Chapter: A Delicate Balance
That afternoon, after Mike Bai had finished attending to all the work, he left William and Patrick behind to recover and took Sasha with him to visit his uncle at the Ascalon Keep.
The moment the gatekeeper heard Mike Bai's full name, Mike Bai Adler, he immediately stood at attention, his demeanor shifting to one of utmost respect. He greeted Mike Bai with enthusiasm, leading him to a nearby monastery.
At the entrance, Mike noticed the hospital knights in their black and white crosses, monks bustling in and out, with agonizing screams echoing sporadically from within. Mike recalled some rumors he had heard and hurried inside.
In a large room, Mike finally found his uncle. Seeing that his uncle was intact—no limbs missing—he breathed a sigh of relief. Otto, his left hand wrapped in white bandages, smiled when he saw Mike Bai. The worry in his eyes disappeared as he relaxed.
"Mike, you're here," Otto said with a soft chuckle, patting Mike Bai's shoulder. "Tell me what happened."
Mike Bai began recounting his daring actions in detail: how he used gunpowder to blast through the enemy's defenses, how he led the charge into their center, and how Sasha managed to capture their general. Of course, he skipped over the moments of hesitation and doubt he had felt.
Otto's expression darkened after hearing the tale. "Mike Bai, never do something so reckless again!" he scolded. "With that small force, had reinforcements been even a little late, you would have been dead!"
"If you had died, the Adler family would have no heir! What about the people you govern? What about William and the others?" Otto's voice carried a sharp, fatherly concern.
Mike Bai, feeling a little chided, nodded and promised not to be so foolish next time (though in truth, he knew he might).
As the lecture ended, Otto sighed, his face softening. "But, Mike Bai, you've done something many would never achieve in their lifetime. I, for one, couldn't have done it."
Mike Bai laughed, a little sheepish but pleased to receive such praise from his elder. However, his sudden movement caused him to pull at his injury, and he winced in pain.
Seeing Mike Bai flinch, Otto immediately reached for a nearby bell to summon a physician, but Mike Bai quickly stopped him.
Mike Bai recalled the scene he'd passed earlier near the operating room, where a group of doctors had been forcefully holding down a soldier, one physician using a rusty saw to amputate limbs. The gruesome scene, with blood and flesh flying everywhere, had made Mike Bai's stomach churn.
"If that's the kind of treatment they provide, I'd rather not have them touch me," Mike Bai thought grimly. He quickly reassured Otto, "It's just a minor injury. No need for the doctors."
Once Otto was assured it was only a flesh wound, he relaxed. His gaze turned to Sasha, and he rose to his feet. "I've heard everything from Mike Bai. The Adler family will never forget your loyalty."
He reached into the bed's drawer and pulled out a silver cross pendant. "Take this, child," he said, holding it out. "I know it doesn't align with your faith, but it will save you many problems if you wear it."
Sasha, bowing her head, accepted the gift, her eyes briefly flicking toward Mike Bai. A faint smile crossed her lips, but she quickly hid it.
That evening, at the banquet, the chefs were busy carving roasted lamb and pork, while servants moved swiftly around the hall, refilling glasses and dishes for the noble guests. The victorious nobles ate heartily, showing off their impressive appetites.
Mike Bai, though aware that eating and drinking in this era was a symbol of strength, found it hard to adjust to the nobles' boisterous display. The scene, where some nobles seemed ready to devour entire pigs in one sitting, left him uncomfortable.
But after a long day of battle, his stomach growled in protest. Unable to resist, Mike Bai grabbed a roast chicken and bit into it.
Some nobles boasted loudly about their feats that day—one claimed to have decapitated dozens of enemies, while another spoke of the prisoners they had captured. At the height of their excitement, they waved their carving knives around as if reliving the battle on the spot.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to make a toast," Duke Leonard said, shaking a bell as he rose from his seat.
"The first toast is to our King, for leading us to victory against the Tatarin forces."
The nobles raised their glasses, cheering, "Long live the King!"
"The second toast is for Baron Mike Bai. If it weren't for him drawing the Tatarin's attention, we might still be stuck in this fortress."
Laughter erupted among the nobles, followed by a torrent of compliments aimed at Mike Bai. He found himself caught off guard, still puzzled by Duke Leonard's earlier coldness, yet now leading the cheers for him.
Mike Bai quickly realized the game being played: these nobles were adept at currying favor. They admired his combat prowess and sought to forge alliances at this gathering. Pleasantries cost nothing, and if it could gain them a powerful ally, it was well worth the effort.
Some nobles even went so far as to offer their daughters, hoping to marry into the Adler family by securing Mike Bai's favor. Although his uncle was a knight of the temple and Mike Bai was close to the knights, his youth was seen as an opportunity to persuade him to lean in their direction.
Mike Bai could only smile and raise his glass, but he firmly declined any promises of alliances.
As the evening wore on and Mike Bai struggled to keep up with the endless toasts, the defeated Tatarin general, Tatadin, sat alone in his cell.
His special status had spared him from the chains, and he was free to move about the cell. Yet the constant noise from the banquet reminded him of his fall from grace. Just yesterday, he had been a proud general, confident of his victory over the Ascalon Keep. Today, he was a prisoner, unsure of his fate.
"Clank!" The heavy chains rattled as the cell door was unlocked. The door, long in need of repair, groaned as it swung open. A Templar knight stepped in, holding a torch high.
Tatadin, momentarily blinded by the light, squinted and tried to make out the figure before him.
"Why such a cold reception for our guest?" Knight Evered waved his hand, and attendants quickly brought in soft cushions and food.
Tatadin's stomach growled at the sight of the steaming roasted meats. Though hunger gnawed at him constantly, he remained resolute. "Don't think you can get anything useful out of me," he declared.
Evered, however, smiled, unbothered by the defiance. He tore a chicken leg from the platter and began eating noisily, dripping grease as he chewed.
Tatadin could barely hold back his disgust as his throat tightened, but he managed to bark, "Enough! If you came here to mock me, you've succeeded! Now leave!"
Evered, spitting out a bone, waved his hand dismissively. "Respectful warrior, I only want to assure you we won't resort to poison to take the life of a brave man."
Evered's expression shifted to one of sly flattery as he continued, "The kingdom is on the brink of ruin. Should we lose the war, I would be honored if you, Lord Tatadin, could assist in smoothing things over."
Tatadin blinked in surprise, trying to make sense of the offer. "Is this your personal wish... or...?"
Evered didn't give a direct answer but instead said, "After your ransom is paid, we will release you immediately. This meal, consider it a gesture of goodwill."
Tatadin studied Evered carefully, his eyes flashing with suspicion, but he couldn't detect any obvious deception. After a long pause, he finally relaxed and sat down on the cushions, grabbing some food with his hands and eating.
Evered, meanwhile, watched him closely, his gaze sharp and predatory like a fox eyeing its prey.