Maria scanned the area and looked at her escort of two Knights, who nodded in approval. "Go get the others. I'll be fine here for the next day or two. The others need to be notified. Get the supplies." The Knights nodded in their instructions as they left back for town.
"The last generation of The Order had the Patronage of a royal. We shall not do so. If the Crown controls our funding, the crown has their thumb on us. We shall be independent. Our pay shall be from weekly donations from the community, or the pay we get on missions." Maria stated firmly.
"Do the latter. The community only will do donations to us for when we do services to give the poor and refugees from any disaster." Damian stated with a note of firmness but also a gentle tone. Maria looked at him as if she wanted to reprimand him, only to nod at his suggestion.
"Even if you're not part of the order, you still have the one thing you had coming into, and leaving the order. That heart forever has the beat of the common folk. Perhaps that's why fate made you the third member of the Hand. You were the group's morality."
"I was merely your Brothers' sword and shield." He stated calmly before walking to a large Boulder nearby and climbed on it to ponder about the area. "Verreth, the forest is close by us. Do you think any natural herb could be of some use for medical supplies grow there?"