Chapter 22: Planning for an Expedition.
Hours passed by with Atlas immersing himself into Krinis Language when someone knocked on the office's doors. The young prince initially missed the knockings as he sat fully concentrated on his study. However, the subsequent banging quickly caught his attention.
"Come in," Atlas raised his head and called out. He then gathered the scattered sheets before him, arranged them into a pile, and threw them into the drawer.
Having received his permission, the door to the office opened wide and the large-bodied Baron walked in with a mysterious smile on his face.
Atlas quickly ran his eyes over this man before turning to look behind him. His gaze suddenly lit up as he saw a genial-looking, middle-aged man with scars covering his face, hesitantly walk in.
The newcomer arrived at the office and looked around with caution. His eyes scanned his surroundings, looking for interesting things worthy of notice, before landing upon the small, golden-haired child sitting behind a large table.
The utter difference in size between the table and the child looked ridiculous from his perspective. Just as he was about to leak a peal of laughter, his eyes suddenly widened as he recognized the boy.
"I know you! Yer that kid who washed up with a fish up yer ars–" The middle-aged newcomer abruptly cut his words short as he felt an iron-like death grip land on his shoulder.
Baron Georg Helm looked at his guest with a quiet smile that did not extend to his eyes.
"Watch what you say, Captain. You are in the presence of my liege." The Baron politely threatened.
The newcomer, 'Scout Captain' Reudem Boreat, looked a little lost after hearing that threat. His limpid eyes then suddenly widened with shock as he turned to face the young prince.
Looking at Atlas, who sat with a strained smile on his face, the Captain carefully looked at the boy's features. Comparing them with information and rumors inside his head, something seemed to click in place within his mind.
Immediately striking his left chest with his right hand, he dropped to the ground on a single knee and bowed.
"Reudem Boreat greets His Hi'ness. I apologize fo' me words and pray that Sir can for'ive me," he spoke with a slight lisp.
Atlas noted the Scout Captain's tone to be a little impolite and crude. He attributed it to the man's common upbringing and did not mind it much.
"Oh, not at all, Captain," the prince casually waved his hand. "You've just mistaken me for someone else. It happens."
Atlas' words weren't a suggestion but a direction. The prince then quietly stared at the Captain and awaited his reaction.
Reudem cursed his mouth inwardly for not knowing when to shut up. Hearing the prince's words, he stared at the ground blankly for a few seconds before suddenly understanding its meaning.
'His Hi'ness wants us to for'et about that incident.'
Reudem didn't earn the position of Scout Captain under the Baron's rule by mere luck; he did with his ability and a good mind on his shoulder.
"Ah, it's my fault, your hi'ness. I've mistaken you for someone else!" the man crudely admitted.
At his reply, the gazes of both Atlas and Baron Helm became kinder. Though, the meaning of their gazes differed a lot.
'I'm glad that you've evaded your death flag, 'Scout Captain' Reudem Boreat,' Atlas scoffed. 'Your position has gone up from 'Disposable Cannon Fodder' to 'Somewhat Useful Lackey'.'
Respect and reputation were powerful tools for leaders to make use of. In order to protect his current authority, Atlas couldn't afford to lose any of them.
That being said, while the man's impression had certainly improved in the young prince's eyes, it had not yet improved to the point where Atlas would allow the man civility.
For disrespecting the ruler, he would pay by kneeling for the rest of their conversation.
"Do you know why I've called you here, Captain?" the young prince asked.
The expression of relief on the Reudem's face immediately faded, replaced by a look of solemnity. Indeed, he knew why he was called here. The good Baron had explained it to him after all.
Taking a deep breath, he answered, "I heard that we'r facing some issu's re'rding the ration, my lord."
Atlas shot a look towards the Baron, before nodding his head.
"That is correct. We are facing a serious shortchange of rations. Do you think you can help us with this, Captain?"
"I think I can, my lord." The man answered nervously.
"You think or you can? I don't need doubt infecting you answer, Captain." Atlas narrowed his eyes and heavily intoned.
"I can, my lord!" Reudem exclaimed with a gulp. "If I got the resources, I can!"
The small prince did not immediately answer but continued to solemnly stare at the middle-aged Captain. After what seemed like an eternity, he exhaled a heavy breath and spoke.
"Good answer, Captain. How and what resources do you require?"
'Scout Captain' Reudem did not waste a single second and quickly answered.
"You mi'ht not know this, my lord, but I come from a family of hunters. My pops, and his pops, and his pops were all hunters before me. The craft was in'rained into me body since birth!"
Taking a breath, he continued, "These forests that surround us are filled with life, my lord. And like my pops, and his pops, and his pops before him used to say, 'Where there is life, there is food'."
"Plants or wildlife?" The prince interrupted with a question.
"Definitely both, my lord. These forests are filled with them. You only need the ri'ht man for the job."
"And you are that man, are you?" The prince weighed.
"I thi–I am, my lord!"
Scout Captain Reudem confidently intoned.
A smile finally appeared on Atlas' face. Fools cannot be led, only ordered. Thankfully, Reudem did not seem to be a fool.
Grabbing a new sheet of parchment from his drawer, Atlas dipped the quill into the inkpot. Bringing the pen to a hover above the paper, he asked.
"What resources do you need?"
The Captain lowered his head and mentally considered. After a few minutes of silence, he raised his head and replied.
"Wooden boards, ropes, wires, scraps of metal, knapsacks…" the man began to list items which Atlas quickly wrote down. The Baron looked at the princes' fluid writing and was full of awe and praise for the latter.
"...nets, and of course, some men and some rations."
The Scout Captain finished and looked at the prince with nervousness. Truthfully, the items that he had listed were the bare minimum required to go on a foraging expedition. He would've liked to have more proper equipment but knew that this fledgling town lacked it.
Hunting for a single person was easy. Hunting for a town of two hundred and fifty people was a different game.
"All of this can be provided to you. Additionally, I will also give you a few tents and clean blankets to keep you and your men company. Speaking of men, I can assign you five of them. Will that suffice?"
"Certainly, my lord!" Reudem beamed. It seemed that the young prince was full of compassion seeing how he provided tents and blankets for the expedition.
"Do you rejoice too soon, Captain," Atlas raised his hands and continued, "I will also hand you three days' worth of rations. But you'll have to promise me results within the same time."
"If the Almi'thy above smiles on us, you can expect results in half as much time, my lord."
A smile appeared on Atlas' face.
"I'm starting to like you, Captain Reudem. Good, I'll hold you to your word then. Let's hope that the Gods above bless us on this endeavor."
"I'll 'et workin ri'ht now, my lord! We shall leave in t'morrow mornin."
Reudem shot up to his feet and hurriedly. Getting the items required for the expedition was one thing, but preparing for it was another.
The sooner he got working, the faster would the work be completed, and the greater will the time to rest before they get started tomorrow morning. Having made a promise to the prince, Reudem would hate to disappoint the young ruler.
'Even a child barely the table's hei'th is working to save this town. How can I slack?'
The young prince's beautiful face, serious demeanor, and compassionate heart seemed to have charmed the Scout Captain into servility.
"Hey, hey! Wait a minute! We're not done yet!"
Atlas hurriedly interrupted when he saw the Captain jump to his feet and run towards the door.
"My lord?" the man turned around and asked. "Is there someth'n else?"
"I want you to prepare another group of 10 men. People quick on their feet and sharp in their minds."
The Captain shot a puzzled glance towards the young prince and asked, "May I ask their purpose, my lord?"
Taking a deep breath, Atlas replied.
"To scout and map the surrounding area. To understand our terrain and look for exploitable resources.'
The Scout Captain gazed at the young prince deeply. After a few seconds of consideration, he replied with a smile.
"Aye, I could do that, my lord."
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