Arc II – Agrarian Revolution
Chapter 10 – Hunger Will Make Even a Sheep Bite a Wolf
1 Month and 5 Days Since the SummoningAlan walked down the castle corridor in his usual shirt and mended trousers.
He walked straight, his eyes looking straight ahead.
His face was expressionless.
He wasn’t just walking; it was as if he were looking for someone.
When Alan stepped into the next corridor, he saw a familiar wolf tail.
“Hey, Golna,” he said evenly.
The maid stopped, and then looked over her shoulder, holding some towels and blankets in her hands.
“Do you require something, Lord Gothwald?”
“We need to talk.”
Golna looked at the blankets in her hands, and then at Alan.
“Forgive me, my lord…
but could it wait?
I need to…”
“It’s fine.
You’ll do it later,” he replied without taking his eyes off her.
The beastkin slowly nodded.
“Very well…
follow me.” And she turned and walked further down the corridor, glancing back occasionally.
Alan simply followed her, his facial expression unchanging.
She entered a room, set the towels on a table.
And then stood up straighter.
“I presume…”
Alan closed the door and stood opposite her, leaning against the wall.
Golna swallowed, waiting.
He crossed his arms over his chest.
“When will she be considering suitors?”
The girl froze, but immediately folded her hands in front of her.
“I do not un…”
“You understand everything.” Alan sighed, closing his eyes.
“Listen, let me put it this way.
I already know Kamelia has to choose a candidate for a husband, or however it works here…
I honestly don’t care.” He opened his eyes.
“So I’ll ask again.
When?”
Golna squeezed her folded hands.
“I..
I do not know what you are talking about, Lord Gothwald.”
Alan shrugged.
“Okay.” He walked over to the door, locked it, and put the key in his pocket.
“Then we’ll sit here until you tell me.” He pulled out a chair, sat at the table, crossed his arms over his chest, and simply began to drill her with his gaze.
Golna lowered her head slightly.
“You do realize…
how this looks from the outside?”
“I do.”
Golna swallowed again.
“You know you could be accused of…”
“I know,” Alan interrupted.
“I know everything perfectly well, Golna, which is why I’m asking you.
These aren’t my blind guesses, I heard this personally from Lorgi.”
The girl pressed her lips together.
“Then why do you not ask him?
Did you choose a weak girl because she is easier to pressure?”
“Exactly…
but not only because of that.”
Golna flinched at his directness.
“And…
why else?”
Alan rested his arms on the table and finally shifted his gaze from her to the window, beyond which the city, the sea, and a sky overcast with light gray clouds were visible.
“Because Lorgi doesn’t trust me anymore, and won’t tell me anything else.
You’re my only hope.”
Golna remained silent, then slowly approached the table and sat in a chair, folding her hands in her lap.
“Then why start the conversation like this?
You are…
not a bad person, my lady said…
and I see it myself.
Did it truly…
hurt you that much?”
Alan didn’t take his eyes off the window.
“What do you think?
Kamelia sold herself for my life.
What, did you think I was just going to keep doing what I’m doing?
I’d like to.
But I can’t.”
“My father spoke the truth…” she whispered.
“hunger will make even a sheep bite a wolf” She looked up at him.
“I will tell you…
but on one condition..
no…
two.”
Alan finally looked at her.
“I’m listening.”
Golna drew a breath into her lungs.
“First…
you will try…
I will not say you will succeed, but you will at least try to somehow…
cancel the upcoming engagement.”
Alan nodded.
“That’s why I came here.
Second?”
The girl fidgeted with the hem of her dress.
“Second…
you will truly implement the first four…
four-field system in Zoligasha.”
Alan’s eyes widened slightly.
“You remembered the word?”
Golna smiled slightly.
“Of course.
Her Grace speaks of it constantly as of late.”
Alan snorted.
“Very strange conditions.
I was going to do all that anyway.”
She shrugged.
“It is what it is.
At least you will have another reason to finish the job.”
“Alright, enough lobbying for your interests.
So when is this casting…
I mean, the consideration of suitors.”
Golna blinked, clearly not understanding the meaning of the first word, but her face grew more serious.
“In half a year.”
Alan nodded.
“Half a year…
and Kamelia…
can she refuse?”
The maid shook her head.
“She can, but the consequences…”
“Well?”
Golna sighed.
“You see…
noblemen are quite sensitive when it comes to women.
They can swallow humiliation from someone stronger, or even a burned village, if it is profitable…
but a woman’s refusal is to them…
how should I put it…”
“A complete clusterfuck,” Alan said.
The maid coughed slightly.
“Yes…
a very accurate expression.
If a woman, especially a noble one, chooses someone specific, it is considered normal…
formally not a rejection, but a choice in favor of another.
But if she refuses everyone…
each one will take it personally, and will spare no effort to exact revenge.”
Alan blinked.
“You guys have some strange traditions here…
alright, and if she chooses a suitor, what then?”
“Then a wedding, as you have already guessed.
Usually in two or three years, according to tradition.”
Alan nodded.
“Okay…
and who are our candidates?”
Golna’s shoulders tensed slightly.
“Well…
all the barons, and two more counts from our duchy…
not them directly, of course, but their sons.”
He let out a bitter whistle.
“Wow…
and while we’re at it, why didn’t the king himself get in line?”
“The king is too old and…”
“Sarcasm,” Alan replied, raising a hand.
“Ahem…
how do you know so much about all these processes anyway?
You’re…
an unusual maid, aren’t you?”
The girl looked out the window.
“You could say that.”
Alan frowned slightly.
“Care to elaborate?”
Golna still didn’t turn away from the window.
“I have been working in this castle since I was fifteen, it will soon be ten years of my service here.”
Alan nearly choked on air.
“You’re twenty-five?!
But you look nineteen at most!”
She turned away from the window and looked at Alan.
“Beastkin live slightly longer than humans, which is why I look a few years younger.”
He nodded.
“Noted…
alright.
Since you know your politics, tell me about Baron Utew.”
“Baron Utew…” Golna muttered.
“Quite an ordinary baron.
Greedy, cunning, desires more power.”
“Who would’ve doubted that…
is he pragmatic?”
“Is he what?”
Alan clicked his tongue.
“Is he strictly principled, or can he sometimes yield if it’s profitable?”
Golna opened her mouth.
“Ahhh…
that is what you mean.
Well…
yes, he is like that.
But if you think he will help you in any way…
that is highly unlikely.
Everyone hates you,” she said without softening the blow whatsoever.
Alan sniffled.
“Oh really…
I have my guesses why, of course, but…
you tell me.”
“There is more than one reason.
The burning of the village, interfering in the affairs of other baronies, and the ‘recommendations’ my lady sent recently were particularly disliked.
And they also quickly realized that it was your doing.
The barons are certain that Kamelia is your puppet.”
Alan slowly placed a hand on his forehead and rubbed his face.
“And why didn’t Kamelia…
tell me about this?
And how do you even know…” he waved a hand.
“Oh right, 10 years of service, trust, and all that.
Just fucking spectacular.
I’m a bloody dictator in the eyes of the entire county now, couldn’t have planned it better…
the county…
and what do they think of me outside the county?”
She shook her head.
“That I do not know.”
Alan nodded.
“Alright…
since Utew is as stubborn as a mule, maybe…
does he have heirs?”
Golna raised an eyebrow.
“Why are you so fixated on Baron Utew?”
“Because he has iron, and I need iron to make plows that plow the earth easier.
That’s why I’m fixated on this Utew.”
Golna caught her breath slightly, but simply said, “I see.
Heirs.
Yes, he does.
Three sons and two daughters.
The eldest will be the candidate for the engagement.
Do you need to know this?”
Alan shook his head.
“Not that.
But actually…
tell me what you know about them.”
Golna sighed.
“It seems we are in for a long conversation…
do you mind if I brew some oyre?”
Alan shrugged, then reached into his pocket and silently placed the key to the door on the table.
Golna reached for the key, but stopped for literally a moment to look at Alan, and took the key, then walked to the door, opened it and stepped out, leaving the key in the lock and the door slightly ajar.
Alan immediately laid his head on the table and sighed deeply.
‘Mein Gott…
what have I become?
….
hunger will make even a sheep bite a wolf, isn’t that right?’
A few minutes later, heavy footsteps were heard; Alan immediately sat up and turned to the door.
It began to open carefully.
A guard.
Alan’s heart skipped a beat.
‘Golna…
you little…’
Upon seeing Alan, the guard immediately stood up straighter.
“Forgive me, Lord Advisor.
I saw an open door and decided to check.”
Alan blinked.
“Uh…
well…
as you can see…
I’m here.”
The guard nodded.
“My apologies.” And he left with the same heavy tread.
Alan exhaled, not even noticing he had been holding his breath.
‘Okay…
false alarm.’
A few more minutes later, light footsteps were heard.
When the door opened a crack, Golna finally entered with a teapot and two cups.
Alan turned to her.
“And here I thought you snitched.”
The maid stopped.
“Huh?
What are you talking about?”
Alan sighed with a slight smile.
“A guard just walked in, he was curious about the cracked door.
I thought that was your doing.”
Golna sighed and shook her head.
“You have quite an interesting opinion of me, Lord Gothwald.” She placed the tea set on the table, closed the door, and sat in her chair.
“So…
where did we leave off?”
“Tell me about Utew’s heirs.
And first of all…
how do you even know about them.”
The girl first poured the bluish oyre for Alan.
“I know them well, just like Lady Kamelia’s other vassals.
As I said, I have served in this castle for almost ten years, so I have visited the various estates more than once.
And…
my lady’s father was quite a cunning man, he often took me to receptions to…” her voice grew slightly quieter.
“Listen and report.
Who pays attention to a wolf-girl, after all?”
Alan leaned back in his chair.
“Wait…
why specifically a wolf-girl?
Why not just a beastkin?”
Golna froze slightly while pouring the oyre.
“Never mind, it was just a slip of the tongue.”
Alan narrowed his eyes.
“It actually is important.
Besides…
I need to know what the relations are between the races here.
That’s essential knowledge in itself.”
Golna poured herself some oyre, and simply set the teapot aside, not even touching her cup.
“Very well…
several centuries ago…”
Alan raised a hand.
“I know.
The nomads, Mirey, conquests and all that.”
Golna’s eyes widened to the limit and she practically jumped up.
“My lord!
Do not say that name so loudly!” she hissed.
Alan froze.
“What?
Why?”
Golna leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
“I will tell you, only…
never, NEVER mention that name in front of others, ESPECIALLY in front of the aristocracy.
It is for your own safety!”
Alan swallowed hard, and then leaned closer.
“I’m listening.”
The girl sat back down.
“You want to know why I specifically said ‘wolf-girl’?
Because wolves are the most hated among the beastkin…
because he was also a wolf, and according to the legends…
he had thousands of children, and now it is believed that his blood flows in every wolf…”
Alan blinked.
“And what did he do that was so terrible?
Like there haven’t been enough wars here?”
She shook her head.
“There was nothing like it.
His horde conquered half the world, they pillaged and killed, all they did was wage war…
the nobility hates him especially because in his time…
he slaughtered almost two-thirds of all noble houses!
From grandson to grandfather!
It was called the ‘Sword by Surname’ …
he was…
a true monster,” she squeezed the final words out with great difficulty.
Alan narrowed his eyes.
‘Hmm…
too sterile…
she’s speaking a bit too smoothly.
Was she taught that or something?
Alright…
I’ll save that for later.’
He nodded.
“Alright.
I understand.
I won’t utter his name anymore.”
Golna exhaled.
“Thank you.”
Alan picked up his cup of oyre.
“Okay, I hear you.
I believe you know for sure.
So what about the baron’s offspring?”
Golna grabbed onto the return to the main topic like a lifeline.
“Yes…
the heirs.
The eldest son, he is roughly thirty-two, Zinder Utew.
A rather…
typical nobleman.
Hunts, feasts, balls, preparing for power.
The middle son, Linter Utew, I believe he is twenty-eight; from what I heard, he has long desired…
to marry Lady Armenas, in order to seize more power and rub the eldest’s nose in it…
I do not know how he took the fact that Zinder became a potential suitor, but I doubt he simply accepted it.
And the youngest, Tsinker Utew, he is around…
twenty-four, perhaps?
I do not know.
But he, as you understand, as the youngest son will receive almost nothing.
And the most surprising thing is…
that he is not at all embittered by this.”
Alan raised an eyebrow.
“Not embittered?
How so?”
Golna shrugged and finally picked up her cup.
“I do not know.
I have only seen him a few times.
He seems…
like a simply decent person, polite, courteous, he even treats beastkin with indifference, just like everything else around him.”
Alan took a sip of oyre.
‘There it is, that’s exactly what puts me on guard.
Real psychos usually hide behind masks like that.
Tsinker Utew…
how do I get in touch with you?’