A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

Chapter 724 Ferdinand - Part 7

"They're gifts, Greeves, not gold. I'm not going to sell them," Oliver said impatiently.

"Maybe you should. As funds for building the wall," Greeves said.

That made Oliver pause, but he still shook his head. If they'd known that they would be used as funds for building a wall, then would they have given them all the same? He didn't know and he hadn't asked, so he couldn't just up and use them. It would be disrespectful to do so.

Nila rejoined them shortly enough. That conversation with the earlier man had led to another conversation with another man, which had led to some of her employees finding her to ask her advice. Oliver was surprised by just how busy the little girl he'd known had become, but he supposed that was simply the price of building a business as quickly as she had.

"The battle is what did it," Greeves commented, just as Nila found them once more.

"Hm? What do you mean?" Oliver said.

"Well, you were wondering, weren't you? You were eyeing little Nila up, a thoughtful look in her eyes. I reckon you weren't thinking about giving her that necklace, were ya? Naw, you're too dense for that. So, I supposed that you were probably wondering about how she'd managed to get something built as quickly as she did. I'm right, aren't I?" Greeves said.

"Well, I was maybe thinking of it a little..." Oliver said.

"A thousand..." Oliver said to himself once they were out of earshot.

"Well, I didn't say that they got it right all the time. I just said that they were listening." Greeves said with a smile. "Yer retainer up in that Academy, and that bloomin' General you're working under, they were right about those missions. They're useful for you. More than you reckon. As strong as you are, they're a proper golden ticket."

Soon enough, they arrived at Nila's place. Oliver was surprised that they were still living in the same house, despite all the money that Nila was earning now. Nila had explained it away with a shrug, saying that they needed no more. That it was pointless to have something new built in the heart of winter whilst everyone else was struggling.

In line with that struggle, Oliver had seen the remains and rubble of various buildings as he'd walked down that familiar road, on the way to the forest, in the direction of Nila's house. But even of the rubble, there was less than he'd thought they'd been. And there were plenty of new houses too.

The mood in the village that he'd expected to be sad – given all that they'd lost – was the opposite. There was a hopeful optimism there, seen best in the glowing faces of playing children. It was gratitude and hope that those villagers wielded, despite the harshness of winter.

They were all living quite well, after all, through Lord Blackwell's efforts, and Lombard's careful administrative gaze, they'd made sure that the destruction would leave no lingering effects. The local merchants – Nila and Greeves amongst them – ensured the same. There was a spirit of charity that kept the villagers just as close as they'd been in the heart of battle.

They were a rock-solid union now. The more Oliver saw of Solgrim, the more he realized what a gem it was.

And now he saw David and Stephanie too, just as excitable as the children that he'd seen before them. The second Nila had opened the door, Stephanie had come rushing out, with a broad smile on her face, as David chased as playfully with a stick, only pretending to be trying to catch her, whilst he purposefully kept his speed in check.