IV. Chivalric Romance and the Bastards (15)
IV. Chivalric Romance and the Bastards (15)
The heat of victory continued until late in the evening.
Sir Herman, in high spirits, provided food, and thanks to that, the citizens of Bellam gathered in a plaza-like area near the castle to eat.
Keldric, tasting the delicious food and drink, also lost his composure.
In the backwater of Carlton village, spices were rare. At best, he'd occasionally get meat lightly sprinkled with rock salt.
Bellam, a large city even by Northern standards, was different. There were dishes of suckling pig roasted whole with spices, and grilled tender veal sprinkled with pepper.
Dishes filled with spices from beyond the heathen lands lined the tables. That made the greed lurking deep inside Keldric stir.
Keldric sipped wine as he gazed at the bustling cityscape.
Keldric had never thought about fiefs or territories, and had no particular desire for them. Just the duties of nobles, knights, and lords gave him a headache.
'Someday, maybe I...'
But now, it was different.
A desire to one day get his hands on a city this size was growing steadily in Keldric's heart.
To do that, he first had to raise his renown.
He'd subjugated a band of mounted bandits, beaten a Rock Troll to death with his fists, and even fought as a champion for Sir Herman's honor to win a trial by combat.
Defeating an eight-time tournament champion at a young age was a fairly remarkable feat.
But it wasn't the sort of thing nobles across the Empire would readily hear about. Keldric's fame would be confined to Bellam and its surrounding villages.
The peddlers with a knack for gossip would surely do nothing but prattle on about Guild Master Anselm.
However, a few peddlers who could see the future were different.
Martial strength, honor, and conviction. Those were what accomplished everything except a knight's physical body.
Now that Keldric, who possessed all three in good measure, had personally demonstrated the martial prowess that had only been rumor, there were certainly merchants whose eyes gleamed at that outstanding skill.
And the same was true of the man who approached Keldric as he sipped his wine.
"Ah! Isn't it the honorable Sir Keldric of House Bellaf?"
Keldric looked over the man, who was acting as though he'd just run into him by chance on the street.
The man, his mustache well-groomed, was dressed in neat clothes.
They weren't the shabby clothes common folk of a domain would wear. Being wrapped in wool and fine cloth signaled wealth.
"Who are you?"
"I am Ludovico, a peddler belonging to the Bogenberg Trading Company. I am honored that Sir Herman arranged this meeting with you, Sir Keldric."
Keldric glanced far off at Sir Herman, who was guzzling wine like water and making a racket.
There was no way Sir Herman would attach a peddler to Keldric without reason. Keldric's navy-blue eyes looked steadily at Ludovico.
He didn't feel that same foul sensation he'd felt when he met Anselm before.
It wasn't an absolute standard, but Keldric generally accepted things if he didn't get a filthy feeling.
Meanwhile, Ludovico, meeting Keldric's deeply sunken gaze, flinched involuntarily.
'What kind of eyes are those...'
How chilling were the eyes of someone who had killed?
As a knight, Keldric had naturally killed before, and that included Anselm, who'd been dragged off to the underground dungeon earlier today.
Ludovico grew a little tense. Anselm had been a merchant like Ludovico, so Keldric might decide he was disagreeable and hit him without warning.
Though he knew to some extent that Keldric wasn't that kind of knight, the thought that knights were generally like that still surfaced unconsciously.
"The Bogenberg Trading Company? Are you from Bogenberg?"
"Yes, that's right. Our company's guild master is staying in Bogenberg. You are most perceptive."
Not yet having accurately grasped what kind of man Keldric was, Ludovico first laid on the flattery that a hundred out of a hundred knights loved.
"Hm."
But Keldric's reaction was utterly unimpressed. Ludovico, feeling awkward, carefully continued.
"The reason I sought you out, Sir Keldric, is none other than that our company has newly established peddling routes with Carlton village."
"Oh. Is that so?"
Around the time Sir Herman ordered Anselm thrown into the underground dungeon, Keldric had been focused on another matter.
Since Guild Master Anselm had tried to betray Bellam and was revealed as a heretic, it was clear the merchants belonging to his company would soon be subjected to a thorough investigation.
Once that happened, the Mormont Trading Company, its power greatly weakened, would naturally dissolve into thin air, and the peddling to Carlton village would cease abruptly.
Merchants pursued only profit, but that didn't mean they looked only at money.
Baron Yaven, who ruled Yaven, had a duty to keep even the fringe villages at the edge of his territory fed.
That was why he made contracts with a few companies based in nearby cities or big villages to send peddlers to outlying villages that offered little profit.
Choosing the Mormont Trading Company to send peddlers to Carlton village had been the choice of Sir Gebhard, the man who governed the city before Sir Herman.
Now that Mormont Trading Company was on the verge of collapse. The peddling would naturally stop as well.
Keldric wasn't particularly worried about Hilmer, but he did feel sorry for the residents of Carlton village, who'd inadvertently had their connection to the outside world severed.
And when Keldric had cautiously brought it up out of a touch of undue concern, Sir Herman told him not to worry and wrapped up the conversation.
It seemed Sir Herman's choice was the Bogenberg Trading Company.
"What trade goods do you mainly handle?"
"Until last year, I traded silk. I'd take good-quality leather from here in the North and sell it to the Kakar people."
Far across the sea where the Holy Land lay, the heathens held sway, but the trade route bringing silk from the East still had to pass through Kakar territory.
Keldric realized why Ludovico's clothes were quite fine.
He thought it made sense, since the man was a merchant who dealt in textiles.
"In that case, aren't you making good money? What's your reason for going out of your way to bring your trade all the way to Carlton village?"
"Pardon? Ah, it's not me who'll be going. I'm only visiting as a representative of our company."
Ludovico's explanation went like this:
The Bogenberg Trading Company was one of the fairly well-known companies in the Empire, but they'd recently been racking their brains because trade with the war-torn North had become thoroughly unappealing.
Bogenberg was a territory linking the Empire's north and center, so it was understandable that trade with the North was sluggish there.
The guild master of the Bogenberg Trading Company had two options.
Abandon the North and devise a new trade route, or establish a new branch in a peaceful Northern territory.
And just at that moment, Ludovico, who'd been staying in Bellam, heard of the Mormont Trading Company's collapse and quickly struck a deal with Sir Herman.
It must have been a decent trade for Sir Herman, who'd expelled the Mormont Trading Company from the city.
"You're taking the Mormont Trading Company's place?"
"Yes. We plan to purchase the Mormont Trading Company's building shortly. A Bellam branch of the Bogenberg Trading Company wouldn't be too bad, I think."
"You could just take in the merchants who belonged to Mormont. That way, you won't have to go through the trouble of recruiting."
"You're exactly right."
Indeed, it was plenty tempting for the Bogenberg Trading Company to think "here's our chance" and jump right in.
With the building and peddler-savvy merchants all left intact and only the head cut off, the Bogenberg Trading Company could just snatch it up without needing to invest much capital.
"And one of the conditions was sending peddlers to Carlton village?"
"That's correct. It was one of the things Sir Herman emphasized."
Since it was House Bellaf that governed Carlton village, Sir Herman had essentially saved Keldric's face.
"I'm not in the position to lead House Bellaf, but I can represent it well enough. I look forward to working with you."
"Oh my, it's an honor. I will personally ensure that the peddling to Carlton village is managed thoroughly."
From what Keldric heard, it seemed that once the Bogenberg Trading Company's Bellam branch was established shortly, Ludovico was slated to become its head.
Keldric chatted with Ludovico about this and that.
If Ludovico was going to head the leading trading company branch even in Bellam, the Cradle of the North, there was no harm in getting friendly.
"What's the kingdom of the Kakar people like?"
"Strictly speaking, it's more accurate to call it a confederation than a kingdom. It's a community of many tribes, you see."
"Oh..."
"The Kakar people are nomads. Since they ride around hunting on the plateau, they're skilled riders."
Turning and shooting bows from horseback, or scores of horse archers massing together to swarm in and pour down arrows.
Keldric imagined the horse archers mobbing like a pack of dogs, shooting arrows and maneuvering swiftly.
That was terrifying just to imagine. Even knights would have a hard time dealing with them easily.
"By the way, Sir Keldric. Might I ask you something?"
"Speak freely."
"Do you plan to continue staying in Bellam from now on?"
Having heard Ludovico's words, Keldric quietly rested his chin on his hand and fell into thought.
He hadn't set a clear final destination, but Bellam was indeed the first destination of his journey.
That was the reason he'd ridden straight here from Carlton village, bypassing other places as much as possible.
A large part of that reason was his desire to see the city, so now that he'd seen all of it, there was nothing left to do.
Keldric's stay in Bellam had lasted a little over a week, now nearing ten days.
Keldric himself wasn't sure if he'd keep staying in Bellam.
If he kept staying, there was nothing left to see and nothing left to do. There was nothing but to sit still and watch the peddling caravans heading for Carlton village.
Yet if he left, he hadn't set a suitable destination.
Though Keldric greatly desired to see the world, even that had its limits.
He couldn't right now just cross into Kakar territory or the heathen lands across the sea.
That required a long journey, and at this moment, Keldric had no desire to go all the way to a far-off foreign land.
When Keldric carefully expressed those thoughts, Ludovico clutched his graying hair and laughed heartily.
"Haha! You're brimming with a spirit of adventure. The eminent Sir Keldric's renown will soon be heard all across the Empire."
"Well, no, I wouldn't call it a spirit of adventure..."
Though Keldric didn't know it, Ludovico was feeling a strong liking for the young knight before him as a potential business partner.
In this era, it wasn't rare for nobles or wealthy trading companies to sponsor a knight of outstanding skill.
For a landed noble, granting a fief was the ultimate patronage, and for a trading company without any land, the way to sponsor a knight was by creating those opportunities.
And as a merchant with a sharp eye, Ludovico glimpsed potential in Keldric.
'Sir Keldric is a man who will go far!'
Keldric's formidable martial power, his merciful character uncharacteristic of a knight, and his wisdom and flexible mindset to adapt instantly to situations.
It stirred Ludovico's desire to invest.
He wasn't the guild master of the Bogenberg Trading Company, but Ludovico had his own standing within the company and possessed enough standing and ability to do it.
"Sir Keldric. In that case, might I tell you something?"
"I'm listening."
"Earlier today, I was truly impressed by the trial by combat between Sir Keldric and Sir Johannes. And so..."
Ludovico rummaged inside his coat, and presently pulled out a stiffly folded piece of paper.
Keldric looked at it with slightly interested eyes.
In this era, especially in the North, they used parchment instead of rare paper.
But what Ludovico held in his hand, though somewhat rough and stiff, was unmistakably paper. He carefully held it out before Keldric.
"What is this?"
"Sir Keldric. Have you by any chance heard of the tournament to be held soon in Bogenberg?"
"Tournament?"
A tournament—where one might gain wealth, honor, and perhaps even more.
Keldric asked back, having imagined just that. Ludovico grinned and nodded.
"The Count of Bogenberg's fiftieth birthday is not far off. To commemorate it, they appear to be holding a grand tournament this time."
The Count of Bogenberg's fiftieth birthday was quite a monumental event.
The Count of Bogenberg was a great noble held in high esteem in this region, so the tournament's scale was sure to be large.
And naturally, not just anyone could participate in such a tournament.
Even a knight of outstanding skill needed someone's recommendation, to say nothing of a wanderer full of mere hearsay who roamed from place to place.
Technically speaking, Keldric fell into the category of a wandering knight. Originally, it would have been difficult for him to take part in the Bogenberg Tournament.
"I meant to deliver an invitation to Sir Herman, but he said he was too busy dealing with Bellam's aftermath. Instead, Sir Herman recommended you, Sir Keldric."
But the story was different with an invitation and the recommendation of an influential knight who governed the city.
With that twofold solid backing, Keldric too could confidently add his name to the list of participants for the Bogenberg Tournament.
At Ludovico's story, a gleam crossed Keldric's eyes. It meant his interest was piqued.
'That sounds fun.'
Keldric savored again the electrifying emotion he'd felt after winning the trial by combat earlier today.
The trial by combat in the narrow castle yard surrounded by walls, and the roar of cheers that echoed the moment he'd seized victory at the end of the sweat-drenched fight.
Just imagining himself winning victory amid the cheers of countless spectators in a tournament arena larger and grander than that made his fist clench of its own accord.
"Sounds fine to me."
"With your outstanding skill, Sir Keldric, I'm sure you could win."
"I'm grateful, even if it's flattery."
"Ahaha! It's no joke! You truly do have potential, sir!"
Keldric chuckled and took a sip of wine.
It seemed his next destination had been decided.
☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩
Once the next destination was set, what Keldric needed to do was also decided.
First, Keldric bought provisions and necessities, and repaired his longsword and armor damaged in the duel.
On top of the money he'd received from Baron Yaven and Sir Herman, he'd been allocated a portion of Anselm's property, so he had plenty to spare.
Anselm was burned at the stake as soon as the morning sun rose.
While the citizens of Bellam looked on, enjoying the spectacle, Keldric watched it alone with a sour expression.
A person burning alive wasn't a particularly good sight to see.
"I think I can still smell the burning."
That seemed to be the case for Alisa too, as for a long while after the execution ended, she kept rubbing her nose and grimacing.
After Anselm was nicely roasted, a period of confusion came to Bellam now that the Mormont Trading Company was gone.
Of course, that wasn't Keldric's concern. It was an issue for Sir Herman and Ludovico to handle.
"Sir. Are you truly leaving already? You could stay longer..."
"I have to go now. I've been much in your debt."
Sir Herman was sorry to hear Keldric say he was leaving, but he didn't cling. Keldric had no intention of settling down in Bellam. Sir Herman was aware of that fact.
Jorgen and the Ram Mercenary Company had decided to remain in Bellam.
With the situation in the North turning quite ugly, there was no way mercenaries who'd smelled a territorial war would sit still.
"Aren't you going off on your own?"
"...There's something I need to look into a bit."
Alisa, who'd been acting with them, on the other hand, remained as Keldric's traveling companion.
As it happened, she had separate inquiries to make in Bogenberg, so her intent was to travel with Keldric, whose presence was reassuring.
And so, on the morning two days after Anselm's execution.
Keldric mounted Boreas. The cool Northern morning air refreshingly shifted his mood.
Alisa, likewise mounted, brought her horse alongside his.
"Let's head out."
"Yes, Sir Keldric."
To Bogenberg, their next destination, the journey was expected to take about six days.
What might happen in the process, Keldric did not know.
Even the mounted bandit gang and the Rock Troll he'd encountered previously were unexpected events.
But Keldric wasn't greatly afraid.
No one knew what lay at the journey's end, but that was precisely the charm of travel.
Leaving behind the brief send-off from Sir Herman and the Ram Mercenary Company, the young knight and the wizard resumed their journey.
The Northern wind had grown slightly warmer.
It was the season when spring came to the Everfrost.