The Count sat alone in his tent, gazing at the night sky as a complex look flickered in his eyes.
Though he had escaped disaster for now, other difficulties remained. He sighed softly, knowing full well that the days ahead would be anything but easy.
The Feikawen region may be remote, but it was by no means uninhabited.
On the contrary, the area had its own power dynamics, and his arrival was bound to disrupt the existing balance.
Even if he had no plans to settle here! Everyone was watching from the sidelines; no one wanted to get on the wrong side of the emperor or Henry.
The Count knew that making a comeback would be no easy feat. He would have to start over, rebuilding his power from scratch.
He needed to buy land at the mouth of a bay in the mountains of Battania and purchase serfs. This was the first step in rebuilding his family's foundation.
