Horizon of War Series-Chapter 231: Elixir & Wine

Claire, unable to resist, asked, "Master, what is that? It smells so... fragrant, like perfume."

"It's shampoo, isn't it?" Valerie said, impressed.

"Indeed," Lansius confirmed, drawing everyone's attention. The group turned their curious gazes toward Valerie, sensing she was familiar with it.

Audrey set the bottle down and leaned in eagerly. "So, what exactly does it do?"

"My Lady," Valerie greeted her with a nod. "If my assumption is correct, this concoction will clean the hair, strengthen it, and make it shine. It's also gentle, and as we can all smell, it has a pleasant floral fragrance."

The women exchanged glances before murmuring in appreciation, some nodding in approval, clearly intrigued by the unfamiliar product.

Lansius was pleased with their reaction. "Elixir might be a bit much," he admitted. "It doesn't cure hair issues, but as Lady Valerie said, it should clean, detangle, and leave hair looking healthy, fresh, and a bit shiny."

He turned to Tanya and met her gaze. He took a bottle labeled Chamomile and offered it to her. "This one is a lighter mix for normal to delicate hair. It should be good for you."

"Gratitude," Tanya said, accepting the bottle with both hands and a bright smile. "Can mother use it too?"

"Of course, I almost forgot." Lansius took another bottle and placed it in a small linen bag he had prepared. Inside, dried straw cushioned the delicate glass. "Here, give this to mother."

"There are different types?" Audrey asked as Tanya took the linen bag, drawing the others' attention.

"Currently, there are only two." Lansius picked up another bottle labeled Rosemary. "This one is for you, me, and anyone whose hair often gets dirty from training and sweat."

Audrey took it eagerly and uncorked it, inhaling deeply. "Ah, similar to the one Valerie opened. Nice, I like this scent."

Lansius handed out two more bottles, one to Claire and another to Tia, who accepted hers nervously yet with grace.

"Mind you," Lansius continued, "this is still a trial, so I expect an honest report from you. But the alchemist and herbalist who made them tested them on their families and reported good results. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare give it to you."

The ladies nodded in understanding.

Happy with their reaction, Lansius said, "Claire, Tia, can you escort Tanya to Mother Arryn for me? Also, I’m sure you’ll want to try the hair elixir, so you can have the day off."

The three bowed their heads in acknowledgment before departing with quiet enthusiasm.

With only the three of them remaining, Valerie seemed more at ease. She glanced at Audrey, who replied casually, "Speak freely, it's only us."

Valerie dropped her formality and turned to Lansius. "You should have consulted me first. I’ve made this before."

"I suspected you would," he answered. "But there was a formula I wanted to try. You can compare it to the ones you've made and give me your input. I’ll make adjustments based on your suggestions."

"What’s inside?" she asked.

"The main ingredient is ash from vine as a cleaning agent."

"Good choice," Valerie replied. "It's better than wood ash. I even asked Calub, and he couldn't find anything better. There are stronger options, but they’re too coarse for hair."

Lansius looked at Audrey, explaining, "As you know, too much ash, even vine ash, would ruin the hair. So we used just a little and diluted it heavily to keep it extra soft. I don’t want to cause issues with anyone’s hair."

Audrey nodded. "That’s the problem with ash mixtures. Even in small amounts, it’s still too harsh. It’s better to just use water and finish with a light vinegar rinse."

"That's why this elixir is special." Lansius smiled. "It can properly clean without being harsh on the hair. On the contrary, it should make it more manageable and smooth."

Valerie hesitated before asking, "What's the secret ingredient? Can you tell us?"

"The herbalist recommended an ale rinse water. They said it's good for making hair healthier, reducing grease buildup, and adding volume. Then a bit of floral oil and almond oil to protect the hair."

"No vinegar rinse?" Audrey asked.

"Can’t mix them. Vinegar would work against the vine ash," Lansius explained. "There's a plan to make a different item for those who find the elixir too strong, but it’s just heavily diluted cider vinegar and ale rinse." His tone was a bit doubtful.

"Sell it too. Even if they don’t buy the elixir, people will pay for a good vinegar rinse," Audrey suggested.

Lansius frowned. "But can’t they just get vinegar locally?"

Audrey gestured to the bottles. "Judging by these, I doubt yours will smell as bad as most cider vinegar."

Lansius chuckled, understanding her concern.

"So, how much do you want to sell it for?" Audrey asked.

"Not so fast," Lansius said warmly. "I need your honest opinions first, then a second round of testing. While we wait for production, we can settle on a price. Besides, I plan to send these as gifts to the nobles."

"Gifts?" Valerie blurted out. "But they’re your potential customers!"

Lansius smirked at the French girl. "Why, you never got free samples?"

That remark made Valerie shift slightly, though she masked it with a soft cough.

With Audrey watching their exchange in quiet excitement, Lansius continued, "Let them try it. Once they see how useful it is, they’ll come back."

"I see, you’ve thought this through," Valerie remarked.

Audrey, amused, nodded. "Knowing him, I think this is just the surface."

Lansius smiled but said nothing. Indeed, she had read him correctly. There was a deeper, far-reaching motive than just making and selling shampoo.

***

Corinthia

It was close to sundown, and Lord Avery watched as his weary men secured the town hall and several neighboring buildings to serve as their stronghold. Despite winning every skirmish, their force remained too small to hold the city effectively. A hundred men against a population of five thousand, the odds were still overwhelming.

Thus, the reason for Avery's ruthless advance. It had left the remaining populace too fearful to raise their swords against them. At least not yet, as they had yet to realize just how small the invading force truly was.

Currently, the Dawn's one hundred had been reduced to fewer than seventy, many wounded or dead.

After the last skirmish, twenty-three armed men from the two surviving airships rejoined Avery's force. They had originally been sent to sneak into the castle, capture the Lord, and force a surrender, but their mission had failed along with the crashed airship. These elite raiders quickly became much-needed reinforcements, handling various tasks for their exhausted brethren.

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Not long after, from captured men, they learned about the surviving crew members from the stricken Bane of Lubina, but they had no means to evacuate them. However, other investigations proved fruitful.

Just as many had expected, the captured sailors and merchants from their seized trade ships had been held beneath the town hall. Now, hundreds of freed men marched to the garden, escorted by Dawn's men. Their legs were unsteady, their faces hollow from hunger and thirst. Yet the moment they spotted Lord Avery, a violent spark of life returned to their eyes, soon followed by a surge of murmurs filled with emotion.

"My Lord!" they called out. Some rushed forward, while others, overcome, fell to their knees in relief.

Avery met them with a warm but steady gaze. "Gentlemen," he called, calming them. "I apologize for my delay. But rest assured, the culprit will pay dearly for this."

He gestured toward the empty town hall. "For now, rest and eat whatever you can find. Recover your strength. Those who can bear arms, ask, and you may accompany us in taking whatever you need from this city."

One by one, they bowed their heads deeply. The more dignified among them stepped forward, clasping Avery’s gloved hand, murmuring words of gratitude and relief. Others, too overwhelmed to speak, simply grasped or touched the tip of his glove as a token of respect and gratitude.

From them, Avery gained no fewer than fifty men who could handle swords and crossbows. Other able men gathered supplies, cooked whatever they could, treated the wounded, and acted as lookouts. While the extra men were welcome, Avery knew he needed far more to prepare for the eventual siege of the castle.

Fortunately, with the surprise attack successful and the trade ship and crew recovered, he had no reason not to use his boats to transport more men from his barony. Thus, he sent a hawk home with orders to dispatch the remaining men gathered for this campaign by boat.

Now, all he needed was to let his men recover their strength while keeping watch for potential trouble. The sun had waned, and soon the fishermen would return, band together, and possibly cause unrest.

Avery himself traveled to another establishment where his guards had found better accommodations for rest. There, the Lord of Dawn removed his back and breastplate and lounged on a thick carpet that softened the marble floor, propping himself comfortably on plush silken pillows. The chamber was finely plastered and lavishly decorated, its furnishings too luxurious for a simple inn or a noble’s guest hall.

Though unlit, the scent of exotic perfumes still clung to the air, mingling with traces of wine and incense. Silk draperies hung from the walls, their rich colors and bold imagery depicting vulgar scenes of indulgence and pleasure.

His men had chosen a brothel because the walls were thick and sturdy, concealed from the outside, yet had multiple exits in case of emergency. It was, ironically, an ideal stronghold.

The place was also cooler, thanks to a large pool in its inner courtyard, surrounded by tall, lush palm and coconut trees. The vegetation and water provided a soothing breeze that flowed easily into the halls, where soft rugs were spread out, allowing a portion of his troops to rest in comfort.

"Any women to be freed?" Avery asked his captain, who remained armored, looking sweaty but alert.

"No, they likely ran away. We found nothing," the captain replied from his seat on the carpet near the window, overlooking the courtyard.

"A shame," Avery mumbled and exhaled deeply. Violent as he was, he had always been drawn to freeing the oppressed and the innocent.

Lazily, he took a drink from his waterskin, enjoying the cool breeze from the indoor garden. "To besiege Corinthia with a hundred," Avery muttered, amused by the absurdity.

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Turning to his captain, he asked, "What we did is crazy, isn't it?"

"Not crazy if it's working." The unwary captain grinned.

Avery snorted and let his head sink into the soft pillow, lying back on the carpet. He closed his eyes, but rest did not come. Even in darkness, his mind remained occupied with plans. Not even the loss of one of his airships was enough to shake his resolve. For now, his priority was clear—his men needed rest, fresh wound dressings, dry foot wraps, and, above all, warm food and plenty of clean drinking water.

For tomorrow’s siege, Avery would put up the pretense of a traditional assault. But in reality, he would use his airship as a floating archer tower, keeping it above the reach of enemy crossbows and punishing the defenders from above. He reckoned he could take the castle quicker and with fewer casualties.

His plan depended on the Fire of Kapua. Fortunately, the airship’s damage was lighter than expected and could be hastily repaired. No bolts had pierced her skin. The only damage was to the gondola. A few quick fixes and some crude patchwork would do. The real question was whether a single airship would be enough, especially with the risk of another unseen ballista that could be mounted anywhere.

Of course, there was another solution. They still had plenty of volatile oil and even more stored on an island not far from here. If Avery wished, they could burn the rest of the castle complex methodically. But that would be wasteful since he would likely need those precious incendiary weapons against future enemies.

The approaching strides of his men did not startle Avery, but he opened his eyes as they arrived.

"My Lord, the Lord of the city shows intentions to surrender," one reported.

"I refuse his terms," Avery said without hesitation, still lying on the carpet.

"They offered none." Even his tone carried doubt.

Avery and his captain furrowed their brows in confusion.

His captain rose, seeking confirmation from the men directly. "Surrender without asking terms?"

The man nodded twice, as if to assure them he wasn’t joking, before explaining, "They simply opened the gate and said they wanted to surrender."

"An unconditional surrender," the captain muttered, turning to Avery, who groaned in sheer displeasure.

Due to the violent nature of the surprise attack, Avery had yet to deliver his terms, assuming he could capture the castle by air. Now, that simple mistake of not declaring his intentions had come back to haunt him.

Against all odds, the Lord of Corinthia dared surrendered in this fashion. Without clear terms, decorum required Avery to treat them fairly, something he had no desire to do. He had intended to punish those responsible harshly.

Avery sighed sharply. He had once thought the worst outcome would be for the Lord of Corinthia to be captured by his own men. In that case, he could have locked the man away under some pretext. But now, with the lord walking on his own two feet and offering his sword in full view of countless witnesses, Avery couldn't simply throw him in a dungeon or have him killed.

The captain, grasping the situation, strode to a window overlooking the street. Below, the Lord of Corinthia and his contingent approached under heavy escort from the Dawn, their sheathed swords held in both hands, a clear gesture of surrender.

Without hesitation, the captain stepped closer to Avery and said, "We can still take them out. Feign war confusion, vengeance, bloodlust, anything. Just give the order."

Avery managed a smile. It went without saying that everyone knew the freed merchants wanted the former lord dead for what he had done to them. And the Dawn needed to keep the merchants invested in the Southern Trade.

"You're a man after my own heart. However, I still need my reputation. Otherwise, our allies in the north might start feeling uneasy about me."

The captain understood that Lord Avery was referring to both Sir Servius and the Lord Shogun. Despite their warlike tendencies, both conducted themselves with a certain sense of honor.

"Then what do you want me to do?" the veteran captain asked.

Outside, the Dawn guards stood firm, blocking the surrenderees from entering the building. They awaited orders from within.

Avery finally decided. "It's unconditional, so he can surrender to you. Find whatever knight you can as a witness." He rose from the carpet and added, "I'll be away, looking for a place with a good ocean view to empty my bowels."

His captain smirked in amusement and bowed his head as Avery exited the chamber. He understood that Avery had no desire to meet the man responsible for this conflict. He had already interrogated enough to learn that the root of it all was nothing more than petty greed and ignorance, born from poor education and isolation. Knowing nothing of the world beyond his lands, the baron of the coast had acted like a king.

...

Night fell over Corinthia, now under the banner of Dawn. After the formal surrender was signed, Lord Avery and his men secured and occupied the castle. However, with the donjon burned down, they had no choice but to make do with the gatehouse. A nearby building had been converted into a makeshift hospice, while field tents were raised inside the castle grounds to shelter the men, as there was not enough space within the walls.

Outside, after surrendering, all Corinthian men-at-arms, guards, and irregulars laid down their armor and weapons. This allowed the citizens to return and begin controlling the fires. The survivors and returning fishermen used whatever they could: buckets, blankets, even their bare hands, to smother the flames. Their efforts finally bore fruit near sundown as the worst of the fires were subdued.

Not all Corinthian men-at-arms and guards were allowed to walk free. Several key groups remained under watch in the town hall, guarded by a third of Avery’s men. The former lord himself, while not technically imprisoned, was confined to an unused chamber until further notice.

As for Avery, he sat on a padded chair he had looted from somewhere, accepting the latest reports his men could gather. A gemstone of light hung from the chandelier, illuminating the room and casting a soft glow over the stone walls and the men within.

"Next," the captain instructed as the last man stepped back after giving his report.

"My Lord." A scout hurriedly stepped forward, his face sweaty from riding. "We've spotted a group of brigands blocking the way to South Hill."

"Brigands?" Avery frowned, not surprised, just seeking clarification.

"Yes, My Lord. From the looks of it, around a hundred, if not more."

Avery turned to the captain, who readily replied, "If you agree, I'll send fifteen horsemen tomorrow to scout the area."

"Or we can wait and let them hear that Corinthia has surrendered."

"They might band together, gather stragglers, and try to come to this city," the captain pointed out.

Avery stroked his beard and puckered his lips. "No, I'm not in the mood to negotiate or offer money to these bastards. They're likely in league with those pirates we heard about."

"Then your order, My Lord?"

"Send a few men on horseback to observe. If they move closer or try anything funny..." Avery didn’t need to finish.

The captain understood and turned to the weary scout. "Anything else to report?"

The man shook his head and withdrew from the chamber. The guards closed the door, leaving Avery alone with the captain.

With privacy assured, the captain stepped closer and asked, "What are your plans for the deposed lord?"

Avery's gaze grew solemn as he considered his words. "'I've heard enough about the boy. Fascinating how even his own retainers hold him in such low regard." He met the captain's gaze and asked, "You've met him. What do you make of him?"

"Another noble brat who thinks he's the smartest in the region." His tone flat.

"The bringer of hardship who fancies himself the bringer of progress," Avery mocked. "It would be much easier if he had died in battle."

Despite his victory, mistreating the captive could stir unrest among the populace. The last thing he needed was a rebellion fueled by fear and resentment, especially if surviving nobles fanned the flames. Not that he wouldn’t round them all up and send them to the mines, but a little precaution wouldn’t hurt.

Even beset by war, Corinthia had to be secured. Left unchecked, it could become a pirate nest.

"The real question is," Avery continued, "how do I send a strong message if I can't hang him out to dry and smoke him like a fish?"

"Without looking bad? Almost impossible, after he and his men surrendered unconditionally," the captain remarked.

"True." Avery exhaled deeply. "That would reflect poorly on us. Despite my penchant for setting my enemies alight, I'm not an uncivilized brute. On the other hand, our highly educated merchant friends expect great things from me—meaning the most uncivilized, cruelest punishment they can imagine should befall the responsible captors. But with our hands shackled like this, I might just be unable to fulfill their barbaric expectations."

The captain smirked at Avery’s colorful explanation.

Avery continued, "Tell me, does the boy have any heirs?"

"We captured a baby and his mother."

"Mother and child bear no blame for the father’s sins. We’ll take them to Dawn." He paused before adding, "As for the rest of the responsible nobles, see to it that they are transported safely and with great care to the Nicopolan mines, starting with the most powerful."

"A long journey by boat and carriage," the veteran captain noted without objection. "Then who will govern Corinthia?"

"If he's popular, the captured Corinthian knight can serve as my proxy for this fishing hole. We’ll keep a light garrison to make sure he doesn’t overstep."

The captain bowed his head in acknowledgment, a gesture that also signaled his intent to leave. It seemed they couldn't find a solution for how to handle Corinthia’s former lord after all.

It would certainly reflect poorly on their occupation and could fray Lord Avery's reputation, especially with the freed merchants demanding the execution of every Corinthian responsible for their unjust capture, the theft of their assets, and the squalid, inhumane treatment they endured in the dungeons. If they couldn't placate the merchants, then the Southern Trade might collapse.

He had just turned and reached for the door when Avery spoke. "Wait."

The captain turned back. "My lord?"

Avery smirked. "I might have just found a way to send a strong message, pacify our merchant friends, and do it all without antagonizing the populace. Arrange for the boy to meet you here for some wine. And let's not be cheap about it. We should be magnanimous as victors."

"All this effort just to poison him?" the captain asked, his disbelief clear.

Avery chuckled, low and amused, before his expression turned cold. "You know me better than that. I don’t need poison. By tomorrow, half of Corinthia will taste his blood—and they’ll believe the guilt is theirs to bear."

***