After three days of his arrival, Kain finally took the host seat in the Lord's hall. He'd spend the first day in the ancestral hall and being named as the Viscount of the Dyke territory. The second day had been a minor celebration for his arrival and inheritance.
Today, the third day was the day of judgement and truth. It was the day he truly took the rein of the Viscounty. Most of his aides were in the hall: Gerard accompanied by several officials carrying parchments, Ser Roland on the new lord's left standing still in his full Armor and Ronald standing closely to the lord's right.
"So how bad is the treasury?" asked Kain, looking intently at the minister.
The minister sigh with a helpless look and said,"Our yearly income is ten thousand galleon. However, it takes five thousand galleons for the upkeep of the military. Another Seven thousands galleons for the general upkeep of the territory and the castle. Our treasury has only eight thousands galleon, give or take."
"So we are in deficit of two thousand galleon," mused Kain. The nagging feeling in his stomach proved to be true. The Viscounty was low in fund."We cannot even sustain the house for a year. Don't tell me that we are in debt."
"Fortunately, we are not," Said Gerard, giving a small smile,"The previous lord, your father sold the properties outside of the territory to meet the deficit."
''It is like that huh," Said Kain, sighing in relief,
"So the problem are the bandits encroaching in our land, right." The question was shot at Ser Roland not Gerard."Care to elaborate."
"Yes, My lord." Said Ser Roland, taking the cue. "There are seven large bandit bands in the basin. The East, West and North are all controlled by the Eight Bands, blocking our trade route to the Timurid Empire, the baronies and the eastern coastland. Our only trade route is the south but the family there are not very fond of us. Moreover, smaller bandit groups are routinely popping out in there. So trade is very low."
"The only upside is that," joined in Gerard," our granaries are full due to low trade, enough to last us four years."
"Well, atleast we won't starve," Said Kain, bitterly,"Tell me of the bandits." The bandits were one of the few reasons why he had returned.
"The bandits of the east, west and north has their own Hegemony. Three bands in the west, Three in the North and one in the East. The southern bandits are just small crews and not at all stable." Said Ser Roland, looking down.
His comment on the southern bandit left a bad taste in Kain's mouth. He had arrived from the south and had encountered a band of bandits. The band had no less than fifty bandits. If that was small, then how big were the bandit crew.
"What's their number?" asked Kain.
"Each has atleast five hundred number but according to our knowledge, the east has atleast a thousand."
"And we have..."
"We have a standing army of a thousand," Said The head Knight,"not counting the two hundred castle guards."
"Why did my father let these bandits grow so large," Kain thought.
"What about the quality," Asked Kain.
"Two Sky warriors, including me and fifty earth warriors, My Lord."
"Who is the other Sky warrior?" Kain hoped it was not him or Ronald. Thankfully, it wasn't.
"It is Orick,the captain of the guards," said Ser Roland,"You know him. He is of one of the branch family. You also met him during the welcoming ceremony."
Kain remembered him, off course. He didn't knew the old man will live that long. He also ignored the other civil servants and military officials during the welcoming ceremony.
"I have one more question," Said Kain.
"Yes,My Lord," Said Ser Roland.
"The East," Said Kain,"Were they the one who killed my father and brother."
"Regretfully, Yes," Said Ser Roland, looking down at his feet intently.
"Tell me everything about this eastern bandit crew, Ser Roland." Said Kain. Everyone could hear the sound of growling in his voice.
Even the battle hardened Roland was a little taken aback by the animosity in Kain's voice. Instead of fear, what Roland felt was joy.
"My lord, the Eastern bandits are the strongest bandits crew in the basin,"said Roland,"They are also the most militaristic as they are lead by an ex-mercenary, Alwen Khyne, formerly of the Red Fury mercenary group. Their rank consists of many mercenaries and the presence of atleast a hundred warriors. Alwen himself is a warrior of the Sky realm."
"Go on," Said Kain, as Roland paused.
"The crew appeared about two years ago," said Roland,"one year after the war with the empire. They are also the richest of the crew and looked down on the other crews. However, their greatest strength is their base. Unlike the rest of the other bandit crews, the eastern bandits had made their base in an old hillfort in the middle of a swamp. This put them at an advantage against any advancing army."
"Any weakness,"asked Kain.
"There is, My Lord," Said Roland,"the rest of the bandit crews in the basin are antagonistic against Alwen Khyne."
Kain knew that the bandit crews had an alliance between themselves, though it will be volatile. That was what made them dangerous. If they attack one crew, then the others will probably attack from the rear. The Viscounty didn't had enough soldiers to attack even half of the crew at the same time. But the eastern crew was another matter. The bandit rew cannot rely on the others for reinforcement.
Kain was, however not that conceited to think that they could take down the eastern crew easily. Afterall, the eastern crew was the one that led to the death of his father and second eldest brother.
"Tell me what happened after I left," Said Kain,
"and how my father and brother died?"
In order to assess the present and the future, one must know the past. Kain thought likewise. He must know more about his inheritance.