If it fails once...

I close the door behind me with a bang. My office is the same way I left it, cold and empty. I trudge my way forward and slump on the chair, the fact that I have yet to clean myself comes to mind, mostly irrelevant at this point.

My guards and I waited for as long as we could but no workers returned, they either died or escaped, one or the other. I personally hope they all survived although that is unlikely.

The whole third floor is freezing so I get up and make a fire, the room quickly heats up and I decide its time to get ready for bed, what better place to think about the future than in bed.

So I take off my cloak, boots, and miscellaneous items before wiping myself with a wet towel. It is not quite a bath but it is refreshing enough. Following the cleansing, I dress back up in another set of clothes, not sleepwear but just normal clothes, they keep me warm.

Now dressed I head back to my chair, sit down, and gaze out the window. Night fell a while ago so I stare onto the horizon where the moon meets the sea creating a shiny shimmering surface.

I sit there thinking about what happened today, it was my worker's fault, its what I like to think at least, I warned them several times and they never listened, human nature I guess, we are a stubborn lot.

Then again it is also my fault, I was the leader so I am also responsible for their possible deaths, thinking back on it we should have retreated back to town the moment that hut went down, the booming noise it created most certainly alerted the whole forest, it makes sense that the Vulnog came to investigate even if the noise came from outside its territory.

My body slides off the chair slightly as if to show how dejected I feel.

I just sit there with my eyes glued on the horizon, at moments like this I realize how much I miss the internet, there is no decent form of entertainment in this world, at least that I know of.

A nostalgic sigh slips out and I decide that enough is enough so I get off the chair and head to the bed. As always it is hard and uncomfortable, the same as this world in a way.

---------

I open my eyes and see the sunlight coming through the window, this is the first time I woke up after the sun has come out since I purchased this manor.

I guess I was tired after all the running I did yesterday.

While I would love to stay in bed for as long as possible I need to get up, days are very short after all.

So I get up, stretch and burp out another summon, I send this one towards the forest, to check up on... things.

With this done I dress up for the day, namely, I put on my boots and cloak, that is as dressed up I can get.

Before anything I need to figure out what to do today, do I follow the original plan and fill the trap with water or do I abandon the plan and give up.

After a moment of hesitation I decide to continue, the plan already cost the lives of several people, after all, might as well give it a few more while I'm at it.

With what to do next decide it is time to figure out how to do it, at first I planned to get a cart and use it to transport barrels filled with water, a single trip would not be enough so I would need a few round trips to fill the hole.

I did not want that so instead of doing the trip several times with a single cart, I wanted to do one trip with a lot of carts.

The problem comes here, I don't have any workers to push the carts through the snow. I had some, but not anymore.

I already talked with the portmaster and got both the carts and the barrels prepared and ready to go, it cost me almost nothing, 3 coins for renting a single cart full of barrels, as long as I bring it back of course.

I cant use horses to push the cart, so I need people, at least 3 people for every cart, two to pull it from the front and one to push from the back.

I have 5 carts so that's 15 people, well, actually my guards could each move one cart by themselves but I don't want them to do it. If they are busy who is going to keep me safe.

Do I have to hire some giants again? It would be perfect to have them help me, the problem is they don't really leave the city all that much.

Hmmm, I thought of hiring giants before but I feel like I am becoming too dependent on them so I tried using humans instead, look at how that ended...

I start pacing around the room while thinking.

If something works why change it, just get more giants to help, 5 of them to push my carts, it should be possible.

With that decided the call I was waiting for arrives, the summon just got to the forest. I pull on the connection and find myself back by the ruined huts. I am getting sick of seeing this place.

With a push the bird flyes towards the clearing where we dug the trap, it does not take long to reach it and see how the area looks, namely undisturbed.

The hole is still nice and covered and the iron pot is still sitting there. Seeing this I tell the bird to fly around and pull on the connection if it sees anything.

I return to my room head towards the door, I unlock it with the key, walk out, turn around and lock it behind me, wouldn't want anyone inside now would I?.

Once I reach the second floor I am greeted by my guards, they woke up early today, or did I wake up late? Whatever.

''Good morning Boss, are we going outside today?''. Ubam greeted me as usual which is good, that means they won't quit yet.

''Good morning to you Ubam''. I keep walking towards the stairs. ''We are indeed heading out today, but unlike yesterday we will bring with us good company''.

''What do you mean by good company sir Caspian?'' Vun tunes in.

''I mean that I am done relying on humans for a while, as ashamed as I am to say this, they are just too useless for what I have in mind''. They briefly look at each other.

''Then what do you have in mind, sir Caspian?'' It's more like who do you have in mind.

''Giants, Vun, giants, I need to hire 5 giants to push the carts towards yesterday's digging site''.

''Yesterdays digging site?, Do you mean the forest Boss, what about the monsters?'' What about them?

''Do not worry Ubam, as long as we do not make noise the Winter beasts should leave us alone, we are outside their territory after all''. Don't worry i got this.

''But they attacked us yesterday, Boss!''

''Of course, they did, we made enough noise to alert the whole forest! How often does a house crash down next to the treeline?''

''You are right but...'' Quit it already will you.

''No buts Ubam, as long as nothing unexpected happens we will be okay, now get ready, we are going to the docks''. I keep walking then I remember something and turn back.

''Also if you know anyone willing to help us push the carts tell me, the sooner we find enough people the sooner we can be done with this, and don't worry, I promise that it will soon be all over''.

At least I hope so.