The tense silence that hung over the group was finally broken by the lion, Ruidahr, who looked at Miguel with renewed curiosity. “Do you think you can get this contraption to work?” he asked, his deep voice resonating in the air.
Miguel, maintaining his calm and confidence, nodded. “Yes, I believe I can. But it will take some time. We’ll need to adjust the materials and implement some design changes to improve efficiency.”
The representatives of the beastmen exchanged glances, pondering Miguel's words. It was a bold proposal, but the determination in his eyes showed that he was serious.
Ricardo watched Miguel with surprise. He wondered how Miguel could have so much knowledge about construction. Throughout his life, Miguel's parents had always limited his education, focusing more on the arts of nobility and family traditions, even though he was a bastard. Ricardo knew that Miguel had always been curious and studious, but this level of technical knowledge seemed far beyond what he should know.
“How is it possible?” Ricardo thought. “Did he read many books about this in his childhood? Or perhaps he found a way to learn on his own?”
Ricardo decided that now was not the time to question these things. The priority was to ensure the cooperation and trust of the beastmen. He would ask Miguel his questions later, when there was a more appropriate moment.
***
The sun began to set on the horizon, painting the sky orange and purple. After several hours of discussion and planning around the mill, it was clear that night was approaching quickly. The group was tired but still excited about the possibilities that were opening up.
The priest, Brother Boromir, approached Miguel and his entourage. “It’s getting late. You must be tired. I’d like to offer you a place to spend the night.”
Miguel looked at Ricardo and the soldiers. They all seemed relieved by the offer. “We appreciate the hospitality,” said Miguel, nodding. “We accept your offer.”
The lion, Ruidahr, stepped forward. “Very well. Tomorrow, you can continue working on the mill. If you succeed, Baron Miguel, I will provide what you need to help your people.”
Miguel felt a weight lift from his shoulders. “I will do my best, Lord Ruidahr. Thank you for your trust.”
The other council members also said their farewells. Elnar, the deer, nodded, while Grimnir, the bear, gave a grunt of approval. Lysandra, the fox, still seemed suspicious but said nothing.
Brother Boromir gestured for them to follow. “Come, I will take you to an inn where you can rest.”
The group followed the priest through the city streets. Night was falling quickly, and lanterns were beginning to light up, casting long, dancing shadows.
They arrived at a cozy inn, with a warm light shining through the windows. Boromir opened the door and invited them in. “Here it is. Make yourselves comfortable. I informed the owner in advance about the possibility of visitors, so he prepared rooms for you.”
Miguel entered, followed by Ricardo, the soldiers, and Lila. The atmosphere was welcoming, with the smell of homemade food in the air. “Thank you, Brother Boromir. Your kindness will not be forgotten.”
Boromir smiled. “Rest well. Tomorrow will be an important day.”
With those words, the priest took his leave, leaving Miguel and his entourage at the inn.
As they entered the inn, Miguel and his entourage were immediately embraced by an atmosphere that exuded simplicity and rustic beauty. The interior was lit by a series of lanterns hanging from the ceiling, casting a warm and comforting glow throughout the space. The walls were of light wood, polished and adorned with colorful tapestries depicting scenes of harvests and natural landscapes.
The floor was smooth stone, covered here and there by thick fabric rugs that muffled the sound of the soldiers’ boots as they walked. At the back, there was a large stone fireplace where a crackling fire warmed the main hall. The burning wood emitted a familiar and pleasant scent of burnt logs, bringing a sense of comfort and security.
Sturdy wooden tables and chairs were arranged throughout the hall, each decorated with simple arrangements of fresh flowers and lit candles. The owner, a gentle-looking rabbit man, stood behind the counter, offering a welcoming smile upon seeing the new guests.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Welcome,” he said in a soft and friendly voice. “Please, make yourselves at home. The rooms are ready, and food will be served soon.”
Miguel looked around, noticing the small details that made the inn so special. On the wall opposite the fireplace, there were shelves filled with books and handcrafted items, giving the place an air of culture and care. The smell of homemade food, probably a stew, mingled with the aroma of the wood, promising a satisfying meal to end the day’s fatigue.
Ricardo smiled at Lila’s expression, who was marveling at the cozy environment. “Seems like a good place to rest,” he commented, with a tone of relief.
The soldiers, who had until then maintained an alert posture, began to relax. The simplicity and beauty of the environment had a calming effect on all of them. Miguel felt grateful for the hospitality of the beastmen and knew that a good rest was crucial for the challenges they would face the next day.
“Let’s settle in,” said Miguel, leading the group to the rooms. The solid wooden doors revealed simple but comfortable quarters, with wooden beds covered by thick fabric quilts and soft pillows. The windows offered a view of the city, now illuminated by the gentle light of the night lanterns.
As they prepared for the night, each member of the entourage appreciated the simplicity and beauty of the environment. The inn was a welcoming refuge, offering brief relief from the constant tension they had felt since the beginning of their journey. Miguel knew that the night’s rest would bring renewed strength for the challenges of the next day, and with this hope, he finally allowed himself to relax and enjoy the tranquility of the moment.
***
Miguel woke up early the next morning, feeling refreshed. He knew he had a lot of work ahead of him. Determined to start the day productively, he went to the main hall of the inn in search of the owner.
“Good morning,” said Miguel upon seeing the owner. “Do you have something I can use to draw? Perhaps a pencil or a pen?”
The owner, always friendly, nodded. “Yes, I have something that might serve. Wait a moment.”
He withdrew and returned shortly with a roll of paper resembling papyrus and a rudimentary charcoal pencil. He handed the items to Miguel with a smile.
“I hope this helps,” said the owner.
Miguel looked at the materials and thought to himself, “This should do.”
“Thank you,” he said to the owner, genuinely grateful for the help.
With the materials in hand, Miguel returned to his room. He sat at the table, unrolled the paper, and picked up the charcoal pencil. He knew that drawing the plans would be quick. The real challenge would be executing the renovations, which would take a few days.
Focused and determined, Miguel began sketching the necessary improvements for the mill. He wanted to ensure that all parts worked harmoniously and that the materials were suitable for construction.
Miguel was sitting at the table in his room, concentrating on his sketches. He knew that to make the mill work, he needed to know all the materials available in the region. As he drew, he began to think about how to approach this issue with Elnar, the deer.
“I need to talk to Elnar about all the materials they have available,” Miguel thought. “I need to know about the trees, from the thinnest and most fragile to the strongest. I also need to know about the stones, from the most exotic to the most common.”
Miguel knew that understanding these details would be crucial to making the mill work. “If I know exactly what we have, I can find the best way to use these materials. This will save time and ensure that the mill is efficient and durable.”
He decided that as soon as he finished his initial sketches, he would look for Elnar. He needed a complete list of resources. “If I can use lighter materials for the gears and stronger ones for the blades, it will make a big difference.”
Miguel looked at the drawing in front of him. He was confident that his experience as an engineer could solve the problems the beastmen were facing with the mill. But he needed Elnar’s cooperation and deep knowledge of the region’s materials.
“I’ll need Elnar’s help,” Miguel thought. “He knows this land better than anyone. In fact, this whole situation is still very crazy for me, an alien world… what kind of materials might they have?” Thinking about all the possibilities made Miguel quite excited.
***
Thomas was at the mansion, in command while Miguel and his entourage were away. He was in the office, organizing some papers, when he heard a knock at the door.
“Come in,” said Thomas.
The door opened, and one of the guards stationed at the barony’s entrance entered. He looked worried.
“Sir, I need to speak with you. A hooded man on horseback approached the barony’s entrance today,” said the guard.
Thomas frowned. “What happened? Were you able to identify who it was?”
“No,” replied the guard. “He was about 300 meters away. He stood there for a while, watching us, and then he left. I found it strange and decided to report to you.”
Thomas thought for a moment. “You did well to tell me. Keep watching the entrance and let me know if he returns.”
“Yes, sir,” said the guard before leaving the office.
As soon as the soldier left, Thomas pondered what this could have been. Who was this hooded man? And why was he watching the barony?
He sighed, feeling a growing concern. “I hope the new baron and the entourage are well and return soon,” he thought to himself. “We can’t allow anything to go wrong now.”
Thomas knew he needed to stay calm and continue doing his job, but the presence of the hooded stranger lingered in his mind.
***
Miguel was sitting with Ricardo at the inn, both relaxing after a busy day. The main hall was quiet, illuminated by lanterns that cast a soft glow. Other people were conversing quietly at the surrounding tables, and the atmosphere was cozy.
Ricardo began to speak, his voice low and concerned. “The girl is calm and quite cooperative, but she’s not talking much. She still seems scared.”
Miguel nodded, understanding the situation. “It’s understandable, considering what she must have gone through. When we return to the barony, we’ll need to investigate more deeply what happened in her village. We can’t leave this unanswered.”
Ricardo looked at Miguel, noticing the determination in his eyes. “I agree. We need to understand what really happened. There could be more danger lurking.”
“Yes,” said Miguel, sighing. “We need to ensure her safety and that of our people.”
After a few minutes of conversation, Miguel decided it was time to act on his plans for the mill. He stood up and approached the counter where the innkeeper was.
“Good morning,” said Miguel with a smile. “I need a favor. I’d like to send a letter to Elnar, the deer. I have some sketches ready and need to discuss with him the materials available for the mill’s construction.”
The innkeeper, always friendly and helpful, nodded. “Of course, I can take care of that for you. Tell me what you want me to write.”
Miguel took a piece of paper and a rudimentary pen and began to write the letter. “Dear Elnar,” he wrote, “I have some sketches ready for the mill and would like to discuss the available materials. Can we meet to talk about this?”
After writing the letter, Miguel handed it to the innkeeper. “Thank you for sending this as soon as possible.”
“No problem, sir,” replied the innkeeper, carefully storing the letter. “I’ll make sure he receives it.”
Miguel returned to the table where Ricardo was sitting. He felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders but also a renewed determination. Every step was crucial, and he wanted to ensure everything was done in the best way possible.
“It’s done,” said Miguel, sitting down again. “Now we just need to wait for Elnar’s response. In the meantime, we can continue planning and preparing.”
Ricardo nodded, feeling the same determination. “We’re on the right path, my lord. We’ll succeed.”