The caravan had very little interest in the brigand's gears, leaving us the lion's share of the loot.
It's shocking. This share of the loot is valued almost twice of the contract we just cleared at the graveyard. The biggest joke of all was the spoils we scrounged off the corpse eating monsters at the graveyard. Teeth. Bags of rotting teeth. No doubt a best-seller at the local marketplace. And one of our brother had to sustain a career-ending injury.
Killing these brigands nets us two serviceable suits of armor (courtesy of two fine decapitations) and a pair of helmets, a war spear and a worn, but fine pike. That's on top of the cash. If you visit a blacksmith, a brand new pike will set you back more than a thousand. The spear around a thousand while the two sets of armor is double that!
I felt
cheated.
So great the inner rage was that my men took notice of it and cautiously asked if I wanted to attack the caravan we just saved.
No, I said. We've done more than enough.
Bertolf the Rock, despite possessing no aptitude for combat is continuing to improve. I might promote him into a shield brother soon.
It's noon. I told two of my men to distribute the newly acquired armors and weapons before marching back to Eidsvik where our payment awaits.
I made a stop at the marketplace as per norm, and the merchants greeted me with a long-awaited news.
We've done it. All the victories and contracts have finally paid off: the nobles have finally taken notice of us. The merchants congratulated me but urged us not to forget the village contracts once we've turned big time. I thanked them for their support and quickly gathered the company to share the good news.
'It's about time, Captain!' Robert the Manly started.
Indeed, it's about time. I look around and see their faces, beaming and grinning with pride. Gone are the wide-eyed recruits, no longer wielding pitchforks or other crude implements of war, protected with ample padded leather and chain mails, our Battle Standard fluttering in the sun-kissed noon.
There's still so much more to be done. The thirty-one days I've spent with them, taking them through ups and downs went past like a blur. And deep down, I cannot deny the sense of dread that is slowly approaching. My voice nearly cracked as I announced my retirement.
I explained calmly through the shock and disbelief that I merely have no stomach for it any more. The thought of sending good friends to their deaths, risking their lives for coin. Scrounging for profit, only to go to sleep and wake up, worrying about it all over again. It was not a good life.
Slowly they began to understand, Robert the Manly nodded in agreement that he'd take charge. There's no sense in keeping a hesitant captain in charge, it would only lead to tragedy. Encouraged by their understanding, I dispensed more advice as the sun slowly sank and gave way to the moon above. We settled in quite late that night.
When morning arrive, the men stood in line and bade farewell. I asked Robert what he'll have the company do today. He casually replied, 'Checking the marketplace for bargains and see about that Brigands contract at Eidsvik you skipped the other day. Once that's done, we'll check in with the nobles at one of the keep. Easy peasy, just as you like it.'
'That's great. Best of luck to you, Robert.'
'And you too. Captain.'
He salutes before ordering the company to march, leaving both me and Bjarni behind. The monk's injury was deemed too severe to continue and he wishes to rejoin the monastic order. Conveniently, Eidsvik has a temple for him. We both make our way back to the village, our burdens slightly lighter.
Occasionally the company would drop by and regale me with tales of their glory over mugs of honeyed water passed off as ale by the innkeeper. But as the weeks go by, the wait grew longer between visits, till it stopped completely a month later.
The End