ps: Today's double update, the end of this volume. Welcome to the next volume, the final volume of "The Lord on the Other Side of the Mountain", "The Revenge Bird".

During my few days in Ivangorod, I received many invitations to banquets.

Yuri also encouraged me to go to the banquet so that I could meet the young nobles and build my own friendships. However, I was waiting for Bishop Oleg, so I didn't attend many banquets, the banquet of the small East Lake City and the Valankov princely was held together, although on the surface, the current Valankov nobles and the small East Lake city nobles have been divided into two masters, but everyone knows in their hearts that the master of the two princely lords is still Kalinin alone. Only the Valan Guards occasionally spoiled the atmosphere at the feast, and some of them would drink and sing war songs that despised the soldiers of Little East Lake. These songs, which had been extinct during Kalinin's reign over the two princes, were now enough to revive these small rifts because of the partition of the two cities, even if it was superficial.

For the New Boyars, the Council allotted four hundred silver coins to each nobleman, which I gave to the Varan lurkers and the Kugit to compensate for their losses. Looking at their happy expressions, I was a little skeptical that they had actually bet all their money.

After the revelry, Ivangelod was still lively. It was only in the parliament square that the dense crowd began to disperse, and the recruited citizens began to clean up the garbage and wipe the bad graffiti from the walls. In the various neighborhoods of Ivangorod, it will take some time for the lively atmosphere to cool down. The only scandal during the carnival was a duel between a new boyar in Chita Fort and a citizen over a woman, and in the duel the boyar was seriously injured and the citizen died instantly. The parliamentary soldiers imprisoned the boyar and the woman. It turned out that the woman was the husband of the deceased, and the woman had left the table early with the boyar at the celebratory feast. provoked her husband's jealousy, and finally caused a tragedy. Naboyar was fined a sum of money. and was ordered to leave Ivangelod immediately. This incident made the prince of Chitabao disgraced, and after the celebration was over, the prince of Chitabao left the city in a hurry. Then, the nobles who had attended the assembly of the nobles also left Ivangelod one after another.

The meeting of the nobles was held irregularly, and in the time of the king, it was even held once a year for a while, and later, according to the power of the nobles. Sometimes it is held every two years, and in peacetime. There was not even a single meeting of the nobility for six years. The Dragovich officials wore the king's dress to accept the allegiance of the nobles, which made East Wikia even more disorderly than Burke--- who had a king anyway, and Vekia had only a pseudo-king with very little legitimacy in West Vekia. In Eastern Wikia, there don't seem to be a few nobles who want to actually elect a king, except for the war-torn people. At this time, only a few boyars raised the issue of electing the king, but they were tacitly ignored by the nobles.

Within two weeks, the princes, including the Xiaodonghu City Mission, left the city one after another. When Ivangelod finally fell silent, Bishop Oleg finally rushed back from the field with several messengers.

These messengers were excellent missionaries. They were carefully selected by Bishop Oleg from various bishops. Bishop Oleg asked me to take these men with me when I returned to the West. I undoubtedly refused, and I could not have blatantly taken the priests to the west, in that case. I estimate that he will be expelled from the Western Church within a year. Bishop Oleg was not discouraged, he offered that there was nothing wrong with letting me take only one person, at the same time. He also made one condition.

"True faith is always spread with friendship rather than with the sword." Bishop Oleg said. "You may be able to form friendships with soldiers or lower nobles, but that's for what we've agreed upon. It doesn't help. You'll need to forge friendships with elegant ladies and decent nobles. ”

"You're right."

"How long will you be going back to Little East Lake City?"

"Three months to half a year, or even longer."

"Enough. During this time, I will train a student, and a charismatic young noblewoman will join you. ”

"I said, I can't bring more people." I replied to Bishop Oleg, "The road back to the west is very dangerous, and if you do so, you will put me in unnecessary danger. ”

"No, no, no," said Bishop Oleg, "I will raise one from your side." ”

"There are no nobles around me." I replied to him.

"Really?" Bishop Oleg asked me in a puzzled tone, "But how did I hear that Rurik was the name of a noble family?" ”

"I don't have such a Rurik by my side."

"Oh, maybe not, maybe there is." Oleg said, "If you want me to support your future career, I'm sure you'll remember that there is such a person around you." ”

"Why do you know about things around me?"

"That's another story." Bishop Oleg said, "Give me an answer as soon as possible." ”

Without Oleg's support, I would not have received permission to recruit soldiers, nor would I have received a certificate of nobility recognized by the Church. It is impossible for Yuri to allow me to freely recruit troops in Valankov and bring them to the west, and now every man in Varankov is a treasure of Prince Yuri. Yuri's princely domain was not much smaller than his father's, but the population was less than a third, and frequent wars and forced emigration had taken a heavy toll on Valankov.

I relayed Oleg's proposal to Copernicus, who had no problem with it, and said that since Oleg already knew about my plan, he might as well involve him more thoroughly.

The hard part was talking to Anastasia.

At first, she thought I was going to abandon her in the monastery, and she was extremely resistant. But I told her that in half a year I would come back to Ivangorod, and at that time, I would pick her up.

"I don't believe you." Anastasia said.

"It's your own business." I said to her, "But you don't have a nobility in Eastern Wikia anymore, because you're 'real' and you're married." You go out now. Anyone will think you're an impostor. If you want to leave East Wikia. Please think about it carefully. I will never lie to you, if you are not at ease with me. I'll let Iyu stay with you, and if someone from the church stops you after half a year, Iyu will help you escape. ”

Anastasia pursed her lips angrily, "How dare you arrange what I should do casually." ”

"How dare you climb into my carriage casually?"

"Half a year later"

"As I already said, if anything happens, Iyu will help you escape."

"But what am I going to do when I stay?"

"Obey Oleg's orders and be his good apprentice." I said to her, "Tell me anything he wants you to do." And then. I'll take you out of Vecchia, and I'll not bother you if you stay after that. ”

I don't know much about what the Episcopal Church of Oleg asked Anastasia to do, because I didn't trust the girl I had known for a long time, especially since Oleg seemed to know her very well, which also increased my suspicions. Once I'm back in the west, I'll have to look for an opportunity to get her out, but for now, I'll have to do what Oleg tells me to do.

After settling it all down. I've summoned the Valan Sleepers.

There are about sixty of the Varan lurkers in the city, and only about forty have followed my call.

"What are you going to do this time, Victor of House Valrane?" The lurkers asked. "We have helped you and fulfilled our obligations to the Prince."

"I want you to serve me. And this time to go further afield. ”

"Where to go?" "Burke or Riverlands?" "Creel? You're going to the Prince, right? ”

It's noisy.

"Western." I said to them.

Some of them had anticipation on their faces, but when they heard my words, many of them just smiled. He immediately left my place.

"Western? Are you insane? The fat pioneer, who was a man of infinite strength, said, "You should find a rich widow here." She couldn't get out of bed, and then drove away her children and swallowed her possessions. That's what boyars should do. Wait until you have the money. Naturally, we can work together for a long time. You don't cherish such a good future, but you want to run to the west? ”

"When you go west, I can't guarantee that all of you will marry a rich widow. But one thing I can guarantee is that you will be in danger and unknown, you will have the opportunity to challenge the warriors of all nations, and you will meet women you will never have the opportunity to meet in your life. As for the salary, in fact, I don't even know if I can eat enough. But I promise you, if you don't get paid, I'll be the first to starve. I remembered what Captain Lily said, "You should get out of Vekia and see the world you've never been to." ”

"Come on, we're not kids anymore. Goodbye, Victor. "Some of them left.

There are only a dozen people left, and these people are still hesitating.

A young Valan said, "Victor, I thought you would stay in the council. Varanboyar is too little, you compensated us for our losses, you are a generous fellow. If you stay in Vecchia, many of my Valan brothers will follow you. ”

"The Prince of Valan will always eat worse than the worst of the soldiers," I said to the Valan, "I dare not match the Prince of Valan, but I know what to do as a Valan nobleman." I will see you as comrades-in-arms, not as military servants. The difficulty of going to the west is very great, and many people will not want to go, but I promise you that after going to the west, the world of your meeting will be more open. ”

"Come on, you little Valanne." One of the Varan lurkers said, "You haven't told us until now, where are you going to take us, how can we make up our minds to go with you?" ”

"That's right." I replied, "I'm looking for comrades, not a group of mercenaries." I have come to look for you, neither for commissions nor for women, for the mercenaries to see, and I have given you a promise from a Valan nobleman. I know what kind of life the Valan people want to live, I know what kind of officers the Valan soldiers like, and I know how to make the Valan soldiers successful. You were all warriors who followed the Prince, but when I left for the Jungle Barracks, it was a little late. I didn't have the privilege of knowing you in advance. But I have been in the Valans for a long time, and I trust the Valans more. And not any other people. If you follow me, you won't end up being just a soldier. This choice is difficult. Of course it was difficult, most of the Valans who followed Giovanni first died. But those who are alive are now the fathers of the Duchy of Valan, and even if they suffer a defeat like Valankov, they can regroup and regain their kingdom in Creel. Mountaineering is hard, but many people don't qualify for it in their lifetime. I'm just the one who qualifies you. Swear in the name of Valigne, swear in the name of the boyars. ”

One or two more of these people have gone.

It doesn't matter, I know where I'll go if I tell them. What will I be paid, there may be many Varans following me, but these people are running for gold, and it is difficult to form friendships with them. Only when it is very risky, when there is no reward in sight, that the Valans who are still willing to follow me will stand by my side when I encounter defeat in the future, instead of turning around and abandoning me. Giovanni's first unit consisted of only a few dozen people. But it was these people who followed him until the end. The Kugit people say, 'Ten brothers stand side by side, and there is no fear of a thousand rabble'.

I went on to say, "Besides, the West is unknown to you. But it's also full of opportunities. Only the strong-willed warrior deserves to enjoy the last delicacies. This boyar position, if I hadn't insisted that I was Victor of Valan, a long time ago. I'll be able to get it. I think Valaigne's name sounds weird, but it's good when you think about it. Because I have always felt that the unfettered Valans are the proudest people. The Varans, who fought for independence and halved their population, are worthy of respect. So I'm not going to tempt the ruffians to join me with money and women, they're going to make me loud. But it won't give me the friendship of a warrior. I invite you today to join me in my cause in the honor of being a Valan nobleman. Now I have nothing, now I am empty-handed, if you join me at this time, then you don't have to worry about him being --- and when I have a good reward--- he will be partial to others. ”

The remaining dozen or so Varan lurkers were silent, making a final choice.

"Tomorrow I will leave Ivangorod." I said to them, "You can go after me, or you can go back to your hometown, or you can go to the cities." Go and tell the Valans everywhere that there is a Valan nobleman waiting for them in Little East Lake City. Tell them that the descendants of warriors should not beg for food from the descendants of farmers, and think about how your ancestors made the Wikibians bow down. If you still have a shred of reverence for your ancestors, follow me, and I will prepare wine and barbecue to welcome every Valan warrior. ”

There were only two Varan lurkers who decided to stay on the spot, and they got along well with the Kujits.

Yuri gave me two horses, and Bishop Oleg gave me three pack horses and a mule.

When I left the city the next day, I was accompanied by Crusedel and three Valans--- and in the morning another Valan lurker joined me. Copernicus followed Yuri back to Little East Lake in a carriage, while Iyu stayed behind to accompany Anasitasia.

Ana Sitasia saw me off at the gates, and Bishop Oleg had already dressed her in the nun's probationary robes, which plunged her into great fear.

"Timmy, you must come back to me!" She said in a trembling voice.

"I will," I told her, "and when the appointed time comes, you can ask Iyu for help." ”

Anastasia nodded, her gray turban and burqa made her look gray, and she pulled out a document from her arms with her hands as white as snow, "The bishop asked me to pass it on to you." ”

This is an official document from the church that allowed me to lead the soldiers out of Vichia.

This document confirms that I am a genuine Wikibian nobleman, but due to the decay of my family, I had to leave East Wikia and seek refuge. It means that the Church, while not having the right to influence the decisions of the secular lords, can protect the Valranne nobleman from leaving safely, and the document concludes with a request for the necessary assistance from those who can help me. At the end of the document is very clever, stamped with the hot paint mark of Bishop Oleg, but there is no hot paint mark of Patriarch Vekia, who represents the church--- if there is a problem in the future, then Oleg will bear the blame, and the church will have no effect, but if I succeed, then Oleg will have the glory alone, and even if he dies before this, his merits must be enough to make him a saint.

I was a little surprised, "How did you get such an important document to be handed over to me?" ”

"Hmph, I was going to hide. If you don't come back to me, you'll never get this document. She said indignantly, "If you dare to arrange me without my consent in the future, I will make you pay." You remember, Timmy. ”

When Yuri arranged for the servants who had come to deliver me to help me with my luggage, Anastasia covered her head with a burqa and disappeared into the middle of several citizens with her head bowed.

Ivangorod, next time I come back, it's time for me to leave Vecchia.

"Victor boyar, do you know?" As our squad walked slowly, one of the servants whispered, "The Burke's army has crossed the border." ”

"What?" I was a little surprised. I knew the Burkes were going to attack, but I didn't know they were going to attack so quickly.

"This time, the assembly of nobles directly rejected the provisional agreement signed between the prince and the Berkes, and demanded that the border be restored." The servant whispered, with the excitement of spreading the grapevine, "The Burkes will teach the council a lesson, and when the time comes, we will have to do what our prince wants." ”

"Who did you listen to?"

"A few days ago, Lord Yuri hurried back to Little East Lake City because of this incident. The Burkes will never attack our Little East Lake City head-on'Uh, you know that. ”

"Hmm." I answered him. "Don't talk about this matter outside in the future, it's not good for the prince."

The Burks attacked, but this time it was to preserve the results of the previous negotiations, not the full-scale invasion that I had feared most. At least Mycera won't be in much danger.

Yuri in Ivangelodes received the news that it had been many days since the Berks crossed the border. Why is there still no other news? Could it be that the Romanovs knew in advance the exact date when the Burks crossed the border?

Mr. and Mrs. Anton and the Gregory were probably the safest people in the Riverlands.

As I rode slowly, I sighed as I thought that the beacon fire had once again been lit in the peaceful riverland.

Maybe there's a lot I can do at Vekia, but for now, I have to leave. This is the stage for the Romanovs, not mine.

In a short time, a year at most, and when I've taken care of everything, I'll leave Vekia and head west.

Grandfather, Father, Mother'''

Thinking of them, my last attachment to Vikia faded.

The graves on the side of the road reminded me of a Vikian poem,

"Mother Vecchia, Mother Vecchia, how long will your blood run dry?

Mother Vicchia, Mother Vicchia, which of your sons did not die in battle? (To be continued.) )