Fifteen days have passed since the Hafdan's siege, and sixty days since they first appeared in the northern territories. After their retreat from Targas Territory, Gwinnis dispatched scouting cavalry, but they never caught sight of the Hafdan again.
As for the Earl of Annon Valley, who had promised support, it's been over twenty-five days with no sign of them. The neighboring nobles, who had formed an alliance but were scattered overnight with heavy losses, remained holed up in their castles, never to emerge again.
To gather more information, Gwinnis had no choice but to send his cavalry deeper into exploration, leaving Targas to probe further afield. Wherever they went, villages and fields were in ruins, and the local people had vanished.
However, they hadn't perished but had fled to nearby forests, subsisting on wild fruits and vegetables they foraged. The castles of the various nobles, on the other hand, had their gates tightly shut. The people inside were highly agitated, ready to shout and scream at the slightest rustle of wind or grass.
Reaching the vicinity of Windermere City, the scouts found it a wasteland, ravaged by the Hafdan. Near the campsite of the noble coalition, thousands of bodies still lay unattended. With rising temperatures, these corpses began to decompose, emitting a stench that could be smelled hundreds of meters away, wrinkling the brows of the cavalry from afar.
As for the wheat fields across the land, the cavalry grew increasingly alarmed as they traveled. Lacking care and management from the farmers and coinciding with spring, a time of burgeoning life, the fields were overrun with weeds, some towering as tall as a man, obscuring any surviving wheat seedlings.
This year's harvest seemed a lost cause. Whether the territories could survive the year depended on the grain reserves in the lords' storehouses; otherwise, widespread famine was likely.
...
The cavalry galloped across the plains, now twenty kilometers from Targas. Upon reaching a hilltop, they saw an approaching army.
Gervis and his men paused to observe before issuing scouting orders. "Everyone, follow me for a closer look!" he commanded. "Observe their flags, numbers, weapons, and direction of travel!"
Under his direction, several horsemen dispersed from the flanks, taking advantage of their mounts' agility to risk approaching the unidentified force. At a few hundred meters, they realized the troop bore no flags. The men were generally tall, armed with shields and axes, followed by a large train of supply wagons and herds of cattle and sheep.
"It's the Hafdan!" they exclaimed. "Return to the territory at once and report to Baron Gwinnis!"
...
Gwinnis sat alone in his study, legs crossed, eyes closed, deep in meditation. This meditation did not enhance his magical powers or perception; it was purely a way to relax and rejuvenate his mind, especially after repeatedly practicing the "Crimson Thunderbolt" spell.
Regarding Rosaline's request for him to teach her magic, what could Gwinnis say but promise to do so next time? After all, even Rosaline couldn't teach Gwinnis the healing and candlelight spells she knew. Not that she didn't want to, but it was simply not possible.
At that moment, noise from the tower outside disturbed his tranquility. "The cavalry has returned!" the guards shouted. "Open the gate!"
The drawbridge was lowered, and over ten horsemen rushed in. When Gwinnis arrived in the courtyard, Gervis was already waiting.
"The Hafdan have returned," Gervis reported. "About a thousand of them, ten to fifteen kilometers away. They might reach within five kilometers of our territory by tonight and set up camp, likely appearing in Targas Territory tomorrow."
Gervis's report was precise and detailed, reflecting their improved scouting skills. Gwinnis nodded, having anticipated this possibility. The Hafdan had been gone for so long; it would have been best if they had left the North for good, but preparations had to be made in case they returned.
"Is there anything else to report?" Gwinnis asked, noticing Gervis's hesitation.
"Yes..." Gervis hesitated before continuing. "Before returning, we scouted along their route and discovered something unprecedented. They seem to be destroying the wheat fields."
...
Broc led a thousand men, marching on the roads. After splitting from Erik, he had again divided his forces into groups of a thousand, each led by a trusted lieutenant. Their sole order was to wreak as much havoc as possible in the entire territory of the Earl of Annon Valley.
From past experience, Broc knew to confine the nobles to their castles, then burn the local people's houses, and seize their property, grains, livestock, and other assets. However, he keenly noticed that the locals were particularly concerned about the plants in their fields, called rye.
In the North, the Hafdan had no tradition of farming, so they generally didn't pay much attention to crops. But this time, Broc realized that in territories looted early, the wheat fields had already been abandoned. In better-preserved territories, locals would tend to the fields after the Hafdan left, keeping the wheat in good condition.
Broc felt he had discovered an excellent way to cause destruction: annihilate all the wheat fields in sight. Burning houses and seizing property and grains could hurt the locals' economy, but not fatally. The wheat fields, however, were their real lifeline. Destroying them would have a long-lasting and lethal impact.
Elated by his cunning, Broc almost cheered. For the first time, he realized that besides brute strength and courage, intelligence was vital. The mission from Helmin was nearing completion; the entire territory of the Earl of Annon Valley was almost devastated. Regrettably, he hadn't thought to destroy their wheat fields earlier, wasting much time. Now, it was too late to revisit the entire territory, so he could only destroy any fields they passed on their way back.
Broc remembered the lush wheat fields in Targas Territory, which looked healthier and more beautiful than elsewhere. Even as a layman, he could see the difference. Having been thwarted at that castle, Broc harbored a grudge. Intent on giving the young, foolish lord a small Hafdan shock, he resolved to destroy their wheat fields, ensuring they would always remember the Hafdan's fearsome reputation.