Miguel was sitting in his room at the inn, reviewing his sketches, when a breathless messenger arrived, handing him a sealed letter. With a racing heart, Miguel broke the seal and began to read.
"My lord baron,
A small army, estimated between 200 and 500 men, is outside the barony’s walls. They appear to be bandits or mercenaries. We are preparing for defense, but we need reinforcements and your leadership. Please return as soon as possible.
Thomas"
Miguel was stunned. His eyes scanned the letter repeatedly, trying to absorb the gravity of the situation. Are they attacking the barony? The barony he swore to protect, where so many relied on him?
He felt a lump in his throat and the weight of responsibility fell on his shoulders. “I need to return immediately,” he thought. Every second was crucial. He needed to gather everyone and leave as soon as possible, hoping to arrive in time to help.
But how could he help if he didn’t have enough men? Even with these thoughts, he decided he would return. But first, he needed to speak with the council of beastmen...
***
Ricardo, Miguel, and the other five soldiers of his entourage were gathered in Miguel's room at the inn, desperately trying to find a solution to save the barony. The young mage Lila was present, observing everything in silence, her large eyes attentive to every word.
“If the number of enemy men in the letter is correct, we're talking about 200 to 500 men,” Ricardo said, his voice laden with concern. “Even if we arrive in time, we are only seven. This is not an army, Miguel. This is a rescue party.”
Miguel closed his eyes for a moment, trying to find a way to convey his determination. “Ricardo, I will not abandon the barony. And that’s what my brothers want, for me to give up and die. If they succeed, all our efforts so far will have been in vain.”
Ricardo shook his head, frustrated. “I’m not proposing we abandon the barony. I’m saying we need to be cautious. We can seek reinforcements in the villages that are part of the barony’s territory. There are people willing to fight for their homes.”
Miguel sighed. “That would take time, Ricardo. And time is something we don’t have. Every minute that passes, Thomas and the others are in danger.”
One of the soldiers, a robust man with scars from past battles, suggested, “We can hire mercenaries. They might be expensive, but they would be additional force.”
Miguel and Ricardo exchanged glances and almost simultaneously dismissed the idea. “Mercenaries are too risky,” Ricardo said. “They fight for money, not loyalty. And if they are bought by the enemy?”
Miguel nodded. “We need people we can trust. Mercenaries could betray us at the most critical moment.”
The tension in the room was palpable. Everyone was aware of the gravity of the situation, but no one had a clear solution. Lila, despite her youth, felt the weight of the discussion and the seriousness of the decisions that needed to be made.
Ricardo rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “If only we had more time...”
“We can’t think about time we don’t have,” Miguel retorted. “We need to act now, with what we have. Maybe we can use our knowledge of the terrain to our advantage, create traps, ambushes...”
The soldiers murmured in agreement, but uncertainty still hung over them. The ideas were good, but execution would be difficult with so few men.
As the discussion deepened, a firm knock on the door interrupted the debate. Everyone turned simultaneously, the sudden sound catching everyone’s attention.
Miguel stood up, his heart racing with the anticipation of who might be on the other side. He gestured for everyone to be silent and approached the door.
“Who’s there?” Miguel asked, his hand resting on the doorknob.
The room fell into absolute silence, everyone holding their breath. The response didn’t come immediately, increasing the tension.
Miguel looked at Ricardo, who returned the look with concern. The other soldiers were also on alert, ready for anything.
Miguel held the doorknob for a moment, exchanging cautious glances with Ricardo and the others. With a deep sigh, he finally opened the door.
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To his surprise and relief, it was only the innkeeper, a beastman with a gentle demeanor. “Sorry to interrupt, gentlemen,” he said with a calm smile. “Master Elnar and Ruidahr wish to see you, sir. They want to discuss the food supplies before you can leave.”
Miguel nodded, feeling a slight wave of relief. He had expected more urgent news but knew that this meeting was also crucial. “Thank you,” he replied to the innkeeper. “We will go immediately.”
The innkeeper stepped away, and Miguel turned back to his entourage. “We need to resolve this food supply issue before we leave. They can help us ensure supplies for the barony while we’re away.”
Ricardo nodded, understanding the importance of the meeting. “Let's go, then. The sooner we resolve this, the sooner we can leave.”
The young mage Lila rose silently, her eyes as attentive as ever. The soldiers quickly prepared, adjusting their gear. The tension from the previous moment still hung in the air, but now there was a clear objective.
“Let's stick together,” said Miguel, leading the group out of the room. The inn's corridor was quiet, except for the firm steps of the entourage as they headed to the meeting with the beastmen.
They descended the inn’s stairs and stepped out into the street, where the usual hustle and bustle of the city contrasted with the urgency of their mission. The sun was beginning to set, casting long, golden shadows over the buildings.
Miguel led his entourage through the narrow streets, his thoughts still focused on the critical situation at the barony. He knew every second counted and that this meeting could be a crucial step in ensuring the safety of his people.
They approached the location where Elnar and Ruidahr awaited them. Miguel took a deep breath, prepared to discuss the details that could make the difference between the success and failure of their mission. However, now he had one more problem: he knew for sure that the mercenaries at the barony’s gates were posing as bandits, and this was his brothers' doing... scoundrels, just as bad as Miguel's father, the duke. But he wouldn't be defeated so easily. He was no longer the innocent brother they knew; he was an experienced man who would do whatever it took to survive in this new world and help whoever he could.
***
“Pleasure to see you again, Lord Miguel,” said Elnar as Miguel and his entourage approached. He noticed that everyone had tense and worried faces, including the young baron.
“Pleasure to see you too, Elnar and Master Ruidahr. How is the mill operating?” asked Miguel with a smile.
“It’s working perfectly. We are grinding grains with much greater efficiency, thanks to you,” Elnar replied.
“I have to agree with Elnar. Your work is impeccable, and he showed me your drawings—they are precise. Are you sure you’ve never been involved in construction before?”
Miguel gave a slight smile. “I didn’t do it alone; if it weren’t for everyone’s collaboration, it wouldn’t have worked.” He turned his attention to Ruidahr. “I appreciate the recognition, but I’ve never participated in any construction before. All my knowledge comes from books I read throughout my life.” Miguel chose his words carefully; he couldn’t reveal that he was someone else in this noble’s body. You never know what could happen, and he didn’t want to face some kind of alien inquisition.
“Well, we’re here to talk about the food supplies, right?” Miguel said with a smile.
“Precisely. We agreed to send a shipment to your barony in exchange for some gold coins. The details can be settled today if you prefer,” said Ruidahr.
Miguel was silent for a few moments and then responded, “That would be perfect, but unfortunately, I have to leave. The messenger brought me bad news from my home; we are being attacked by a considerable army of bandits or mercenaries—I’m not sure who they are yet,” he said, his voice tense and laden with internal pressure.
“I didn’t expect such bad news,” said Elnar, sensitized by what he heard.
“That’s why I can’t discuss it now, but I ask that when we leave, you bring us the necessary supplies. If my city is destroyed, then most likely, I’ll be dead and consequently won’t need the supplies anymore.”
Ruidahr and Elnar exchanged glances, feeling the weight of the young human’s words.
“We’ll send the food. We are preparing a caravan right now, but it will take a day to be ready to leave,” said Elnar.
“I'm sorry, I don’t have a day to wait. I will leave right after our meeting. But I reiterate, if I survive, I will gladly accept the supplies. Thank you very much. But before we leave, we’ll need our weapons.”
“Certainly, we haven’t forgotten them.” Ruidahr signaled to some guards to bring the weapons of Miguel’s entourage.
A few moments later, all their weapons were returned. Miguel looked at his sword and took a deep breath before thanking them one last time. “Thank you very much, these supplies will save us.” Elnar and Ruidahr nodded in acceptance of the thanks.
They watched as Miguel and his entourage left with their horses, crossing the city gates.
“He was telling the truth,” said a voice next to Ruidahr and Elnar. They looked to the side and saw the fox Lysandra.
“Good to see you, Lysandra,” said Ruidahr. “So, they are really going through a food crisis, and now their home is about to be destroyed?” Ruidahr asked authoritatively.
“Yes. My spies observed their barony for days while they were here; we couldn’t risk it being a lie—they could be just spies.”
“You did well, Lysandra,” said Ruidahr, crossing his arms. “And what will we do? They won’t survive.”
Ruidahr took a few moments to respond.
“Keep preparing the caravan; we’ll deliver the supplies—we always keep our promises. The council will meet tonight to discuss this unforeseen issue with the 'bandits'.”