Miguel was on the road, leading his convoy at full speed. Their horses galloped tirelessly, kicking up dust and echoing the sound of hooves on the hard ground. Every second counted, and they couldn't afford to stop for rest. The twelve-hour journey would be continuous, with no breaks for the night.

As he rode, Miguel's thoughts were in turmoil. Thomas's letter was still fresh in his mind, each word etched clearly. He knew the situation in the barony was critical, and the weight of responsibility on his shoulders was crushing.

Insecurity and fear permeated his thoughts, but he couldn't let that show. His men relied on him to lead, to make the tough decisions. He couldn't disappoint them, not now.

Miguel's gaze shifted momentarily to the young mage Lila, who was being carried silently on John's horse beside him. She was far too young for a battle as bloody as the one ahead, just a child... He knew he needed to find someone who could care for her, someone to keep her safe while he and his men faced the danger.

Each mile traveled seemed to take an eternity, and the pressure increased with every passing second. Miguel felt the responsibility for his people and the barony weighing heavily on his back, but there was no choice. He needed to be strong for them.

Ricardo rode right behind Miguel, watching him closely. He could see the tension in Miguel's shoulders, the worry in his eyes. Ricardo knew Miguel was doing his best, but he also knew the burden was too great for him to bear alone. Ricardo was concerned for Miguel, aware that he was trying to be strong for all of them but battling his own demons. He was impressed by how much Miguel had changed in such a short time; had being indirectly exiled and facing multiple assassination attempts changed him so much? These were questions that lingered over Ricardo. Miguel was different, but it wasn't a bad thing. It was a side of his nephew he had never seen before, a true... leader.

The journey continued, each member of the convoy lost in their own thoughts but united by a common goal. Miguel led the way, determined to reach the barony in time, even as his doubts and fears tried to overpower him.

Night began to fall, but there was no slowing down. The urgency of their mission allowed no rest. Miguel knew they couldn't stop until they reached their destination, until they were face to face with the threat looming over the barony.

The night that seemed eternal finally passed, and rays of sunlight appeared on the horizon. Miguel continued to think about his responsibility, and it all left him with a knot in his stomach. Fear was inevitable...

Their relentless horseback ride was interrupted when a caravan of people was spotted a few meters away.

The horses, now at a reduced speed, approached the people. In a few moments, a large column of people began to pass by them. Miguel observed them until a familiar face, Marta the cook, noticed the presence of her lord.

"My lord, it is a great relief to see you again." She bowed slightly in respect.

"No need to be formal now, Mrs. Marta," Miguel said directly, and asked, "How is the situation in the town?"

She thought for a few moments and replied, "I don't know the details, my lord, but it seems that Thomas organized a defense and evacuation, leaving only the soldiers. When we left, the enemy had not yet attacked. They were just waiting; we don't know why."

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

Miguel felt the weight of hearing Marta's words...

"He did well to order the evacuation." Miguel smiled at Marta.

"My lord," Ricardo began. "Those bastards could indeed be mercenaries; bandits wouldn't wait to attack, especially with a numerical advantage." Ricardo approached Miguel on his horse.

Before Miguel could respond, his attention turned to a young man in the crowd who approached and said, "My lord, I beg you, bring my father back safely. He is Arthur, the blacksmith, and I am his son and apprentice."

Miguel and Ricardo looked at each other, then Miguel looked back at the young man who appeared to be the same age as him, but with a tired and fearful look, full of fear. On Earth, he might be finishing high school or having fun, but here... in this cruel world, he was just another victim.

"I promise I will bring your father back alive." Miguel's words were heavy, but the young man smiled in gratitude and said, "Thank you very much, my lord. He is all I have."

The young man returned to the crowd and continued his journey.

"You shouldn't have promised that, my lord," said Ricardo.

"I will keep my promise," Miguel replied. "But tell me, Ricardo, where do you think they are going?"

Ricardo looked at the crowd. "I would say they are heading towards the dozens of villages under the barony's domain. Many have relatives there. And our town is not the only one; it is indeed the capital of the barony, according to what I've discussed with the soldiers. There is another town, the second largest in our lands, with half our population, but it is three days away by horseback."

"I haven't had time to look more closely at the map of the region. I was so focused on solving the food crisis that I may be neglecting other towns and villages..." he sighed. "I don't know if I can do this... all these people depend on me."

Ricardo placed a hand on Miguel's shoulder. "Don't think about it, you are exactly the person they need right now. Your mother would be proud, my lord."

Miguel thanked his uncle and friend. He looked at Lila and then at Marta. "Marta," he called.

"My lord, how can I help?"

"Could you take care of this young girl while I'm away?" He pointed to Lila, who was sitting timidly with John on his horse.

"Certainly, my lord."

"Lila," he looked at the young girl. "You will be safe with her; there is nothing to fear. And I promise you we will catch those responsible for killing the people of your village."

The girl dismounted and approached Marta, who took her hand.

Miguel watched them leave and join the caravan of residents.

"They will be fine, my lord," said Ricardo in a reassuring tone.

"I hope so... my friend."

***

Thomas was at the top of the wall, watching the armed men surrounding the town. The small army of bandits or mercenaries remained there, a constant and silent threat. He knew he had to do something before it was too late.

"I will try to talk to them," Thomas said, his voice firm.

One of the soldiers, a young man with wide, fearful eyes, quickly approached. "Sir, it's too risky. You should stay on the wall, where it's safe."

Thomas shook his head, determined. "I'll be fine, young man. We have no choice. If we don't try to negotiate, our situation will only get worse. We need to buy time, and maybe I can convince them to retreat or at least give them something valuable to make them leave..."

The soldier hesitated but finally nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Alright, sir. But please, be careful."

With one last look at the city defenders, Thomas descended the wall stairs and headed to the main gate. Two soldiers would accompany him on this mission. Each step seemed to echo the uncertainty of his mission, but he knew he had to try. If there was a chance to save the city without bloodshed, he had to take it.

As he reached the gate, the guards opened it slowly, revealing the vast field where the armed men waited. Thomas took a deep breath, adjusted his clothes, and, with a racing heart, took his first steps outside.

The cold morning breeze touched his face as he advanced, feeling the weight of responsibility with every move. He knew all eyes were on him, waiting for a miracle.

Thomas approached the group of armed men, his steps cautious and calculated. Beside him, two guards followed closely, their anxious eyes scanning the field for any sign of imminent danger. The air was thick with tension, and every movement seemed to echo with a sense of uncertainty.

Ahead, a man stood out from the rest, his posture and attire clearly indicating he was the leader. The reinforced leather armor and ornate sword hanging at his waist marked him as someone accustomed to command. When he noticed Thomas approaching, a fake smile formed on his face, laden with malicious confidence.

"Welcome, sir," the leader said, his voice dripping with condescension. "What brings a man like you here?"

Thomas took a deep breath, feeling the tension rise around him. He knew that his next words could determine the fate of many. With the guards by his side, he took a few more steps, feeling the weight of responsibility increase.

The leader of the mercenaries continued to approach, his fake smile remaining on his face while his eyes assessed Thomas with a calculating gleam. The stage was set for a tense and potentially dangerous negotiation.

Thomas stopped at a respectful distance, ready to begin the difficult task of negotiating with this man. The cold breeze seemed to intensify the seriousness of the moment as everyone awaited the next move.