Derek never spoke a superfluous word. However, his uncle Andrew, a shrewd man, would undoubtedly understand the underlying message of his letter: he needed people.
Derek sent his knight squire, Simon, back with several soldiers, and not empty-handed. Along with the soldiers' wages, Simon carried gifts for Uncle Andrew and a settlement fee.
What's the purpose of the settlement fee? It's to recruit people. As the actual manager of Macdot Village, Andrew could easily manage some under-the-table dealings that no one could stop. For the future of his son, he would be willing to take some risks. Even if his elder brother discovered it, he would only scold him a bit. Would he really have the heart to punish his own younger brother for helping his son secretly undermine his own position? Understanding the intricacies of personal connections, Derek had made his intentions clear.
Simon was thrilled. Being with Sir Derek had completely transformed his life. After almost a year, he had gone from a simple farm boy to a robust knight squire. The experiences and sights he encountered had broadened his horizons greatly. And then there was Sir Derek—truly impressive. Compared to the members of the Ferreira family he had met, no one could compare to Sir Derek. In Simon's view, it was correct for Baron Ferreira to pass the title to Derek.
With several soldiers, Simon returned to Macdot Village. He first delivered the letters and wages to the soldiers' families. The money was enough to provide them with a comfortable living and even allow them to expand their households. For farming families, the savings from having one less mouth to feed, combined with the additional income, were significant.
Each year, many infants are abandoned and die, which affects population growth. Simon's arrival naturally attracted Andrew's attention. As the sheriff, he interrogated all newcomers, especially those with full gear.
When Andrew arrived, he was surprised to find it was all a misunderstanding.
"Simon? You're the boy who left with my nephew?" Andrew's memory was sharp, and since Macdot Village was small, he recognized Simon immediately. Seeing Simon now, clad in iron-plated leather armor with a black longsword at his waist, and his robust frame along with a commanding presence, Andrew might have mistaken him for a wandering knight if he hadn't known him.
Next to Simon was a robust warhorse—a genuine warhorse, not one of those merely decorative creatures. Andrew remembered that when his nephew left, he was riding a plain packhorse. The entire set of equipment must have cost around twenty gold coins. Had his nephew really risen so quickly?
Andrew was astonished. However, the Simon standing before him was no longer the farm boy he could casually reprimand. Simon, aware of Andrew's close ties with Derek, approached him and gave a respectful bow.
"Sheriff Andrew, I have a letter from Sir Derek for you, as well as messages for Baron Ferreira and others, along with some gifts."
Derek's communication was not just a polite gesture but also included small gifts to build alliances. This convinced Andrew that his nephew had indeed made a significant leap.
For a noble younger son, finding a path forward was incredibly challenging, much like Andrew's own experience. Observing the crowd, Andrew led Simon back to his home.
Andrew inquired about Derek's activities, but Simon only vaguely mentioned some business dealings without going into specifics. Business of this scale wasn't something just anyone could handle.
"Could it be that someone influential from Earl Perez's circle is supporting him?" Andrew speculated. Given Derek's achievements and his abrupt departure from the knightly order, Andrew wondered if Derek had become a right-hand man for some powerful figure.
Once at home, Andrew wasted no time. He opened Derek's letter and, being perceptive, quickly discerned the underlying message. The decision was clear—accept Derek's invitation.
Adrian, Andrew's own son, was unlikely to rise beyond a standard-bearer in the Ferreira family and might struggle to advance further. The competition from the eldest brother's children and other relatives was fierce. There was a strong possibility that Adrian could end up relegated to farming in the next generation. Without a noble title and lands, maintaining the family's honor was difficult.
Rather than face such a decline, Andrew decided it was better to seize the opportunity to venture out with Derek and make a fresh start.
At an opportune moment, Simon presented the gifts: a wooden chest containing ten finely crafted longswords, each worth about the same as the iron sword he had sent earlier.
Derek was generous in his dealings. After accounting for labor, the cost of producing the items was only about one gold coin. These gifts, whether used by Andrew himself or sold, were very easy to move.
This further solidified Andrew's resolve.
"Simon, come with me to Ferreira Castle to deliver the gifts and letters to the Baron."
The two set off at a brisk pace, and Simon was soon summoned by Baron Ferreira. Although Simon kept tight-lipped about additional details, the Baron did not press for more information. After all, his own son making something of himself was a positive outcome.
Baron Ferreira was aware of Andrew's intentions but chose to overlook them. It was only natural to favor the most promising son among the siblings.
What he did not anticipate was how aggressively Andrew was pursuing this opportunity.
Adrian, now just a member of the Ferreira family cavalry without any official rank or title, found himself reluctantly parting with the family's equipment, warhorse, and weapons. While the chance to forge his own path was appealing, the transition was difficult.
Andrew reprimanded Adrian harshly, urging him to face reality.
"Go to your cousin. Would he treat you poorly? Serve him well, as I served my brother. Derek is your lord now. If you are dismissed, the family estate will pass to your brother, and you'll return to farming."
Andrew, driven by his own suppressed frustrations, was determined to make the most of his son's chance. He recruited fifty robust young men, almost emptying McDuff Village in the process. The impact on the village's farming in the coming year would be slight but noticeable. Andrew was committed to this endeavor, even if it meant sacrificing a little in the short term.