The hunter, Baron Oliver, and his ten soldiers rode at a reasonable pace through a dense forest. The trees were tall and closed off the path, leaving only a narrow trail to pass through. Soon, they spotted a small wooden bridge ahead. Although old, the bridge seemed sturdy, its thick wooden supports still withstanding the test of time. The group crossed the bridge carefully, as the sound of the flowing water echoed below.

After crossing the bridge, they continued riding for a few more minutes until the terrain began to become more mountainous. The trees became more spaced out, and the trail grew increasingly steep. Suddenly, Baron Oliver, with his keen eyes, noticed something in the distance that surprised him, a trail of smoke rising into the sky. He hadn’t expected to see such clear signs of the bandits’ presence.

Not long ago, when the hunter returned and reported that the bandits had crossed the river and headed into the mountains, the baron initially thought it would be difficult to capture them in such rugged terrain. He knew that the mountains offered numerous advantages for those trying to evade pursuers, like steep and winding trails, deep valleys, and hidden caves, all favoring the fugitives.

The baron had imagined it would take days to track them and that the bandits, if they knew the region well, would be a complicated prey. However, upon seeing the trail of smoke rising in the distance, his opinion changed drastically. He immediately realized that the bandits were extremely careless. Lighting a fire in such a situation was a grave mistake, revealing their location.

Maybe they’re being so careless because they believe they aren’t being followed, thought the baron.

......

A few days earlier, Baron Oliver was in his office, scolding his daughter Celine. “How many times have I told you not to come in here when I’m not around?” He spoke with a severe tone, but Celine kept her mischievous smile. “I understand, father, I’m sorry,” she replied, knowing he couldn’t really be mad at her. The scolding was more of a facade than anything else.

“It’s not just a matter of rules, Celine. This office contains important documents. If something goes missing or is altered by mistake, it could cause many problems,” he continued, trying to sound firm, but his voice betrayed a touch of resignation.

“I know, father, but you know I’d never do anything to harm you. I just wanted to see if you had arrived,” she said, with a look that mixed affection and defiance. “Besides, you always say I’m smart enough to understand everything that’s here. Maybe I can even help you.”

“This is not a matter of intelligence, Celine. It’s about responsibility and respecting the house rules,” he responded, crossing his arms and trying to maintain seriousness. “One day, you’ll understand that some things are more complicated than they seem.”

“Now I need you to leave the office. I have a lot of work to do and can’t be distracted,” he said, trying to keep firmness in his voice.

“But father, I just wanted to stay here with you for a bit,” Celine protested, with a pleading look.

Baron Oliver sighed, running his hand over his head in a gesture of frustration. “You’re really stubborn, you know? You remind me a lot of your mother,” he said, softening his tone. “We’ll talk more later, I promise,” he replied, going to the door and opening it gently.

Celine hesitated for a moment but eventually gave in. “Okay, father. But don’t forget your promise,” she said, leaving the office with one last hopeful look.

“I won’t forget,” he replied, watching her leave. As he closed the door, he let out a deep sigh.

After sending her away, the baron sat in his office chair, picking up some documents that Sir Patrick had left on the desk earlier that day. He finally opened the reports and began analyzing them, one of which talked about bandit activity.

The document detailed that a group of bandits was committing robberies in the villages. Although bandits were uncommon in that part of the kingdom, they occasionally appeared. The report mentioned that despite the robberies, there had been no deaths during the group’s actions, which made the baron pay little attention to the incident. “A group without blood on their hands,” he thought.

Following standard procedure, Baron Oliver summoned Sir Patrick, the head knight of the house. He was a middle-aged man with some gray hair and a shaved beard. His slender physique contrasted with his rigid posture and the authority he emanated. The baron ordered him to send soldiers to reinforce the security of the settlements near the attacked areas, aiming to deter the bandits.

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“Send more men to the fishing villages,” instructed the baron. “They have better income and will be more attractive targets for the bandits. Focus less force on the farms, which aren’t as lucrative.” Sir Patrick nodded, already starting to plan the mobilization of soldiers to ensure the protection of the most vulnerable villages. The baron knew that the fishermen, with their income from the abundant waters of the Akua River, would be a greater lure for the thieves, and it was crucial to protect these communities to maintain order and stability in his territory.

However, two days ago, the baron realized the audacity of the bandits when he received an alarming report. The same group had attacked a merchant caravan. Upon reading the report, the baron was taken by surprise, he hadn’t expected the bandits to be so bold. However, this surprise soon turned into a boiling anger when he discovered that the attack not only resulted in deaths among the merchants but also in the capture and abduction of some women from the caravan. The gravity of the situation was undeniable and demanded an immediate and decisive response.

It was the month of the Pirarovy migration, a period when many lone merchants and caravans crossed the baron’s territory and that of other nobles to trade their goods for this valuable fish. During this time, the merchants preferred to trade directly with the commoners, aiming for the smaller villages that had little or no protection from the soldiers of the noble houses. This made the merchants easy targets for bandit groups, especially in less patrolled areas.

Although the tolls collected from merchants during these journeys weren’t the main source of income for the baron’s house, they still represented a significant contribution to the barony’s treasury. The fees collected ensured a steady income and helped sustain daily operations and the maintenance of the territory.

With the bandits’ attacks, there was a risk that the presence of merchants would decrease, which would directly affect this additional source of income. The baron knew he needed to act quickly to restore security and confidence in his lands, preventing the merchants from starting to divert their routes away from his domain.

With the expression of anger still visible on his face, the baron called out, catching the attention of a passing soldier. “Bring me Sir Patrick, immediately!” he ordered, his voice resonating with an intensity that echoed through the walls.

Initially, he thought of sending knights from his personal guard to resolve the situation quickly. These experienced soldiers had fought under his command during the siege ten years ago at Fort Caribuma, proving their loyalty and combat skills. However, as he pondered the situation more, he remembered the new recruits.

Recruited at the beginning of the year, these soldiers had completed their training two months ago but had yet to be tested in real combat. While waiting, the baron reflected on the decision to send the personal guard, but the idea of giving the novices an opportunity began to seem more appropriate. It was time to test the value of the new soldiers, to see if the intense training they received had really been worth it.

When Sir Patrick finally arrived at the baron’s office, he found him calmly looking at the document in his hands, the expression of anger replaced by a cold determination. “Sir Patrick,” the baron began, “gather ten of the most promising novices, regardless of where they are currently serving. I will personally lead them on a hunt.”

Sir Patrick’s initial surprise was quickly replaced by a nod of understanding. He knew that when the baron made a decision, it was final. With a resolute expression, Sir Patrick left to carry out the order, while Baron Oliver mentally prepared for the mission ahead, determined to restore order in his lands and test his new soldiers in a real combat situation.

......

Back in the present, the hunter climbed a rocky escarpment with the agility of a cat, moving silently among the rocks and staying out of sight of the bandits. Baron Oliver signaled the soldiers to wait and then quickly climbed the escarpment as well. When he reached the top, he saw the hunter crouched, waiting for him patiently.

The hunter pointed to a slight depression in the mountain and said, “They’re there, my lord. It seems they’re celebrating.”

Due to his level of accomplishment on the path, the baron had much sharper vision than the hunter. He could clearly see the bandits and their activities. In the bandits’ camp, there were some tents and a bonfire where they were roasting a Pirarovy.

Among the various stolen goods, the baron recognized valuable items, fine fabrics, boxes of spices, and other goods looted from the caravan. This sight only increased his determination. Seeing the bandits treating the stolen items as trophies and celebrating their feats filled the baron with a silent and resolute anger.

Making a quick count, the baron saw that, besides the man roasting the fish, there were four more bandits warming themselves around the fire and another seven scattered around the camp. He quickly compared these numbers with the data from the report he had received earlier, which indicated the presence of a group of sixteen bandits. Noticing the discrepancy, the baron concluded that the other bandits must be inside the tents.

Turning to the hunter, the baron said, “You’ve done a good job. Stay here while I lead the soldiers and take care of these bandits.” The hunter quickly responded, visibly agitated: “But, my lord, I can help.” It was clear he had personal reasons for wanting to participate in the attack. Perhaps a desire for revenge or justice drove him. However, the baron shook his head and said, “I want to test the performance of the novices in combat.” After a brief pause, he continued: “If any of the bandits flee, you’ll pursue them. Understood?”

The hunter lowered his head, his body still tense with frustration, but he knew that nothing good would come from contradicting the baron. “As you wish, my lord,” he responded, with a note of resignation in his voice. However, a slight spark of satisfaction appeared in his eyes, knowing that the bandits who tried to escape would be his to deal with. The hunter’s personal mission wasn’t completely frustrated; he would still have his chance to deliver justice with his own hands.