Chapter 336 - Count on the count
“—I received a report that monsters were sighted near Stillshire as well, but the mercenaries we hired to guard the keep and surrounding villages managed to deal with them,” Evelyne said, flipping through a thick stack of papers in front of Scarlett. “The incursions still seem concentrated on larger settlements. I suppose that’s a silver lining — if barely.”
Scarlett nodded absently, her gaze skimming a document spread across the desk. “The Tribe may have assembled an impressive horde for these attacks, but their numbers are not inexhaustible. It stands to reason they would focus on key settlements. Centres of infrastructure and supply.”
“Reasonable doesn’t mean reassuring,” Evelyne half-muttered, setting one set of papers aside and pulling another towards her, rifling through the pages with practised ease. Her reading speed had always been impressive.
“What’s this?” A faint frown formed on her brow. “…Baron Gresham has apparently refused outright to provide any aid for the relief efforts or military operations. He’s denying support to all afflicted regions. What in the world is he thinking?”
“None of his holdings have yet to suffer directly from the attacks, so he does not see himself as obligated to act,” Scarlett said. “That was, at least, the reasoning he offered during the gathering I attended.”
“And the others accepted that?”
“Count Knottley was not particularly pleased, no.”
Evelyne scoffed. “Of course not. Baron Gresham’s fiefs hold some of the largest grain reserves south of Stepmond. It’s a miracle they haven’t already been seized. With the stores lost in the latest attacks, the city is going to need those supplies to get through the season.”
“Then I imagine the Count will act against him before long,” Scarlett replied, idly tapping a finger against the desk. “He will hardly be the only noble attempting to sidestep his obligations in the coming weeks.”
Evelyne shook her head. “This is all such a mess. How are we supposed to get through this if these attacks continue at this rate? I truly hope the Empyreal Barrier actually makes a difference.”
“It may,” Scarlett said. “Even so, I expect the situation will continue to deteriorate.”
Evelyne looked up, brow furrowing further. “…Is that part of the future you’ve seen?”