212 Discussion II (1/2)
Sindra rifled through her documents once more and found a letter sealed with the dove emblem of Lys. Her sharp eyes moved rapidly as she read through its contents, refreshing her memory.
”The armies of the five banners will stay here for three more days until their remainder come to Riviera and gather into an unified force. They will then mobilize to the Hinterlands, where they will meet the Triestan Armada at the western coast for supplies and additional reinforcements.
So far, the armies have moved exactly according to this declaration.”
”And what about their supplies for the time they are in the city?” said Li. ”There very well may be over half a million troops here if the entirety of all five armies march here and my knowledge of their numbers is accurate. Will our stored crop be seized?”
”The Farmer's Guild did receive a notice about that,” said Sindra as she put a quill to her lip. ”A request extended by the duchess. An emphasis on the word 'request'. She asks that the farmer's guild, if it so very much pleases, extend some support to the encampment.
But, she also very much emphasizes that such support is unnecessary. If needed, she will march the armies west earlier than expected and simply resupply at the western coast with the Triestan armada.”
Li nodded. ”I see.” He thought about what he had heard for a few seconds, processing what was going on.
It was evident to see that the duchess had not made any move against him. If anything, she had contributed in stopping the temple from attempting to abuse Li's absence to intimidate and harass his followers.
Which did make sense, considering that she had an entire war to deal with already, and antagonizing Li on top of that would only burden her that much more. This, he already knew, but he wanted to be on the safer side of things.
”Then, let us move on to what he will do about my followers and their future course of action,” said Li. He nodded to Ivo and Old Thane. ”Ivo, old man, I've heard concerns about this lockdown affecting the crop. What did they say about its length?”
”One week,” said Sindra immediately, never losing an opportunity to recite a memorized fact.
”Too long,” said Li.
”Aye, I do agree,” said Old Thane. As master of fields, he had the most stake in making sure the farms themselves were well maintained. ”A few days, the fields could shoulder the impact. A week, however, when we've grain that grows so quick and livestock we could not bring within the city walls to care for?
An impossibility, I should say.”
”Not to mention the logistics of it all,” said Sindra. ”There are over one hundred people in this guild, all whom you see packing the entirety of this impressive auditorium. Where shall they find housing?”
”That could be arranged,” said Ven'thur.
Sindra's ears twitched. ”How, if I may ask? I have run the calculations. Riviera, under lockdown, has now a population far exceeding its usual norm. Refugees from surrounding villages and even those in centerland cities may come pouring in by the thousands.
The city's shelters will be overrun. All the inns will be packed. When, and not if, a law of hospice is enforced, making it such that refugees must rotate between shelters to maximize the spread of warm roofs, it will be that much more difficult to keep all the guild members accounted for and safe.”
Ven'thur flourished his lavender gloved hand, waiving away all of Sindra's concerns. ”Oh, dear Sindra, you must take your mind off the numbers and books sometimes and see through a little more, hm, practical lens.” He tapped his monocle and continued.