POV David
I hummed a tune to myself as I oversaw the construction project. This one being my hope of future development. A workshop, entirely dedicated to the premise of modernizing the weapons war. Just last week Earl Barford had sent a letter warning that I may be called to raise my regiment for war. So with the leftover capital from my economic investments I'd spent it all reequipping and modernizing the regiment.
Of course giving them new equipment meant they needed training, and who better than my own brother? He'd complained the first few days that they straight up disrespected him at every opportunity. But I hadn't heard anything new since, while curious I wasn't about to stir the hornet's nest. He'd brought a few helpers to assist him in his new role as a drill sergeant. A knight, Samanta Ponatoski and a couple squires.
I was a bit exited. I mean, this was real and not some game. But the feeling of excitement in my chest only grew. It was like I was anxiously awaiting that critical tech that would allow me to demolish my foes. I rolled my shoulders as I turned and started down the street. I could already see the effects of my investments.
Aucterfith was the largest settlement of my territory and where I had concentrated most of my capital. Of course that didn't mean the rest of the territory was left alone, Orgrimmar was second in terms of investment. I'd also spent a lot to attract more people to my lands.
"Lord Fulton, is there anything else you'd like to see today?" Captain Tullio asked. I nodded and started walking down the street in the direction of the smithing guild.
"Captain, how are the troops adapting to their new equipment and drills?" I asked.
"We've developed a hated respect for your brother." She said, "Otherwise it is with reluctant acceptance."
I nodded, afterall her attire was now what I could at least consider a proper uniform. Granted there were things about it I didn't like, and that Smith had complained to me about. Was this my punishment for not overseeing this matter more personally?
I looked at the soldiers escorting me about Aucterfith. Crisp leather boots that still smelled of the process, a blue jacket and white shirt was worn under a cuirass. The light glinted off polished helmets and the blades of their spears. But that kilt and white stockings. This temporary article was one of displeasure for my brother and I.
Sure the Scots had a cultural significance in wearing kilts into battle and it looked cool on little miniature soldiers. But I swear these women… they were using the cultural significance of the clothing here in the wrong manner. I suppose I was lucky there were no men in the 86th. Because if there had been…
I pushed the thought from my mind but was rather unsuccessful as I came across a statue of a famous warrior wearing one of those damn kilts. I paused and stared at it, a women protecting a clutch of griffon hatchlings from a bear.
"Ah, Lady Aneria." The captain cooed. "The first griffon knight. You know she bonded with her griffon Azrael upon Eagle's peak." She pointed at the distant mountain. I nodded as I glanced at the mountain before turning my displeased gaze back upon the statue.
"Do you have a fancy for the griffon knights lord Fulton?" The captain asked with a sly smile.
"It's a shame the griffons of Rilna are extinct. I would have loved to form a proper Air Force from their ranks." I replied darkly.
"I aspire to be like lady Aneria, to become a knight of the order Griffon." The captain muttered dreamily. "It's a shame the griffons no longer exist in Rilna."
A shame indeed. Because I'd read up on Lady Aneria, afterall she was born locally and her legend carried weight with the people here. But perhaps one of the things I wished hadn't survived the passing of time, was one of her odd characteristics. A refusal to wear undergarments. I pushed it from my mind and continued on my way trying to ignore the few townspeople that wished to display their relation to the long dead hero by one of her favorite articles of clothing, the kilt. At least the Scottish wore underwear.
I swung by the tailor that was making my own clothes to check on the progress, thus satisfied I continued to my final destination. I arrived before the smithing guild and sighed as I was quickly taken to the back by the receptionist. The branch leader quickly showed me to a seat and sat with a jovial smile.
"What brings my lord here today?" She asked.
"I'm here to formalize a few orders on behalf of the regiment." I replied with a wry grin. This branch manager was someone I felt a sort of kindred spirit with, annoyed by what everyone was doing and wishing they'd all go away.
"More of the same contracts then?" She asked reaching for some paper and a pen.
"Not quite, I'll need much more than previously discussed." I chuckled. "Enough to equip a thousand troops."
"That's… a lot more than our smiths can handle alone." She replied.
"You can contract out if you'd like, but time isn't much of a concern. I doubt I'll need half of them before midsummer." I replied. Her sigh of relief brought the haggling to the fore.
I haggled for the better part of an hour as we danced around the price we both knew we'd end up at but still attempted to wring some other concessions from the other party. At some point Captain Tullio put her hand on my shoulder and stared the branch manager down, abruptly shortening the negotiations.
I waited until we left before rounding on her. "What was that about captain?" I hissed.
"It wasn't a fair price, about twenty percent above market, sir." She snapped to attention. "It was a subtle hint for her to not treat you lightly sir."
"Much can be accomplished by diplomacy that can't by military means, I do appreciate the concern but I'm fully aware of the premium I pay because of being a man, of not being taken seriously in this society."
"Captain Tullio only meant to help." Isz tried to interject.
"And all she did was ruin my own reputation!" I shot back. "I don't rely on either of you as much as I could because it's inconvenient for my reputation. Most men who ascend to positions of power do so at the whims of their lovers. Captain, you will make sure no repeat of this occurs. Private relationships should not interfere with professional work. Understood?" I finished dressing the captain down and sighed.
"Perfectly sir." She replied.
"Shut up Tullio." I chuckled. "I'll treat you to a drink tonight."
"Sir?"
"Do you want the drink or not?" I asked in exasperation.
"I'll take you up on the offer my lord." She grinned. With the issue settled I returned to the manor and dismissed the others, promising Juliana I'd send for her when I was done with work.
I settled into my familiar desk and started going over the economic reports. The first was from Xir and Kyle. The population of Orgrimmar was swelling, partly due to pulling immigrants in from outside my lands, but also from the goblins doing their thing. They'd scouted the mines of the region and were starting to dig for ores in some of the richer veins they'd found. With that good and simple report now put aside I turned to other matters.
Speculative reports projected an increase in harvest come fall due to new techniques in agriculture. Most of the territory was devoted to agriculture so most reports read the same, an overall estimate of between six to ten percent more than last year.
With that done I could turn to a matter I was dreading. My preparations to visit the royal palace in a few weeks for the spring fertility festival. I was to receive my official rank there, no longer acting as a lord in name only.
With so much else to do I was loath to leave, hopefully Rebecca would take pity on me and help manage affairs in my absence. I somehow felt like it wouldn't be the case though.
I could rely on my brother to sort out the regiment in my absence, I was paying him a premium afterall. Stupid adventuring bullshit, using the guild's official rates for payment. Daylight robbery more like.
I sighed and continued working, I would have to take a retinue. God I wasn't looking forward to picking that out. This nobility stuff sucks, why in stories do most authors make it seem like so much fun? It's ass. I soldiered on, this war of mine against my own bureaucracy would only end when I let it defeat me.