Quinn
THE MEN LOOKED NERVOUS as they filed in, and Klein and Les took the seats offered to them while their men stood behind. Tea was provided, and after a few sips, Mark began, "As you know, we're here to discuss aid Norsewood can provide to both your parties to return home."
Les said, "I can't say enough how much we appreciate your aid, my lord."
"Us, too," Klein said.
Mark said, "Technically speaking, we're neighbors, so helping each other in times of need is the least we can do. Besides, Juan told us how generous you both have been when Norsewood needed help, so for that, I would like to say thank you on behalf of Norsewood." He bowed, and Aldric did, too.
Aldric said, "Now for the important matter at hand. Please tell us the state of affairs in Egral and Wodria."
Klein and Les looked at each other, and then Les said, "Wodria is in dire circumstances. We pride ourselves on being able to look after our citizens without outside help, and we have been able to do that for centuries, despite the unpredictability of our harvest. However, in the last ten years, it has been extremely poor, as you all know it has been across this northern region of the continent."
Everyone in the room nodded, except for me. It appeared it wasn't only Norsewood that suffered from poor harvest for crops such as wheat and rye.
Could it be due to the weather orm something else? Was there a sort of unexplained phenomenon? And why wasn't rice affected? Strange.
Les continued. "We reached a point where we simply had to send out
expeditions to get supplies from outside the country, trading with nations we have never before, such as Athol and Roven. We used to trade with Oswia of the Valley Elves and Ograd of the Snow Elves, but we have since stopped because they, too, cannot afford to offset their supplies for another nation. We do have another two more expedition teams, one for Cliasa, Nation of the One-Horned Demons, and the other to Roven. I don't know if they've managed to return home before winter, and I do hope they succeed, but this year, we have been hit so hard I fear even the supplies acquired wouldn't be able to do much in terms of feeding the nation. Many will die from starvation..." He sighed.
It was Klein's turn to speak. He said, "We dwarves don't do much farming. We rely mostly on our crafts and mining work to make our living. We get most of our supplies, food staples such as wheat and rye and other essentials, from Wodria and Oswia, but with them suffering from poor harvest, we, too, suffer. Hence, we join Wodria for supply expeditions every year. Like Les, I pray the teams to the Cliasa and Roven successfully return home; otherwise, I can only imagine the worst possible scenario."
Their circumstances were rather serious. Technically speaking, Wodria and Egral were like Norsewood when I had first arrived in terms of food supplies.
Aldric said, "Thank you for clarifying your nations' situations. Now, here's what we're going to do for you."
"Yes, my lord," Les said as both he and Klein, as well as their men, listened attentively.
Aldric said, "We will provide not only supplies to you for your journey home, but for your nations, too, however much you'll need to ensure your citizens' survival during the rest of this winter and the next year."
Klein dropped his mouth open while Les widened his eyes, and their men
gasped in shocked surprise.
"My lord," Klein said. "Truly, you would..."
Aldric nodded. "As you've already witnessed, rice can be used as a food staple much like wheat and rye, and Norsewood has an abundance of that."
Nodding his head, his eyes glistening with tears, Les said, "Yes, rice is delicious and can be used in many types of dishes. With Norsewood providing us rice, we will not starve. Our citizens will be saved."
