These words hit everyone's sore spot.
Freelance knights looked glorious, but in reality, life was tough.
Especially since there hadn't been any major wars in the North in recent years, they often couldn't find a single employment quest in a month.
What's more, Winter Is Coming!
If they didn't save up some Gold Dragons and Silver Stags, let alone drinking and eating meat, whether they could survive the coming long winter was unknown.
One hundred Silver Stags a month, plus food and lodging.
This treatment was considered very generous.
As for leaving the North to go South.
Not many people considered it.
Aside from not wanting to leave their homeland.
It was also because the competition in the South was too intense. For freelance knights like them who had no reputation in the outside world, it was even harder to find suitable employment quests.
Tom scratched his head and didn't say anything more.
The other knights also stopped complaining, as if accepting their fate.
The expressions of the two Cerwyn soldiers looked a bit better, no longer so sullen.
"This Don Quixote is quite sensible. We really underestimated him before."
The two Cerwyn soldiers had been to the Iron Axe Tavern many times and were more familiar with Don Quixote than the other strange knights.
It was just that they hadn't thought much of him before.
Thinking Don Quixote was just a down-and-out knight.
They had seen plenty of people like that.
But unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, Don Quixote had become a lord who could command them.
They had heard their comrades talk about the brilliant spar between Don Quixote and Ser Kyle.
Although they hadn't witnessed that exciting scene personally, their opinion of Don Quixote had improved a lot.
"This Don Quixote is an upright knight!"
The two Cerwyn soldiers exchanged glances, understanding each other's meaning.
Besides following Don Quixote's command, they also had another mission.
That was to secretly monitor the actions of these freelance knights.
If any egregious behavior occurred, they would report it directly to Captain Liam.
Don Quixote spoke again at this time, his voice steady:
"Everyone, work hard these few days and do a good job patrolling!
"When it's time to rest, I'll treat everyone to drinks at the Iron Axe Tavern.
"Meat as much as you can eat! Wine as much as you can drink!"
Hearing this, everyone's eyes instantly lit up!
"The Vice-Captain is generous! Isn't it just patrolling? No big deal!"
"Don't talk about three laps around this market, even five laps, I can handle it!"
"Exactly! With hot ale to drink, freezing a bit is worth it!"
"The Vice-Captain understands us!"
Everyone, who was full of resentment just now, instantly beamed with joy, and the discomfort brought by the morning chill dissipated by half.
...You are still too young to know that all gifts bestowed by fate have already been secretly marked with a price!
Don Quixote's gaze swept lightly over these people, a trace of depth flashing in his eyes.
It's easy to see a person's nature at the drinking table, especially after getting drunk; many things can't be hidden.
He planned to start preliminarily screening these people from the drinking table.
The suitable ones would be kept for further observation.
The unsuitable ones would be driven out of this guard squad at the first opportunity.
And such opportunities were not hard to find.
He needed trustworthy people, people who wouldn't easily betray him!
---
Time passed quickly.
Two days later.
The temporary trade market outside Castle Cerwyn officially opened.
Don Quixote quickly finished breakfast and led his six subordinates to guard the main entrance of the trade market.
Not long after.
Many figures on horseback appeared from the direction of Castle Cerwyn.
They were heading this way.
Seeing this, Liam hurriedly shouted in a low voice:
"The Earl is coming! Perk up, stand straight!"
As his voice fell, everyone quickly put away their casual attitude, straightened their backs one by one, and looked solemn.
Don Quixote also straightened up slightly, looking in the direction where the group of people was coming.
In the morning light.
A group of knights surrounded a person in the middle, slowly approaching.
That person wore a dark brown wool cloak with silver edges and a longsword inlaid with gems at his waist. It was Earl Medger.
Steward Raymond followed beside Earl Medger.
Ser Kyle protected Earl Medger on the right.
Behind them followed several elite cavalrymen of House Cerwyn.
These elite cavalrymen were all wearing full plate armor.
Their eyes were cold and their presence intimidating.
"She came too."
Don Quixote's gaze quickly swept over these people and finally stopped on one of the ladies.
Jonelle Cerwyn!
She wore a sharp dark grey riding outfit covered by a black wool cloak with silver piping.
Her dark brown long hair was tied high in a ponytail, secured only by a silver hairpin, highlighting her fair and lovely neck.
The delicate gentleness she had when they met before was gone from her brow and eyes; at this moment, she fully displayed the unique heroic spirit of Northern women.
By the oak fence at the market entrance, many local tenant farmers, hunters, and small vendors had already gathered.
"My Lord Earl!"
Seeing Earl Medger arrive in person, everyone bowed in salute.
The originally somewhat noisy market entrance instantly quieted down.
Earl Medger reined in his horse, his gaze first sweeping over the guard squad before him, which was fairly orderly, and nodded with satisfaction.
Then he turned to look at the market inside the fence.
Inside the oak fence, dozens of stalls had already been set up, and nearly ten stone and wooden huts had been neatly built.
Everything was in good order.
Earl Medger looked at Raymond and smiled:
"Well done."
Raymond immediately responded:
"The Earl planned properly; I merely acted on orders and handled these subsequent trivial matters."
Hearing this, the corners of Earl Medger's lips hooked up slightly, even more satisfied.
Looking around again, his gaze fell on the surrounding tenant farmers, hunters, and traveling merchants, and he said loudly:
"Today, this temporary trade market outside Castle Cerwyn officially opens!
"From now on, merchants from north and south can trade here.
"House Cerwyn follows the rules, will not treat merchants harshly, and will not oppress the smallfolk. I hope everyone gets what they need and lives a peaceful life.
"Winter Is Coming!
"Only by sticking together can we survive the long, severe cold!"
As Earl Medger's words fell, the crowd by the fence responded one after another, their faces full of joy.
Markets in the North were extremely rare.
There was only one city.
—White Harbor!
White Harbor was located at the mouth of the White Knife in the southern part of the North, ruled by House Manderly.
They obtained the ancient castle—the Wolf's Den—from House Stark!
And developed it step by step into the prosperous port it is today.
Although there was a trade area inside Castle Cerwyn, due to concerns for the Earl's safety, many strict restrictions were established.
For many people, it was ultimately inconvenient.
Now this trade market outside the city seemed different.
No need to comply with the strict rules of Castle Cerwyn, no need to look at the faces of the city guards.
Tenant farmers and hunters could arrive as soon as they lifted their feet, and could also exchange some daily supplies.
Merchants coming from the south didn't need to stay in the narrow and expensive inns of Castle Cerwyn.
The stalls inside the fence also looked spacious.
Those few stone and wooden huts might even be able to store some goods that fear dampness.
It was much more comfortable than staying in that narrow trade area in the city.
Earl Medger spoke again at this time:
"The market is set up, and the rules must be set firmly.
"Any forced buying or selling, or sneaky troublemakers, once discovered, I will not tolerate.
"I hope everyone follows the rules and does legitimate business!"
"Yes, My Lord Earl!" The crowd responded.
...