It was the 15th day of Florentis, the second month of spring. My nights with Natalia continued, sexually and romantically. It gave me strength, but outside my room, work pressed harder every day. Supplies needed managing, plans had to be drawn, and Orshek had to grow.
That morning, messages arrived from nearby villages. Oswin and I were called to a meeting in the long hall. The village chief and his elders were already gathered. Their faces were lined with concern and curiosity.
The chief spoke first. "Your town cannot build so many houses alone. You need help. The message asks us to send workers."
An old farmer asked, "If we send men, who will tend our fields and the mines? Can Orshek feed them all?"
Another elder said, "If Orshek grows, we all grow. If it falls, our villages will be next. The prince is a royal heir. He will not be abandoned by the crown."
The room was divided. Some feared hunger, others trusted the support of the nobles. Voices rose and fell as arguments went back and forth. Some worried about food, others about safety. In the end, the chief said, "We will send two hundred workers. They will stay and build, but they must be fed and paid like your own."
I nodded. "They will be treated the same as Orshek's people."
The decision was final. I returned to the square with Oswin to prepare for their arrival.
Two days later, two hundred villagers arrived with carts of tools and food. Men carried axes, hammers, and saws. They looked uncertain but ready.
Oswin raised his voice in the square."Workers will be divided into teams of twenty. Each team will follow a leader. Carpenters, stoneworkers, diggers, clay makers, and support crews. Follow orders. Report problems. Stay organized."
The plan was simple. We needed 120 houses in one month.
Trenches were dug for foundations.
Timber frames were set.
Clay and straw filled the walls.
Roofs were made with thatch.
Everyone had a role. Children carried water, women mixed clay, men lifted beams. Blacksmiths worked all day repairing tools. I personally checked some equipment to ensure it could withstand the workload.
I also began designing a kiln. With it, we could make lime and cement. Stronger buildings meant fewer repairs. I explained the basics to the masons. They listened carefully, asking questions about fuel, firing times, and proportions. Though new to them, they understood quickly.
Far from town, on a high cliff, two men in ragged clothes watched the growing settlement.
"Too many houses. Too fast," one said.
The other nodded. "The longer we wait, the stronger they get."
A third man appeared, dressed better than the first two. "Prepare quickly. The order is given. We attack soon."
They continued observing, noting the number of workers, the pace of construction, and the new houses near the road.
Most new houses were built near the Roman-style road we had almost finished. The road made transport faster. Stones, gravel, and timber were moved on carts and stored in piles along the way. Carpenters and masons worked steadily. Children carried water, and women delivered food and clay. Every person had a task and knew their role.
After ten more days, another 160 workers arrived by near villages. Together with Orshek's people, nearly 1,000 men and women worked daily. The sound of hammers and saws filled the air. Teams rotated between digging, cutting, and building.
Costs were rising. My treasury had dropped to only 25% of its previous level. Salaries, food, tools, and repairs drained it fast. I tracked every coin closely, cutting where I could without slowing construction.
The next morning, Oswin reported."A convoy has reached Orshek. Well-guarded. Their leader is Cedric Havelin, a weapons trader."
Cedric entered with three subordinates and several crates. Before arriving, he had been shown samples of your weapons by two traders, Alaric Veynor and Selina Torval, who had already seen Orshek's work and suggested he come meet me if they caught his interest.
Cedric spoke directly to me as he entered."I am Cedric Havelin. I've heard much about your crossbows, repeater bows, and compound bows from Alaric Veynor and Selina Torval. They brought samples to me, and I was impressed. I had to see the real weapons myself.
One subordinate opened crates containing crossbows, bolts, a repeating bow, and a compound bow. Cedric carefully examined every detail, comparing them to the samples he had been shown.
"I brought my own samples to compare," he said, "but from what I've seen, your designs may surpass even these."
I examined them—crossbows first, then repeaters, then compound bows. Smooth, precise, and ready.
"Your crossbows are solid. Steel tips?" I asked.
"Yes. Reliable mechanism. Your repeaters are faster, though," Cedric replied, nodding.
"Repeater bow fires eight bolts quickly. Good for close combat," one subordinate said.
"Correct," I said. "Compound bow?"
Cedric tested it himself. "Long range, easy draw, accurate. Your draw weight is higher, more force."
I nodded. "We want weapons effective and simple. Any soldier or peasant should use them without training."
Cedric leaned forward. "I want a special contract. Exclusive rights to trade your stock."
I raised an eyebrow. "Exclusive? Then you must meet my conditions."
He listened. I laid them out:
25% advance payment on large orders
Must tell me which battles the weapons are used in
Must send smiths or apprentices to Orshek. They will get houses, food, pay
Must share market updates from other towns
His second-in-command frowned. "Buyers are confidential."
I pressed him. "Then at least tell me where they are used. If they appear in battle, the whole continent will know anyway."
Cedric nodded. "Acceptable."
Then he asked, "Where did you get the blueprints for these weapons?"
I refused. "That will not be shared."
He did not push further. We agreed on 500 crossbows for next month, 25% advance payment. His subordinates would help our blacksmiths as needed, asking practical questions about housing, schedules, and workflow.
The advance restored my treasury to about 40%. Salaries could be paid. Supplies could be bought. I adjusted schedules to ensure workers were fed and paid.
Oswin and I walked through the streets. People gathered around Cedric's convoy. His wagons and guards looked rich and powerful.
"This has never happened here," Oswin said. "The people feel hope. They see Orshek is not forgotten."
I saw it too. Morale was rising. Houses were rising. Workers were busy. Trade had arrived. Orshek was no longer just surviving. It was becoming a town with purpose, defense, and growth.
That night, I looked at Natalia. She watched the construction from the balcony, her eyes reflecting the streets below. Words were not needed. Orshek was alive.