UWTD 366: Unification (I)

While Grayfia trained Sakura in the ways of the Maid, Adam accompanied Artoria in her quest to unify Britain.

It all started after Adam altered Uther Pendragon’s head with a suggestion. The king who set up the challenge of Caliburn suddenly acknowledged Artoria, a young girl that’s barely 15, as his successor. The news that she’d take the crown in a year crashed throughout the lands.

Even if the lords had witnessed her martial prowess, they couldn’t get behind a female ruler, and they couldn’t tolerate one so young either. They all thought they’d be better at ruling if Caliburn wasn’t a requirement. After all, Artoria doesn’t have it either. So, it didn’t take long for these lords to take up arms and prepare for battles. Every single one of them dreamt of becoming the king. After all, what could Artoria do if they all revolted after Uther stepped down? Sure, she could beat one knight, even a hundred, but what about thousands, tens of thousands?

That’s what Adam wanted. Unrest and anger. Coupled with their sense of superiority, that warped ideology became the trigger that set fire across Britain after Artoria departed from her village.

However, it wasn’t all bad. Some lords stood by Artoria. Even if their loyalty belonged to the crown rather than her, she welcomed them with open arms. After all, it wasn’t her first time unifying the land.

The first battle arrived with a lesser lord near the capital. He had an army of 5,000 strong with 1,000 horses. As the one nearest to the capital, he became the spearhead of the operation with some bigger lords supporting from behind.

Artoria faced that army with 1,000 soldiers and 200 horses. Unlike what many expected of a ruler, she didn’t sit in the back. Decked out in armor, she planned to stand on the frontline on a pure white steed, ready to lead the charge with a lance in hand.

“My King, it isn’t safe to lead from the front. They seem to have set some traps and plan on flanking us. If they isolate you in the middle…” Bedivere, one of the few knights to swear loyalty to Artoria at this stage. He tried to lay down his understanding and persuade her, but…

“I do not wish to be a king who can only bark orders from behind. I want to be a king in the heat of battle so that my soldiers know that the lord they serve is no coward. To reassure them, I have to lead.” Artoria explained.

Her first campaign would set the standard. It would define her in the eyes of her subjects. The stage Adam had set arrived. And, she planned to go above and beyond to spread her presence.

“Ar…My King, What of the war supplies? We are running low on food and weapons because of blocked routes and merchants running away.” Kay reported.

This issue had put Artoria’s soldiers and lords under heavy pressure. An army needed food, and no merchant wanted to deal with them. Some who replied tried to rip them off. However, Artoria didn’t share the worry.

“Have you secured the supplies, Adam?” Artoria asked.

Adam, standing nearby, nodded in front of the two knights.

“I have made a deal with a few merchants. They should be arriving tomorrow morning.” He said.

“Very well, if there is nothing else to report, you are all dismissed.”

Upon Artoria’s orders, Kay and Bedivere left the tent, followed by Adam. Once outside, Kay looked at the tall, tanned, white haired man that Artoria had brought in. Even with many proven lords and talented knights in the army, this random guy had somehow ended up as the future king’s right hand.

“You have something to say to me, Sir Kay?” Adam asked. He had changed his clothes and talking style to match the times.

“The supplies are coming in tomorrow, right?” Kay’s eyes narrowed to find any small faults in his target.

“They will for sure, I wouldn’t lie in serious times. Many lives depend on this after all.” Adam smiled. “If you do need any goods, do tell me. This is my area of expertise.”

“I’ll think about it,” Kay said.

“Well, you know where to find me.” Adam left for his tent.

“Are you suspicious of Sir Adam, Sir Kay?” Bedivere asked after the man in question had vanished from their view.

“Aren’t you?” Kay turned to the long-haired knight.

“Well, our king trusts him very much. So, I trust her judgement.” Bedivere said.

“You are too loyal.” Kay clicked his tongue. “Arto—Our king is still young. What if he is a shady guy backed by those lords? And, he got supplies so easily like that? What if it is all a ploy?”

“I know that his unclear origins do raise questions. But our king has told us not to worry. I trust her intuition.” Bedivere said.

“Intuition?”

“Yes, when I first arrived to join our king, I expected rejection for various reasons. But our King let me join because she knew I’d become a great knight for her.” Bedivere’s face turned serious for a moment. “But, if Sir Adam conspires against our king, I’d kill him even if I have to give up my life.”

“…Geez, you are too serious.” Kay sighed. “We’ll know the truth tomorrow morning anyway. And, it’d be a shame if you died. For how big and scary he looks, that Adam guy isn’t a warrior as far as I know.”

“I suppose so.” Bedivere nodded and the two went their ways.

The next morning came quick, and Kay stood at the watchtower near the gate of their stronghold. He appeared there along with the sun on the horizon and hadn’t moved an inch.

“Sir Kay, wagons are approaching from the northern road.” The squire said, squinting his eyes.

“A red dragon emblem, as he said,” Kay muttered. “Why are there so many of them?”

A hundred wagons full of grain, dried meat, daily necessities, and cold weapons entered the stronghold. Artoria, the lords who swore loyalty to the crown, and the knights who followed her. Everyone gathered around the wagons. The leader of the caravan knelt before Artoria and spoke with passion.

“We are here to deliver the supplies, My king.”

The lanky old man with a receding hairline used to be a normal villager just a week ago. But under Adam’s mental suggestion, he had become a merchant to carry supplies and would become a cornerstone in Artoria’s quest for unification.

“You have my gratitude, and the payment for this will be delivered when I take the crown.” Artoria then turned to her few retainers and continued. “Anyone doubtful of a scheme or trick may check the supplies for poison and the weapons for defects if they wish. After everything is done, we shall hold a banquet tonight for all the soldiers.”

“Yes, My King!” The collective roar of the soldiers reverberated in the stronghold.

Kay and a few lords checked the supplies after Artoria entered her tent. The lords took a sample from each sack of grain and cooked it. They fed it to some animals and saw no issues. Kay, however, had his attention stolen by the cold weapons.

‘Who in the hell crafted these weapons? How can the metal be this pure and resistant?’ Kay, alongside many soldiers and knights, couldn’t believe that such quality weapons could be acquired by a normal merchant.

Even the most powerful lords wouldn’t have the funds for a hundred sets of these, but they had purchased enough for her whole army and horses, too? If this wasn’t crazy enough, the amount of grain and dried meat they brought in could feed the army for a month or two.

“Just what in the world is that guy?” Adam’s face flashed in Kay’s mind. He was the one who made this deal possible after all.

“Are there any issues with the wares?” And he arrived just then.

“…No, it is all quality stuff. But how will we pay for it?” This time, he didn’t question with suspicion, but intention of a discussion between fellow retainers.

All these things won’t come for free, so they had to gather funds to keep the ball rolling.

“You won’t have to worry about that,” Adam said. “The supplies won’t stop, so you can head to the battlefield without worries.”

“…Ok. I’ll trust you this time,” Kay said and left with a silver spear and sword he wanted to try.

‘She had many loyal knights, but their fates were tragic.’ Adam had to change that so Artoria could achieve her wish.

The very next day, Artoria’s army marched into battle.

...

I forgot I had to take sat and sun off from now on. And, the post on monday was delayed to today because of a do visit.

This is Monday's chapter.

I'll see you in a bit.