Chapter 134 - Death Rate

"Sire. I come with bad news!"

Hurried Seer in to the throne room, filling that sentence under his breath.

At Winter where temperatures drop life threatening low, King Zar had a theory or two of the situation, he feared this situation a lot even.

"What happened Seer? Is it damage beyond prepare?"

Asked King Zar in great Concern.

"Yes Sire. Beyond prepare for the Victims but we can at least try to do more for the survivors."

Said Seer under his breath as he was 6 feet away from the throne, trying to explain what happened.

"What happened Seer? Tell me already!"

Trying his best to remain calm and patient, he already had a burden of a Kingdom on his shoulders.

"5 more homeless people died due to the excessive cold!"

Said Seer with grief and a low tone.

"What! You said that the help we provided would be enough to prevent such disaster Seer. I trusted your opinion above all."

Yelled King Zar, losing his patience and holding the arm support of the Throne so hard, that the exquisite plank started crackling and shattered into pieces.

Well at least he isn't taking out that rageful force on Seer, otherwise it would be bone breaking.

"I underestimated the weather Sire. I was certain that 3 layers of thick clothing would be enough, but tents don't help too much when the cold at midnight is to be considered!"

Said Seer with continuous grief. Feeling the most burden of all for these lost lives.

"We lost 14 homeless people this month Seer. I don't want to hear any "would have, should have, could have." We need to act quick before more people start dying! Above all. If those Victims had family members, the family will get a 500 Gold Coin compensation, like we did with the other 11 Victims."

"I already finished doing the compensation Sire. Don't stress about it.

But what do you recommend we do Sire? Is there more we can do? If you have any idea in mind i will be glad to put it all together!"

Tried Seer to calm down the King and provide as much help as he could.

"The Elderlies and Children are the most sensitive to this cold weather. Correct?"

Asked Zar trying to confirm his thoughts!

"Indeed. 10 of the Victims so far were Elderly and Children, unfortunately."

"I thought so. But our Castle is big. It is a 20 Room Castle discluding the Guard Rooms. Bring some of the Homeless here. They should be absolutely safe here until new houses are available to live in."

Said Seer, ordering something no other King would have ever thought off.

"But Sire. Not that I don't wish to help these people with all I can, but they will no doubt be tempted to steal. They barely have anything because they came here with nothing and this castle has pretty much everything!"

"I'm aware of that risk. Along with the Guards who already have shifts in the Castle, there should be 25 Guards assigned here until further notice. That way, if any of the homeless choses to steal, they would need to consider being caught and spending a month in the dungeon."

"As you Command Sire. These people need all the help they can get after all. This Winter should be a good teacher for us, to try harder next time.

As for me, if the rooms here aren't enough, i'm willing to take elderly people in my house. My house can fit 5 at least.

But which people should be given the main priority?"

"Elderly people have one foot in the grave already, but that doesn't mean they should spend their last days on earth freezing to death, they faced enough in life already. They are fragile. I want them to have priority.

Orphans should be second on your priority list and Mothers with children should be your third.

Men or Women from their 20s to 40s are in pique physical form so they can handle a few weeks of cold but if any of them have some illness, give them appropriate treatment from the Castle healers. Some herbs and warm tea usually help for a cold. Not to mention, give them two more sets of clothing!"

"It shall be how you Command. But will 20 rooms be enough to stop this death rate there are nearly 300 on the Streets? How many can we put in one room?"

"Of course it won't be enough. I have more thoughts to this situation. But put 5 people in each room and do your best to separate males from females to prevent any conflict.

Even if the men don't provoke, those ladies with Children won't have the comfort of their husbands in the same room, so conflict from the actual husband might be possible towards some random man. Women with kids are given priority after all, their husbands aren't included."

Seer was proud that the King considered everyone. He tried to give everyone personal space from opposite genders even though 5 people will be crammed up in a room.

He continued to write everything down, still struggling to catch up, making it hard to form a sentence. But it didn't matter because the King continued with his demands.

"And tents obviously seem to not be enough to help against this severe cold. Have 30 of the Construction workers start building 2 meter wide sheds. A lot of them, enough for everyone."

"But won't that slow down the house building project?"

"I don't give a damn Seer!"

Shouted King Zar as he fisted the support plank of the throne so hard that he broke it in 3 big pieces and trying to control his anger he added in a calmer tone

"I'd rather see it slow down than see more innocent people dying. If anything. The StoneMasons are slowing everything down. This death rate can somehow work to both our and their advantage."

"How exactly can this work to our advantage? It sounds devious!"

Said Seer ignoring the outburst the King had.

"It might sound devious but it is our best hope for faster progress.

You are to fill another doc.u.ment, urgently requesting Experienceless StoneMasons and put the parchment on the town center.

The pay will be the same as the one we have hired, but anyone hired will have priority acquiring a new build house. The houses are free. How better could it get?"

"Won't having so many experienceless StoneMasons lead to unstable foundations Sire?"

Asked Seer trying to filter every detail instead of just waiting for chaos to happen.

"It could, but the 5 main StoneMasons should agree upon their stone sculpting before it is put in to use like they did with the rest of the 15 Experienceless and the help of the Construction Workers."

"Reasonable. What is the hiring limit?"

"I need 30 Experienceless StoneMasons as soon as humanly possible!"