William's frustration with Phillip's silence is noticeable, as he slammed his jack onto the table. His gaze fixed on him, scrutinizing each movement, trying to decipher the calm behavior of the man before him.

"You are a man of a few words, don't you?" William says.

Irritated by his condescending tone, Phillip stares at William directly in his eyes. "Not everyone feels the need to respond to every question, especially one based on personal opinion. I never claimed to be an orphan child; that was a conclusion you jumped to on your own."

Observing the exchange between Phillip and William, I was initially inclined to intervene and quell their bickering. However, I couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement at Phillip's way of managing the situation. He managed to lecture William effectively without once raising his voice, demonstrating a certain finesse in dealing with confrontation.

Deciding to let the moment play out a bit longer, I finally spoke up, aiming to refocus their attention, "Alright, ladies. Take a seat. The end of this tale is quickly approaching."

⊱─━━━━⊱༻●༺⊰━━━━─⊰

I knew it was essential to inform Arland about the dire situation our town faced. Despite my reluctance to be the one delivering such ominous news, the urgency of the matter left me no choice.

I opened the front door to find Arland and Ingrid comfortably seated in their chairs next to the chimney, where a fire crackled and cast a warm glow around the room.

As I approached Arland's expression immediately shifted from relaxed to one of concern. "Father, there is something of importance that we need to discuss."

"Something happened to your brother?"

I took a seat next to him, my eyes lowered down, bracing for the disappointment I feared my words might bring to my father. "I'm afraid, the situation is worse than my brother being a coward and not returning back to his family."

"Those are harsh words to say Randall. What is the situation?"

"We were approached by a barbarian messenger early this morning. They've given us one day to meet their demands, or they threaten to burn down the town."

His reaction was surprisingly composed; he remained thoughtful for a moment and then, somewhat unexpectedly, he smiled. "That threat has been looming ever since I became the Lord of this manor. Now, it seems it's finally upon us."

Arland grabbed my arm, gently opening the palm of my hand, and placing a skeleton key in the center of it.

"Whatever choice you make, I know it will be the right one," Arland said.

"Father, I can't accept this. It will be the same as accepting defeat."

"Do you know the difference between winning and being defeated? None of that matters if people's lives are lost. You can take the people and rebuild somewhere else. You can't bring people back when they are dead. Take everything of value, guide our people to safety and rebuild their confidence by providing them with what they need the most."

"And that is?" I asked.

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"Hope."

I rose from my chair with a clear understanding of what I needed to do, ensuring the safety of every person in the village. "I will help you pack as soon as I have helped Bernard guide the people to the shelter."

"Son, that won't be necessary."

Arland gently took Ingrid's fragile hands in his own and offered her a smile. "Our time is almost over, Randall. This has been our home for many decades, too many if you ask me. I built this house with my own hands and effort. If the barbarians want what I have, they'll have to go through me first."

As the emotions welled within me, a knot tightened in my throat and tears I couldn't hold back began to stream down my face. "Father, please, come with us. I will protect you with my life, I swear."

Ingrid, sensing my distress, stood up and wrapped me in her arms. "Don't be hard on your brother. He can be stubborn at times, but his heart is in the right place. Your responsibility now lies with the people of this town. Guide them to safety, and Randal... do not look back."

The conflict within me was intense and heart-wrenching. I had always held my oath to protect Arland as sacred, a personal commitment I never imagined I would have to question. Yet, in that moment, I was not given the choice to decide between the duty to an individual I deeply respected and the responsibility towards the many lives depending on me.

"Arland, I promised you..." I couldn't finish what I wanted to say. Walking away from protecting Arland was simply not acceptable to me. But it seemed that both Arland and Ingrid had already made their choice.

"I remember the first time I saw you. Your will was unbreakable, Randall. Back then, you were just a child, yet you stood up to protect an innocent frog from a group of hellions. That's why I took you under my wing and raised you into the man you are today. This is your destiny. Save our people, protect them, guide them, and lead them to a better future. And don't worry, Lysander will be there with you. You just need to be patient."

My reluctance was clear in my voice, as I struggled to understand their choice. "I don't understand why you want to stay here. They will kill you."

Arland turned to Ingrid, and with a tender smile. "We're old and frail. A journey like the one you must undertake would be too much for us. We have made our peace with this decision. Now, go! You are running out of time."

While leaving Arland's house, Bernard appeared on horseback. "Randall, the people are ready to leave."

A caravan followed Bernard into Arland's house. His words eased some of the tension in my heart, affirming the townspeople's willingness to face the challenge ahead and survive. "Guide them through the east gate, I will meet you there."

"Understood." Bernard said.

I ran towards the barn, grabbing Billy and hitching Arland's wagon to him. I descended into the cellar, gathering everything of value that might aid us in rebuilding the town away from the upcoming invasion. Gold, pelts, coins – anything that could be of use in our new beginning was loaded onto the wagon.

Once I had gathered all the town's valuable possessions, I swung the reins, taking a last glance at the place I have always called home. I caught up with the caravan, noticing the townspeople were advancing at a slow pace. The scene was a sight of desperation, as everyone brought along whatever they could carry – essentials, personal belongings, and even livestock.

Catching sight of Bernard within the crowd, I waved to grab his attention, needing to coordinate and ensure that our departure was as organized and fast as possible.

Bernard approached riding his horse, as I stopped the wagon from moving forward. "It's good to see you are able to join us, Randall. The people have been asking for you."

I nodded at his comment, immediately changing the conversation.

"Through the gorge on the North-east side of the mountains, there's a series of caves, not known by many. Take the people there and wait for me. Assign a couple of men to keep watch until sunrise."

"You're not coming with us?" Bernard asked.

"I need you to lend me your horse. I have a promise to fulfill. Take Arland's wagon and Billy with you. Your only responsibility is to ensure the people of Bertoli arrive at the shelter safely."

We both unmounted, exchanging horses. As Bernard boarded Arland’s wagon, he glanced at me with concern. "I am in your debt, Bernard. If I don't make it back, you are in charge of keeping these people alive. I know, I can rely on your judgement."

"I will do my best, sir. But what is more important than being present with your people in a time like this?"

"I have to find my brother."