Mercenaries and Adventurers

Several people chatted for a while, and the sky gradually darkened.

The Kendalls and local soldiers gathered in large numbers, and they all came here to eat because of the smell and the urging of their stomachs growling.

The long wooden table next to the stove where the cooks were busy was quickly filled with people, but because there were two Saturnian priests here, even the thickest-skinned soldiers kept a short distance from them.

This is respect and awe.

But even if the wooden table is full of people, there are still many soldiers who have no place to sit down and eat, but it doesn't matter, they often receive the food with their own wooden bowls and spoons, and then carry the food to the barracks where they will stay tonight .

After all, it is a fixed barracks. Although the barracks are full of soldiers, they can still eat in the house.

Not many people care about this.

Keel also made a bowl of food for himself and Blood Gast. Some other vegetables were added to the bean paste that was boiled into a paste. It looked messy, but it tasted good in your mouth.

Sour and salty very tasty.

It goes well with a piece of rough bread, or wheat crackers.

The local soldiers also made a lot of fun with their dinner. Unlike the Kendal people who scooped up the bean paste with a spoon and took a bite, and then took a bite of the staple food, the local soldiers cut the dry and rough bread with a dagger, and then Take out the barely soft dough core in the middle of the bread and eat it first, and then use a spoon to put the hot bean paste into the hollowed out bread.

They didn't eat first, but just held it, chatting with their companions, while waiting for the hot bean paste to soak the bread and soften it.

When the bread they kneaded in their hands was no longer dry and hard, they found the right time, no longer caring about chatting, and took a bite of the soft bread in their hands.

He devoured the food with the right softness, temperature and mixture into his stomach like a wolf.

Keir, like the rest of the Kendalls, stared wide-eyed, not expecting to be able to eat like this!

It’s not over yet, the people of Montorka have another way of eating. As the staple food, in addition to dry and hard bread, there is another thing-wheat cake.

However, the local barley cakes were made thinner by the cooks in the military camp, and the size was only slightly larger than the palm of your hand. The local soldiers spread the freshly baked wheat cakes on the table. They didn't think the long wooden table was dirty, so they spread it generously.

Then use a spoon to scoop out the bean paste and spread it on the oatmeal, and then smooth it with the bottom of the spoon.

At this time, the soldiers who ate in this way would show expressions of preparation, and take out the fresh vegetables they had prepared from their respective arms, put them in the middle of the wheat cakes, fold them left and right, and roll them into long sticks to eat.

Really any vegetable can be rolled into it. Some people take out the fresh celery they bought, and roll it into the wheat cake regardless of whether it can be bitten off or not.

Someone took out a long strip of carrot with a beard, rolled it generously into the wheat cake, and ate it crunchy.

Someone proudly took out a piece of dry and salty air-dried bacon, and while swallowing the saliva of the people around, took a dagger to cut off slices of translucent dried meat as thin as a cicada's wing on the air-dried bacon, bit by bit. Arrange in a row among the rye cakes.

Then put away the dagger and dried bacon, and carefully stuffed them into the clothes on his chest. Finally, he raised his chin, rolled up the wheat cake covered with a layer of dried meat slices, and began to chew in small bites.

Keel almost died laughing.

Although the local soldiers did not have to worry about eating and drinking, their income was indeed not very high, and they could not be proud of eating such a small amount of meat. Obviously, their city of Montorca is not far from Cavin, which has a very high output of meat. Although the meat here is still not a food that ordinary people can often eat, it is not impossible for everyone to eat it after a little festival.

Kiel shook his head. The income of soldiers when there is no war is really limited. This also leads to the fact that once the army is defeated, most of the soldiers who have weapons and organizations in their hands would rather rob their homes than think about taking the initiative to regroup with the nobles. .

He and Xueyasite ate dinner with big mouthfuls. Keel only ate a bowl of bean paste that he hadn't eaten much, because it didn't work for him. The monster meat was oversatisfied. He just found these bean pastes a little novel, so he just tried them.

On the other hand, Xuefang picked up a piece of rough bread, cut it into small pieces with a dagger, soaked it in the bean paste and ate it.

On the side, the two priests didn't eat. They lowered their voices and whispered about the method of growing a certain crop.

During the chat, Priest Batar turned his head frequently to look at the gate of the barracks, feeling impatient and slightly apprehensive.

"Don't worry, the Baron will probably be back soon after dark. After all, you can't spend the night with the Viscount Montoka, right? After all, he is a noble lord leading troops from other places, so it's not suitable for him to stay overnight."

Priest Corral reassured him twice.

Sure enough, not long after, Lord Baron's personal guards came in from outside the barracks gate first. After checking the situation, they introduced Baron Kendall and Knight Crowe on horseback.

The two were followed by a large number of the baron's personal guards and attendants. The guards were all riding horses, while the attendants were riding in two carriages one after the other. There was a baron's carriage between the front and rear carriages, but He himself did not return by car.

"My lord is back, Keir follows, let's go there together."

Priest Coral waved to Kiel, and then pulled Priest Batar to walk towards the two nobles.

-

The time moved forward a while, and it was dusk when the sun had not yet set on the horizon.

The Viscount Montoka is located in the tall castle in the very center of the city, and an impromptu banquet has just come to an end.

Baron Kendall wore a gorgeous aristocratic dress, with shiny magic props all over his body, and walked out of the bright banquet hall amidst the gazes and whispers of many nobles and noble families who were temporarily invited from the local area.

Before it got dark in the banquet hall as the auxiliary hall, some attendants in the viscount's castle directed the cute little monkeys to light up a large number of beige suet candles mixed with spices.

The bright light from the tallow candles illuminated the banquet hall, which was also decorated with many gold and silver decorations, very brightly.

In the center of the banquet hall, the white and solid top-grade white stone is used as the floor, and a whole layer of square brick-like bone bricks is laid on it with treated ox bones as the floor bricks that touch the soles of the nobles.

Even the delicate soft shoes of the noble ladies or the leather boots with hard soles of the gorgeous men, the slightest contact with the ox-bone bricks can make the ox-bone bricks make a light knocking sound.

This kind of bovine bone brick is complicated to make. As long as the front surface is slightly bumped, it will make a crisp and light clicking sound due to the structure and material.

This sound combined with the dexterous dance steps of the nobles dancing on it, as well as the brisk dance music played around it, formed a concerto that sounded extremely beautiful.

But Baron Kendall had already bid farewell to the owner of this place, and was about to leave this aristocratic social banquet that he hadn't contacted for a while.

It's not that he doesn't want to play here for a while longer.

After all, there is a steady stream of delicious food in the banquet hall, as well as young and beautiful ladies and ladies of noble families, and there are many noble relatives who speak well and powerful businessmen.

During the half-day here, the baron himself has won the favor of many local nobles through his profound knowledge, especially as the owner of this place - Viscount Montoka, this powerful old nobleman has talked with the baron himself about river governance for a long time business on.

If he hadn't been a frontier nobleman in the Northwest Province, and had already taken charge of river and water conservancy management in the Northwest Province, he would have wanted to move the entire family to the Montorca City area, relying on the governance of the local river to rise again.

After all, this is a wealthy area far beyond Kendall County, and it is also a major transportation hub. No matter what it does, its development is many times better than that of Kendall County on the border.

People are getting twice the result with half the effort, and his family is getting twice the result with half the effort in Kendall County.

As time goes by, the development will only increase the gap.

But he still declined the Viscount Montorka's invitation to stay overnight. If possible, he also wanted to have a long talk with this powerful nobleman, especially since he didn't have to be wary of the local earl like he was wary of the earl of the Northwest Province. Or this Viscount Montorca.

But no, he who is familiar with history books understands that the most important thing for a noble like him who leads troops abroad is not to be separated from his own army for a long time.

For a nobleman, if he is not in his own domain, is away from home, and the most guaranteed reason for his respect is the army to which he belongs.

The baron himself knew very well that if Viscount Montorka hadn't heard the report and knew how elite his army was, otherwise there would be no banquet specially held for him today.

Outside the banquet hall, which was the auxiliary hall of the castle, Knight Crowe, dressed in a tall and straight samurai uniform, had been waiting here for a long time. The young knights around him saluted Baron Kendall after seeing him come out.

"How is it? Did today's banquet satisfy our Knight Crowe?"

The baron half-played a joke, and at the same time stretched out his arms for his own squire to don a bright and rich nobleman's banquet cloak around him.

Unlike the steaming heat inside the banquet hall, after he walked out of the banquet hall, the spring wind outside was blowing on him continuously.

This is a small garden outside the banquet hall in the castle. It seems nothing, but the main functional area of ​​the entire castle is above the main building of the castle, which is more than 20 meters away. This place is already much higher than the rock walls around the castle. , the strong wind blows over, and those who have just come out of the building must put on some thick cold-proof clothes.

Otherwise, drinking a lot of sweet wine, dancing with young girls and ladies, and getting out of the sweltering room, it is very easy to get sick.

Especially the delicate ladies, or the slutty boys who often linger at various parties.

Although the baron successfully entered the knight rank when he was young, he has not trained and practiced for many years, and his physical function has long been inferior to before. And the mighty Crow Knight and the young knights, wearing only thin and straight samurai uniforms, can drink and talk in the small garden that is constantly blowing.

Seeing the cold wind in spring as nothing.

"You'd better put on your cloak, it's windy here."

Knight Crowe put the silver wine glass in his hand on the decorative stone pillar beside him, and followed behind Baron Kendall.

Behind them were several personal attendants and most trusted personal guards of the baron, while a butler of the Viscount of Montoka walked in front of the crowd, constantly bending down and extending his hands to lead the two nobles away.

"Go this way, be careful of the steps, my lords. Go down the inner steps of this garden, pass through a metal gate and an inner defensive corridor, and you will reach the outer hall of the castle's main building."

The viscount's butler was also old, but his gray hair and beard could not conceal his vigorous movements. He walked in front of the crowd and kept facing the two nobles from other places. He was walking backwards but seemed to have eyes behind his back. The butler didn't even look at where there was a turn or where there was a staircase where he had to drop his feet. All like walking on the ground.

"This steward, you are really familiar with the castle. You can do this."

Baron Kendall praised, and the viscount's butler smiled, bowed and saluted modestly: "This is what a responsible butler should do. I was born, grew up and built with this castle, and every plant and plant in it I know everything about Wood, Flower and House. Only in this way can I serve my master well."

"Haha, my butler can't do what you do."

While joking, everyone passed through the metal gate that the steward had mentioned before.

This is a net-shaped metal gate that is spliced ​​together by wrist-thick metal pillars. At this moment, this heavy thing is hanging above everyone's heads, and the metal spikes at the bottom touching the ground are like sharp swords hanging above everyone's heads. When people saw it, they were worried that if they fell, they would be smashed into a pulp.

"How heavy is this thing?"

Baron Kendall looked up curiously, and then asked.

The old butler still walked backwards in front of the two nobles, hesitated for a while before saying: "My lord, the metal gate that separates the main road of the main castle from the garden banquet hall outside the main castle is about It weighed ten tons. It took hundreds of soldiers to lift it."

He went on to say: "If there is no mechanism on the top, it will be very difficult to raise it after falling."

After listening to what he said, Knight Crowe chuckled lightly and didn't say much.

Baron Kendall squinted at his knight, smiled slightly, and nodded to the old butler.

Then everyone walked into a downward internal defense corridor. What is striking is that this key corridor built entirely inside the castle is illuminated by glass mirrors embedded in the four corners of the walk.

Of course there is glass here, and many high-end workshops run by alchemists often rely on casting various styles of glass to make a living. After all, not always someone needs all kinds of gadgets made by those alchemists.

But for glass, a slightly richer businessman will install this thing in his own house or chamber of commerce.

The baron noticed that behind the corner glass that appeared every other section of the corridor, there was a small passage similar to ventilation that was also fitted with glass.

Most of them can only allow a cat to climb over.

At this time, these glass-covered holes are reflecting a slightly yellowish light. Obviously, the light that illuminates the internal passages comes from the complicated facilities arranged in the castle to capture natural light.

"I have one more question."

Baron Kendall smiled at the old butler, pointed to the small glass passage that illuminated the inner passage, and said, "I think the light here is the natural sunlight from the outside. What should we do after it gets dark? We need to light a torch here." Or an oil lamp?"

The old butler seemed to be scratching his head when he was asked. It seemed that he had managed the castle for so many years and welcomed and sent countless nobles, but today was the first time someone asked this question.

The old man raised his chin slightly, and answered Baron Kendall's question in a very proud and soft voice: "My lord, you really asked a good question. This question was naturally taken into consideration when the castle was built."

The old butler walked down the stairs while pointing to the small lighting passages that appeared at intervals at the four corners of the corridor: "Of course, the use of natural skylight during the day is for the sake of saving."

"And when it is dark or after dark, there will naturally be a magic power supply system that manages the entire castle to light up the magic power. Our adults' castle is not only bright like a torch because of the main body of the castle built by Baishi during the day, but also at night. It is also the most dazzling star in the entire city of Montorka."

The old man puffed up his chest: "People always love gorgeous scenery, and the master's castle is this scenery."

Of course, the old man finally explained: "But when it comes to scenery and brightness, the master's castle is of course not as good as the Whitestone City Wall checkpoint not far to the east. Because of the technology of the dwarves, the entire city wall is bright no matter day or night."

"Oh, I'll have a good look at it when I pass by tomorrow."

said the baron with a smile.

They quickly passed through the downward passage and came to the outside of the hall on the first floor of the main body of the castle.

This is a relatively open small square, and the ground is paved with neatly erected stone pillars. Strictly fit, neat and tidy.

In the center of the square, there is a small fountain pool, and on the top is a noble badge of the Viscount Montoka made of pure gold, which is shining.

On the square of the fountain, Baron Kendall's carriage and personal guards had already been waiting here for a long time.

In addition, there were several people waiting in the square, but they were a brother of Viscount Montorka whom the baron had met and known in the banquet hall before.

On behalf of his elder brother and the whole family, this old member of the Montorka family came here to send off Baron Kendall.

"The river renovation you talked about with my brother today really opened my eyes. I have to admit that although you are young, in terms of knowledge, our brothers combined cannot compare, haha. "

The brother of Viscount Montorka, who is also an old man, said some pleasant words while accompanying the baron slowly towards the carriage.

The baron himself also praised the richness of the Montoka family's territory and today's reception arrangements are adequate and suitable. They are all scene words that can make both parties feel happy.

But the recognition of the baron's knowledge by the viscount brothers is not fake, and the baron's praise of the city of Montorka and the reception at today's banquet are also sincere.

In this way, in a harmonious atmosphere, the baron officially bid farewell to the members of the Montorca family, and slowly got into his carriage with the help of his attendants.

The doors of the carriage closed, but the baron opened the window again, waving goodbye to the place.

"Set off!"

Knight Crowe rode on his tall big horse, let out a soft drink, and led the baron's personal guards to ride ahead.

Afterwards, the three carriages in which the baron and his attendants rode rattled on the stone square, circled half a circle around the small fountain, and walked out towards the main entrance of the castle.

-

"Phew. Just leave like that. My brother originally wanted this capable baron to come up with a plan for the reconstruction of the river in the city."

The viscount's old brother shook his head, but said nothing. He walked in from the main hall of the castle with his hands behind his back, took the internal elevator to the side banquet hall that had not yet dispersed, and reported Baron Kendall's departure.

And a dance or two with the young ladies, by the way.

After all, the banquets of the nobility only last until dusk, and they usually don't end until midnight.

Once the banquet has started, it will not end when the guests to be entertained leave.

-

"Huh, this place really makes me feel a lot of pressure. Crowe, look, their castle is called a castle. The one in my house can only be called a tribal stone house on the border~www.readwn.com~ I didn't get in the car The window, Baron Kendall casually lay on the edge of the window, and talked to the Crow Knight who rode his horse and slowed down to approach the carriage.

"Heh, your family's castle is a tribal stone house, so what is my house? A grass house?"

Knight Crowe said speechlessly.

But Baron Kendall waved his hand: "The earl's castle in Organ Castle is not as well designed as this viscount's castle, and everything is well-organized. I have been to our earl's castle, really, luxury is luxury, But whoops."

The baron shook his head as he spoke.

Knight Crowe chuckled: "In fact, they are all the same. In my opinion, they are almost the same. Whether it is the earl's castle, or the viscount's castle, or the palaces of His Majesty the King who we call Regent, or Castles are pretty much the same."

The baron laughed and cursed. He seemed to feel that the carriage was a bit hot, so he called his attendants to bring his horse. The carriage mounted the horse without stopping, and rode on the road between the main castle of Viscount Montoka's castle and the city wall.

They talked for a while, but they still haven't stepped out of the castle.

It has to be said that the wealth of Montorca City is really vividly reflected here.

The Baron deeply inhaled the fragrance of the flowers and plants in the flower beds beside the surrounding roads, looking at the racecourse on the left side of the road, and the manicured mosaic garden on the right side.

A gust of wind with water vapor blew over, the baron took a deep breath, and asked Knight Crowe where the water vapor came from.

Knight Crowe made a quick judgment and pointed out that behind the mosaic garden on the right, there is actually a small lake. It seems that the water is brought in by the big river that runs through the city.

At this time, Baron Kendall sighed deeply, as if he was completely defeated.