The people who wanted to join Thornefang had increased, from knight aspirants, mages, mercenaries, healers, and cooks. Of course, the current Thornefang needed all of them since they were fewer than fifty members.
Unfortunately, due to the limits of his budget and the idea that there were assassins and spies mixed in made Lucen hesitated on who to bring under his flag.
***
There were now so many people coming to Ironhold that all the taverns were full. Outside Ironhold's gates looked less like a fortress and more like a marketplace. Rows of tents cropped up overnight, smoke from cooking fires curling into the pale winter sky.
Banners from mercenary bands flapped beside the robes of wandering mages. Children carried training swords, while grizzled veterans sharpened theirs on whetstones.
