elder asked again. "As you mentioned, we don’t have enough to give to the townsfolk, let alone the vile bandits."
"It’s a fair point," I said, steering the conversation. "But the immediate crisis is handled. The supplies we brought today will be enough to cover everyone, both the townsfolk and the bandits, for the next week."
"Only a week?" the elder murmured, the temporary relief doing little to ease the deep lines of worry on his face.
Princess Aurelia then turned to Cassandra, a thoughtful look in her eyes. "Sister Cassie, you’re a merchant. Couldn’t we simply purchase more food from you? Or... reach some kind of long-term deal?"
Cassandra smiled, the expression of a savvy businesswoman who saw a promising opportunity. "Purchasing a one-time shipment would only delay the problem, not solve it. And while I’d love the business," she added with a light chuckle, "I currently have no established trade routes here. But... I’m always open to discussing a deal. So, what do you have in mind?"
All eyes turned to the princess, waiting. She took a steadying breath, the weight of their hope settling on her. This was her moment to shine.
"I understand what you mean, Sister." She nodded, her voice gaining confidence. "The town has to give something in order to get something. And I think I found what it can give." She looked directly at the elder. "While touring the town, I discovered that you specialize in something unique. The crafters here produce exceptional goods. The quality is far superior to what we see in the capital as well."
The elder blinked, surprised. "It’s... just our local craft, Your Highness. We make baskets and smoking racks for ourselves."
"Which can be a luxury for others," Cassandra cut in, her eyes gleaming with genuine interest. She leaned forward, all traces of casualness gone. "And now that you mention it, I have seen them too. But what makes them so unique, as you described?"
"It’s not just the skill, it’s the material." Aurelia’s eyes lit up as she explained. "The baskets aren’t made from ordinary reeds. They’re woven from what you call ’Glimmer-Rush,’ correct, Elder?"