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We were able to get into the protection of a landowner. His field had an area of three hectares. In exchange for a home, he allowed us to work on his land, growing and gathering food. We worked from day one. The place was really big so I often lost sight of Lunim and Eimin, but I knew I wouldn't have to worry; or at least that's what I thought.
There was a river running all the way through the area. During the day, my clothes were always stained, so I would come up to wash them. On the very day we arrived, I found a sword on the shore, and picked it up.
«Goldora. Is that your name?» Asked someone.
I did not understand where the voice came from, It was certainly of a man. I took up the weapon to defend myself.
«Who sent you?» I said.
«You are the one I seek.» He replied.
He showed up, was alone, but I couldn't see his face, he had a helmet. He attacked me, but didn't seem to be serious; probably didn't want to kill me, but I could not hold me back.
«Goldora, what is the reason you fight?» He asked.
«It's none of your business. And what do you know about it?» I replied annoyingly.
«I was present in the battle between Cromelia and Avaloria. Now tell me, why do you fight?» He replied.
«Tell me, instead, why you attacked me if you don't want to kill me.» I added.
«Answer me. What is the reason you fight against Avaloria?»
We stopped.
«Did you see me fighting against Avaloria?» I asked. He pulled off his helmet, showing a smiling face.
«Hausara, are you still alive?» I exclaimed surprised...
When I fought for Avaloria years ago, he was a companion of mine in the battalion who had distinguished himself by his merits, believed to be dead until now.
«Surprised?» He said.
«Where have you been? And why did you attack me?» I replied. Seeing him was the last thing I would expect, that he would attack me even less.
«You must know that I am not Avalorian. I was born in Triosa and, like you, I sided with Chromelia during the battle with Avaloria. I noticed you fighting, and followed you on your way to get here. It was hard for four days...»
I was confused, but I should have dug deeper into the matter.
«What do you want from me?»
«I am part of the army of Triosa, but do not share its ideals. Triosa and Shiitia are allies, and want to remain passive to war. How about dethrone the king? I know you want to put a stop to Avaloria, but you have no one to do it with, except Lunim and your sister. Becoming the monarch of Triosa, you can have an army able to face that of Avaloria and Cromelia» He said. I thought for a moment.
«Why should I trust you? And besides, wouldn't it be easier to dethrone directly the king of Avaloria?» I answered.
He dropped the weapon.
«If you don't trust me, you can kill me now. In addition, the situation in Triosa is not in balance, too many people repudiate the monarch, and there have been many revolts in recent months. Someone like you can bring Triosa back to a stable state, and dethrone the king in the next revolt. It's not over, I can guarantee you a team of at least twenty specialized warriors, including me, to do so, and we will join the rebellious citizens.» He said it seriously, convinced of what he was saying.
«Take the sword back and follow me. I must talk to Eimin and Lunim» I said. Suddenly, I don't know if I would have accepted. But, thinking about it, it was the revolt I needed. We headed to the house that was hosting us. In that moment, I felt myself being watched, as if a sinister presence was spying on me. I looked around several times, and Hausara seemed to have the same feeling. We held our weapons, ready for a possible attack. Suddenly, the straw we were on started to burn. I turned one last time, Meta was back.
«Goldora, it's been a while since we've seen each other.» He said to me in a superb and bored tone.
«Are you the one who generates fire? What are you doing here? Didn't you say that you were not able to stand up to me, Lunim and my sister? I warn you that my companion, here, is at least twice as strong as me.» I said to him, a little bit to scare him but, anyway, I wasn't lying.
«Who is this, Goldora, do you know him?» Hausara asked me. Before I could even speak, Meta opened his mouth:
«Let me introduce myself. My name is Meta, and I can practice the so-called "sorcery". If now the straw is burning, it's only my work. You are too dangerous for my king. As long as I cannot fight you, I will only pursue you.»
After saying it, his body was burned by a flame and disappeared. We ran home, where Lunim and Eimin were. The whole ground was on fire.
«Brother, what happened? And who is he?» Asked my sister.
«Eimin, go with Lunim and get on the horse. Follow me, Hausara will guide us. Do not fear, we can trust him.»
Neither of them hesitated to carry out the orders, taking the few things we had left, we fled in a hurry before the fire went full.
«Hausara, where are we going?»
«For now we can stay at my house. But let's make sure that the sorcerer, or whatever it is, is not following us.» He finished.
We accelerated our pace, led by the Triosans soldier, we arrived at his house...
It was certainly a enviable home.
♦️
It was a large villa with two floors. In the lower one, there was a bathroom and a kitchen. From the way the main hall was decorated, it seemed that his wife, or some of the maids, often worked on textiles to make clothes. They were all very well-groomed, and everything was much more tidy than my forge. The upper floor opened space to a living room as large as a middle-class house. Two sofas, an armchair, five chairs, three tables and a few bedside tables. The guests often came, it seemed a real center of intellectual dissemination; not by chance, as soon as we entered, a noble gentleman offered his presence.
He remembered a teenager for how perfect his skin was. He was well-groomed, healthy, clean, calm, had a good smell and aura. He wore long brown boots, a wide white shirt, trousers up to the knees, followed by long white stockings, almost completely covered by boots. Leaving the sofa on which he was reading a book, he came closer. He was tall, had good posture, really looked like a perfect being.
«I pay you my respects. Bryce Burk. May you call me Lord Bryce.» He said to us strangers.
«Forgive me for the crude language. My name is Lunim, he is Goldora, and she is his sister, Eimin.» The strategist replied.
Lord Bryce approached my sister, examining her with a critical eye. He seemed to be caught by something she owned, but I could not understand what it was.
«Eimin... What a divine name. Exalted for such a docile creature. Yet, a candied voice in my mind suggests a strong and rebellious soul.» He said to her.
Lunim laughed, I felt myself pervaded by a murderous instinct; but he did not seem to have bad intentions. To avoid problems, I pretended to not notice.
She laughed a bit, «Thank you.» Eimin said a little embarrassed, «What were you reading?» She asked.
Before I could reprimand her for the inconvenient question, Lord Bryce replied without hesitation.
«A volume of "Thoughts and Virtues of the time". A philosophical reflection on speculation of the human soul.»
«It sounds interesting. If I only knew what that meant...» My sister muttered in a low voice.
Lord Bryce turned to the Triosan.
«As you asked, I will inform you of the outcome of the battle on the border between Cromelia and Elandria. According to the rumor, the Elandriacs have not resisted, surrendering to the rule of Avaloria.
«May you forgive my sudden decision, but I fear I must take the trouble to return home. Mr. Hausara, until next time.»
He bowed down to us, took Eimin's hand and kissed her. Then he went down the stairs. I looked at Lunim, both of us had a terrified look.
«And so, Elandria did not resist. Does that mean they will enter into some sort of alliance?» Lunim asked.
«From when there were 31,000 men, now they will reach at least 50,000.» I added.
«The war seems to have taken a very bad turn. In the position we are now, we are powerless.» replied Lunim.
«Goldora, perhaps it's time to tell them about our plan.» Said Hausara.
♦️
We discussed together to come up with a winning plan. At that time, Avaloria had an army of at least 50,000 warriors and all the territories to the south and west. Triosa owned one for 50,000, while Shiitia owned one for 80,000. These two were allied, but it seemed that the internal conditions of Triosa were not favourable to this agreement. The monarch was not able to manage a territory and a population so vast and rebellious: inflation, famines... The territory was dying. The people were devastated. According to the sources of Hausara, at a coming revolt, which would have taken place in three days, there would be at least 100,000 citizens, and the final act would turn out to be the dethrone of the king, at that moment, I would kill him, proclaiming myself king of Triosa. I would have re-established the alliance with Shiitia, allowing armies to attack Avaloria. So I would have been free to kill that bastard Avalorian king and become a monarch of that nation as well.