The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 563: Self Regulating

The driver of the bus gestured toward his vehicle. “I don’t see an issue ferrying everyone. It’s better than making them walk for days when they could rest here and prepare to move into their new homes.

I will work with you to get all my people delivered to the Baronies once you have the numbers.

You can just show us who has homes for how many, and we will work it out.

We had to work out arrangements for everyone to get along as we travelled. We wouldn’t have made it this far as an intact group if we hadn’t. So, I’m sure that we can manage to work together for a few more days to make sure that everyone ends up in a proper home.”

“That’s a relief. Doing all this myself is a bit of a headache. Alright, I will relay and record the official numbers while I’m here, then pass the duty to one of my assistants from the Duskblade Sect or the Wistover town guard.

Both are capable of sorting out the issues easily enough.

Now, here are the Barons who arrived yesterday, and the initial reports of how many homes are ready for residents to move in.

There are more houses in the Baronies, but many are destroyed, or too damaged by abandonment to move into immediately. These ones should have minimal leaking from the roof, and solid walls.

Unless informed otherwise, the household goods within the homes are for the use of the residents.

If you find something that does not qualify as household goods, let your Lord know, as it might be a war relic.” Dominic explained.

What they were likely to find as ’war relics’ would more likely require burial than a finder’s fee. But it was better not to say it that directly.

Dominic put numbers on the map copy that the mages brought him, and the refugee group’s leaders immediately got to work.

“Alright, we have one easy win. There is only one vineyard on today’s list, though it looks like there are more to settle later.

Learning new skills is going to be mandatory for nearly everyone, unless you’ve got a trade that never goes out of style. Now, you can grab your family and head for the bus.

Give me a head count before you enter, so we don’t end up overloaded.

I will make multiple trips all day today, no need to pack it like sardines.

The representative from each family, most commonly the wives, gathered around the topographical map and began to ask questions.

“The houses, what are they like? Can we expect thatch? Tin roofs on wooden walls? Log cabins with slate tops?” One of them asked.

“Mostly you’re going to find fieldstone walls and slate or tin roofs. That’s the standard on this side of the country. You will find some others, and a lot of the hunters cabins are made of logs.

Of course, there are some much rougher ones as well. Not everyone was living a solid stone house life even before the invasion.

But most of what has survived in good enough condition to move in is stone.” Dominic explained.

“And gardens? As I recall, under the old laws, we were all allowed to keep a half acre garden that wasn’t tithed.”

Dominic nodded. “Nearly every farm house has a garden, yes. Most also have edible plants still growing in them on a volunteer basis, so you’ll have something left to harvest, even if it’s not much.

You did miss peak harvest season, after all.

But the potatoes might not be rotted, the corn will still have some dried seed standing, good for grinding into meal or flour. You get the idea.”

The ladies nodded, and began taking out notepads to make their own drawings of the area, using some obscure farming traditions that Dominic knew nothing about.

But after a few minutes, they had all decided on what region they wanted.

Not all of them were going to be going out today, and that didn’t seem to be the biggest factor for any of them.

What they did consider was how many others were going to the area, including others of their close relatives. Then, it was all up to terrain and some hidden factor that likely had to do with crop preferences.

Some things grew better in different soil. Dominic knew that much.

What he didn’t know was how they could guess what they would find based on a topographical map.

“Well, it looks like you’ve chosen to spread out well, and every Baron is going to be getting at least a few of you. That’s wonderful news for everyone. We won’t have anyone sitting lonely with a new wife and a title, but no residents.” Dominic joked.

The refugees laughed. That would be a bit embarrassing. Getting a territory that absolutely nobody wanted to move into, even if it meant that you would have your choice of the very best spots once you arrived.

That was one of the factors that many had included.

“Alright, we’ve got enough for the first bus load. If I call your name, tell me how many are in your household and head for the bus. Once we’re loaded, we will head out.

I’m starting with the closest Baronies, so we can get as many moved as possible. It looks like the Barons are doing the same thing. Most of the names are close to the city, with only a few further out so far.” The bus driver announced.

It only took him a dozen calls before the bus was loaded with small children sitting on parents’ laps to save space.

That would get him through one or two Baronies near town, and he’d be back in an hour or two at most.

Just enough time for everyone to start getting excited about their new choice of homes.

Dominic motioned for the mage and guard Sergeant on duty to come over.

“I’m going to take Dave and head back to the house to see how things are going. We’ll be sending out most of the other Barons this morning, and that will free up more locations for the refugees to go.

But it’s generated a lot of paperwork, and I keep running away from it.” He explained.

“Then you’d best get back before someone comes looking for you.”