Chapter 22: The Chivalrous Knight
Chapter 22: The Chivalrous Knight
The bandits’ stronghold was indeed very close, situated at the border of Veneto and the March of Austria, merely a few kilometers away. However, it required leading pack animals and carts over mountains and through a long stretch of night road. For most people, who suffered from night blindness, this was undoubtedly an insurmountable obstacle. This was the reason why the bandits hadn’t returned to their stronghold directly.
Lothar had initially thought it was because these bandits had fierce wives at home, making them hesitant to openly bring back a group of plundered female captives for their amusement.
After a moment’s thought, he understood. The status of women in the lower classes during this era was exceedingly low. Even if a few Grand Duchesses, Empresses, and sought-after female nobles existed within the aristocracy, along with those fearsome witches hidden behind the scenes advising lords, it still didn’t change this fundamental fact.
Firstly, women found it difficult to fulfill a vassal’s military service obligations to their feudal lord, preventing most of them from achieving class advancement through warfare like men. Secondly, they were oppressed by religion, viewed as evil temptresses possessing "original sin," denied the right to education, and forced to depend on men for everything.
The bandits didn’t dare travel at night. Lothar naturally had no such intention either. He instructed Ryan and Moder to lead the newly recruited subjects and set up camp in an open area in the mountains. A roaring bonfire was soon rekindled. Lothar distributed the food the bandits hadn’t had a chance to enjoy to his new subjects, and also took out the provisions carried by the packhorses to heat over the fire.
Lothar instructed, "Moder, Ryan, don’t just stand there foolishly. Go see what the subjects need. From today onwards, they are under your management."
"Ah?"
"Don’t be foolish. You two will be my sergeants in the future. Although we don’t have many people now, they will be the backbone later on. You need to train them well."