Lance avoided the north when establishing the farmstead because it was ancestral territory and quite difficult to develop. The locations he chose were all pre-scouted to ensure there weren't too many strange things around before he finally settled on them.
However, there was still the possibility of attracting enemy attention, which is why Lance had arranged for a garrison.
Fifty professional soldiers—a force that some towns in the Hamlet Region might not be able to muster—meant that even if the farmstead came under attack, there would be resistance.
Of course, given his meticulous nature, he naturally had a contingency plan if things truly became unmanageable.
Not only did the soldiers understand the meaning of an emergency signal, but everyone on the farmstead had also been repeatedly warned that seeing it meant danger and that they must hurry back.
