Leaving Livestock Village, they traveled a road so wide, straight, and level that Quickblade and the other soldiers' initial shock had numbed into acceptance.
But the fear that their lord had become a mere figurehead weighed ever more heavily on their minds.
Perhaps the Porcupine Clan's in-laws, the Crocodile Clan, had arrived. Lieder had always been wary of the ferocious Crocodiles and had staunchly refused Green Forest Castle's aid. If it was the young Baron Leech, he would likely have had no choice but to hand everything over.
Quickblade took off his helmet and ran a frustrated hand through his white-streaked hair. He enjoyed drinking and fighting, but had no taste for political maneuvering.
'But even if it was the Crocodile Clan, would they really have the audacity to develop a remote place like Porcupine Territory so magnificently?'
After walking for a while longer, they arrived at Maitian Village.
