The enthusiasm animated by the warmth of the fire and the wine cooled down in the hall where the elders and the captains were feasting, and since their appetite was subdued, they quickly ended their meal.

Ronald, who was sitting at the center of the table with his back facing the fireplace, stood up in silence, followed by the other guests who headed towards the adjoining room, creating a procession.

There, everyone took their place around a large table made of dark oak and cracked by time. Sigismund and Astor sat there too and, without needing any explanation, they understood that that was the Hall of the Council.

Weapons hung on the walls, often with helmets above them or inserted into shields. Underneath them appeared a name and a date that recalled all the previous leaders of that assembly. Sigismund had to assume several other details that were not illustrated in any way, but he immediately excused this lack, understanding the anxiety and pain of those old men who had lost children and relatives without knowing the reason and – he hoped – not even the way. He quickly cleared his mind of those thoughts, trying to avoid Astor's gaze, who was also accustomed to very different traits, and he tried to focus on the conversation that had just begun when Ronald sat down.

As usual, he was the first one to speak. The members who already knew the foreigners’ identity were provided only essential information regarding the events in which the two clans had taken part together.

After describing the size of the forces mobilized and gathered in the fortress, he quickly moved on to other issues related to the defense and the supplies for the city. Finally, he invited his son to report on what had happened since the day of his departure as briefly as possible.

Although Robuald did not linger on secondary details, the narrative he delivered went on for a long time: it started as plain and became increasingly fiery as it flowed. The sages were deeply amazed to hear about a neighboring kingdom so vast and powerful, and several meaningful glances were directed towards Ronald, who replied with perfect comprehension, while admiration for the foreigners grew. However, each feeling was quickly disturbed by fear, turned into terror, when they learned that such a kingdom had succumbed to the enemy's assault: if a group of such brave and experienced warriors could be completely annihilated, how would a group of peaceful, even though brave men, be able to resist?

Only in that moment, for the first time, did they fully understand the exact scope of the looming threat and how that enemy whom they had believed defeated with the return of their army was, in reality, undefeated and, if they interpreted the omens correctly, animated by the intention to strike them.

When the echo of Robuald's last words faded, it became clear that he brought with him neither a certain victory nor a solid hope, but only news of death. The initial elation that had surrounded and comforted him turned into a circle of icy despair, and he felt the full weight of it.

No one asked to speak.

Heads bowed with furrowed brows, hands began to twist the long white beards or fight against each other, tight and livid, without the masters noticing. Suddenly, the elders began to cast hostile glances towards the two Westerners, and then started exchanging them as an encouragement to make the only sensible choice: to blame the entire war on the foreigners against whom it had started, to drive them away and avert it. Sigismund, who was paying close attention to how things were developing, demanded to speak.

Ronald was happy to comply since he too had intuited much of the reasoning not yet expressed by his companions and hoped that the wisdom attributed without reserve to that illustrious knight by his son was not usurped and could instead, in some way, bring hope back to the enfeebled hearts.

Sigismund began to speak with measured hesitation, and the tone he modulated, although firm, resembled that of one who considers himself responsible for wrongdoing. He was not unaware of the subtle and treacherous arts of the adversary that made men distant and then strangers to each other when in reality the enemy to be fought was only one, the only one. His voice was veiled by a shadow of weariness and sadness, although he had not yet completely lost all trust: “Ronald,” he began. “Rich Lord of this city and our generous guest, and you valorous Robuald, our savior, and all you wise rulers of the East, I beg you to listen to me.

If I were in your place, perhaps I would now be meditating that the origin and cause of the evil that has so fiercely and unexpectedly afflicted you have penetrated your dwellings, is present at this distinguished gathering, and is even speaking to you at this very moment: well, so it is! ”

He paused and slowly turned his gaze around him. Every interest was awakened and focused on him. He continued: “The brave Robuald, during the few days we spent together, expressed the desire and had the patience to listen to a brief, but perhaps the most painful, passage of our national history. Thus he came to know that this war was actually started by my people and, I must confess, also desired it, at least in part.

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My people have paid bitterly for such a mistake, for of the many thousands who once lived for endless leagues, only the few hundred who remained, exiled and downtrodden, are now guests here.

We have paid dearly for our onerous commitment, deprived of everything we had and loved, except life.” He bowed his head and fell silent for a while. In the hall, the only sound was the crackling of logs turning into embers.

Outside, the rain beat violently against the shutters, which, as well secured as they were, did not possess the necessary strength to resist the insinuation of that howling wind. A wicked hiss, among the many repulsed, managed to penetrate, making the torches' flames writhe and inducing the onlookers to turn suddenly as if a groan of wickedness murmured behind them. Sigismund also perceived it distinctly and drew confirmation that he should not fight alone against the fear and ignorance of those men.

“Furthermore, there is the debt that we have not yet settled,” he declared with a peremptory tone. “It was contracted with Robuald, in a sun-soaked valley, just like the one where you welcomed us and provided us shelter in this comfortable mansion.

Therefore, I vow, wise members of this noble assembly, that if you demand it, we will honor this obligation tonight. If you believe that our presence has brought upon you this misfortune and future, even more, nefarious events, then we will leave this company with the greatest speed allowed by our tired horses and weary legs. We will return to the West or, if you desire, we will free you from the scourge of bandits that infest the far East, using the resources that we have left in a worthy enterprise that will repay, although inadequately, the generosity with which you have received us.”

Sigismund suddenly stopped his momentum and fixed his gaze on the pensive faces of the listeners, who did not make much effort to hide the fruit of their thoughts. He had no trouble noticing that only a few sustained his gaze, while the others avoided it, expressing all too clearly how ashamed they were to admit it. Even Ronald had rested his head on his chest long ago and seemed immersed in deep reflection that, unlike the others, did not allow for any interpretation.

Only Robuald appeared stunned by what he had just heard and looked first at his father, then at his friends, and then at the rest of the assembly, shaken by such agitation that he could not contain himself. He made a gesture of standing up, but his father, sitting next to him, grabbed his arm and, with unyielding firmness, forced him to be silent. Robuald, almost incredulous at the outrageous behavior that his father had shown towards their allies, tried to stand up again, but the grip on his arm became a tight grasp, and Robuald realized that he would have to use violence against his elderly father to break free. Therefore, he did not move, but his gaze turned to Sigismund, who responded with a smile, unable to express how deeply he appreciated his outburst.

“So it is up to you to decide,” Sigismund began to conclude. “But first, you need to know this: the despicable one's hatred towards us is implacable and insatiable. Consider that the cause and source of his animosity lie precisely in the knowledge that we possess of him, and that alone has forced him to manifest himself in his abominable behavior since the intangible, yet lethal, means that he commonly uses would have been useless against us, who experienced them in due time.

The same insidious tactics are being used against you, around you, until you are corrupted. It is here, right now, and if you can hear its frenzied ranting with your senses, your hearts are able to understand its complete meaning. The poison it secretes is being spread by the wind in the dark air, to intimidate you, and to divert you from the brotherhood that binds us and arises from the commonality of the enemy and shared ideals, which it fiercely opposes. The noises that are piercing the night and the souls screech of its wickedness and curse its aversion to everything that makes us free men, brave men, men!

Do not be intimidated by such noise, do not pay attention to it, on the contrary, it deserves your complete contempt. We are not the challenge you must face, but the only ones from whom you can receive help at this moment. Precisely because it fears us, it persecutes us and therefore aspires to separate us, since only divided can it destroy us without any risk.

We possess the knowledge you lack, and you have the strength that has been taken away from us. If we unite and you trust ourselves instead of losing it in the traps of darkness, only then can we nourish faith in victory, beyond appearances, beyond despair, which, if magnified by apprehension, constitutes one of its most formidable weapons.

Furthermore, it will no longer be able to surprise us, for if it had not done so before, tonight, this same night in which it unleashed those rebellious elements against us, which, misguided, swore him obedience, it clumsily revealed its intentions, demonstrating that it too is prone to error.

Now we know that it will strike soon and it will strike here.

In doing so, however, it has deprived itself, through its own actions, of an essential element: that of surprise.

It is up to you to decide! May Robuald bear witness to the honesty of our words and deeds, as well as to the insidious wickedness of the opponent.

Whatever choice you make, we will accept it, and now we ask you to allow us to withdraw: the weight of all the tests suffered has suddenly become unbearable.”

Having said that, Sigismund, who had been standing since the beginning of his speech, was imitated by Astor, but as they were about to leave their seats, Ronald stood up, regaining all the pride of his youth, and with a fiery expression he burst out: “I deny you such a license, Sigismund of Castle Nubilous, because while you were speaking, it became clear to me what is best for my people, and the decision has been made and will remain so, despite anyone. So stay, sit down, and listen!”

He indicated the seats with an open hand to the two captains, not without exchanging a quick and imperious glance with his other eight peers first.