Chapter 9 -

Special thanks to my beta, VladImpaler. He does good work. :)

Three months later

Another day for Erik was another day of shovelling. The head of the road-building company stood watching the younger men work, as all managers do. The work had been very simple these past few weeks, just digging, mixing water, the powdered lime mixture Lord Aelon gave them, and rocks then pouring it over the hole then repeating the process all over again.

"Lads, add more pebbles to the mix, the more there are the stronger it will be and don't stop stirring. Hey Robby, dig faster, we need to pour the whole barrel today and that trench is not big enough." said the manager to his men.

The new building material the young lord Aelon had dubbed concrete was extremely useful. It took a long time to harden after being poured but in the end, you had a solid piece of hard rock you couldn't make with normal stones.

The work so far had been tough but better paid, well worth the extra effort.

Erik was feeling jovial, "Robby, you tired already?"

Robby laughed, "You kidding? I can do this all day." Throwing some more dirt off the path with his shovel.

"Well, all day is about to end in two hours so I don't think that's much to boast about." Erik smiled as Miles, another one of his workers shovelling near Robby said it. He was a good lad.

"Very funny, Miles." replied Robby with a playful scowl on his face and went back to digging.

"I heard you gave your wife another child. Do you like fucking so much or you just hate your boy so much you want to replace him." Miles said, a smirk on his face.

The man named Robby stopped his work and impaled his shovel in the ground. Robby had a goofy smile on his face as he faced the younger man named Miles.

"Listen, Miles, I wanna make this clear. I love my son, I really do. I love having children, plain as that. You might understand better when you get older but I love looking after them and I love raising them, it makes me feel blessed. I want another child so I can experience it all over. The pay from this job is twice what I earned before so now I can afford another mouth to feed." The jolly man returned to his work feeling more motivated after saying his piece.

"It sure is good pay. If I ever feel like you do I'll let you know." the lad Miles returned to his own digging. No time to waste, when the sun was setting.

Erik listened in to the conversations with a fond smile. He really was proud to work for Lord Aelon, everyone's lives have improved since he took the lordship of Eastwood. His opinion of high-born in general has risen since he witnessed his lord's success. It was a rare thing for a lord to care for those who worked his land, a thing none would take for granted.

Erik sighed and rolled his shoulders, turning away from Miles and Robby. He wondered what they would make for dinner, it was getting dark already.

"Agh!" A choking sound reached his ears.

Erik spun around to find Robby slumped over, an arrow sticking from his neck. That was the first of a rain of arrows that fell on their camp, injuring or killing more of his men and soon after people with rags and weapons came pouring out from the woods, screaming bloody murder.

The horses near their camp were rearing and snapped the ropes binding them, Erik and Miles ran towards them to try and make an escape. Miles mounted his horse and flattened himself against the back of the horse, narrowly dodging an arrow.

Erik was not so lucky.

The boy didn't dare turn his head as his horse galloped away from the building site, but he could hear the slaughter clearly. All Miles could think about as he fled was that poor Robby would never get to meet his second child.

The town of Eastwood was flourishing. Soon after arriving back with Edwell, I had needed to order the construction of a new set of walls in order to accommodate the influx of migrants that had continued making their way to my lands. Something I was sure would only rile up Lord Buckler further. Something I would definitely need to pay more attention to.

My eyes scanned the various reports that had piled up. My new farming methods had been fully implemented and that had doubled the number of migrants coming to Eastwood each month.

Bryan had worked out the process of making brandy as well as refining a new design of distillery which was apparently more efficient, he had taken the initiative and begun employing more men and ordering more materials. Expansion with my businesses always came as a thrill to me. My power was not in men, nor in a bloodline, merely in business and ideas. Bryan also gave me the news that Olyvar had finished his apprenticeship and now had a position managing new recruits and ensuring they were properly trained. I felt happy on Oly's behalf, as little time as I saw him nowadays he had been one of the first friendly faces in my new home.

Setting that report to the side I picked up another.

Maester Armon had successfully seen to the beginning of my engineering college, the building is nearly finished. Nothing so grand for now, but I was sure that would change over time. The number of previous Citadel acolytes that had been collected stood at thirteen, a good number to begin with. I had authorised grants to be paid to them for creating upgraded farm equipment. In for a penny, in for a pound, I had started the agricultural revolution. I may as well see it through.

Significant progress had also been made on connecting Eastwood to Storm's End, the road now sat only a couple of miles away from the border with Lord Rogar's personal demesne. I would soon need to dispatch a letter to him asking for him to decide whether he would fund Eastwood Roads continuing the road to his gates. I was sure that once he laid eyes on the raised stone road he would see its worth. Erik had done a masterful job of constructing the road, I had assigned him more gold dragons for him to pay more men with once I saw that he was doing a good job.

A further decision on my part was building up a group of well trained professional soldiers. Not many, since having a standing army looks like a threat and also is extremely expensive. I had a hundred men training currently, Ser Morden had been charged with battering them into a reasonable force, Ser Edwell had taken to helping him most days. I felt rather sorry for those men. Once they were trained I would evaluate and see if I should raise another hundred, or 'century' as I had begun calling them. What was the point in having the Aquila for a sigil if I don't have a legion underneath me?

The Century was only being trained in the sword and spear for now. If they were expanded later on I could always look into the use of pikes. They worked rather well for the Swiss I remembered. The confrontation with Lord Buckler was the spark that ignited my interest in my military capabilities. I had worked out that at maximum I could pull around twelve-hundred levies from the population of my lands. Any more and my farms and businesses would have to shut down which was obviously not a state of affairs that I would like to see.

The average higher lord in Westeros had around a maximum levy capacity of four thousand. Except in the reach, the numbers there could be almost double that. I had realised that due to the strange circumstances of my ennoblement, I was technically on the same feudal level as Lords such as Buckler and Errol, despite the fact their lands were obviously greater and their power much more.

Petty lords such as myself were often sworn to another lord and then that other lord sworn to a lord paramount, whereas I was only beholden to Lord Baratheon himself.

It was at this point in my pondering that a guard burst through the door.

"My lord, apologies but a man has arrived with grave news." The guard beckoned and left the solar.

I stood up urgently and made to follow the guard.

We reached the yard to see Ser Morden trying to calm down a familiar man looking badly beaten. A frown worked its way onto my face. What the fuck happened now?

"Ser Morden, what's happened?"

The man grimaced, "Erik and the roadbuilders have been attacked by bandits."

My eyebrows shot up, "Fuck, bandits! What of Erik?"

The beaten man looked up at me, "They are all dead, my lord. I was the only survivor. They came out of the trees as we were finishing up for the day. I saw one of the bastards slay Erik myself."

Oh fuck. Bandits are not usually so bloodthirsty. Robbery? Sure. Murder of a lord's men? Not so much. I could see Edwell in the background with a grave look on his face.

I walked over to him, "What do you think Ed?"

Ed replied, "This does not seem like simple banditry."

I couldn't help but agree. "I don't like where you are taking this."

"I think you are reaping the consequences of poaching a lord's smallfolk." Ed's face remained emotionless.

"Surely you don't suggest what I think you are? He wouldn't break the king's peace just for a petty grudge!" For the first time since I lived by Harrenhal, I felt fear.

Edwell nodded grimly. "I believe he would. Lords are a proud lot, Stormlord's even more so. He feels slighted, not to mention he thinks you killed his influential uncle."

I grunted and looked at a guard. "Take the man to Maester Armon."

I nodded at Morden. "Ser Morden, gather the Century. It looks like we need to do some investigating. I suspect Lord Buckler's involvement in this."

"Are you sure, my lord? That may be seen as an act of overt aggression. It is a bold claim to be made, though not without reason I suppose. We should inform Lord Baratheon." Morden looked very troubled.

"I chose my house words because that's how I planned to live my life, with deeds, not words. That is what I will do, I will not give Lord Rogar any words until I have evidence to back them up. Hiding behind his name will do me no favours in the future. I must show strength." I said with more conviction than I felt.

This was going to be a right pain in the arse.

It took a day to get all the preparations made for travel. Ser Edwell decided to come with us, he said having his name with any allegations I ended up making would add much more weight. House Errol was the equal of House Buckler in power and reputation after all. I was very thankful for his aid.

A day later and we were at the site of the road builders camp. A burnt mess it was, bodies littered the ground and the camp was totally ransacked. I noticed that even the cement and rubble for the roads were gone, not items regular bandits would see any value in.

I questioned Morden, "Ser Morden, what interest would regular bandits have in bags of cement?"

He frowned, "None, my lord. I doubt regular bandits would even know what your invention is. You are right, all the building supplies are gone."

We began searching for a trail we could pick up, but found none. They had definitely been careful to make sure none of the cement had spilt as they left.

"Nothing here, Aelon." Said Edwell.

"Yes, they were good at covering their tracks. We will have to set a trap and hope they return. Some of our men will pose as more road builders. The rest will wait with arms and armour hidden from sight." I ordered.

Morden and Edwell both nodded at that.

So a few days later, half my men and Morden were stripped of arms and their horses tied to trees over the crest of the hill. I had them milling about the unfinished road, whilst myself and Ser Edwell were obscured over the hill, waiting for any sign of the so-called bandit's return. For two days we had waited and seen nothing. I was beginning to think this was a colossal waste of time and calling an end to it. Resolved to just assigning more guards with the next group of builders.

As I yawned and readied to call the operation to a close. Edwell grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back.

"My lord, there are figures moving on the other side of the valley." He whispered.

"Shit, get the men in formation. Morden will retreat the men in our direction once they are baited out further."

Five minutes later, the bandits were running up the hill chasing Morden and the others. I thought it was about time the knight got some cardio exercise.

I signalled for the men to ride forward, making gaps to allow our men behind our formation. I imagined the sight of mounted men with lances would look rather intimidating to Buckler's men, they looked to be only half our number.

I waited for my men to have run further up the hill before signalling for the mounted half to charge, hoping my men on foot wouldn't be trampled by horses. Ser Edwell roared as we galloped down the hill, I was just shitting myself.

Battle was a necessary part of Westerosi society. Yet that didn't make it any less revolting to my modern sensibilities.

I killed people.

I learned that knowing something is necessary, and being capable of stomaching it with ease were two very different things. Statistically, the skirmish had gone very well. No casualties on the part of his men-at-arms and all but five of the opposing soldiers had been killed. The rest of his opponents had attempted to flee but they had not managed to get away. Two of them now kneeled at my feet, bloody and broken.

Ser Edwell had remained his shadow throughout the battle, yet had been injured as his horse stumbled and threw him. He would need to see Armon as soon as possible to deal with the cracked ribs.

The emotional turmoil had only hit Aelon after the adrenaline had left his system and he had time to look at the corpses left behind. He knew they were his enemies, they had entered his lands to pillage and harass and were undeserving of his compassion. Yet they were likely ordered to do so.

"You bandits have caused me quite a lot of trouble." I made air quotes around bandits, causing them to shuffle nervously.

"I would like to do away with the pretences, who do you serve?" I asked, my eyes cold.

"No one, my lord, we're just raiders." Bandit Number One said, in a decidedly non-bandit accent.

"Oh really? I don't need two of you to tell me anything, you will tell me the truth or I will start cutting pieces off your friend." I punctuated by drawing my sword.

Neither of them said anything but were looking rather scared now.

I raised a brow, "So be it. Ser Morden, hold out his arm."

Morden pulled Bandit Number Two's right arm out and held it to the ground with his foot, his face completely emotionless.

"No, no, please! Don't do this, we are just bandits, we serve no lord!" Number Two was blabbering now, my cold visage almost broke. Could I really do this?

I hardened myself and turned to Number One. "You killed good men in my service and caused a close friend of mine injury, this is your last chance to save his arm." He remained quiet, eyes wide. He must have thought that I was bluffing.

I sighed, fuck. I raised my sword, Number Two squirming and trying to get his hand out from under Morden's foot.

"So be it!" I brought my sword down and Number Two screamed, bone-crunched and skin split beneath my steel. His arm, now no longer held under by Morden was pulled into his chest, blood pulsing out of his stump.

The man sobbed and screamed and it was all I could do not to start throwing up. Number One looked shocked but still stayed silent.

"Ser Morden, get his other arm." Morden gave me a look I had never seen before but obliged. Number Two was shaking and begging me not to cripple him twice. I raised my sword a second time, feeling sick to the bone.

"No! No, I will tell you. We are men of House Buckler! House Buckler, leave him be." Number One finally broke.

"You could have saved him a lot of pain by telling me that to start with you fucking idiot." I was raging, I had just tortured a man.

I looked back at the weeping Number Two, well I can't bring him to Lord Rogar after I have removed his hand, somewhat illegally.

"For the crimes of murder, theft and breaking the king's peace. In the name of Lord Rogar Baratheon of Storm's End. I sentence you to die." I announced and nodded at one of the Century. The man stabbed his spear clean through Number Two's neck.

I looked at the shocked Number One, "You will be coming with us to Storm's End."

The worst part of this day was not the actions I had to take, but that Ser Morden would never look at me the same way again.