The Two Old Friends

"Nathen do you agree?" Alfred asked.

"As I said, I will do as the lord said." Nathen said with a faint smile in his face.

"Good." Alfred nodded. "Looks like everyone is onboard for the plan."

…..

After discussing bit more details about his plans, Alfred bade farewell to his vessels. It was nearly afternoon, when Alfred reached his study and was able to meet his guests.

"Newt. Graham. It's good to see you two again." Alfred greeted the two while taking his seat.

"Young master, there is no need to be so polite with us." Graham said first. "It's kind of makes us feel like outsider."

"Yes, young master. Graham is right. You are treating us like those if you talk to us like that. Aren't we your childhood friends anymore?" Newt chipped in.

Listening to the two's words Alfred sighed. In fact, what the both of them said was not wrong. Both the Graham, Newt and Alfred grew up together like real brothers in the northern lands.

As the story goes, both the Graham, Newt's father came from a big kingdom in mainland and used to be a big merchant there. But in early periods of his life, he invested some bad business ventures and racked up quite some debt. Unable to repay the duo's father left the mainland and came to the Grand duchy to start a new life.

As luck would have it, he met with Alfred's father Edward and was offered a job by him to manage the mines. Overtime, Alfred's father Edward grew impressed with the duo's father's business skill and offered him a higher position. And pretty soon both of them became friends. And Graham, Newt's father fully took over the mine's management and became in charge of Autarch family's finances.

Over the years Graham, Newt and Alfred were born and were raised together like real brothers in the castle. They played together, ate together and even did some mischiefs together.

Soon both of their fathers passed away, passing their positions to their sons. Alfred became the lord of the north, while the two brothers took over the management of Autarch family's mines and trade with other merchants.

"You two." Alfred sighed. "Don't you think I deserve some respect from both of you as the lord?"

"Young master, even if become the king, both of us will still consider you as our brother first. Then young master can be lord or king or whatever he wants." Graham replied.

Alfred raised his hand in defeat.

"Tell me, how are everyone in the castle doing? Is Old Stanley's health ok?" Alfred inquired.

"Everyone is good in castle." Newt replied. "Other than being a little worried about Young master's health, most of the people are same."

"Young master, Old Stanley told us to warn you to be more careful. He said that you can leave all the dangerous things to Nathen and look after your health more." Graham said. "Old Stanley is more worried about the young master after the last accident."

"Yes, young master. All of us back in castle are worried about you. Although it is important to guard the Everwinter fortress, young master, you should take the matter of your safety more seriously." Newt chipped in.

Alfred nodded indicating that he understood.

"Ill try my best to steer clear of trouble." He said. "But to truly make sure that everyone is safe, I need both of your help."

"Young master, tell us what you need." Graham asked.

"There are few things I need you two to do for me." Alfred said. "Can you two do it?"

"Anything for you, young master." Newt said.

"Good." Alfred nodded. "First of all, can you two retrieve the other half of our supplies that is stuck on the way?"

"Young master, That is going to be a little difficult." Graham said frowning. "Although it is still early winter, the heavy snowstorm that happened few days ago have blocked all the roads in the territory, making it difficult to bring things by carriages."

"What if we could clear the snow in the road?" Alfred asked.

"Then we can pull the carts using horses and transport the grain and material to the fortress." Graham said. "But the prerequisite is that we are able to clear snow from the roads. Which in itself is pretty difficult task. Without enough labour I don't think it is possible."

"I agree with what you said, Graham." Alfred said. "So, I have decided to send out a quarter of serfs that are stationed in the Everwinter fortress. Do you think it will be possible to clear a small path so that food and other material could pass?"

"But young master, how will you manage in the meantime if you send out a quarter of serfs at a time like this." Newt protested. "Not only it will Everwinter fortress will be difficult to defend, it will also weaken the moral of those serfs. Not only that the threat of guarding the Everwinter fortress will increase exponentially."

"Young master, I agree with what Newt said. Sending out so many men at a time not only will weaken the fortress but will also put your life in immediate threat. I do not approve of this method." Graham also rejected the idea.

"Both of you relax first. Listen to me first what I have to say." Alfred said.

Listening to Alfred words both of them quietened down.

"What if I say that I had enough men for protecting the fortress and spare some to clean snow from the road?" Alfred asked.

"Young master, what do you mean? Did you get more serfs form somewhere?" Newt asked curiously.

Alfred shook his head.

"No, I did not get more serfs." Alfred rejected.

"Then how…" Newt asked with confusion in his tone.

Alfred explained about the plan he had in his mind, much as he did to his knights. Soon enough both Graham and Newt, who were sceptical at first started to realize what Alfred had in mind and feel into deep thought.

"Young master, from a layman's point the plan is incredible. But if we look closely, we are still dependent on those serfs to follow the young master's commands. Do you think that those serfs will be able to do it?" Graham asked.

"Listen to this, as long a living being has hope it could achieve anything. All you need to is provide hope and see the magic happen." Alfred explained. "Why don't you spend the night in the fortress. Ill arrange you your man power by tomorrow afternoon. What do you think, will you two do this for me?"

"We will follow Young master's arrangement." Both of them said in unison.

Alfred nodded and dismissed them.

...

Time passed and Alfred welcomed another morning in this new world. After washing up with the help of the pink haired maid Agnes. Alfred made his way to the big dining room where he was to partake his breakfast with knights and his two friends.

As Alfred entered, everyone got up and saluted him first.

"Good morning everyone, please sit down with ease." Alfred said while nodding his head. Then he himself went and sat the main seat.

"Nathen, did you do the things I asked you to do?" Alfred asked.

"Yes, My lord." Nathen replied taking out a piece of paper. "As you have told me, I have counted the total number of serfs and recorded their name, age, previous professions and if they have any expertise in a book."

"Good tell me more." Alfred said while nodding.

"Yes, My lord." Nathen continued. "Till now we have 491 human, 356 orc, 167 lizard man, 106 dwarves and 70 Halflings of various kind. In total we have 1190 serfs of different races in including humans."

"What about their origins?" Alfred asked.

"After talking to few of them, I have figured out that, most of them are defeated solders from various countries and different tribes. Others were unable to pay back debt and had to sell themselves to pay back the money. And a small part of them are second generation serfs who are born into servitude." The former chief knight said.

"What about their families?" Alfred asked.

"More than half of them are single unmarried man and have no families to say. Still many serfs who have wife and children and are married. So, we have separated the men form woman and children, left them at the castle town."

"Good." Alfred said. But suddenly a question popped in his mind. "Tell me if we have more than a thousand salves, why are we not able to man the fortress properly?"

"My lord, those serfs are cowardly and useless in nature. They run away and hide with the tiniest hint of danger leaving our levies to fend for themselves." This time Rudolf replied.

"My lord, what Rudolf said was correct. These serfs have no backbone at all and all they could do is run away with there tails behind there backs when they face the beasts." Redhead conformed.

Alfred nodded his head, indicating that he understood.

"Then, did you explain to them what I told you?" Alfred asked.

"Yes, my lord, I have explained to them about the merit system that you proposed. But…" Nathen hesitated to say further.

"But? But what?"

"But they think you are lying or trying to deceive them."

"Those lowly serfs dare." Graham banged the breakfast table in anger. "Young master has shown kindness and compassion to them and they dare to slender him behind his back? Newt bring me my whip; I need to punish those serfs for their transgression."

"There is no need to be so worked up, Graham." Alfred said calmly. "It's good that those serfs are skeptical. After all, for those serfs my offer is too good to be true. Nathen, execute the next part of the plan and make sure those serfs do what they are told."

"As you say, My lord." Nathen said with a grin on his face.