The nearby town wasn't that big, it was only 50 people maximum in size and it didn't even have a proper road to the merchant routes, but somehow this town was still surviving despite lacking crucial specialties and resources.
" This is the town of Warton. It was made by vagrants almost 200 years ago during the flourishing of the empire to decentralize the military power."
Peter knew this town had a peculiar history and its people were former empire vassals and church devotees. Hence, making it a safe town to stay for a day before heading out.
" But we have to be careful. Even if this town doesn't have criminals, people can still harbor sins."
Peter pulled the hoods of their faces down, concealing their faces in the darkness while walking to the outskirts of the town where they saw a diluted house with a slight light. This house was near the town church, so everyone believed it belonged to the priest but this was their hideout.
" Sir Peter, Saintess, come here quickly."
They saw a priest who was wearing a grey uniform with a black belt under the light of the torch. It was the priest of this town and he had been waiting for them for hours here because he got the news from the pigeon that was sent during the ambush.
" Is the head nun inside the house? Are there any survivors besides us?"
Anna grabbed the hand of the priest while the old man gulped, looking a little guilty.
" Unfortunately only three people made it alive here. I don't know about other people but the head nun and her men are here, waiting for you."
Anna clenched her fists when she heard his words, knowing only they escaped with their lives. Otherwise, there might be some survivors in the vicinity, looking for the reinforcement or the shelter but everything was silent.
" I see. Sir, I want you to listen to me carefully. I will leave the town immediately now for another mission. I want you to let the survivors get into a safe carriage to Roma and distract the pursuit before they find them. Otherwise many would die from this battle."
Peter took out a cross from his palm, handing it to the priest with a solemn face. This cross symbolized their order, thus making it extremely valuable and prestigious to those who knew the value of it.
" I understand, sir. May god bless upon your journey."
The priest prayed with a calm face, bidding farewell to Peter who went to the nearest horse fence.
" Saintess!"
Anna turned her head, finding two women and one man in the darkness while the latter approached her with excitement.
Evangeline pulled her to her embrace, feeling relief for the first time after the invasion. She feared that Anna would be kidnapped by the usurper and might have experienced the worst but thanks to God's grace, she was alive and well.
" Sister Evangeline, Sister Lydia, you two are safe. How did you manage to escape the church?"
Anna asked her with relief, smelling the familiar scent of lavender from her. Evangeline was a meticulous person who valued cleanliness, so her clothes almost smelled like lavender from her hometown. She always loved cultivating them in the yard and used them for all kinds of things, even making soap for her laundry.
" We went through the eastern gate where the enemies were only a few. To escape from that hell, we sacrificed most of our men and people."
Lydia recalled the horrible images of knights who were screaming to let them escape. The bloodied faces of theirs coupled with cries of help from the nuns tore a hole in her chest. Perhaps she would remember this cursed image for the rest of her life and dream it because she couldn't do anything to help them much less save them.
" We don't have much time, sisters. The enemies must be tracking us. We have to leave before the sun rises."
The priest came between them, pointing at the center of the town. There was an inn where they could some horses and a carriage to pull their stuff and fortunately, the priest knew the owner.