Frostbound

Chapter 254 - Leaving Home

"This wagon's done! Get ready for the next!"

"I'm missing a strap over here."

"Go! Go! Move it! These supplies won't load themselves."

The staging grounds were working people into a flurry. Anyone with a Profession even tangentially related to logistics was recruited to ensure everything flowed efficiently and effectively.

We weren't going to force them to come along for the journey, only so that we had all the supplies we needed packed and readied in a timely manner.

We had enough volunteers that we were more than set for the journey ahead without resorting to conscription.

"Sophia," I called out to my Assistant, "How many more wagons need to be loaded?"

The blonde girl looked down at the sheets of paper she carried around and answered quickly, "14, my Lord."

If only she stopped doing that. Ever since being my Assistant allowed her to upgrade into a Noble's Assistant, she was rather insistent on using the title. Nothing I did could get her to stop.

I knew enough about what was happening to not be lost, but I let Sophia and Abigail handle most of the preparations. The three, including Abigail's Assistant Grace, did a great job of organizing everything.

It was better than what I could've pulled off, that was for sure.

Counting out the wagons that had already been loaded and looking over the supplies that were waiting to be, something stuck out. I didn't believe it to be a mistake, but I had to ask.

"It looks rather light on food," I said.

The personnel that were coming with us were the strongest we had. Both Orders along with an assortment of others who volunteered to come along were all preparing for the journey. Being the highest leveled people in our city, they had a similar high-level appetite.

Eating at level food was fine, but eating down, like we commonly did, made us rather voracious eaters and I didn't see enough to support us for the long journey.

"It can't be helped. We took all we could afford to. Any more and the City would starve." Sophia commented, "A ration is already in place as well. Any more and we risk destabilizing the City."

Our population boom didn't help matters. We were expecting another exponential growth this year as well, which only added to the complexity. Numerous farms and acres of farmland were cleared, plowed, and readied to feed everyone but they wouldn't start producing for at least a few months. Certain farms would be faster as they had gained levels from the previous year, but it would still be a few weeks.

I frowned. I wasn't looking forward to rationing my food, but I would make do.

Sophia saw my face and hurried to explain, "We will forage for what we can but this early in the season... there won't be much. We've already spoken with a few Nature Mages and Druids who think they should be able to speed that up, but we won't know until the time comes."

"We will make do," I stated.

We already planned to resupply when we hit The Twins. What I saw would last us until we made it there and if not, we would go hungry for a few days. Not ideal, but doable.

"How does our timeline look?"

"We should reach The Twins in 26 Days. After that, it depends on the River." She said.

Austin's initial journey there took months, but that was because he meandered about instead of walking in a straight line. Abigail's journey there and back took a little over a month each way.

Our estimation was on the inclusion of Caravan Leaders and Wagoneers. Their Professions provided them with skills to expedite travel. Merchants and Traders had similar skills but were less useful in the size we were dealing with.

Their specialties dealt more with single carts or only a couple, not the amount we had.

There were also a few Bards that were willing to tag along for the journey. They wouldn't participate in the fighting, but they were more than happy to provide their services. Give everyone a pep in their step. I wasn't the biggest fan of Bards but they had uses I couldn't ignore.

At the rate I was seeing everything go, it would only be another hour until the wagons were set and ready. Which meant it was time to ready everyone else.

"Are the..." it hurt to say it, "Bison Cavalry ready?"

Sophia stifled a laugh, "Yes, and they are prepared to take Icebreaker with them."

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

The name my Bison was given was out of my control. Some members of the Order got together and found the name poetic and started calling it that. As soon as it caught on, it was impossible to root out.

Maybe I'm not feared enough. Twice in a short time people were too stubborn to relent to my wishes. I should be happy they disagree with me. It was a relief that people got their spines back, but not when it came to stupid names.

Remi was mightily upset at Austin's gift, but I wouldn't be riding the Bison South. No one would for that matter. Sarah and the few Beast Handlers we had didn't have enough time to train the animals for people to ride, let alone for battle.

They were set to continue their work as we traveled and would hopefully get them in working order in time. The addition would slow us somewhat, but not by any significance. I had to write Marcus for an extra boat to be prepared but I was told he would handle it.

"Notify me when things are ready," I told Sophia, "I need to speak with Vincent and Sam before we leave."

Our resident Smith and Leatherworker would be in charge while all of us were gone. I wasn't pleased with leaving our City as... weak as we were, but that was the purpose of all the work I put into it.

The Wards, enchantments, and fortifications. They were all built for the sole purpose of protecting my family while I wasn't there. I needed to trust in the blood, sweat, and hard work I, and everyone else, put into its creation.

A few others were staying behind, but most were coming with me. Even Connor, who was usually content to stay in his lab, decided to come.

Our final number was 841.

Double how many marched previously.

Only double the numbers, but well over double the power.

Levels, gear, skills, experience, Laws, even Anchors. The people gearing up to leave were heads and shoulders above the greenhorns who did so last time.

It was sad. Sad that it wasn't the first.

Sad because it wouldn't be the last.

It wasn't long before we set out.

"This is impressive. I'll give them that much." The sight was more than I anticipated.

"The bridge is new." Austin said, "That wasn't here last time. Neither were the walls. They were hastily built barricades more than anything. Nothing like those."

Travel went quickly, and while there were a few days of light eating, it was far from being a problem. A few hunters and Nature Mages did their best and we made do.

I had to restrain my larger appetite, but so be it.

Everyone was excited to finally arrive at our destination. Those who had been here before were drained of all their stories by those who hadn't. With little else to pass the time, fireside stories were some of our best entertainment.

Other than watching people fall off bison, but that got dull rather quickly.

What stood before me was impressive for the time they had in building it. Including the hardship they went through, they took less time than we did.

Thick Walls of blue-washed granite stood tall and ranged around the City. They didn't hold the same indomitable feeling ours did, but they were still an impressive sight in their own right.

There wasn't a large Castle at the center or a fortress in the making. Instead, it was only a bustling population center inside. It also forwent an Inner Wall, relying instead on the singular ring for protection.

But that wasn't all they had for protection.

Lining the walls were weapons of war that had seen use in combat. The stories Austin told were enough to tell me that much. Catapults mainly, instead of our chosen siege weapon, but with interspaced Ballistae to back them up.

Towers dominated every hundred or so feet with additional weapons of their own. While I didn't have the vision others did, I could pick out men and women walking up and down the length of wall on patrol from here.

I was too far away to make out their gear, but they seemed experienced from the way they strode around with purpose.

Other than the large wall to dominate the view, the River took up the rest. It was much larger than it should've been. The Mississippi was large, I knew that much and had seen it Before, but this was where it started. It didn't get to its monstrous size until a few more waterways merged into it, yet here it was. Wide and rushing.

Spanning the wide river was a masterfully built bridge made of stone and had thick pillars spearing through the current and holding up its weight.

The expanse of farms was nearly lost compared to the stout works of art that drew the eye. Even as they were being worked and people moved up and down the countless rows, it was hard to take notice of them compared to everything else.

"I thought you said it was more of an Army encampment than a City," I questioned Austin.

He looked just as flabbergasted as the people seeing it for the first time. "It was when I left. Most of this is new."

The Gate stood open and inviting as their Scouts long ago picked us up and if they hadn't, the runner we sent ahead would have.

Through them, a glimpse of what the Wall hid could be seen. A straight and clean road for as far as I could make out. People walked with purpose to where they had to be porting supplies and materials.

The framework and bones of the structures were similar enough to ours. Multi-story and a mixture of wood and stone, but that was where the similarities ended.

Due to the snowfall we experienced, roofs had to have steep peaks. If not, they would cave in from the accumulated weight. Buildings made entirely of stone could get around this, like my Castle, but most wooden buildings couldn't.

While I didn't doubt they saw their fair share of snow, the buildings didn't represent that.

They had flatter pitches. Not flat, and still steeper than average homes from before, but not the same as home. They also had a lot more windows. Windows were the worst when it came to heat retainment which the people here didn't have to worry about as much.

Other than the architecture being different, it was the clothing that I noticed next.

The Clothes followed in a similar manner. Fewer layers, fewer people wearing fur, and a lot of lighter, breezier cloth instead of thick hides.

I had to admit, we were halfway through Spring and the onset of Summer was near, but it was still odd. When we left, people were only just starting to lose the Winter layers.

Everyone took in the new City and even I spent a fair share of time looking around at everything as we closed in. Tracy's... camp was a far cry from a City and Ashton's didn't count. Both paled in comparison to what was built here.

Meeting us a step inside the gate was who I assumed to be an aide or assistant of some kind. He wore better-made clothes and they were clearly not for leisure.

It wasn't a suit and didn't have a tie or bow, but it was still fancier than what I saw the people working the fields wearing.

He bowed slightly, another indication this wasn't Frostheim, and greeted us.

"Welcome to The Twin Cities, the Lord is waiting for you. My name is Gregory and I will be your guide." Coming up from his bow, the man had a sincere smile on his face and a disarming... happiness about it.

It unnerved me.

"Lead on."