The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 454: Big Block

Baron Keith arrived with a handful of his own guards and Dave much more quickly than Dominic had been expecting.

He must have seen the troll coming and prepared to head out to a meeting of some sort, as he was fully dressed for a formal situation, as a Baron should be. Meanwhile, both Dominic and Prince Fahad were dressed to show Noble status, but much more casually.

"Your Grace, Your Highness. Dave tells me that you require my presence." The Baron announced as he rode over on a mechanical horse.

"Wonderful timing. We’ve got a group of new arrivals here who seem to be struggling to accept the nature of Wistover Duchy. You’re an enlightened and experienced man, so I thought that you might have some insight into how best to handle this." Dominic explained, loud enough that the new arrivals would hear him.

Baron Keith examined the group, and listened for a moment as they argued about whether to stay or keep going.

"I see your dilemma. You do hate to give up the chance to obtain more population for the new Duchy, but some are just a better fit in a different city.

I think that they should be given the individual option.

Don’t accept the whole group as a group, with a yes or no option. Let me sort them all individually, like Castle City and any other major centre would.

Your way of taking whole groups is the outlier. Most don’t hesitate even to break up families if one member is undesirable or cannot meet their criteria." Baron Keith suggested.

That was the same thing that the travellers had been thinking, once they realized that there was going to be a difference of opinion that they were unable to resolve on their own.

The only option they had was to see who wanted to stay, and who would be allowed to stay if they asked.

While Dominic hadn’t mentioned anything to the Baron about them insulting him when they first arrived, or the trouble with the premature celebration among some of their rowdier members, it wasn’t impossible that the Troll had told him on the way over.

Slowly, the group began to split, with the vast majority picking up their supplies and giving the smaller group disgusted looks.

The leader of the smaller group was a young woman who had a skittish demeanour, almost like a deer that had smelled predators. But for some reason, they had nominated her to speak for them.

"Your Grace, we would like to petition to stay within your lands. The others, they... They would like to carry on, with your blessing, they would prefer to go to Castle City or another region of Cygnia." She began.

Her voice was shy and gentle, but Dominic noticed that all the other men seemed to be at least mildly entranced, except Dave.

There was magic in her voice, and now he understood why she had been chosen, despite the fact that she was clearly terrified of public speaking.

Baron Keith was about to respond, but Dominic stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

There was no telling what the Baron would agree to.

"I agree that is the best way forward. Why don’t we let the Baron here sort everyone out while you come with me? I would like to recommend a particular career to you."

Only when he finished did Dominic realize that he had phrased that in the worst possible way.

Baron Keith looked shocked, while Prince Fahad was trying not to laugh, and Dave was wiggling his eyebrows.

"Dammit, not like that. I think that she would be good as one of Princess Alexis’ maids."

"Oh! The veiled maids would be a wonderful job for her." Dave realized.

With her magic voice, she could whisper suggestions to men freely, and everyone would assume that she was just passing on the Princess’ orders. Alexis could use her to get things done in a sneaky way.

The troll approved.

Baron Keith seemed to snap out of his trance a few seconds later, after Dominic had reminded him that he had work to do.

"Yes, that will work out well. Are the majority set on Castle City? Or would you like me to give you a reference for somewhere further, but with less damage from the recent attacks?" The Baron asked.

The larger group’s leaders conferred for only a few seconds, then smiled. "My Lord, if you would be willing to give us a referral to somewhere stable and safe, we would be greatly in your debt."

"In that case, I will recommend you to Biverlow. The Count is a good friend of mine, and the city is a quarter million, with much arable land further out, and a good saltwater port.

It has everything that you might require, and if it’s not suitable, you can catch a boat from there to anywhere else in the world." Baron Keith explained.

That was quite a way from here, in southeastern Cygnia. But if he said it was a good spot, they would happily accept it.

The Baron took out a sheet of paper, while Dave offered his shield as a writing table. The referral was signed and sealed by the Baron, an official document that would help them gain access even if the city wasn’t accepting new residents, or had put other restrictions on groups of travellers.

It would also help them along the way, as it could be used to prove that they were not bandits, only passing through a territory.

Normally, such a document would be much more difficult to come by, but Baron Keith also knew that Biverlow was very close to the border, so there was a chance that the group would pass into Mitfield, and no longer be his problem.

It was the small group that chose to remain behind that had his interest.

Especially that woman who had enchanted him with only a few words. That was an incredibly powerful skill, and possibly more useful as an innate magical ability than Dominic’s infinite Arcane Blast.

At least when they weren’t under attack.