Eldi looked at the man in front of him. Although old, his body looked muscular, athletic, able to move quickly. In addition, the sword he was wielding was level 50. He was thinking that his only chance was to take him by surprise, to let him believe that he was unarmed, that he couldn’t make a weapon appear and attack suddenly. But even so, he wasn’t at all convinced that he could win.
However, and even if it was difficult, he would first try to convince him that he was not an enemy. Although Eldi didn’t know very well what he could do or say to not look too suspicious. He wasn’t even sure who the man in front was, even though his level and uniform told him that he was someone important in that place.
“Good… night… I was looking for something to eat in the kitchen, but it seems that there is nothing left,” he improvised.
“Who are you?” The man insisted.
“I… well… I’m Godo’s friend… But he left me here and went to do I don’t know what… and I was hungry… so…”
“The guest rooms aren’t on this floor,” the man doubted, not entirely convinced, but at least he had lowered his weapon.
“He is like that, he gets something in his head and forgets everything else…”
“He isn’t like that. Answer at once. Who are you and what are you doing here?” The older man denied, pointing the sword back at the intruder.
Eldi cursed himself for having screwed up. He couldn’t know that the count’s son, although he was a miserable person, was also meticulous, especially in looking good, in pretending. He stepped back, harassed by the tip of the sword, while planning what to do.
His first thought was to take out the spear and use Javelin. At that distance, the soldier couldn’t dodge it, and he hoped he could get through his armor, or, at least, give him a strong impact. If he could confuse him with it, perhaps he could finish him off with the axe. Or use Propel with the hammer, although it probably wouldn’t have much effect against a level 51.
He could also try using the Walls as a distraction, and running out with father and daughter. He would only need to clear the way to the stairs and enter the tunnel, although it would be risky. If the distraction didn’t work, he couldn’t protect them.
He was sure that Lion’s Roar wouldn’t work, and very little effect would have Mole’s Power, maybe he could get a couple of seconds. The worst part was that he couldn’t think of any plan without endangering the lives of those inside the kitchen.
“Leytor, wait, he’s a friend,” Galdho suddenly interrupted.
The soldier looked surprised at the man, who was wearing unknown armor and weapons, and at his daughter in his arms, wondering what was going on there.
“Ghaldo! They told me you have returned home, what are you doing here?”
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“They lied to you. They took everything from me and locked us up. Then, the countess decided to torture me because I couldn’t do the impossible, or simply on a whim. And the count wanted to… to Dina…” He didn’t finish the sentence, he wasn’t able to say it out loud. Just imagining what could have happened made his chest ache deeply.
For Leytor, it was a shock. While he had heard rumors, and some actions of the counts could be reproachable, he had never truly believed that they were capable of such a thing. He didn’t know what to do. On one hand, he owed them loyalty, but on the other, if it was true, everything he was should oppose them. Although this would mean abandoning his position, his comfortable position, and putting his family in danger.
“The counts are dead,” said his friend, the one he had encouraged to accept the job of a teacher, believing it would be a good opportunity.
The soldier then looked at the stranger, confirming with his gaze that he had been the perpetrator. On one hand it seemed a horrible situation, on the other, a relief.
“You have to get out of here. When their children find out, they will pursue you,” Leytor finally reacted.
“They are also dead,” Eldi revealed, to the surprise of his interlocutor.
“Why? How?” he asked, stepping back, without deciding whether to try to catch him or let him go.
Eldi looked at Galdho and the little girl. It didn’t seem good that Dina had heard what they had said so far, let alone continue.
“She isn’t listening to us. I gave her an illusion,” the father guessed his savior’s thoughts.
It was a weak spell and easy to overcome. However, it was useful to distract a six-year-old girl. Eldi nodded and spoke.
“They had just raped and killed a girl of about fifteen, and were talking about their past and next victims. I couldn’t let those monsters roam freely.”
Leytor was surprised again as much as ashamed. He had ignored all the rumors about that family, dealing only with military affairs. He felt that he had breached his duty, blinded by his loyalty, and by not putting his position at risk. He had chosen the most comfortable path, putting a blindfold on his eyes, so he wouldn’t have to worry about anything. And that man had just torn it off, painfully.
“I… I’ll take care of everything… I’ll make sure you get compensated…”
The soldier was actually the commander of the troops and, therefore, the highest authority there, until the royalty would decide to name new counts of Tenakk.
“In the basement there are several dozen enslaved artisans, in addition to magic tools that cannot be there, they will be damaged.”
The commander knew that they had hired a large number of artisans, but that they had been enslaved was something he didn’t expect. He didn’t even know that they were in one of the basements. He felt humiliated for having being ignored like that. For having refused to pay a little more attention.
“I’ll take care of that too. I will gather my trusted troops first to clean up the accomplices,” he said. Now anger could also be heard in his voice.
“What are you going to do, Galdho?” Eldi asked.
“If Leytor wants, I will stay. You may need help with tools and craftsmen.”
The commander nodded, it would help him.
“Well, then I must go. Could you free the stairs? I need to go to one of the workrooms.”
“Yes, of course,” the commander agreed, not quite understanding what he wanted.
He said goodbye to father and daughter, who cried for saying goodbye to her hero. Although she was comforted with a beautiful blue hairpin that he gave as a memento. Besides, though his father insisted on returning them, he let him keep the weapons and armor. Then, he disappeared without a trace, without anyone knowing how he had left.
And Leytor’s surprise was even greater when later, examining the bodies of the family, he discovered the marks that belonged unequivocally to Eldi Hnefa, who had been for him a hero and an example throughout his childhood. In fact, it took him a couple of days to forgive Galdho for not telling him before, the same time which took him to discover that his childhood hero, that of the great majority of commoners, was being pursued.