"Rod, oh, we meet again. Damn, I can meet you everywhere I go. You're really my broom star, the first time we met, I helped you raise an army, so that I ended up paying for the army, the second time we met, I was replaced by my nephew, and now, when we meet for the third time, you won't give me any trouble again, right?"

That night, Rhodes met Alves, the little dwarf. As soon as they met, Alves made a joke, which can be regarded as self-deprecation. Indeed, since he met Rod, his life has not been easy. However, he did it voluntarily. It's not that Rhodes is asking for anything.

After speaking, the two still hugged warmly. The height of the little dwarf is just right up to Rod's waist, so at first glance, it looks like a child is hugging an adult's thigh.

"Come, come in and talk. ”

Rod invited with a smile.

Under the firelight, Rod invited Alves into his tent. I spent the whole day going back and forth between tents, tents, and tents. General Cohen's tent, the tents of the lords of the North, and his own small tent. Judging from the fabrics and specifications of these tents, it is also clear that there is a gap in their respective economies and statuses. But Alves didn't care, he had been to the poorest farmer's house, had done the dirtiest and most tiring work, and had enjoyed the best wine and luxurious rooms. Although Rhodes's tent in front of him was smaller and poorly furnished, it was not to the point where he couldn't stay.

As soon as he entered, Rhodes instructed his attendant Tallenham to bring him two glasses and a jug of wine. He wants to catch up with Alves. The last time they met was at Lord Aubrey's dinner, and before they could say a few words, the two were separated by Aubrey's stupid son.

"The Beastmen are here again?"

As soon as he sat down, Alves asked about the situation at Blackhammer Castle with concern, as if the affairs there were more important than his own.

"Yes, thousands. However, they were all repelled by me, and besides, the Ten Thousand Demon Rocks were destroyed, and they could never recover, at least for a short time. ”

Rhodes said, then taking the cup and drink from the squire.

"You should let the squire do this. ”

The little dwarf noticed the detail, but Rhodes just smiled and went back—

"It doesn't matter, we can do everything ourselves, and we don't have to be old enough to open a bottle of wine. ”

"Well, too......"

"The destruction of the Ten Thousand Demon Rock is not a trivial matter......

Alves continued. He took the wine from Rod, took a sip, then put it on the table, and stretched out his hands to the charcoal basin to warm up. Beneath the reddish charcoal is a flame that provides precious warmth to the tent.

"It's true, it's just that the beastmen came at an inopportune time, and they came to attack the city, and I had to defend it, so I was delayed, and I should have arrived here a week ago. ”

Rod said, smiling wryly and drinking the drink in his hand. hacker

"But you didn't, so that Cohen fool let you stay here while he took the men to plunder the grain?"

Alves asked. His eyes kept on Rhodes, as if he was concerned and questioned. In short, the little dwarf's emotions are difficult to grasp, and Rhodes has not yet figured out the details of Alves, how much does he know? is both an intellectual officer, a manager, and a master of astrology...... Except for the deformities of his legs and feet, he is almost an all-rounder.

"Yes. But he's not stupid. This task was a punishment for me, but for him it was a good opportunity to make meritorious contributions. ”

"What do you know?"

Alves continued to ask earnestly.

"I have learned about the situation of Erlengrad, it is a trading city, and eighty percent of the trade is by sea, that is, it is impossible to blockade the city from the land. The army of the North is actually a trivial part of the Queen's whole plan, how many of us are there, and the population of the entire North is not as large as that of Kislev City. Blocking the eastern gate of Erlengrad, it can maintain the food supply in the city by sea. We're a wandering army, and when the queen needs us, she'll order us to do the real work. And before that, it's just to build momentum, and by the way, to test those who are dissatisfied with the queen's rule, and the ice queen can catch them and get rid of them one by one. ”

Rod said, and a slight smile appeared on Alves' face, indicating that the analysis was very good, and he agreed.

"So, it doesn't matter if we besiege the city or not?"

Alves continued.

"Maybe that's the case, the wins and losses of this camp don't matter to the Queen, or to Cohen. The reason why Cohen wanted to keep this camp was to attract the rebels in Erlengrad City to come and encircle and suppress him, so as to cover his grain plundering operation. Or maybe it's just a façade, and there's a conspiracy behind it, and I always have a feeling that our queen will find a way to blockade the port of Erlengrad, and we're just part of her whole plan. ”

Rhodes said. It's a feeling of frustration, knowing it's a trap, but you have to jump into it. But not all traps are bad, and many things don't always go as people think......

"It seems that you understand everything, you just can't get rid of it. ”

Alves smiled, a smile with a bit of helplessness. Rather than being ridiculed like Cohen, Rhodes knew that in some ways, Alves was actually a lot like himself. They are all people who are not favored, and their background conditions are not good, Alves was born a dwarf, and he has suffered from the cold eyes of others since he was a child. And himself, as soon as he crosses, is at the most dangerous northern tip of the Old World. Facing a powerful mortal enemy, but no one knows.

However, there is always a positive side to everything, because Blackhammer Fort is located in the most dangerous northern frontier, so in the face of fierce enemies again and again, Rhodes has also trained a truly invincible elite army. And Alves, who was born with a disability, could not do many decent things, so he could only bury his head in hard study, which made him today's profound knowledge.

"Don't talk about me, let's talk about you, what happened? After I left Hoop Castle?"

Rod didn't want to continue the conversation anymore and he steered the conversation to Alves' personal career. Because I was worried that Aubrey's son Dean was telling the truth that day, if the Ring City really let Dean be in power and demote Alves to a civilian, the consequences would be very bad, not only would his old friend suffer, but in the future, if there was anything in Black Hammer Fort that needed help, Dean's boastful son was probably a dime, and he would rather spend the money on the purple-robed woman than bear the military expenses needed to dispatch the army.

"Aubrey let me teach Dean little by little arithmetic, bookkeeping, and other things about castle management. It probably won't be long before I really don't have a formal job. ”

Alves drank a small wine and laughed at himself......