บท 33: Let's Feast
"It was the right decision to return." Lucius agreed a few minutes after they had returned and he had settled Hua Tuo and family in to their house. Subutai had soon explained the situation. "We do not know enough about the surroundings to risk it. At least we are all together and safer here."
"I also knew I had to bring this to you." Subutai grinned, before passing him the basket of jewels from a handcart that Gan Ning pushed towards them.
"This is a lot." Lucius replied with his eyes wide open, looking at the pile. "We have plenty of wealth here for any future trades. Well done!"
"Where should we put it?" Gan Ning asked.
"Put them in the Lords room for now." Lucius replied, "It is the safest place in Riverside."
"I'll put them in my personal chest for now." Dom agreed.
"Are those the sisters?" Lucius asked, seeing the crowd entering the village, with the two women in the middle, flanked by two Hoplite. They weren't being escorted as prisoners, but more in support.
"They are, I think they'll be a good asset" Gan Ning replied, without his usual fun demeanour, "They are my responsibility, so don't worry about them."
"Actually, I think it would be more prudent to ask Helena and her daughters to look take them in for now." Lucius replied kindly, "They have good fishing skills I am lead to believe from what Lazarus and Tomyris have said. They are also a family of women, so they may feel more comfortable for now."
The group headed inside the Town Centre, with Alexander soon joining them after dismissing the Hoplite. They gathered around one of the table's, with Dom sat in his chair, with Gan Ning, Subutai, Alexander and Lucius seated in the other seats.
"So what have we missed?" Gan Ning enquired, grabbing a handful of bread from the table that had been prepared this morning. It was a bit hard, but after a day campaigning, Gan Ning was just happy to eat something.
"We now have a Dock." Dom started, "With a couple of fishing boats and some storage. So this is a very good start."
"Amazing!" Gan Ning exclaimed, taking a mouthful of bread. Before continuing with a mouthful of food, "We can finally explore up and down the river with more pace. We can also store the resources we have taken from Gluttonous Chiefs Village."
"Secondly, we now have Bovine in Riverside." Dom continued, with a smile, hoping their would be some confusion.
"Bovine?" Subutai queried. "As in Ox and Cows?"
"Yes." Dom replied, annoyed that everyone knew what Bovine were and he couldn't show off his new found knowledge.
"This is fantastic news." Subutai replied. "For me, this is more important than the dock."
"It is." Lucius interrupted. "With Cows, we have Milk. With Ox we have a resource to help us till the land, food and leather."
"I like Milk." Gan Ning commented, "But I do think the dock is more important."
"We also now have a Doctor in Riverside, who will be a massive help going forwards." Dom interrupted before they could discuss the different uses Milk for the next 10minutes, "Alexander, we also upgraded the Warriors Hall, the next bath of Hoplite should receive better armour and more improved Doru spears."
"Really?" Alexander asked, "This will be helpful, we only had minor injuries this time, but I do worry against larger trained units in the future. Hopefully the upgrade will also include upgrades to our armour as well and not just the newcomers."
"I also hope so." Dom replied, "However we will have to wait until tomorrow morning to find out I am afraid."
Alexander nodded his head in acceptance, before also taking a chunk of bread from the table and biting in to it.
"We are having a feast soon." Lucius commented, "So I hope you don't all fill yourselves up on hard bread."
Alexander put down the bread and looked happy at the news of a feast, but also sad that he had been told off when he really just wanted to eat. Gan Ning also put down the chunk he had just stealthily grabbed.
"Well, there are two more pieces of news." Dom continued to the group.
"I hope it's good news." Gan Ning commented, his belly rumbling.
"From tomorrow onwards, we will also have one Spartan join us a day." Dom replied, waiting for a response. "This is in addition to the upgrades to the Hoplite. These will come under your command Alexander."
"A Spartan?" Alexander replied, "This is going to be a pain!"
"That's what I said." Lucius acknowledge. With both Subutai and Gan Ning looking at him for more information.
"Why are they a pain?" Subutai asked, not wanting to wait.
"They are the greatest warriors you could fight with, but they also know it." Alexander replied. "Because of this, they are stubborn and like to be in control."
"Well, we'll just have to show them whose boss." Subutai replied with a grin. "They either fall in line, or they are beaten in to it."
"That is definitely one way to deal with them." Alexander replied, happy that he was following orders and hadn't argued with Subutai. He had seen them all fight today, the three commanders, Subutai, Tomyris and Gan Ning were all monsters in their own right.
The double doors soon opened to the Town Centre whilst they were still chatting, with Tomyris and Octavian entering the hall and heading towards them.
"Room for us?" She announced as she headed down towards them, Octavian in step on her right flank.
"Of course." Dom replied, "I was just filling them in on what they missed, you came at the right time. Everyone, meet Octavian. My final update was that our new Warriors Hall is bring us Legionaries, Octavian is the leader of the current batch and should fill a similar position to Alexander."
"Welcome to Riverside." Alexander said, standing up and approaching Octavian, his back held straight. "Impressive armour!"
"Thank you." Octavian replied, looking Alexander up and down to get a measure of the man in front of him, "As is yours."
The two men eyed each other up, before both extending an arm and clasping the others. They both squeezed tight to test the others strength, but yet respectfully and not in a challenging way.
"It's great to have you here." Alexander continued. "An increase in our overall force strength is important."
"And it's great to be here." Octavian added. "I have only heard legends of the strengths of the Greek Hoplite. It's an honour to fight alongside you. We'll protect your flanks, whilst you destroy them at the centre.
They both nodded at each other in acknowledgement, before Alexander returned to his seat beside Subutai. Octavian continued to stand, whilst Tomyris just went and took a seat beside Gan Ning on the other side.
"Take a seat Octavian." Dom commanded politely.
Octavian followed his instruction and took a seat beside Alexander.
"Let's discuss the next steps." Lucius commented now that everyone was seated.
"Today's excursion was a success. The majority of the important items have been returned, including the jewels, fur, tools and the two boar." Dom started. "Tomorrow, we need return and dismantle the houses for the key materials used. We also need to dispose of the bodies. Any ideas?"
The group looked at each other, all with their own individual ideas in mind. No one commented at first, waiting on either Subutai or Lucius to start, as the most senior members of the Riverside War Council.
"I propose that we send a group of strong bodied villagers, alongside an escort of 10 current Hoplite, 5 new Hoplite and 5 new Legionnaires. They are to leave in the morning with a selection of hand carts and tools, to dismantle and return in one trip." Subutai proposed. "The bodies we should collate and burn."
"I think that is a good idea, and similar to my own thoughts." Dom replied, "Any other thoughts?"
"I agree, however we build a pit to bury the bodies in, before burning them." Lucius replied, "There are risks of fire in the forest, and with them being left they will still attract more wild animals."
"I hope you don't mind my intrusion." Octavian interrupted. "We are experts when it comes to disposing of enemy forces and constructing camps. May I propose that myself and Legionaries of today and tomorrow all go, we can take care of the bodies whilst the rest take care of the buildings."
"Let's go with that." Subutai acknowledged. "It is appreciated that you have offered, especially as you were not involved in the battle. Let's take the 15 Hoplite as early mentioned, and the 10 Legionnaires. We can also use this as an opportunity to discuss tactics between ourselves."
"Very well. That is agreed." Dom replied, "We should also discuss with Helena on using one of the fishing boats, we may be able to transport goods or additional manpower if needed."
"Good Idea Lord." Lucius commented, "That means that Subutai, Alexander and Octavian will head to the Gluttonous Chief's Village tomorrow. This will leave you the Lord, Gan Ning and Tomyris here. What are their orders?"
"We should create two scouting parties of 5 Hoplite each, Gan Ning should take one and cross the River on one of the boats. Gan Ning, your mission will be to explore in our opposite direction and see if their is anything worth noting." Dom replied, "Tomyris, you will travel east down the river with 5 Hoplite, through the flatlands and explore in that direction. We need to know what is there as this is currently our most exposed flank."
"That is a good plan." Lucius replied, with both Gan Ning and Tomyris nodding their heads in agreement.
"I myself, will upgrade the Town Centre in the morning, taking Riverside in to it's next stage of development." Dom continued, "After that I will discuss with Lucius on the day's plans. I may join Gan Ning or Tomyris on their scouting trips. We also need to decide in the morning where our first Spartan will go, either to Gluttonous Chiefs Village or a scouting trip."
"We'll take him." Subutai commented, "It will be great to see how they can fit in to our formations."
"Then, now that we have agreed all of this. Let's feast!" Dom replied with a grin. "Lucius, please have messages sent to the family heads to join us, as well as Hua Tuo. Alexander and Octavian, please get your men. Let's celebrate and then sleep!"
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