Warhammer Divine Throne

Chapter 56: Chapter 24, Banquet at the Lord’s Longhouse (Part 3)

”At that time, the warriors of the Barbarians raised their shields and spears; it was truly a frightening formation. But I wasn’t afraid. I followed behind a White Wolf Knight and charged into the Barbarian ranks with them, my beloved horse knocking a Barbarian scoundrel flying...”

”Hold on, hold on, stop for a moment. This... Mr. Aik? Allow me to correct a small mistake: the White Wolf Knight Order didn’t participate in the defense of Wenle at all. At that time, the White Wolf Knight Order was resting in Frost City. It was the cavalry of the White Bear Mercenary Corps who participated in the Wenle defense, and they never charged.” Teresa unceremoniously interrupted Aik’s rambling.

”Oh! No wonder I thought the white wolves on the flag looked so fat at the time~” the handsome man quickly corrected.

”The White Bear Mercenary Corps only acted in the role of logistical protection, along with the Wenle Long Spear Company.” The female sorcerer extended her little hand, warming it by the fire, the heat making her feel very comfortable.

Hmm, it would be even better if that man could chat with her by her side right now.

”Ah, indeed! I must say, the brothers in the Long Spear Company were really impressive and friendly to me. They even offered me some marinated venison to eat...”

”The Wenle Long Spear Company is a troop formed by merchants’ sons and artisans, notorious for their poor combat capabilities and miserly ways, known for extorting the villagers along their marching route...” The female sorcerer corrected again, her beautiful face full of helplessness.

”But aren’t there always a few good people among them? After that...”

”Teresa, feeling any better?” A gentle voice interrupted Aik’s endless storytelling as Laine returned after taking a little stroll. ”Is there anything I can do to help?”

”Could you pour me a glass of juice, Laine?” The female sorcerer flashed a brilliant smile at the newcomer, like a crimson rose blossoming in defiance of the snow, then smiled at Aik: ”Mr. Aik, please excuse me, my male companion has arrived.”

”Oh! Oh! Alright, sorry for disturbing.” Aik’s gaze greedily swept over the White Wolf Knight Badge on Laine’s chest, then shrugged: ”By all means, Mr. White Wolf Knight.”

With that, Aik turned to another table, continuing to boast about his stories, now shifting to how he skillfully mediated the relationship between the White Bear Mercenary Corps and the Wenle Long Spear Company during the Wenle defense, resolving their conflicts single-handedly, and successfully safeguarding the supplies.

”Your admirer?” Laine handed over a glass of juice.

”No, just a Wandering Knight.” The female sorcerer took the juice, smirking: ”There are too many people like that; you must have seen plenty of these Wandering Knights, right?”

”We can talk about it later; I came back because I forgot something.” Laine retrieved a blanket made from a whole white wolf pelt from the Space Ring, handing it to Teresa. The female sorcerer felt a warmth in her heart as she took the blanket and covered her legs with it: ”Is this yours?”

”Yes, you know, I’m a White Wolf Knight, and occasionally I have to show respect to the Master of the White Wolf.” Laine nodded, sitting down beside the female sorcerer.

Teresa knew about this; the White Wolf War God Yurik is a Deity that values strength and competition. This Deity believes in eliminating the weak and honoring the strong. One important way to please the White Wolf War God is through the ”White Wolf Trial,” where the trial-taker enters the snowfields alone, barehandedly hunting a white wolf and presenting it as a sacrifice at the White Wolf Divine Hall. The stronger the wolf hunted, the happier the White Wolf War God is.

However, the trial has a high mortality rate, with many outstanding young people never returning, leading nobility to advise their children against participating.

With the blanket wrapped around her legs, leaving only the tips of her white high heel shoes exposed, the female sorcerer felt a sense of nostalgia as if she were back in her home in Celestial Vault Castle’s living room. She suddenly thought this party wasn’t as bad as imagined, so she proactively talked to the man: ”Another Wandering Knight, there seems to be quite a few of them lately.”

”Each to their own, isn’t it?” Laine chuckled lightly.

As already mentioned, those with fiefs and titles are Kingdom Knights.

Those with titles but without fiefs are Ranger Knights.

And those without both, they are Wandering Knights.

Compared to Kingdom Knights with fixed incomes, Ranger Knights, even without fixed income, are recognized for their activities within their national boundaries as knights with titles. Ranger Knights don’t have fief incomes or stipends, these fixed incomes, but they still have salaries or military pay, and must respond to the calls of the nobles who granted them titles when the country requires.

Wandering Knights are in the worst plight.

Wandering Knights aren’t really knights at all; they come from various backgrounds, including bankrupt knights suffering from poor management, former noble youngsters stripped of their titles, illegitimate children without inheritance rights, and wealthy adventurers or soldiers who became what they are today through accumulation and effort.

What they share is lacking both title and fief, even inferior to some officers as they have neither position nor military pay. They only possess basic equipment and a warhorse.

The activities of these Wandering Knights align with their namesake, constantly wandering. When reaching a place, they strive to market themselves and secure a position or obtain title conferral from other nobles to become Ranger Knights. Failing this, they prefer to fulfill tasks from Lords or Churches, earning enough commission to subsist and maintain their equipment and horses, then move to the next place, continuing to wander until, one day, a noble might confer a title on them, or they choose to settle down as they grow older.