The World Dragon's Heir - Chapter 591: In The Barn

Chapter 591: In The Barn

There was no doubt that these mechanical horses were war veterans.

Dominic took note of the bullet damage, arrow nicks, and magic burns on the surfaces. The constructs had once been armoured, but the armour had been removed before sale.

Or, they might have used conventional barding over the mechanical structure.

Either way, it left them with horses in various stages of mechanical damage. Functional, but well-worn and battle tested.

“Your Grace, perfect timing. We expedited the shipping as a courtesy, and we’ve got the whole order here already.

They are all functional, as promised, but I won’t say that they’re the prettiest.” Rill greeted him.

“I see that. Did the previous owners win or lose their war?” Dominic joked.

“Won. However, these were covered in conventional barding, so the damage to the horse underneath went largely ignored unless it stopped functioning.

It’s a common tactic in many regions.

Just toss some cloth over it and ignore the problem to keep fighting. Even Cygnia does it with their soldiers.”

Dominic nodded. “Wrap that bandage tight and get back in the fight.”

“Exactly. You can do the same if you’re using them for show in the arena. They’ll do the job well enough for a few dozen more passes, or a season in the fields, without too much risk of breakdown.

That’s not your plan, though, is it?”

Dominic shook his head. “No, the plan is to give them out to the Titled Nobles so that we have a mounted cavalry riflemen corps in the Duchy.

The men of the Natural Sons are the finest soldiers Cygnia has to offer, and I will feel much better about our security knowing that they’re ready at any time.”

“Understandable. I will turn them over to you now, and you can sort them out at your leisure. Just take the reins and they’ll follow.”

“Thanks, Rill. I hear that the airship factory is making good progress on the next order, too. That should help keep the Duchy’s balance in the positive.”

The Merchant laughed. It certainly would. He had gotten a killer deal on all these decommissioned mechanical horses, since everyone else had rejected the deal, except for common farmers who saw them as a step up from nothing.

Even if they broke down, they were parts to sell.

The horses were leashed in groups of twenty, but Rill had attached extra ropes to them, so Dominic could bring them all back to the Manor on his own without needing assistance from the Guild or extra trips.

The guests would be startled to see the influx of horses, but that was far from the strangest thing that they had seen in recent days.

However, that was not true of everyone that he passed on the way to the Manor.

People were coming out of their houses to stand on the front steps or the balcony and watch the strange procession walking through the city. Nobody knew if it was a sign that the war wasn’t really over, or if it was just a bulk order for the Duchy.

The condition of the horses made them think that it was the former.

The signs of bullets hitting steel plating were hard to miss, and scorched metal wasn’t something that happened by accident in the field.

The procession looked a funeral procession for a mechanical cavalry unit to many of the locals, but Dominic didn’t seem concerned, and there were no flags draped over them as there would be for a funeral parade.

The trolls working the gate happily took the horses to the side field, where they could assign the farrier to look at them.

That wasn’t actually her specialty, unless they needed tack or shoes. But convincing the Trolls that Jasmine wasn’t capable of doing whatever she put her mind to was a lost cause.

She had convinced the goats that she was an adult, free to roam the grounds. That alone was an accomplishment in Dave’s eyes.

She didn’t look like one, she was kind of small.

However, when Dominic entered the farrier’s forge, what he found was not a confused farrier.

Or, not just a confused farrier.

There was also a rather embarrassed Royal Guard hurrying to straighten his clothes and put his armour back on.

“You know, there is a lock on the door.” Dominic reminded them.

“My apologies, My Lord.” Colonel Wilkes apologized.

“No need for that. I don’t care if it’s a passing fancy, a fondness for the smell of burning coal and horses, or something serious. It’s your own business.

However, there are worse options for who could have walked in on you.”

Wilkes chuckled as Jasmine helped him fasten his armour.

“Dave was supposed to warn us if someone was coming. You must have distracted him.”

“I brought back hundreds of mechanical horses, mostly in need of a full refit.

We will discuss that later. But I need Jasmine to hire some Techno Wizards to do the repairs and refurbishment. Then prepare the warhorses among them for the jousting tournament starting in only a few days.

There are three of them. Two for the finalists of the tournament, and one for my wife.

Make sure that hers is suitably splendid. Preferably just slightly faster than my own.”

The couple smiled at each other.

“He’s learning.” Jasmine noted.

“He is. Having the very best horse in the stable is a sure way to keep the Paladin Princess happy. Or, happier than having the second best one would make her.”

“Plus, if her horse is faster, she can come save me when I do dumb stuff.” Dominic added.

“He is becoming self-aware.

But enough joking, I have work to do, so we will have to take this up later.” Jasmine insisted.

She waved them out of the stable, and Dominic led the Guard Team leader away from the house a short distance.

“Should I start arranging a wedding?”

Wilkes shrugged. “Maybe not this week. Next week, for sure. I just need a few more days to convince her that life as a Royal Guardsman’s wife is for her.”

“Got it. I’ll make sure that everything stays set up, just in case you convince her early.”