Sergio became certain that his commander knew about Anastasia's going to the city since the beginning.
- I'm quite disappointed in you, my commander. I know that you hate the nobles, but she was different. Treating her this way is so unfair.
Valdimir pulled out his sword and pointed it at Sergio while looking extremely angry.
- DON'T CROSS THE LINE. I DID WHAT IS BEST FOR EVERYONE. A LADY LIKE HER DOESN'T BELONG TO THE ARMY.
- Then, does she belong to an abusive house?
- What do you mean?
- The information, that you refused to listen to, is about how she lived in that house. I was quite surprised to know that, since she was a little girl, she has been abused by her stepmother. She was beaten over and over again until blood flowed from her body. And even after that the beating stopped, the stepmother kept harassing her and that's, probably, the reason for her coming to the army, she was running away from her home hoping to find people that will treat her better, but it seems that she was wrong...
Valdimir became confused after hearing that, he never thought that a beautiful and strong lady like her was treated this badly. He wanted to send her away because she started disturbing him. Her strong personality and her soft smile have been distracting him since the first day he saw her.
- It is not like she will stay forever in the army. She came for only one year and she will go back, eventually, to her home and deal with her family issues. It is not my problem. I only think about the army and what is best for the soldiers.
- Can't you just give her another chance?
- It is useless, now. She must be on her way to her home...
- BUT...
- Let's go, we wasted enough time...
At that moment, one of the bandits made a commotion. He succeeded in cutting the rope and wanted to run away. Valdimir caught him immediately using an arrow:
- The next time you try to run away, the arrow will be aimed at your heart.
The bandit started crying and begging:
- PLEASE, LET ME GO...I HAVE A FAMILY...PLEASE...
- You should have thought about them before you attacked a lady.
- IT IS NOT MY FAULT, A LADY GAVE US A LOT OF MONEY AND ORDERED US TO ATTACK HER. PLEASE, I PROMISE I WON'T DO IT AGAIN.
Valdimir's calm face suddenly turned to fury. He grabbed the man by his collar and hanged him in the air:
- WHAT DID YOU SAY? WHAT LADY?
- I...I don't know...it...it was a...a rich lady...M...Maybe...a...a noble.
- WHAT SHE ORDERED YOU TO DO EXACTLY.
- She. ..She ordered us...to...to smash her face and...And to make it look like a robbery.
Valdimir tossed the bandit away, then he immediately rode his horse and went back to the city hoping to find Anastasia. He looked for her everywhere, but she was already gone.
" Damn it, Where is she?... How didn't I realize that they were aiming at her since the beginning? Someone wants to harm her, it must be her stepmother. I indeed want her to leave the army but I don't wish for her to get hurt. I should have been more patient before acting like that...."
As for Anastasia and Lucia, they couldn't stay any longer in the city after what happened. They changed their wet clothes and took the way back to the mansion. There was nothing else they could do.
- My lady, how are you feeling?
- I'm fine...
- That dress suits you.
- Yeah...
Anastasia was totally depressed. She kept blaming herself after that she ruined all her plans because of her stubbornness.
- I was too excited that I didn't though about the consequences.
- It's okay, my lady. You tried your best anyway.
Anastasia's tears started dropping again:
- Everything ended before it started.
- Please my lady, stop crying. If you want, we will talk again to the commander.
- Didn't you see his face? He hates me as everyone does.
- That's not true, no one hates you.
Anastasia wiped her tears:
- When we go back to the mansion, don't say a word about what did happen until I think about something else.
- What if you tell your father? Maybe he will stop it.
- I know that father started treating me well, but he won't accept that his daughter won't get married. Agatha will use my bad reputation as an excuse to force me into this marriage. He won't be able to decline.
- We still have time, my lady will surely find someone else...
Suddenly, their horse stopped on its own and started kicking and neighing.
- WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIM?
- I DON'T KNOW, I LOST CONTROL OVER IT.
The horse acted more and more violently until it dropped both women from his back and ran off.
- LUCIA, ARE YOU OKAY?
- I think my leg got injured.
- Come on, lean on me. I will help you.
At that moment, A lot of men surrounded them
- WHO ARE YOU? WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM US?
One of the men stepped forward while holding a sword.
- WE WANT YOU, PRETTY GIRL...
Anastasia realized that those men are targeting her.
- RUN, MY LADY, I WILL HOLD THEM BACK.
- Stop saying nonsense, Lucia. I will never leave you.
- BUT, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SAVE YOUR LIFE!
- It's okay, I prefer to die here than go back to that house.
She pulled out her sword while looking ready to die:
- SHOW ME WHAT YOU HAVE.
The bandits started attacking them. Anastasia tried her best to protect herself and Lucia. She fought with all her power and managed to defeat a lot of them, but in the end, she got injured in several places.
The bandits started feeling annoyed, they didn't think that a single lady will harm them this badly.
- IF YOU STOP, I PROMISE WE WON'T KILL YOU.
- WHO SAID THAT I DON'T WANT TO DIE...
She kept fighting furiously without stopping until she collapsed because of the loss of blood.
- LUCIA, I ORDER YOU TO RUN...
- HOW CAN I DO THAT?
- DO IT! I WILL DIE ANYWAY...YOU MUST LIVE.
Lucia was watching her lady getting attacked. The bandits could, finally, catch her.
- NO, MY LADY!...
Their leader was very angry, he pulled out a knife while grabbing her hair.
- I wish I can kill you, but I can't...I will only ruin that pretty face. That was the deal.
He put the knife right on her face. Suddenly an arrow went through his chest and died right on the spot. The other bandits panicked:
- WHAT IS GOING ON?
They heard a horse getting closer to them, then from the darkness, Valdimir appeared while holding a bow.
- WHO'S NEXT...
- THAT'S THE..THE WARRIOR WITH THE IRON LEG!