After his discussion with Mary, Asher toured his domain, the sun casting a warm glow over the landscape as he waited for the dragon corpses to be brought into the gates.
The massive bodies were hauled to an open field far from the bustling part of the stronghold, where several hundred butchers went to work, their skilled hands moving with precision as they skinned and cut the meat.
Although the dragons had been dead for almost three months, their meat retained its freshness, a testament to the remarkable preservation properties of their flesh.
Standing in the field with Kelvin and Mary, Asher watched over a thousand individuals work on the dragons, their labor a symphony of movement and sound.
Over two hundred of them were skilled butchers, while the others were women and men whose job was to separate the meat, load it into carts, and take it to the area where it was to be marinated.
The air was filled with the scent of fresh meat and the murmur of conversation as the workers went about their tasks.
“How much do we pay them?” Asher shot Kelvin a sidelong glance, his eyes narrowing slightly as he awaited the response.
“7 silver coins for the butcher and 5 for the helpers.” Kelvin replied softly, his hands clasped behind him, his demeanor calm and collected.
Mary expressed her concerns, her brow furrowed in thought.
“Hiring people to do it has made the people happier, but the rumors of dragon meat would spread out.”
As a former student of the Sacred Flame Academy, she had been told the worth of a dragon corpse several times, and she knew the potential risks of their plan.
Asher faced her, his lips curling upward in a reassuring smile.
“We shall give them dragon meat as a final reward.” His eyes sparkled with amusement. “Those that reveal would risk their own lives first. But, even if they do, the meat would have been in the bellies of over 40,000 Ashbourne knights.”
His words were laced with confidence, a sense of security that came from knowing the scope of their plan.
“What about their hearts, brother. They’re the most precious jewel in this day and age. It could go for a million gold coins if you auction it.”
Asher raised an eyebrow at Mary’s remark, his expression a mix of surprise and skepticism. “But they’re worthless, all the force stored within it has been released into the body to sustain it. The dragon heart is nothing more than an average gemstone.”
His words were laced with a hint of dismissal, a tone that suggested he had already considered the value of the dragon hearts.
Creases formed on her forehead, a furrowed brow that seemed to deepen as she spoke. “That came from the chest of a dragon. Do not push aside the pride of men, brother. Four dragon crystals would fetch us five or even six million gold coins.” Her voice filled with conviction.
Kelvin cleared his throat, his voice a gentle interruption. “My Lord, we pay over a million gold coins annually for the upkeep of the army. We need this money.” His words hung in the air, a reminder of the practical considerations that lay behind their decision. The silence that followed was palpable, a sense of tension that seemed to build as Asher considered the options before him.
“An auction would draw more attention than we desire.” He said.
“I know of the black market in Everard. Nobles from the entire continent gather there.”
Kelvin replied, his voice low and measured. “Everard? The pirate nation.” Mary raised both eyebrows, a look of surprise etched on her face.
“You shall go with a company of veteran knights and two Adeptus Paladins, but we have to build our first ship for that to happen.” Asher sighed, his eyes gazing into the distance.
“More slaves have arrived. We have 70,000 of them a day’s journey from Nineveh and two days’ journey from the Azure bay. By then, the city ship should be in place.”
Kelvin and Mary exchanged a complicated glance, their eyes filled with a mix of confusion and concern.
The concept of a ship large enough to carry 70,000 people, and not just transport them, but also house them, seemed like an impossibility. The wood of such a ship would surely succumb to the water after months at sea, and how would it even float? The sheer scale of the vessel defied logic.
According to Asher, the ship had the capacity to house 200,000 slaves from Everard, a staggering number that only added to their incredulity.
They struggled to comprehend what kind of ship could be bigger than a city, a structure that would require an enormous amount of resources and engineering expertise to build. The silence that followed was heavy with skepticism, as if they were waiting for Asher to see it come to pass.
Yes, they had seen him miraculously increase the rank of thousands, build cities out of thin air, make an ice wall; a ship larger than 100 square kilometers was just beyond all of that, especially when it had to float. The sheer scale of such a vessel seemed to defy logic and reason.
“You know, of late, I chanced upon a tome in the study that spoke of the Azure river,” Asher began, his voice taking on a thoughtful tone. “You know I’ve often pondered why a water body so vast, one that encircle our continent, would be called a river.” Asher shot his companions a sidelong glance, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“I discovered that our forebears, in their ignorance of the water body’s true extent, found a mysterious entity that ruled the sea and dubbed it the Azure River God. It was said to be azure in hue and take the form of a man. Strange that this name hath never passed our lips.”
Mary and Kelvin exchanged a surprised glance.
“In a text penned by the mages, however, the azure river was referred to as the Kyros Sea, for Kyros died at its depths,” Asher continued, his words painting a vivid picture in their minds. Both Mary and Kelvin blinked, their minds racing with the implications of Asher’s words.
“I share this with you, so that you may understand why I do not think the city ship an impossibility, despite its being built upon a river,” Asher explained, his voice filled with a sense of understanding.
“You have not seen the Kyros Sea with your own eyes, and thus, I comprehend your skepticism. Yet, I implore you to consider that I have almost never been bound to normality.” His words were a gentle reminder that their limited perspective might not be the only truth.
A soldier approached Kelvin, whispered into his ears and swiftly retreated. Kelvin lifted up his gaze.
“The army would be here come nightfall.” Kelvin reported calmly.
“Good. We feed them tonight.”
Asher turned, approaching his carriage. Mary and Kelvin walked a few meters behind him. “What would happen once they eat the meat?” Mary inquired, her curiosity gleaming from the depths of her eyes.
“To be frank, I have no idea. Lord Asher speaks about a transformation of their physiques and I can only await the result.”
Kelvin’s reply left her confused.
____
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the skies transformed into a canvas of twinkling stars and glowing moons, casting a silver glow over the vast field where the knights gathered.
The chill of the night air was replaced by the warmth of the boiling cauldrons, their flames burning with fierce intensity.
Bright orange light danced across the faces of the knights, casting flickering shadows that seemed to come alive in the darkness.
The aroma of the stew wafted through the air, tantalizing the senses and teasing the taste buds of the knights.
Having the knowledge that the stew was made with dragon meat only added to their anticipation, transforming men of valor into ravenous individuals eager to indulge in the feast.
However, even the most seasoned knights, including those of the imperial rank, hesitated to approach the cauldrons, which had been simmering for hours.
To protect the cooks from the intense heat, mages from Nimrim stood guard, their magical abilities shielding them from the scorching temperatures.
Asher observed the scene from a distance, flanked by two commanding generals whose white cloaks billowed in the hot wind, whipping about their armored bodies.
In his mind, a notification echoed. [The loyalty of the legionaries of both legions has all reached an aggregate of 100!]
The significance of this achievement was not lost on Asher, for it spoke of the gratitude of his men and their love for him.
Indeed, where had it been said that a lord fed his men dragon meat?
“My lord, 30,000 gold-ranked infantry knights, 9,000 diamond-ranked infantry knights, 5,000 archer knights and 5,000 heavy cavalry knights have been gathered,” Alec reported, his stern voice carrying across the field.
Asher’s gaze swept across the gathering, his eyes lingering on the faces of Eritrea, Paul, and Lambert as they chatted among themselves, their armor glinting in the flickering torchlight.
Eritrea, the fiery commander of the mounted archer unit, Stormbringers, laughed with Paul, the commander of the bowmaster unit, now renamed the Seekers. Lambert, the imposing commander of the heavy cavalry, Black Knights or Bladebreakers, stood tall, his broad shoulders a symbol of his unyielding strength.
They were Ashbourne’s ace before the Adeptus Paladins emerged.
“Good. Make sure they all remove their armors before eating. They shall see changes in their bodies come dawn,” Asher instructed, his voice low and mysterious.
Adam’s voice was barely above a whisper as he asked, “What sort of changes, my lord?” He asked, after exchanging a curious glance with Alec.
Asher’s response was enigmatic: “We shall see come dawn.”
Moments later, knights formed a line before the cauldrons, the aroma of dragon meat wafting through the air, teasing their senses.
Each returned to their seats with a bowl full of steaming meat stew, the size of the dragon meat leaving them salivating heavily.
Eritrea’s voice rose above the rest, her words echoing across the field:
“Long live the duke!” Her smile was radiant as she gazed at Asher, who was taken aback by the sudden outburst.
The chorus of voices followed, each one more fervent than the last:
“Long live the duke!!”
“Long live the duke!!”
“Long live…!!”
Asher chuckled, amused by the display of loyalty.
As the din subsided, he noticed Cynthia approaching with a tray, accompanied by two paladins carrying a long wooden table and chairs for him and his commanding generals.
The table was a simple, sturdy wooden affair, its planks worn smooth by years of use. Asher’s eyes gleamed with curiosity as he thought, ‘Let’s see what happens tomorrow.’