Balian sat on Tyre lost in thought watching the fire. His face, cloak, and armor were greyed by the ever present smoke. Here was a small picture of war he thought. If we fail then the realm's fate will be as these homesteads. Grimbold the Bear cantered his horse to a stop beside Balian. "My Lord, we have them."
Balian and Grimbold rode to a crowd of gathered cavaliers and militia. In the center of the group were three men. The soldiers parted for the Lord General as he strode up the the prisoners. "What is this?" Balian growled.
The three man starting shouting at once. "My Lord! Glover fed my fields to his cattle!" "Mine too!" "They hold the land at the river! Where is my water?"
"Silence!" Balian shouted. "Fields? Water? A dozen folk have been killed. The gods only know how many injured. Another dozen killed after they refused to drop their weapons? Half a dozen homesteads burn. If you want to talk about land and water you are talking to the wrong Shrike. My wife is Lady Councilor. She would have heard your complaints. I am Lord General Shrike and I am here about blood. Peace was broken and blood was spilled."
Balian grabbed one of the men by his tunic and shook him. "I don't care how it started! You have a riot on the Fork only miles from Carseld and Stagfell. What did you think was going to happen?" Balian backhanded the man sending him sprawling to the ground.
It was then that Balian noticed one of the men was still standing. "On your knees!"
"I will not bend my knee to you."
"What?" Balian could not believe his ears.
"I said I will not bend my knee to you or that whore wife of yours. You think you can set a hall down on a choicey spot and rule over us farmers of the Fork? You sit up there..."
Balian snatched a crossbow from the nearby militiaman and sent its bolt into the man's mouth. Tips of feathers protruded from his lips as if they contained a bird. The man held a surprised look and reached toward his mouth and the back of his neck. He sputtered once and then collapsed to the ground dead.
The other two prisoners almost started crying for mercy but then thought it wiser to keep silent.
"What was his name?" Balian demanded.
"Glover. His, his name was Glover, my Lord General Ser."
Balian motioned toward the ranking militiaman, "Take these men to Stagfell and lock them up. Glover's land and property shall be sold and divided in six parts among the homesteads that were burned. Glover's head goes on a pike on the border of the hex. Let it say "Disturber of the peace." I am retiring to Carseld. We'll sort out anything else in the morning."
The militiaman saluted, "Yes, Lord General!"
"And spread the word. If anyone has any problems it would be best if they used the proper channels."
Balian mounted his stallion and rode through the smoke back to Carseld for some much needed rest.
