Varter took a sip of water and rose from his seat.
"Everything that was said has merit. The larger the expedition, the more it costs on the way to its destination. On the other hand, while our expedition stays at a vassal house's castle, the vassal house bears the cost. Feeding and housing soldiers costs money either way.
Once the expedition sets out, word of it will reach the South too, and King Arno will soon learn of it as well.
We have a treaty with King Arno that House Rosrad rules the North. No treaty lasts forever, but I don't believe the king himself will lead a march north just yet.
However, among the lords of the South, there are those whose loyalty to the king is not all that high.
So there is no knowing what unexpected turn might arise. That being so, I believe we must consider what means there are to keep such a turn from arising."
Varter finished speaking and sat down.
Anchin listened to Varter and nodded slowly.
"Varter has raised something I hadn't even thought of. Then what ways are there to keep anything unexpected from happening? If anything comes to mind, speak up."
For a moment, the great council chamber fell quiet. In the sunlight coming through the windows, dust could be seen drifting.
Varter rose from his seat again.
"Since there seem to be no other opinions, I will say mine. We split the expedition bound for Orpul in two and send them out at different times.
The first group, a somewhat smaller force, we send in daylight. Then, several days to a week later, we send the second group's troops out in the dead of night.
When sending the second group, it is important to send them in the dark, but it is just as important that they move without a sound.
On the surface, we must leave the impression that only the small force of the first group has set out on the expedition.
We must make people believe that a large force still remains at Barad Castle.
Then I believe we can head off whatever might arise from the South."
Anchin clapped. Gerhardt and Edmer clapped too, following the lord. But Willan, Anchin's younger brother and the Assistant Treasurer, sat still.
"Mm. A clever plan. What does everyone think?"
Anchin looked around at the gathering. The lord had even clapped; given the mood, no one was going to oppose Varter's idea.
Anchin was nearly always like this. He listened to his vassals' opinions, but he made the final decision himself.
Anchin waited a moment, then went on.
"Then we'll send out the expedition the way Varter described. And since we have an important undertaking ahead, quickly make preparations to go to the Temple of Krilmar. Three of us will go to the temple: myself, the scholar, and the Knight Commander."
That day's meeting ended.
***
Early the next morning, Rafin got up, washed his face, and was drying it with a towel. A servant came to the room looking for Rafin.
"The Knight Commander is going to the Temple of Krilmar today. Please get ready too, Lord Rafin."
"The Temple of Krilmar? Yes. I'll get ready."
In his past life too, Rafin had seen lords go to a temple to pray for blessings before something important. If the Knight Commander went somewhere, naturally Rafin, his squire, had to go too.
Rafin didn't know much about the Temple of Krilmar. Rewad, still lying in bed, had heard Rafin and the servant talking.
"The temple isn't far from here. I've never been there either. Only the lord and the chief vassals go."
"When I get back, I'll tell you what the temple's like."
Rafin brought the Knight Commander's horse out of the stable, gathered his equipment, and got ready for the journey.
The lord, the scholar, the Knight Commander, and an escort of some 20 men set out for the Temple of Krilmar on the northern outskirts of Unton. They reached the temple half a day later.
Krilmar was the religion of the northern regions, formed while surviving harsh winters and the threats of the wild. It was a religion based on a philosophy of survival: be in harmony with nature, and only the strong survive. Krilmar held the gray wolf to be a sacred being.
The temple stood in a forest. It was built of stone; the tallest temple building was 3 stories high, and 4 smaller temple buildings stood in rows on either side of it.
On the great altar in front of the main hall, a sculpture shaped like a glass sphere sat on a pedestal. This was a sculpture called 'the Eye of the Corridor.'
'Corridor' referred to the frozen land of the North, and 'Eye' symbolized the eye of Krilmar.
Whenever there was an important event, House Rosrad came to the Temple of Krilmar to pray for blessings and to meet and talk with the priest.
The lord, the scholar, and the Knight Commander were familiar with the Temple of Krilmar, but it was Rafin's first time, so he looked over every corner of the temple with curious eyes.
Only 7 went inside the temple: Anchin, Varter, Gerhardt, the squire Rafin, and three guards. The rest of the guards waited at the temple entrance.
Inside the temple, a messenger greeted the Rosrad party. From behind Gerhardt, Rafin quietly watched the messenger.
He was a young man with short silver hair and sharp gray eyes.
Anchin spoke to the messenger.
"Torvan, it's been a while."
"Thank you for making the long journey. Please come inside."
Led by Torvan, the Rosrad party went into the 3-story temple directly ahead.
The faithful inside the temple stopped what they were doing and stood still, watching the Rosrad party.
Torvan opened the door to a large sanctuary and beckoned the party inside.
Inside the sanctuary, a priest in a gray cloak was waiting for the party.
The priest spoke.
"Thank you for making the long journey. Please be seated."
Anchin, Varter, and Gerhardt sat around a large round table, and Rafin and the guards stood against the sanctuary wall. Wanting to hear what was being said at the round table, Rafin edged a little closer to it and stood there.
Looking at the priest, Rafin saw that he seemed to be around 50 but had a sturdy build.
Gerhardt looked at the priest and spoke.
"Lord Baltaro, you look as healthy as ever."
"If I am to serve Lord Krilmar for long, I must keep my body moving. I have not neglected my physical training. What important matter brings even the lord himself to the temple like this?"
Anchin told him they were setting out on an expedition to the north. He also voiced his worry about Barad Castle, which would be short of troops.
"I see. If it is an expedition to hold back the barbarians, there is nothing more important in the North. I will watch through the Eye of the Corridor to see whether any threat approaches Barad Castle."
"Would you do that? Thank you."
"And I am not sure whether I should tell you this. It is nothing that will happen right away, but...."
"What is it?"
"There seems to be a hidden power beyond Dwich. Recently I have come to sense it through my divine power. An ancient power seems to lie hidden beyond Dwich, in that barren land."
"Then, if the barbarians discover that ancient power, could it become a very great threat?"
Anchin had heard something from Baltaro that he had never imagined. If the barbarians gained an ancient power, no matter how many troops the North gathered, it seemed it would be hard to stop them.
"Not so. Not just anyone can use the ancient power. Only a chosen bloodline can wield it."
"Then, who is this chosen bloodline?"
"My divine power cannot see that far. The North must be guarded by your house, Grand Duke. If another power were to take the North, a great deal would change, after all. We of the Temple of Krilmar seek stability."
Rafin could hear what the lord and the priest were saying. He was amazed to hear that the sculpture he had seen earlier, the Eye of the Corridor, was not a mere sculpture but a tool through which the priest could see what he wished.
If they could see troops invading from the South through the Eye of the Corridor, he thought, it would be a very useful tool.
With a small force and Lord Stormmond at Barad Castle, even if troops attacked from the South, they could hold out until the main force rejoined them.
Rafin had never actually seen Lord Stormmond's fire magic, but if it was mighty fire magic, it might drive off the southern troops even before the main force arrived.
Rafin wondered who the bloodline that could use the ancient power was.
"Then if you catch troops moving from the South toward Barad Castle through the Eye of the Corridor, please let me know at once."
"I shall. I will now perform the rite to imbue the Eye of the Corridor with holy power."
Everyone sitting at the table rose. Varter spoke to Anchin in a low voice.
"Then I will hand over what we prepared to the temple."
Anchin nodded.
Everyone was coming out of the sanctuary. Varter went up to Torvan, took a leather pouch out of his bundle, and handed it to him.
Without even asking 'What's this,' Torvan quietly accepted the leather pouch.
Rafin saw that as he came out of the sanctuary. He supposed the leather pouch must be full of gold coins.
On the wide altar in front of the main hall, the faithful were preparing the ritual at Baltaro's direction.
The faithful set a wooden box in front of the Eye of the Corridor. The wooden box was full of gray wolf fur. Then they lit the lamps around the altar.
When all the preparations for the ritual were finished, Baltaro stood before the Eye of the Corridor.
Baltaro closed his eyes and pressed his palms together. A moment later, he recited a prayer.
"O Eye of the Corridor, god who watches over us upon the snow-covered land.
Your gaze passes beyond the frozen Corridor
And pierces the veil of time to shine upon the truth.
As the breath of the gray wolf guides our way
O Krilmar, grant us your revelation.
Do the enemy's footsteps draw near beyond the walls of Barad Castle?
Do the clash of steel and the smell of blood come surging toward us?
We shall not go against your will.
Our spearpoints speak for your judgment
And our shields stand firm beneath your protection.
Therefore, O Eye of the Corridor
Let us see what we must see.
Do the shadows of the South stir?
Do betrayal and invasion trouble our land?
Lift up your eyes and grant us your revelation.
For those who survived within the Corridor of Ice
Shall fight crying out your name.
O Krilmar, answer us."
When Baltaro's prayer ended, a blue light slowly began to seep from the Eye of the Corridor. Then the light spread in every direction and grew stronger and stronger.
Everyone looking at the Eye of the Corridor found the blue light so strong and dazzling that they couldn't keep looking at it.
Only one person stared straight at the Eye of the Corridor with eyes wide open.