The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 432: Split Up

The veiled maid came forward with a residential map of town, and handed it to the Elder.

"Have your people who are staying in town refer to this map before going looking for housing. The empty units are locked, but one of us, or the Sheriff, can let you inside to look at them before you choose.

A thousand people at once is challenging, given our limited numbers, but if we bring in the head of household and only do a few dozen at a time, it will be manageable.

For those who want to remain on the farm, all of the territory on this side of the river that isn’t already being worked is fair game. Send out someone to scout it and come back when you find one that you like. There are free portions on the other side of the river as well, but not the portion near the airships.

That is dedicated to future development already.

It will be treated as first come, first served. If someone else picked the farm you want, you must pick another.

We are offering a full year without taxes to get your affairs in order, but if you wish to keep farmland, you have until the start of the rainy season next year to work it. I would suggest that you start soon, and get the old crops replaced before the rains start this year.

For businesses, you must report to one of us before you move your stuff into a shop. Some may have been reserved already by a craftsman who is waiting on renovations. But we don’t let anyone hoard space they’re not going to be using, and letting us know directly will settle property disputes much more easily.

Now, who do you want to send first? The farmers can supervise themselves, and I will lead the group through town."

Dominic nodded encouragingly, and the Elder began to call names.

"These twenty are all business owners, and represent over a hundred and fifty of our members between their families. If you take them first, it will be best."

The maid left with the first batch, while the second maid went to explain to the others what was going on.

Dominic got to deal with the Trolls.

"So, about the goats. We’re ready to go meet the goats." Their representative announced.

"Alright, we will go see the goats. Can I ask what your name is?"

"I’m Commander Dave. And that’s Lieutenant Dave, and Shift Captain Dave, And the night shift Daves." The troll listed, pointing to different trolls in turn.

"And you are?" Dominic asked one of the few who was not mentioned.

"I am Larry, I cook the daytime meals. That is Larry who cooks the night shift meals, and over there is Ingrid, who doesn’t think that Larry and Dave are the best names."

Ingrid rolled her eyes. "It’s partially my fault that they’ve all got two brain cells both fighting for third place. But they’re good guards. I blame my husband, rest his soul, for giving me a whole horde of morons to deal with."

Dominic laughed at her blunt description. "Are these all your brood then?"

Ingrid nodded. "Each and every one of them."

"How did they all end up with the same names?" Dominic asked.

"Blame my husband. He was the first Dave, and the Elder you were speaking with is the first Larry. He taught them to cook." Ingrid explained.

"Well, that explains it, then. Let’s go meet the goats. They’re friendly sorts, even if they didn’t come from the mountains."

To say that the politicians meeting in the courtyard were concerned by the arrival of fifty armed and armoured Mountain Trolls was the understatement of the year. But the childish happiness that they displayed when the goats saw them and immediately charged made it impossible to stay frightened of the new residents.

The two groups collided with each other, and the trolls picked up the goats to spin them in a joyful circle before putting them back down, confused and dizzy.

Nobody else picked them up, that was not how this game worked.

But it wasn’t all bad.

The goats liked the smell of Mountain Trolls, and the trolls were happy to go fetch fresh bales of hay for them. They even used a spell on the field to make it grow faster.

Mountain Trolls were turning out to be even better goat friends than the Garden Elf, and that wasn’t easy.

Jasmine watched in envy from the farrier stables as the Trolls set up sleeping spots all around the hay field, while Dominic looked for an appropriate clear space to build them a barracks building.

The existing one was made for human sized guards, and the Trolls were definitely not that. But they also liked to sleep in piles, so there would be very minimal need for furniture.

He eventually decided to place them near the wall, as the defensive fortifications would feel most like home to them, with the tall rock walls at their backs.

The Trolls were highly impressed when they saw the new building, and the massive stove that Dominic had installed, using a demo model of the magitech fireplaces. Normally, cooking over the fireplace, instead of in front of it, was overkill. But for fifty large Mountain Trolls, it was barely sufficient.

"Alright, I have made you a space for when it’s raining, or you can sleep out here all the time. I will get you fresh uniforms in a few days, so that you all match and everyone knows you work in the Manor." He declared as the Trolls gathered to inspect the barracks.

"Uniforms, eh? We like uniforms. Especially with our name on the front. The old boss said that it was silly, since we all share the same name. But I want name tags." The largest of the trolls declared.

"No problem. I will have them put your names on them."

"Do the goats have a house?" One of the Larrys asked.

"In the barn. The door is usually open, but the Blink Cat can open and close it if there is a storm coming. It lives in the loft."

That was enough to satisfy them, so Dominic changed his focus to forming a training regimen that would turn town guards into Ducal Estate elite soldiers. Within the limits of their abilities, that was.

Just standing around looking intimidating was good, but he fully expected that there would be more attacks on the Duchy soon, and they would need the Trolls to be in top fighting form.