A long silence followed.
Anna's eyes were not as calm as he had imagined. In the speechless eyes, there was an undercurrent surging under the azure lake. There was worry and fear in it, but more of it was determination. Because of this, her expression to be so firm.
As time passed quietly, this feeling became stronger.
Roland finally realized that he probably couldn't convince her.
He closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
"Okay, but you have to promise me a request."
"you say."
"If there is an accident on the battlefield..." Roland licked his lips, "I mean in case, I am unfortunate..."
"If something like that really happened, I would leave the North immediately," Anna said bluntly.
Roland couldn't help being stunned.
"Are you worried that I will take revenge on the church and give my life in vain?" She rubbed his cheeks, "Nightingale and Ashes could do that. I will return to the Western Territory as soon as possible, and then bring everyone who is willing to follow you, Go to Sleeping Island, take root there, and continue to fight against the Holy City. Your Majesty, although I really want to accompany you, I know you never want to see this." She paused when she said that, "So I I can promise you that before the world you want arrives, I will continue to walk in your place until witches and ordinary people can live together unfettered."
He didn't answer, and he didn't need to answer... Anna's growth has exceeded his imagination, and this has been the best reward for him to come to this world.
She reached out and unbuttoned Roland's clothes.
Nothing needs to be said.
The two fell on the bed hugging each other.
Heihuo pulled down the curtains, set aside the clothes and bedding, fate was firmly connected at this moment, as evidenced by the stars in the sky.
…
Two days later, Roland made his last speech before the expedition in the square.
The people who heard the news crowded the square. After a year and a half of development, the border town of the past no longer exists, and the bustling and busy Neverwinter City has been replaced. People's lives have changed dramatically. Roland Its reputation has also risen to an unprecedented height.
"My fellow citizens, good morning," he stepped onto the podium and was greeted with overwhelming cheers.
"Long live the king!"
"Long live His Majesty Roland!"
There is no need for echoes or any agitation. People consciously and enthusiastically issue a voice full of respect, waving their hands like a surging ocean.
After half an hour, the voice gradually subsided.
"You should already know," Roland said solemnly, looking around the countless pairs of reverent eyes in the audience, "The kingdom will usher in a war of self-defense against the invaders, and the enemy is Helme who has swallowed Yongdong and Wolfheart. Sacred City! Today, only Graycastle and Dawn are left in the four kingdoms, and now, their goal has been aimed at us!"
"I know some of you have believed in gods and churches. It's not shameful! Your kindness has been exploited and your expectations have been deceived. Instead of blaming liars and robbers, I blame being a victim. Of course not!" He raised his fist, "It's the church who should pay for this! Just selling the Stone of God's Punishment, they earn hundreds of thousands of golden dragons every year. This money should belong to you!"
"Why? The reason is very simple. The nobles are not willing to spend a lot of money to buy the sacred stone, so they naturally transfer this part of the cost to the lords. Tax increases, higher payment, fines, and seizures are the reasons! And this is the reason! It is far more than just the stone of the gods, building churches, resident priests, baptism with holy water, I believe you are no strangers to these forced recruitment names!"
When it comes to what the people understand most easily and hate the most, it must be exploitation and oppression. The methods of the church are not as blatant as the nobles, but in the eyes of Roland, who has experienced many battles, it is not difficult to pierce this thin layer of fig leaf, and at the same time pouring a few pots of sewage is also handy.
"The church promised that the money would be blessed by the gods, but what happened? Before I came to the town, people were always hungry and clothed, and famine and severe cold would still come every demon month. Those who didn't pass close their eyes forever. As for those who survived... Is it really because of the help of the church or the gods? No, they didn't do anything!" Roland raised his voice sharply, "The only thing they are interested in is smoking Dry your blood!"
For these things, the local residents are vividly remembered, and most of the refugees from other cities have also experienced the same experience. There was an angry uproar in the square, and everyone blamed the church for the pain they had suffered in the past.
"So I will never surrender, and I will never lose to such a blood-sucking worm!" Roland shouted, waving his fists, "The First Army will crush them into powder, and no one will dare to plunder my people again, you guys. Don't worry about paying money to build a church, or to atone for your sins, because these nonsense taxes will disappear before the new Greycastle!"
"It has been proven that without the Church, Neverwinter would be a better place, and so would other cities!"
"It's your hands and your spirit that create all this, not those illusory things. That's why I emphasize the glory of labor again and again. Only labor can create wealth, and you are the most glorious labor. You, feel honored for this, without you, there would be no prosperity in Neverwinter today!"
He pressed his hands down to stop the people's voices, "So the first army set off, they will go to the north, and they will fight with the church that is watching all this. If we lose, we will lose everything we have and go back again. The barren and hard days of the past... tell me aloud, would you like to go back to the past?"
The answer is self-evident.
"No, Your Majesty, we will fight the Church to the end!"
"Kill them all!"
"Drive them out of Greycastle!"
"Swear to the death to defend His Majesty Roland!"
The responses from the audience were varied, but everyone's expressions were exceptionally consistent. They were willing to defend this hard-won.
"Well said, I don't need you to go on the field to kill the enemy, that's the responsibility of the First Army, and you don't have to pay extra war taxes, that's what the enemy does. Construction and production are the best help for the relatives who are fighting on the front line." Roland touched his chest with his right hand, and then gave a military salute, "We will surely win! Long live the Kingdom of Greycastle!"
"victory!"
"Long live!"
The people sang these two words over and over again long after Roland had left.
That afternoon, the last group of soldiers boarded the paddle steamer, and the army set off with the Roland as its flagship.
Target Glentown! (., Your support is my biggest motivation.) 17-02-24 11:15:27