Once upon a time, there was a valley where a small river circulated and a forest extended half a kilometer away.
One day a veteran man whose past bravely and forcefully defended the most dangerous border repelling many enemy incursions.
The King as a reward for such heroic work granted him a domain of land along with a large sum of gold for his family and his people.
When they arrived, they immediately began to build houses and mills, farms, and observation posts.
Over time, the small village grew due to the arrival of more people who helped with construction and agriculture, while the intellectuals helped with good resource management.
In a few months, it became a prosperous town surrounded by hills and mountains, a picturesque landscape. The environment of the town is full of abundant flora and fauna. The villagers farmed, and tilled the land; the women cooked and did the housework, there was a sense of peace and tranquility. Even the quality of the air is fragrant, a place where you can live in well-being.
Children running and having fun, men and women working for the survival of their respective families.
The veteran who is the new commander observed with joy and pride this prosperous town, a place away from blood and the smell of ashes.
An excellent place of retirement for all the people who want to rest in peace and away from any conflict.
But now what he sees is that familiar smell and the flames that although he saw them in the past, are more terrifying and burning, consuming the work of a lifetime.
The houses that were built with so much effort, made of wood, stone, sweat, and blood that took days to build; are destroyed in just a few seconds.
The cries for help that unfortunately must leave.
The bodies that he can no longer recognize, but once they were smiling neighbors who greeted him, homely women and children with a healthy childhood.
Now they are mutilated corpses and thrown away like garbage.
"How has this happened?" The commander feels dizzy, even though once he is on the battlefield, this scenario is different and bloody.
"Mr. Commander" A young man with a bandage on his head enters the bedroom "We managed to clear the passage and the evacuation has already been ordered"
"Uhmm, let the soldiers hold off the enemy as long as possible and let the villagers pack lightly."
"My lord, will reinforcements come?" The servant-leader asks.
Four days ago, the commander sent messengers to possible villages and the king himself in search of help, but no one returned.
This has generated a sharp drop in morale among citizens and soldiers, even the Commander himself cannot resolve this psychological attack among his men.
When the Commander goes to leave, a woman with a baby in her arms is standing at the door.
The mature woman was dressed in a simple blue dress and was carrying a baby with unusual features.
The baby was sound asleep despite the noise generated both inside and outside, her features are as beautiful as they are delicate.
But the highlight is the hair of the little creature, a shiny dark gray that to this day her parents still do not know the reason for that color.
The hair color of the parents is black and even their ancestors are black.
The father asked for a blood test despite the incredulous and indignant look of his wife. Still, the test came back positive.
That girl with weird hair is his legitimate daughter.
But the couple's relationship has not been happy, both slept separately and only spoke what was necessary, even though the man tried to apologize, the woman gave him a cold shoulder.
His wife could not forgive him for such a lack of trust despite being together with him for many years even before they got married.
He never saw his wife's smile again.
"What are you doing here?" The commander gets a little furious and quickly approaches her to make her leave, but she holds her position and shows teary eyes.
The commander does not understand until a strong hug leaves him even more dismayed.
The commander finally feels the warmth of his wife and cannot help but shed some tears, his arms strongly embrace his beloved.
"Come with us please," The woman asks sobbing.
She has always loved him despite such scandal and mistrust in the past, they have lived together for years between misfortune and happiness, and such love is very difficult to extinguish.
"If I leave, the last soldiers will quickly surrender and won't have enough time to escape, but don't worry once I've given them enough time, I'll use an alternate route to meet you at the rally point."
There are two previously prepared escape routes, one is through some sewage service tunnels that connect to the river and the other is a group of prepared horses that are located in the back of the hacienda.
"Please understand me, my love, I have regretted what happened every day. In truth, I am a bad husband, a bad father and a bad Commander" The Commander cannot avoid shedding a few tears.
"None of that my husband" The woman says "I just couldn't believe it and it was hard for me to forget it. Now and with all this I also regret it "
"Please go. Don't worry about me, save our daughter" The commander said very seriously as he stopped hugging her.
The wife sheds many tears but nods and before leaving gives him a deep kiss.
"I will be waiting"
But an event interrupts the romantic scene, some windows are broken and incendiary arrows enter.
"Damn it, go now" The Commander takes her out of the room by force.
The wife feels severe pain in her arm but quickly moves away. Her most important wish and duty are to save her daughter despite the great pain in her heart for leaving her husband.
"Unfortunately, they already won the fight, why don't they leave us alone? Let our archers return fire, we must give them as much time as possible" The commander orders as he leaves.
"Mr. Commander, the main entrance will not resist any longer and we have not received any news at the service entrance" A soldier informs.
The commander takes his sword "Close the doors around that entrance and use the furniture to bar them. No one should enter"
Several soldiers along with the commander leave the room to go to the main area.
While outdoors.
"Send reinforcements at the entrance and let it rain fire dates, let them burn inside" The superior officer orders raising his sword.
A soldier comes running and performs the military salute. "Mr. Officer, the soldiers from the rear have not appeared and we have lost all kinds of contact"
The officer replies "It seems rats know how to hide and ambush. All the soldiers united and with their eyes wide open, shields raised, and torches well lit. That there is no blind spot"
"Mr. Officer, the gate's defenses are giving way." A soldier yells.
"Double your efforts, and don't stop the archers from shooting"
In the Main House.
A woman with a baby in her arms walks quickly through the corridors until she hears a cry for help coming from one of the distant rooms.
"Those screams are from the servants' kitchen. I heard that place is closed and those screams are from a girl." The woman finds herself in a dilemma.
"I know a way to get there quickly" The woman changes her route
"I can come, there is still time"