But why did he knock on our door and not on Professor Ni'Lim? Is it possible that something happened? Rising from the bed, I changed the harbinger to the armor, looking at the light elf who also rose from the bed and went to change clothes in another room.
Just like I, she didn't understand what could happen, the knocks on the door grew stronger, and with a sigh, I decided not to wait for Keirin to open the door and decided to see who came.
Walking to the door and opening it, I expected to see Alur, but instead of him there were two guards unfamiliar to me who looked at me warily and peered behind my back.
- Stufon Trey? - Instead of greeting, one of the guards asked a question.
Frowning and examining the uninvited guests, I found differences in their armor from the city guard.
Unlike the armor of the city guard, this one was covered with runes that protected the wearer from magic, as I believed.
- That's right, you don't look like the city guard. - I said cautiously. - So who are you?
One of the strangers looked at his partner and, seeing a nod, took out a rolled up scroll and handed it to me.
- We are from the squad of Baron Falo, he demands your and Professor Ni'Lim's presence in his castle. - Said the warrior who handed me the scroll.
I heard Keirin's footsteps behind me, taking the scroll from the hands of the warrior standing in front of me and unfolding it and reading it, I began to frown.
I, Baron Falo of these lands, summon the half-elf Trey Stufon of the Suga'Tin Academy to clarify his assignment in the territory of the forbidden forest. The professor of the Suga'Tina Academy, the dark elf Ni'Lim, is also summoned with him. If any of the above individuals refuse to appear immediately upon receipt of this scroll in my castle, consider them enemies of my lands
Having read to the end, I saw a seal in the form of a coat of arms on which a bull was depicted running into the distance.
After reading it again, I did not see any mention of Keirin, which meant either he knew that the light elf was a former princess of her race, or he did not attach any importance to her.
Returning the scroll to the warrior, I could see how he tensed and the rune on his armor began to glow, grinning at his behavior, I just shook my head.
- Okay, I will go with you to Baron Falo, but let me give my servant instructions before leaving. "I said, trying to make my voice nervous.
Hearing the fear in my voice, the warriors grinned; the rune on their armor stopped glowing. Having put away the scroll, they stood next to the door, waiting for me to leave the room.
Closing the door and returning to the room where the frowning Keirin stood, she heard part of my conversation with the warriors, but she did not know about the scroll.
- Trey, what happened? - Keirin asked with concern in her voice, glancing behind me.
Sighing and thinking about what the baron had written, I began to suspect that he was interested in the fate of his son, who was among the robbers.
And calling the professor along with me is a sign that I was not a prisoner, if otherwise they would have provoked the academy, and not only Baron Falo understood the danger of provoking the academies and other kingdoms and empires.
- The baron calls me and the professor on my assignment. - I answered thoughtfully. - They don't call you, so you stay in the city.
Having heard about the baron and the tasks, the light elf shook her head irritably, crossing her arms over her chest, she waited for me to continue.
- While we're gone, you can spend time with the girls we brought. - I continued speaking and saw Keirin narrow her eyes. - I think Father Auel and the major will not refuse you this.
The girl continued to be silent, looking from me to the door, I saw that she didn't like that the baron of these lands called me and she had to stay in the city.
- Trey, what if he asks you about his son? - Keirin asked in a quiet, anxious voice.
I didn't want to tell her that most likely it was because of the baron's son that the baron called me, shrugging his shoulders and smiling at her, I turned and was about to leave when I felt the light elf hug me from behind.
- Please be careful and trust Ni'Lim. - Keirin said in a quiet voice in which anxiety was felt. - Cassandra is waiting for your return, remember this.
Smiling and running my hand over the hands of the light elf who let me go, I looked back at her.
- Everything will be fine, I'll be back soon. "I turned to her in a confident voice, continuing to smile.
Turning my back to Keirin, I left the room in the corridor; there were also two warriors who were looking behind me where Keirin was visible.
Closing the door behind us, we headed downstairs, where near the entrance stood a carriage decorated with the baron's coat of arms, and next to it, armed warriors sat on animals, grinning at me, they waited for me to get into the carriage.
Having opened the door, I saw a thoughtful dark elf inside who only nodded to me when I climbed inside. Feeling that the carriage had moved, I could see that Ni'Lim was thinking about something.
- Stufon Trey, how often do you think nobles call someone after completing a task? "Professor Ni'Lim suddenly asked me.
Reflecting on the words of the dark elf, I knew that the nobility rarely paid attention to those who carried out tasks.
Basically, if they themselves acted as those who issued such tasks, but being a half-elf from the village, I should not have such knowledge.
- I don't know, professor, but do you know anything about this Baron Falo? - I answered in a quiet voice.
Watching as Ni'Lim looked at me in surprise and listening to what was happening outside, she nodded to me.
- Personally, I have not encountered him, but as far as I know, he has problems with the mortals who live on his lands. - The dark elf said in a thoughtful voice. - I also heard that one of his sons disappeared.
I knew everything that the professor said, not only from the girls in the camp, but also from the residents of the capital avel.
- And whose side in the kingdom is he on? Do you not know? - I asked Ni'Lim carefully.
I didn't want to give out the diary of the son of the baron of these lands until I returned to the academy.
But if now I can provide the professor with a good story about how he fell into my hands, there was a possibility that it would help get rid of the baron of these lands.
- There are two centers here that are fighting for power at the king's court. - The dark elf answered, it was clear from her look that she was wondering why I was asking about this. - Stufon Trey, do you know something?
While thinking about how best to tell it, I saw the dark elf intensely peering into my face. Having started to talk about how in the camp we encountered a robber who claimed that he was the son of a baron, I did not talk about how he died, the professor's face began to change into charity.
Having fallen silent and giving Ni'Lim time to think about what I had heard, I continued to talk about how in one of the tents I found a diary that described how the baron's son fell among the robbers and that his father knew everything.
- Do you have this stufon Tray diary with you? - The dark elf asked in a serious voice, looking at me.
Nodding to the professor's question, I took out the diary of the baron's son and handed it to her, I felt like we were turning somewhere and the sound of the road changed.
Looking out the small window near the door, I could see that the carriage was moving outside the city. I was wondering how much time we had left to the baron's castle.
- Did you read it all, stufon Trey? - Ni'Lim asked in a thoughtful voice as she flipped through the pages.
She stopped at some of them, peering at what was written, the dark elf's face changing with each page she turned.
- No, I wanted to give it to Principal Suga'Tin as soon as I returned to the academy. - I answered with a shrug.
Continuing to turn over the pages, the dark elf changed her face even more, closing it and looking at me. Ni'Lim sighed and put the diary away.
- We will act based on what the baron wants. - The dark elf said in a stern voice. - I hope that the baron is stupid and will be careless and threaten you as a stufon of the academy.
I could only agree with the professor's proposed plan, putting away the diary, Ni'Lim relaxed and looked outside with interest, waiting for us to arrive at the baron's castle.