--- Roric

Less then twelve hours remained until the arrival of the bandits.

Roric had avoided Elise and everyone else since their argument in front of the tavern, his mind lost into the past, trying to use his own knowledge to find a solution to that desperate situation. But the more he thought about it, the more it became clear that the people of Fradot were headed to their own doom.

The boy had seen enough criminals to know well how they wouldn't be scared by a bunch of peasants with pitchforks. If they had chosen that place, they probably thought it was a good prey. Elise and the rest of the village refused to understand that those people would have attacked for sure if provoked, ignoring that side of the problem completely. Hiding behind their barricades, the entire Fradot had chosen to just believe in Elise and her allies of the council and risk their lives in a pointless fight. Roric couldn't stand that sight. Not again.

So, at the time the sun went down behind the mountains, the young warrior had already made up his mind. He didn't want to see another slaughter, neither he wanted to join the defenders. For his own safety and sanity, Roric had to leave as fast as he could.

Sitting on the armchair which used to belong to Dominic, the boy thought a lot about the farmer and the promise he'd been forced to made. Protecting Elise? Sure, no problem. When it came to keep dangerous men away from her, he would have gladly done it. But not when it meant protecting the girl from herself, along with the rest of the village.

Dominic must have known about her nature for many years more than me... He could have told me, as well. I see now why he didn't want her to be involved with the village. She has conquered all of those folks' hearts in such a short time. She is dangerously talented... Just like commander Lowan. No, maybe even more.

He struggled to think. There was no one to get advice from, so he had to figure it out all by himself. And no matter how much he tried, he always came back to the same solution.

***

Elise came back in the middle of the night. She was visibly proven by her many tasks, but in her eyes Roric could still see the same unwavering will he had grown so attached to. The scared girl he had met months before didn't exist anymore. She would have fought to the death now, if necessary.

Still, I can't give in to my feelings. There won't be another Spjaldir for me.

"Roric," she called for him. "Where have you been? We were thinking about putting some people on the top of the mill with stones and maybe you could..."

She stopped talking, abruptly. Her gazed had set on the young warrior's backpack, resting right next to the armchair.

"What... What's the meaning of this?" she babbled. "Are you... What are you doing?"

Roric glared at her and just said: "I'm leaving."

"You are.. Leaving? How?"

"I thought It was obvious," he coldly replied. "You guys chose to challenge those men, ignoring my warning. Paying them was the only safe way to solve things, and you knew it."

"I... I just can't stay back and watch!" yelled the girl. "Someone has to show the village that it can be done! Someone has to protect them!"

"These people aren't soldiers. They follow you, but it won't be enough."

Elise seemed on the point of exploding.

"They are my people! They put their trust in me, and I won't let them down. Even if it seems impossible, even if the odds are against us. I know we can win!"

"You are really naive," commented Roric. "If you think this. That's more than you and these folks could possibly take. And if you don't trust me, you'll see for yourself soon."

The girl's expression changed a bit. Maybe she had doubts, but maybe not.

"Why don't you help us, then?" she asked. "You know how to fight. Are you so thick-headed that you prefer to run away instead of facing this danger with me?"

"You are the thick-headed one," hissed back the boy. "This battle is unwinnable. You'll lose and it will be a slaughter. I've seen enough of it, and I won't be here for more."

Elise clenched her fist, piercing him with her gaze.

"I don't care. I have to fulfill my promise with the old man! The entire village will fight. Together. Like a family. The family we both weren't allowed to have. We will all fight, with all our courage and-"

"Are those your weapons, Elise? Courage? Luck?" roared Roric. "You haven't seen what I've seen. Battles aren't won simply because you decide to fight. Want to know how I lost my company? Well, let me tell you. They all died, facing an enemy well beyond their strength. One day we were there, like a big family, the next I was alone. Even then, those men were soldiers! They knew their lives were on the line. What will you do when they'll push you back, corner you and break down the temple's door? What will you tell your people, knowing that they are going to be massacred like animals?"

The girl didn't answer, bowing her head and facing the floor. The young warrior already knew the meaning of losing everything, but there wasn't any good way of making her see. The way his friend stood there, seemingly lost, lit a spark of pity in Roric's heart. For a moment, he was about to step forward and hug her.

Still, he couldn't do it. He had to think for himself.

"I'm sorry, Elise," he said, with a lump in his throat. "You are asking me to run towards a certain death. I beg you, be reasonable. Turn back while you are still able."

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"Tell it to the others," she sobbed, her cheeks wet with tears. "They don't deserve to be robbed by those scum. They care for this village, some even more than their own lives. And so.. So do I."

"That's what I'm afraid of," stated Roric. "I don't want any part in this."

A discomforting silence fell between the two, unprecedented in long months of close friendship. Like separated by an impassable wall, Roric and Elise simply looked at each other for minutes, until the girl decided to speak again. Her voice was weak and trembling.

"So... This is a farewell, right?"

The boy stood up, wrapped himself with the cloak and lifted the backpack, heading towards the door. He couldn't even look at her as he passed by, and stopped at the entrance for one last time.

Come on, Elise. Call for me. Say something.

Roric could hear her sobbing behind him, but nothing else. She wasn't going to surrender, just like he expected. He gathered every drop of his will and tried to keep a hold on his emotions.

"It's been fun. Take care of yourself."

He only said that, closed the door and walked away with heavy steps.

***

The people of the village were still running around that night, busy in the most diverse activities. All who couldn't fight were retreating upwards, to the safety of the temple, carrying everything they could. Roric ignored the multiple men and women giving him curious looks, however. He didn't want to see them anymore.

It's better if I don't even remember their faces. They'll be dead soon.

"Leaving, my dear?"

Gerna was standing outside of her house, watching some workers who were barring her door. The boy had never seen her entire figure before, and was surprised by how short she actually was. He stopped in front of her and nodded silently.

"I envy you," went on the woman. "Were I in shape for traveling, I would come as well. Nobody here seems to realize how much of a folly this is. But I can see there is still someone with some brain, at least. Follow the advice of this old hag and put as many miles as possible between you and this place."

"That's what I'm going to do, Gerna," replied Roric. "I went through too many dangers to stay here and resign to my fate."

"People are strange, don't you think?" laughed the old lady. "Give them something to believe in, and they'll run towards their deaths without thinking twice. Oh, the power of blind hope."

"Hope won't be enough against swords and lust for blood. But I suppose it's too late to change their mind. I already talked with Elise and she won't go back on her words."

"You did what you could, young Roric. That girl is strong and dependable, but..."

She coughed a couple of times and glanced at him.

"You know, to be honest I thought something was going to bloom with you and Elise. Love and friendship are powerful weapons, yet very dangerous. In a certain sense, I admit you are a smart one."

"Don't misunderstand me," stated the young warrior ."Elise remains my friend, and is very brave. She is precious to me. That's why I don't want to be here witnessing as she throws away her life."

With those words, the boy turned away and left. Gerna spoke one last time.

"Good luck on the road, lad."

***

--- Elise

Coward. Traitor! A mercenary to the end. When we need him the most, he runs away. Fine, I don't need him... I don't...

Elise let herself go. She cried and cried, sitting on the old armchair, her heart aching so much that it seemed to burst. Roric was gone. For all that time she had thought they would have faced that ordeal together, as friends. As a family. She remembered the warmth of the many days training with the boy, the starlit nights spent talking, the grief of Dominic's passing.

I have to face this alone. It's my responsibility. For Dominic. For my people.

There would have been the time for tears, but Elise still had many things to do. Fradot needed her. The village couldn't win without her strength and guidance. She slept for an hour or so, until Gardn came to wake her up, and then she left the house.

They were coming.

***

The day was grey and it looked like it was going to rain. Around forty-five people had rallied behind the first barricade, ready to give the foreigners a proper welcome. Gardn volunteered to take the burden of talking to the head of the bandits, since nobody else had stronger guts than him.

Despite many telling her to hide in the temple, Elise chose to stay there at the entrance because she didn't want to look like a coward in front of the entire village. Spear in hand, the girl stood proudly shoulder to shoulder with farmers and craftsmen, waiting for the meeting to take place. On the way down, however, she started having serious doubts about the idea of opposing the criminals.

What if Roric was right, in the end, and we are only bringing death over us? Now that I think about it, I've always assumed that our enemies weren't more than a couple dozens... Nobody ever told us how many they are.

For that very reason, when the bandits finally appeared shortly after, Elise felt relieved. Their numbers weren't exactly thin but there was no way they could exceed thirty, even at that first glance.

"There they come," commented the muscly carpenter. "Let's hope you are right, Elise."

The group was composed of people with a wild gap of age difference. The strangers were all dressed with poor clothes and pieces of armour so rusty that they looked close to useless. A man led them, flaunting a dark green cloth and a massive, disproportioned helmet with the effigy of an exotic animal on the top. He made a gesture with his right hand, and his followers stopped roughly fifty meters from the barricade, that blocked the entirety of the road. One of the bandits took a step forward, cleared his throat and addressed the people of the village.

"All hail Khoss the Great, our leader and soon-to-be ruler of the three valleys. Two days have passed since our visit and request of tribute. You have been asked to gather provisions and hand them to us, in exchange for a peaceful, untroubled association under our banner."

Nobody dared replying, not even Gardn. The atmosphere was too tense for that. So, the man went on.

"Most of the western valley is under our control. We claim possession of this land and order you people to submit. Put your weapons down and let us enter."

"The answer is no!" yelled back the carpenter. "You can tell your boss that Fradot won't surrender to his robbery. We aren't cattle, you scum, and we are ready to fight if you come any closer."

Elise exchanged a look with him. The man was sweating cold but didn't seem startled yet. The others were holding the barricade as one, as well, showing the invaders that they too wouldn't be scared by them.

It's working. We are acting together, as a family! This wouldn't have been possible, just a couple of weeks ago.

Meanwhile, the boss whispered something to his announcer, who was nodding and smiling.

"The great Khoss honors your courage, and wants you to know that he noticed your advantage in numbers. For that reason, he ordered us to stay away like you requested."

Gardn turned towards the bandits again, giving them a satisfied glare. He was clearly about to reply, but the man had more things to say.

"He, however, can't allow to be humbled by a bunch of farmers. For that reason, we won't leave this place."

"You are welcomed to stay," laughed the carpenter. "We have food for a month in here."

"But you have no shields, farmer."

Six of the criminals took place in front, right at the side of their boss. They were all carrying instruments Elise had never seen before. The leader himself took out one of those and joined his men in the line. The first who broke the silence was one of the villagers.

"Get down! They have cross-"

What happened next was fast, brutal. Those things activated with rough metal noises and propelled forward a volley of darts, that flew through the air faster than the eye could see. Two of the defenders died on the spot, in front of the horrified girl, while at least a couple more were injured and let go of their pitchforks. The people of Fradot quickly hid behind the barricade an instant after, confused and scared.

"Reload!" echoed a voice.

The clouds grumbled from above.

"Shit. This is about to get really rough," commented Gardn. "They were prepared."

Elise didn't answer. She was too busy holding a grip over her emotions and trying not to succumb to the panic. Those men were for real. They would have killed without thinking twice. And in the end, much of the responsibility was hers.

What do I do? I didn't expect this... They just had to turn back and go away...

All around her she could see familiar faces, distorted by fear. At that point, the girl's heart was beating so fast it would hurt. She twisted her fingers around the spear, eyes wide shut, getting ready for the worst.

Makers... I made a huge mistake.