Version 2.0
Brandon returned from the lands of the Blackwood King, after many weeks of trying to root out the Blackwood King but ultimately failing to find any major camps of the Blackwood King even after finding out they are using the trees as their shelters. Once back word spread quickly through the lands, carried on the lips of traders and travellers alike, of what people call slavery done by the Blackwood King.
Brandon was not alone in his discovery, as similar reports began to surface from the Greenwood and Glover Kings, each telling of captive innocent men and women held by the followers of the Blackwood King. The news spread like wildfire, igniting a fierce determination among the northern lords to seek justice for the victims of such heinous crimes.
Amidst the growing turmoil and religious fever, the more Old religious Kings of the North, of Greenwood, Glover, Marsh, Warg, and Frost openly criticised the Blackwood King and what his religious followers were doing. They preached the virtues of the Old Gods and the sacred tenets of their faith, adding to it by condoning the abhorrent practice of slavery that had taken root in the lands of the Blackwood King.
Their message struck a chord with people, the idea of being taken from their homes by force and moved to distant lands terrified them, especially with the onside of a new winter. People felt safer by their kings condoning the practice and preaching their beliefs. Everyone gained, the kings gained greater love from the people and the people gained what they thought was protection from slavery.
/
As winter started to settle its hold upon the North, Brandon found himself seated in his solar, the flickering flames of the hearth casting a warm glow upon the room as snow fell gently outside. Beside him sat Alys, and across from them, were Alys's husband Benjen and his brother Sam. With the onset of winter, crops were going to struggle and many of them would die, it would only get worse and the winter became colder and they only had so much time left where crops could still be looked after.
"My King," Benjen said, placing down a bag of crops on the desk, and smiling brightly. "The breeding of crops has gone well, with so much variety in the market I managed to breed many different and better varieties, they produce more and grow a bit faster."
"Good work Benjen," Brandon said feeling the wheat between his fingers. "What about them surviving the cold then?"
"I have already been working on breeding the crops that I found on my travels and now with winter back, I can see the progress and if they have taken well, but that will take time. But for now, Sam has got something else." He said as he placed two rabbits on the desk.
"My king." Sam bowed awkwardly before Brandon. "My brother told me of what he was doing with the plants, my brother was always smarter than me, but I noticed that his work could be applied to animals. With my brother's help, I started doing the same work on animals, starting with smaller ones. I have bred rabbits with thick furs, and larger bodies. With the number of crops growing, I had plenty of food to feed them and I had success." He says, barely looking up at Brandon, just staring at his feet whilst Benjen shows the difference between the two rabbits showing slightly more meat on the second one.
"He is just modest my King." Benjen wraps his army around his brother's shoulder. "It's been a massive success on smaller animals, and we have started to apply it to larger animals like oxen, sheep, and pigs. It will take a long time to see any success with animals taking longer to grow, but we are very hopeful of it."
Brandon smiles. "Good, I want you to start teaching it to other farmers then."
"But my King." Benjen straightens up. "We can use this for the farm we can make a much greater profit by using this to our advantage, we-"
"Benjen." Branon sharply cuts in. "We did not start this process to make money off our people, that is not what was the point. We did this to help our people and to stop the winters from taking so many people's lives. It seems that you have forgotten yourself Benjen." Brandon said, staring deeply at Benjen.
"Yes, my King," Benjen said bowing slightly to Brandon.
"We work for the people, don't forget that. Keep up the good work Benjen and Sam I look forward to hearing back from you and the progress that other farmers start to make."
/
As the weeks passed and winter grew, Brandon found himself consumed by constant hunts. With each passing day, he moved out from his keep to track down bandits and brigands that plagued his lands, his sword arm ever ready to mete out justice to those who dared to sow chaos and discord among his people.
And as Brandon travelled day and night, he would see the same battles played out, battled between villages and Celtic/ Blackwood men, camps of slavers and slaves, and stories of disputes turning violent. As he traversed the rugged terrain of his kingdom, he encountered more and more people who had embraced the teachings of the Old Gods, not liking the way the Celtic was being taken and seeking to conform to the simplicity of the Old Gods.
Brandon found himself drawn into conversations with these followers of the Old Gods, they were always kind, polite, and willing to help, and he seemed to never have a bad encounter with one. And though he remained neutral on the matter of religion, his heart stirred when he watched the unity of the community that many of them had when they would help and spend time with everyone in the village.
They just always seemed to get along with everyone and connect them whilst the Celtics seemed to go the opposite way and as the days when by it just seemed to look perfect to Brandon.