Willfest was holding his daughter in his arms, he seemed like a very normal person, I never thought I could see this man happy for so long, even Roy who is already a relaxed man was now even more so cuddling his little sister.
But Lay kept his distance, in fact he hadn't crossed any words with his sister.
-Willfest, why did you bring us to a forge, don't tell me that despite all my show you didn't notice.
The sir gave his daughter the last few endearments and went back to being the grumpy old dog he knew, still holding his daughter in his arms.
-I didn't realise, half the guard probably noticed, but well done lad, now I know we can't trust Mullers, so we'll stock up and get out of here as soon as possible, I'll have to leave Wallet here, if we keep taking him I don't think he'll make it alive, here at least they can give him better care and if he recovers he'll serve as a spy for me.
I feel sorry for Wallet, the poor thing is with one foot in the grave and Willfest already wants to put him as a spy alone in a place where they want us dead.
-Even though you haven't mastered your accent yet, you have a very good way with words, and in a short time you've improved your English and Irish, the days go by and you never cease to amaze me, Gran.
-Thank you Roy for the compliment, I wish I could do as well with the sword, so this grumpy guy wouldn't yell at me all day.
-Who are you calling a grumpy brat, you want his mother to break you, don't think that because I'm with Mirian I'm not going to put you in your place.
-Bad daddy, those are not words worthy of a King's knight.
I had to make a lot of effort not to laugh, Wilfest was glaring at me, but to everyone's surprise, the one who couldn't hold her laughter was Lay, it was the first time I heard her laugh, when I looked at Roy I couldn't believe what I was seeing, he had taken his hand to his mouth, tears were overflowing from his eyes.
-What's wrong with you brother, why are you crying?
-Five years, that's how many years I haven't seen you laugh, when I used to spend years doing it.
Roy mailed straight into his sister's arms, I didn't know whether to be happy for them or sad for what he said, I would like to know exactly what happened to Lay, in fact I'm almost sure what happened to him, but until I ask him I won't know for sure either.
-Forgive me for breaking the sentimentality, but we need to talk about something important.
Willfest cleared his throat to speak, Roy and Lay listened to their father as they hugged each other.
-Thanks to Gran we have an advantage, we know that Mullers has something to do with the attack of those bandits, which means he wants us dead, or at least he wants me dead, in fact I think it's more the latter, otherwise he would have hurt Miriam, when he left her here, and thanks to the late Jack we know that Baron Mons is the architect of all this.
Miriam, Willfest's youngest daughter, shuddered when she heard the Baron's surname.
-Daddy, don't name that guy.
Don't tell me what, by a devil that happens to people of this era, Mons historically has the reputation of being a paedophile, so I suppose he tried to molest Willfest's daughter.... I pray it was just an attempt.
-I want you to listen to me well, I have already taken a decision, I am going to end the life of the Baron, he represents a danger for my children, that is to say you, and for all of England... although I still don't know how to do it, if I kill him directly, the punishment will also fall on you...
-Drag him.
-What do you mean, drag him, what do you mean, Gran?
-Drag him to the battlefield... -Drag him to the battlefield... I'm going to speak again, Willfest when I said to Finley 'luck in the meadow' remember that, well in less than 6 months the rebellion of Ireland will attack the Baron's men of Mons, take advantage of what I'm telling you and drag the Baron into that battle.
As I tell him that battle will be won by the Irish.
-Gran, how do you know there will be an altercation with the men of Mons?
Every time Mirian heard the Baron's name the more she shuddered.
-Believe me, if I told you, you would not believe me, but I can only tell you to trust me, I can give you no other answer, and before you think it, which I am sure you now think of them, no, I am not a spy, nor do I work with Ireland.
-You tell me to trust you, without giving me any answer, because of course I think you are at least a spy.
-I trust him father,' Lay defended me while stroking Roy's head.
You trust him, of course you trust him, Roy what do you say?
-If we don't count his 'depressive' moment and that he sucks with the sword, he has helped us without asking for anything in return, except Lay from being killed, he is the only person that so far hasn't told me that it bothers him how much I talk, I am also sure that it is thanks to him that I saw Lay's laughter again, with that knife he was good enough for even you to demand at least a little bit Father, if with all that I have nothing left to do but trust him.
Willfest looked at his youngest daughter, she grabbed her father's face.
-I know what you think is best for us, but I don't trust that ugly daddy.
I'm starting to get sick of the little girl.
-I'll accept your words for now Gran, but I'm not at all happy that you're hiding things from me, you have dangerous information and I don't mean what you just told us, before you say more things, keep in mind that they could be listening to us, having said all this I'm left wondering what you suck at with the sword, which you do.... Great undress yourself.
-Wait what are you asking me Willfest, at least buy me a drink first.
-Shut up and I'll take off my clothes, just from the torso up.
Willfest was serious, and I knew he wasn't going to give in to my demands, so I had no choice but to comply.
Willfest stopped carrying his daughter, he approached me who was already nervous, and naked as he had asked.
-He said, 'Get it over with quickly, it's very cold, Willfest.
He began to touch my arms.
Now I understand everything, you have no muscle in your arms, your chest is not bad, but it could be improved, you have a bit of a paunch, it will have to be removed, your obliques... I've seen worse.
Willfestet touched my legs, something surprised him, so he decided to roll up the sleeves of my trousers.
-Your legs are very well worked, you have even more muscle than Roy, so all your work was focused on your lower body, I should have checked you before I made you train with the sword, it's too heavy, isn't it?
-I thought I was going to get used to it soon, but I didn't, Willfest.
-You should have mentioned it idiot, we'll focus on improving your musculature, so from tomorrow we'll start with basic training.
-Excuse me for interrupting, but what's that big spot on your back, does it say ero?
-It's a tattoo, and the H is not silent, it says Hero (Jiro) Roy.
-I've never seen a tattoo so big and with so many colours, tell me who gave you this work of art.
How do I explain to him that in this day and age I don't think I can give him one like mine.
Willfest, intrigued, also inspected my back.
-You also have a bit of work done on your back, that explains the way you move in combat? I guess it's because of your sister, that thing on your back.
-You guess right, I can put my clothes back on now.
Wilfest threw me the clothes to get dressed, strangely I felt outraged, though they did nothing wrong to me.
A man came into the forge, I couldn't see his face because he was carrying a huge sack of something over his shoulders.
-I thought you weren't around, Magnus, but I'm glad to find you.
-Hi Willfest, I hear they bit the dust with your battalion.
The man stood with his back turned as he checked the foundation furnace.
-Rumours travel fast, apparently, unfortunately this time they are right, they killed a lot of my men like they were practice dummies, one thing assaulted us at night, and I have no fucking idea what it was.
Really Willfest is telling this man about our encounter with that woman.
-But I was coming to ask you something, I need studded leather armour for this boy, he has very good flexibility, so steel or plate armour would be a hindrance to him.
The blacksmith went about his business while his back was still turned.
-It seems today calls for a toast, you haven't asked me for armour for someone since the one I made for your daughter Lay, I thought the great Sir Willfest was no longer training new prospects.
-I made an expression for a diamond in the rough, extremely rough, his name is....
It was strange to hear Willfest giving me a compliment.
-Great Venture.
-Venture what a weird house name, is it noble or something?
Again someone says my surname right.
The blacksmith finally looked us in the face, but seeing him made me freeze like stone, it was impossible what my eyes were seeing, there was no possibility that what I had in front of me was real, even so there was that man my....
-Dad?