Viscounty Management 2

"My Lord, aren't your methods too harsh," asked Ser Roland.

"My Lord, it's going to deplete the treasury as well," Said Gerard.

It was noon and the three of them were in the Lord's hall. The meeting with the craftsman was about to be convened. However, the two of them had requested a hearing first.

"Ser Roland, have you heard about the city state of Calmia," asked Kain.

"Yes, as a warrior, how could I not," came the answer.

The city state of Calmia was a small principality in the southern land of the Daevera Continent. It was famous for its military, who was said to be the strongest. Even their regular soldier was as strong as an Earth Warrior and also had the highest number of warriors per population.

"The regimen I gave you, See Roland," Said Kain,"is the training regimen of the City-state with some few alterations. I want you to train your soldier according to it."

"My Lord, the Crimians are trained from birth," Said Ser Roland,"Forgive me but I don't think we can have the same result as them."

"Like I said," Said Kain,"I have made some few alterations. All I asked is one month. If it doesn't produce results, I will scrapped it off. I give you my word."

Ser Roland was a little bit surprised at the tone. It was more of a request than an order, a total opposite of the tone the young lord had been using the whole morning.

"I will obey, My Lord," Said Ser Robert, bowing his head.

"As for the rewards that I have been given out," Said Kain,"Sir Gerard, it will not drain the treasury. I will continue it for only a week."

He had given out a penny to the first ten finishers from both sets and fifty more of the exercise for the last ten.

In the Kingdom, the currency was through coins of four metals- nickel, copper, silver and gold. Nickel coins were called cents. Two cents could buy a black bread. Ten nickel coins made a pence or small copper. Ten pence made a stone or large copper. Five pence made a penny or small silver. Five penny made a shilling or large silver. Ten shilling made a galleon or gold coin, which was the largest unit of currency.

A regular soldier monthly salary was two shillings. A man of arm depended from five to seven shillings. Calvary were paid five shillings. Oldrick salary was a galleon and five shillings while Ser Roland's was three galleon. A knight was usually given a fief not a salary but the Dyke household didn't followed that rule due to their small territory.

"We are low in fund, My Lord," Said Gerard,"I just wanted to remind you on that."

"Is there anything else to discuss?"asked Kain.

"I have something to speak to you, My Lord," Said Ser Roland.

"Speak then,"Said Kain,"I am all ears."

"Its about the equipments of the soldiers," Said Ser Roland,"except for the man-at-arms, the other soldiers have poor equipments. Even the spears and bows are becoming too old. Also arrows are getting low."

"We have a forge and workshops in the castle right?" Said Kain, looking at Gerard.

"We do, My Lord," Said Gerard, making a wry face,"but we have no master craftsman in the castle. We have only one blacksmith, two carpenter and one armorer."

"They will do," Said Kain,"led me to them."

"My Lord, we can just summon them here," Said Gerard.

"Its alright," Said Kain,"I will rather go to the forge. I want to see the state of the forge and workshops."

The Forge were located in the lower bailey of the Castle. Along the way, Ser Roland and Gerard told Kain of the various problems in the territory. He listened intently taking a mental note of every words.

Castle Dyke was a fortified town. In the centre was the upper bailey, which were built on a raised hill. The upper bailey had the Lord's sables, the granary and the Keep. At the foot of the upper bailey was the lower bailey, which housed the garrison barrack, the training ground, Stable, servants quarter and the Castle workshops, circling the upper bailey on the south and West.

The Bailey town was where the residents lived. The bailey town was surrounded by a five metre tall wall,which was guarded by the castle guards. The Bailey town was built to accomodate more than five thousand residents but due to the influx of refugees from the bandits' territories, it had exceeded more than seven thousands. Outside the walls, the refugees from the south had made a slum of tents and garbages exceeding more than the number of the residents inside.

There were twenty villages and sixteen hamlets under the control of the Viscount.

The training ground was empty. Kain did not mind. The soldiers did needed some rest, after all they had trained the entire morning.

The Workshop was behind the stables. It was a cluster of three buildings. One was a forge, one was a wooden hut while one was a half timber cottage.

Six people were sitting under a tree, playing what look like a board game.

"A six," Said one of them,"and up. I won."

"To hel with it,"Said another,"Why does this ass always win."

"Well, I know how to play,"Said the winner,"now chuck up your bets. Its all min....." He caught the sight of the three coming towards them.

"Why are you playing instead of working?" Shout Gerard, angry,"Do you think the Lord play you for goofing around?"

"Your excellency,we beg your forgiveness," Said the man,"but what can we do? We have nothing to work on."

"How so?" Kain asked.

"My Lord," Said the man, recognising Kain as the Lord,"We have no ores, woods or leathers to work on. Supply has been scarce these few months."

"You are?" asked Michael.

"I am Derrick, a blacksmith journeyman, my lord," Came the reply,"I am the only one in the castle."

"Is that so,"Said Kain, taking off his gloves, "then lead me to the forge."

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