Phillip's first full day in Echo Valley was a full and busy one. He'd begun as he always had, meeting with his Counselors. Terrano was first, giving Phillip an update on the security situation. The Captain of the Guard had sent teams of 4 Mounted Guardsmen out to survey the land immediately surrounding the village the night before and then again early this morning just after sunrise. They'd found evidence of two small groups of people living in the forest, but upon the Squads' approaches, the people melted into the forest. Terrano surmised what he saw that they were likely displaced people, made homeless by the recently ended war. "We'll have to help them, Captain," Phillip told him without hesitation. Asked how, he ordered Terrano to send a Squad out to make contact with the [I]refugees[/I], adding, "Take a cart of food and supplies … blankets and such, to each location. If they flee again, simply leave the cart's contents. We'll go back the next day and try again." After his Captain, Phillip met with the Master of Coin. He had an update of the cost of rebuilding the Keep, and it wasn't good news. "I will begin meeting with the Landed Peasants today to determine their needs for the spring planting. I am reluctant to report this, m'lord … but the fields should already be green with sprouting plants … grains, beets, turnips, potatoes … but few of the communal fields have been planted, and many of the privately owned fields are still unworked." "The reason...?" Phillip asked. The Master of Coin hesitated, not wanting to speculate but also knowing that his Lord would want an answer now. "Poverty, m'lord…? I fear that perhaps many of the farmers … the Landed and not … I fear that they may simply not have the seed and roots to begin planting." "I saw a lot of green out there as we descended from the pass yesterday," Phillip pointed out. "Yes, m'lord, but … much of that is simply wild pastureland," the Master of Coin explained. "Pasture is excellent for sheep and goats … however..." Phillip waited for the man to finish his thought and when he didn't, Phillip understood. He finished the thought with a solemn tone, "However … there are no stock animals. What wasn't stolen during the war … the peasants have eaten out of desperation." "Milk goats … wool providing sheep … even plow horses," the Master of Coin expanded. "I see very few stock animals across the river, and those that I do see seem to be guarded closely by their owners. I fear the situation is more desperate than we were told prior to leaving the Capital, m'lord." Phillip met with his other Counselors, then took another tour of the Keep to be shown the additional work that was now known to be necessary. Midday had passed by now, and as he returned to his tent Phillip caught sight of a long string of villagers on the far side of the river, lined up for a hundred yards from the base of the bridge. "What is this?" he asked Terrano as he surveyed the line. "You requested that the Crier let the villagers know that you would be taking audiences with those in desperate need beginning at midday," Terrano answered. When Phillip shot him a look of surprise, the Captain explained, "I think it's [I]every[/I] one in the village." Suddenly Phillip wondered whether or not Echo Valley had been such a good deal after all. He studied the string of peasants for a long moment, as most of them studied him in return. Even from here, he could sense the desperation in their faces and body movement. They were exhausted, both mentally and physically. Ironically, Phillip suspected he would be, too, before he'd turned this town around. "Very well," he said, turning to return to his temporary [I]home[/I]. Entering his tent... [center][img]https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51cb3396e4b04a2426c1668d/t/538e36bde4b07de501bfa482/1401829061869/c3.jpg[/img][/center] ...Phillip found the worried Master of Coin standing over a mass of record books and parchments, some spread out and held in place with stones some Guard or another retrieved from the river's edge. Phillip walked past the man without hesitating, saying with a touch of humor, "It could be worse. We could have left the Capital without a trunk full of silver." The Master of Coin mumbled something Phillip didn't comprehend, then followed it with a respectful, "Yes, m'lord." [hider=note]The following image is out of context. Use your imagination.[/hider] Phillip passed from the forward [I]business[/I] portion of the two section tent into the rear [I]residential[/I] portion. There, he found Ellora lounging back in a pile of large, soft pillows... [center][img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/04/c6/9b/04c69b678f6e307004d5e32de2e38963.jpg[/img][/center] "You look worried, m'lord," she observed with a sincere tone. When he looked her way, she slowly and seductively lifted the lower hem of her dress to reveal her otherwise unhidden [I]womanhood[/I]. Her lips spread in a devilish smirk as she asked, "Is there anyway I can take your mind off your worries?" Phillip smiled as he took a moment to consider taking a break from his new responsibilities, but then instead turned away and began shedding some of his outer wear. He asked, "When will you be leaving, m'lady?" Ellora didn't immediately respond. She didn't want to leave Phillip's service; he'd been a kind and gentle master, unlike many of the men she'd served in the past. But for years she'd known that her future was to return to the County of Black Rock to settle some scores. She answered Phillip with, "I serve you, m'lord. I will leave when and [I]only[/I] when you give me permission to do so." He looked to Ellora as he washed his hands in a basin of recently warmed water. Phillip hated to lose the woman, her services, and her companionship. Ellora had been much more than a bed partner to him; she'd been a friend in moments when he'd needed one. Phillip liked to believe that she'd been so good to him for reasons other than the coin he'd given her over the past months, but … how could he know? "You may leave at any time, m'lady," Phillip finally told her. As he dried his hands, he moved to a wooden desk and retrieved a purse. He moved to Ellora, offered her a hand to rise to her bared feet, and pressed the purse into her free hand. "I have enjoyed our time together, Ellora. But … it is time for you to find your future." She stood on her toes to kiss him on the lips, parting her own lips and lightly touching her tongue to Phillip's as she simultaneously pressed her body against him. She whispered, "One more night together, m'lord." "No, m'lady, " he returned, also in whisper. "It is time to move on … for both of us." They kissed again before Phillip pulled away and said in a businesslike tone, "But right now, I have things to do." Phillip headed for the portal between the two halves of the tent, then heard Ellora ask, "Are you sure, m'lord?" He looked over his shoulder to find his beautiful, sexy companion standing naked in a pool of her now shed dress. He drew a deep breath, releasing it with a hungry growl. Phillip knew that if he took this moment to lay between those milky white thighs that he would never let her out of his life. He diverted his eyes for a moment, contemplating … then turned and entered the other portion of the tent. [center]#############################[/center] "The raiders came in the night," yet another villager continued with his tale of woe. "They stole my animals … burned my barn. They--" The words stuck in his throat as the emotion welled overwhelmingly. He continued with two words that told all Phillip had to hear, "My daughter..." Phillip stood and moved to stand over the kneeling man as he broke down. He gestured to the Guards who gently helped the man to his feet. With great sincerity, Phillip responded, "I can do nothing to help you with your pain regarding your daughter, sir … but I will do what I can to help you feed and care for your family. Record your name with the Master of Coin. And be strong." The man moved to the table at which sat the Master of Coin, gave his name, took the offered coins, and was escorted outside. "How many more?" Phillip whispered to Terrano as he returned to his chair to await the next needy peasant. "You have seen dozens, m'lord," the Captain responded. "Perhaps we should call it a day and begin anew tomorrow." "No, not yet," Phillip said reluctantly. "We will go until sundown." He was mentally exhausted after so many horrific tales. He himself had lived a life not too unlike that of many of the villagers: he'd seen his sisters raped and murdered, his eldest brother executed, his other brother and mother killed in a fight with rebel soldiers, and finally his father overwhelmed by the injuries inflicted during the Great Infiltration. And yet after all that, he still found himself feeling luckier than many of the people who had told their stories to him this day. "And the rest, m'lord...? Those who you will not meet before sundown?" Terrano asked. "There are perhaps twenty on this side of the bridge and another fifty on the other side." Terrano had restricted how many people were allowed on this side of the guarded bridge for his Lord's safety. He was still not certain of Phillip's security yet, and he wasn't about to let the brand new Lord of Echo Valley get knifed by a disgruntled subject. "Give each a silver coin and tell them to come back in the morning," Phillip cut in. "And have the Master of the Kitchen set up the Troop Kitchen on the other side of the river again … not a feast, but a meal at the least." Terrano acknowledged the order and left as yet another desperate villager came forward to tell his tale and seek assistance. The stories were pretty much the same: theft, murder, rape, fire. Then suddenly, she was there: Marina. Phillip hadn't immediately realized it was the same young beauty from the night before; her hair was elegantly arranged, and she wore a dress that -- while not of Noble quality -- was the prettiest thing he'd ever seen on a peasant girl outside of a wedding. Phillip stood to get a better view of the young woman. The peasant before him was continuing his tale of woe, but Phillip's attention was firmly on the woman who had so captivated him the night before. When he realized that the man had gone silent, Phillip stepped forward and helped the man to his feet himself. He responded as he had with so many others but this time in a hurry. "That is all for the today," he commanded. The Guards escorted the peasant out of the tent; a moment later there were sounds of dismay as the others waiting were told they would have to wait until tomorrow. Phillip barely registered the slight uproar; his attention was fully on the young woman before him. He simply stared at her for the longest moment, mesmerized by her beauty. He didn't know what to say to her; he had lured her here with the offer of respectable employment because -- in all honesty -- he wanted to strip her out of her clothes and partake of her [I]womanly offerings[/I]. Phillip finally opened his mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by his current bed partner's question, "Would your guest like some refreshment, m'lord?" Phillip's heart leaped at Ellora's voice; he'd literally forgotten that she was in the other section of the tent. He looked back to find her dressed again, this time in a form fitting dress and corset that very well displayed her hour glass figure and the upper swells of her breasts. Ellora walked forward toward Phillip, but -- remembering her place as his whore, not his wife -- curled away to maintain the proper distance while in the company of others. "We have tea … and citrus water," Ellora offered before lifting a decanter and adding, "Or wine if you prefer … [I]m'lady[/I]." Phillip was at a loss for how to react. The woman he was currently fucking was being nice -- or at least feigning to do so -- to the woman he [I]wanted[/I] to be fucking. Ellora filled a gilded cup with wine, set the decanter aside, and moved close enough to Marina to offer it with an outstretched arm.