A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

"As I said to Judas, I'd appreciate it if you didn't change too much. I have a need of a variety of perspectives," Oliver said. "It doesn't seem like transforming entirely into a noble would make me particularly stronger… But I don't know what needs to go, and what needs to change."

"Well, if you can glean any of that just from us talking normally, then I'll do what I can to fulfil that wish," Greeves said. "But I would caution you against asking for that kind of speak on days like today – when there's other nobles about. Even those girls I brought don't know about your proper origins. It's only a handful of us. Anyway, enough of that.

You seemed to be in the middle of mentioning something interesting. I heard my name mentioned – something about my investments?"

"Aye. Investments," Oliver said. "I was wondering about ploughing a portion of my income into the village."

"You're already speaking like us again," Greeves noted. "Sure. I suppose. Put money into the village, towards what end? Let us see what brilliant ideas the Academy has instilled in our young strategist."

"Well, speaking of strategy, you sort of define what I'm already after… Can we not raise walls and make it defensible? Would that be going against the law to do? I know I'm only meant to be a protector in name – is that too blatant an attempt at rule?" Oliver asked.

"Ballsy bastard, ain't he?" Greeves said, nudging Nila. "And we wonder where you got your bad habits in business from, eh?"

"It sounds a good idea to me…" Nila said. "Especially after what happened with the Yarmdon. With walls all around us, even the villagers could defend it, couldn't they?"@@novelbin@@

"A garrison as well," Oliver said. "I'm looking to gather at least a hundred men within the Academy, but perhaps I've been too limited. What if I were to raise a force outside the Academy as well? Having somewhere to put them would give me those sorts of options."

"Something tells me you haven't just thought about this last night…" Greeves said, stroking his chin.

"No," Oliver admitted. "Though, seeing the village in person once again only just made me realize that it's a strong possibility. I can do right by the villagers – I feel I have to do right about them, the way they look at me – and I can also give myself some sort of positional advantage should I ever need it. I won't be so… foundationless."

"A Patrick building an army and a stronghold all whilst being under the intense scrutiny of the High King…" Greeves said. "You can understand how that might look, eh?"

"An army it might be, but it isn't an 'army', you know? Not like what Blackwell is commanding, tens of thousands of men. I would be lucky to get a hundred, with my current coin, but it's a start, isn't it?" Oliver said.

"I can see the merit in it… As a merchant, I would be more inclined to set up shops somewhere that seems likely to be more permanent, aye. If there are walls and a garrison, you can push more money into that settlement, confident that it'll last. With Solgrim's position, a wall and a garrison is likely all it needs. Stall an attack for a day, and reinforcements will be on their way.

Shit, that rhymes… Might need to teach that to whatever soldiers sit here," Greeves said.

"It's a good idea then, isn't it?" Nila said excitedly. "If we were to raise walls, more people would likely settle here. There'd be more villagers, more shops, and they'd all be under Oliver, wouldn't they?"

"These things don't happen overnight, girl," Greeves cautioned. "Let's assume that he gets away with it. Solgrim's position does it justice. On the road to the sea and near enough Ernest, it makes for a good trading outpost. The land isn't terrible for grazing animals. There's the forest for wood and hunting as well.

But how quickly are these villagers going to flock here? I don't think it'd be quick enough to make a difference to you, Oliver. In a few years, you might be able to double the size of the town but eh… The economic benefit you're looking for likely won't exist for a while."

"But, the military benefit," Oliver said firmly. "That is something that it will have."

"Oh, Gods be damned, obviously. For a runt with hardly any men under him, someone who's only just been given command of the damned place, the loyalty that the populace has towards you is unfathomable. Siege this place, and every one of those men and women will die in your name, praising you all the while," Greeves said. "That's a frightening thing to target.

They'd need to raise a proper army to deal with you, and in order to move that many men, you're going to need an intense bit of politicking."

"Then, it shall be done," Oliver decided. "Even if it just affords the villagers extra protection, so we can ensure their safety from Yarmdon raids… Oh Gods, I've just realized how close we are to spring. Another month, and the Yarmdon will come knocking… I can't be here all the time to keep it defended."

"Blackwell has assured us of his protection in that," Greeves pointed out. "Even without a wall, you can be damned sure Blackwell won't let a single axe fall here in spring. Not if he doesn't want to get himself considerably embarrassed. Still, aye, a wall and some men would make the populace feel more comfortable." Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire

"It'd make me more comfortable, that's for damn sure," Judas said. "If those bastards come back again… If anything comes back… Now that Felly is pregnant, I'll fuckin…" It was such an intensity of emotion that the man felt as he clenched his fist that he couldn't even put it into words.

"I won't let a single whiff of danger come anywhere near David and Stephanie ever again," Nila said with firm sureness. "If you are wanting to build a wall, Oliver, then you don't need to cover the costs yourself. I'll send as much gold your way as I can possibly afford to – I've enough of it at the moment as it is. I'm sure the other business owners in the village would do the same."