The treasure of the White Dragon was now in their hands, and Lott and Morgan had little qualms about claiming it. The notion of stealing from the old man didn't weigh heavily on them—after all, the Red Dragon's treasure was still up for grabs.
Lott commanded his men, "Prepare to load the treasure onto the ship and send it back to Orkney."
"Yes, Your Majesty," came the swift response. The Orkney knights, awestruck by the sheer amount of wealth, quickly set about transporting the treasure.
Morgan advised Lott, "We should ensure these treasures are sent under the protection of someone trustworthy."
"Agreed," Lott said, contemplating. Kay could handle this well. He's suited for stewardship and the management of the Knights of the Round Table.
Morgan raised an eyebrow, questioning Lott's choice. "Kay?"
Lott acknowledged Morgan's concern, realizing he had perhaps overlooked the implications of Kay's future responsibilities. Nevertheless, he decided Kay was fit to oversee the treasure's safekeeping.
Morgan was curious about who would lead the charge if Kay handled internal affairs. Maybe Altria should lead the charge? She pondered, assessing Altria's strength before making a final decision.
As Lott finalized the orders, Morgan asked, "How do you plan to manage the situation in Vortigern's castle?"
The castle's condition was chaotic due to the sudden change in leadership. Morgan and Lott observed that many areas were plagued by crime, with soldiers and local ruffians creating disorder.
Lott sighed, "Conquering is easier than governing. Managing the aftermath is always challenging."
Morgan nodded in agreement. "It's already messy with just a single castle. If we were to conquer all of Britain or even France, the difficulties would only increase."
Morgan turned to Lott, eager to hear his solution. "What's your plan to restore order here?"
Lott, deep in thought, considered the best course of action. To stabilize the city, we need to unite some people who can maintain order. But who?
Morgan suggested, "What about the nobles? Could they help maintain order?"
Lott shook his head. Relying on the nobles is risky. They might betray us and side with Vortigern, taking advantage of the situation for their gain.
Lott pondered over the potential pitfalls of using nobles to maintain order, realizing it could lead to a skewed distribution of benefits and could undermine their control.
Morgan noticed Lott's hesitation but understood the reasoning behind his thoughts. She agreed that dealing with nobles might not be ideal.
Lott was contemplating whether to let civilians maintain order instead. Though unconventional, giving civilians some benefits might be more effective. But it might appear radical, and people might not accept it, especially Morgan.
Morgan, however, supported the idea. "Lott, if you have a plan, implement it. I'll back you up no matter how unconventional it may seem."
She reassured him, "Even if you're deemed mad, I'll stand by you. We must be the most daring and bold leaders."
With her encouragement, Lott felt more confident. He decided to take bold steps to ensure their control over the castle and its governance.
Lott summoned all the nobles and civilians in the castle. Standing on a raised platform, he addressed the assembly.
"I have three things to announce," he began. "First, I am King Lott of Orkney. Second, ensure no misdeeds go unnoticed. Third, fairness will be upheld."
The crowd was bewildered. Nobles were sceptical of the notion of fairness, while civilians felt it was a distant concept meant only for the elite.
Lott observed their confusion and thought, People are accustomed to subservience to nobles. Changing societal structures will be challenging, but it's necessary.
He issued orders to his soldiers, "Arrest all the nobles. We'll use them as leverage to negotiate with Vortigern."
The nobles were stunned, but the soldiers, led by Altria, followed orders promptly, arresting the nobles who were not actively fighting at the front.
With the nobles detained, Lott turned his attention to the remaining civilians, preparing to address their needs and establish order.