Chapter 23

The bells continued to ring, and they made all the people who were busy with their lives come out to see who was arriving. When the bell rang for the Goldhand, everyone had smiles and looks of expectation on their faces.

Not this time.

As soon as they saw the banners carrying the insignia of the royal family, the happy smiles on their faces turned, and they all quickly made themselves scarce.

The riders came in a straight line beneath the royal military banner, their armor dark from travel and their horses breathing white into the cool air. There were not many of them. Perhaps less than twenty—but the people of Widow's Wall didn't care.

And they did not care to welcome them.

The workers' hammers lowered, and they all started gathering near the gates as soon as they saw the Blackwood family approaching. The smiths who were busy making nails for the city also left their stations, bringing along their tools.

All the workers stood behind them, and even though they probably did not mean to, they looked intimidating.

Robert glanced at his wife, holding her hand.

"What do you think they want?" he asked.

Enel quickly looked at his father at the question, then turned his focus just as quickly back to the gates.

Lamb, who was on top of the walls, arrived and quickly stepped slightly in front of Enel, her hand already on the hilt of her sword.

And soon, the cavalry stopped in front of them. Robert, Mira, and Enel quickly bowed their heads to greet the one leading them as he dismounted.

Lord Commander Duncan.

He stepped down from his horse, handed the reins to one of his men, and removed his helmet before approaching the Blackwood family on foot. His cloak was stained by the road, and his armor had no signs of being washed yet.

"Lord Commander Duncan...?" Robert whispered, then lowered his head even further as Duncan stood in front of them. "Widow's Wall welcomes the Sword of the First Hour. But... to what do we owe the pleasure, My Lord?"

Duncan also bowed, then his eyes moved across the square. He saw the newly repaired roofs, but mostly those that were still being repaired. His eyes then found the banner of the Goldhand company, which caused him to nod.

Then, he looked at Enel, then back at Robert.

"The war is over, Lord Blackwood."

Robert's eyes widened. "That is... pleasant news. But forgive us, Lord Commander—this is the first time we are hearing of it. Perhaps the Crown had forgotten to send envoys."

"No." Duncan closed his eyes. "I rode for Widow's Wall as soon as the war was over."

"But... you could have just sent for a messenger, My Lord."

"I am afraid I am not here for news of war, My Lord." Duncan opened his eyes. "I rode here for a matter of Law."

"A matter of... law?" Mira's eyes moved to Enel, and Robert's did too.

Enel faced his parents, bowing his head to them. "Father. Mother. This concerns me."

"Then it concerns us," Robert said.

Duncan's gaze did not leave Enel, but there was no satisfaction in it. "This is not a matter best spoken in the street."

"Then we will speak in the manor," Robert said.

Lamb stepped in front of Enel before anyone could move. "Why?"

"Lamb," Mira said.

"No." Lamb's eyes stayed on Duncan. "He comes here with soldiers and law after Enel brought people home. I already know why, but I still want to know. Why?"

Duncan looked at her properly then.

"You are Lamb, Ansel's sister."

Lamb's grip tightened on her sword. "You know me?"

"Then you must know your soldiers took him without any warning." Lamb stepped forward. "Enel only did what was right."

Duncan didn't answer. He only looked at Lamb, then turned his eyes toward the people slowly gathering around them—and from the way they were looking at him and his men, the way their fists curled... the soldiers truly did this city a disservice.

"The soldiers who did that would get what is coming for them," Duncan said. "I apologize, sincerely, on behalf of His Majesty and the Crown."

Duncan faced the people of Widow's Wall, bowing his head to them. The crowd's shoulders lowered at this, and they looked at each other in confusion.

But afterward, as Duncan lifted his head up, his eyes became stern.

"But that is a different matter."

Lamb's lip curled. "Dog."

Mira's voice dropped. "Lamb!"

Duncan looked down at Lamb, and a smile crawled on his face.

"I have been called worse," he said.

Lamb blinked at that, almost offended that he had not become offended.

Robert let out a slow breath through his nose. "Inside."

They moved into the manor.

Duncan entered with only two soldiers behind him, but he ordered them to remain by the door. Robert led them into the hall where the old table had been cleaned for the first time in years. The new curtain in the front window caught the light strangely, making the room look almost warm.

Almost.

Tiny slipped in behind Enel and tried to stand near the wall. Lamb did not bother making herself look scarce. She stood beside Enel, close enough that her shoulder almost touched his arm... while her hand remained on the hilt of her sword.

Robert gestured to Duncan to sit at the head of the table, but he opted to sit on the side instead. Robert noticed this and bowed his head as he took the head, with Mira sitting beside him.

As for Enel, Lamb, and Tiny, they stood on the other side of the room, with as much distance from Duncan as possible.

"Please speak, Lord Commander," Robert said.

Duncan removed his gloves slowly, and one could see all the dirt and blood that had settled too deeply.

"Forgive me for coming here uncleaned, My Lord."

"All I see is a warrior who fought for our kingdom, Lord Commander. We are all working men and women here." Robert placed his hand on the table, showing how calloused they were. "Please, speak."

"Very well. Your son entered the Northern Whiteplains without writ, escort, or permission from his house," Duncan said. "He broke a raid on the West Camp, rescued captives, and returned prisoners for judgment. For those things, the Crown owes him gratitude. He helped end the war early and spared lives that would have been spent before winter."

Mira looked at Enel, slightly proud. Robert, however, closed his eyes and sighed at this.

"But," Duncan continued. "He also removed lawful conscripts from an active field of war."

Lamb scoffed at that, but couldn't say anything else as Mira was already throwing glares at her. Still, Duncan knew what she meant.

"Your brother left the battlefield—that was desertion," Duncan said. "But the young lord saw it fit to receive the burden of his punishment."

"What..." Mira's eyes turned wide, but Robert's remained closed.

"He, in front of soldiers and servants of the realm..." Duncan also closed his eyes. "...knowingly declared committing treason and have become a criminal under the law of the kingdom."

"He's a hero!"

"He is." Duncan's voice did not rise. "And he still broke the law."

Lamb took one step forward. "Then your law is rotten."

"Lamb," Robert said.

Lamb glanced at Robert and bowed her head in silence.

"Perhaps it is," Duncan continued.

"But if every lord takes his own people from the field because his oath to his people is greater than the realm's need, then the army would suffer."

"He only took home two people!" Lamb reasoned.

"All he needed was one. It always starts with one," and Duncan answered. "And then there will be two, and three. And the next thing you know, everyone is pulling out their people. If the rest of the kingdom found out they could just take away their people from war without any consequences—do you know what would happen?"

"That..."

"The army would suffer," he repeated. "If the army suffers, the villages behind it burn. If the villages burn, the same people you wish to protect are dragged across the ground and locked into huts like livestock. Have you asked your young lord what he saw there?"

"Wh—"

"Not the glory of war. What they did to our people. Has he told you?"

Everyone turned their heads to Enel, but he just stood there with his head down. Lamb wanted to say something, but then noticed his hand trembling.

"Do you know what they do to girls and even boys like—" Duncan stopped, then took in a deep breath before looking back at Robert. "I warned your son, Robert. I gave him a path numerous times. I asked him not to speak treason before witnesses. He spoke it anyway."

Robert finally opened his eyes.

"You are aware that my son is not of age yet?"

"I am—that is why I am here, personally."

"And I thank you for that, truly." Another sigh escaped Robert, but a smile followed suit. "What... did he say to you?"

"He said his oath to your people and to the Sovereign outweighed His Majesty's command."

"Ha!" Robert exclaimed, lightly tapping the table. Enel stepped forward.

"Father—"

"Silence!" And for the first time ever, Robert raised his voice directly at his son.

Enel stood up straight and quickly stepped back. Even Lamb, who was standing her ground, quivered away when she heard that. Tiny, well... Tiny was now regretting even following them inside.

Mira looked away, gripping the chair tight.

Robert closed his eyes once more, letting out a deep breath before looking Duncan straight in the eyes.

"Forgive me for my outburst, My Lord."

"There is nothing to forgive, My Lord."

Robert nodded, then slowly turned to Enel.

"My son..." he said. "I want you to know that I am very proud of you, and what you have done for Widow's Wall—words fail to capture the joy I feel, knowing you would one day lead our people to heights it had never seen before."

"Father..." Enel smiled.

"But not yet. They are not your people yet." Robert stood up, and Duncan immediately followed.

"As the Lord of Widow's Wall and Master of House Blackwood." Robert straightened his back. "I will carry the punishment of my people."

"Father...?"

"Lord Commander Duncan." Robert moved away from the table. "I, Robert of House Blackwood, ordered my son, who is not yet of age, to go into the battlefield and retrieve my people."

"That is a lie!" Enel raised his voice. "Lord Commander, I—"

"Young lord," Duncan interrupted Enel. "I want you to learn and look at your father now. This is what true nobility looks like."

"You—"

"Enel!" Mira raised her voice, shaking her head at her son.

Enel's hands curled into fists, his lips twitching. Duncan stared at him for a moment, then turned his focus back to Robert.

"Robert of House Blackwood," he muttered, although hesitantly. "You have committed crimes under His Majesty. You have been found guilty of sending your underage son into war, not as a page or a squire, but with the purpose of taking soldiers away from the Crown."

Robert kneeled.

"You are hereby sentenced to death. With the execution following... on the morrow."

“No!” Enel roared. The table between them vanished to the side as he threw it, crashing into the wall hard enough to shatter it into pieces.

"¡Enel, no!" Mira screamed his name...

...but Enel was already across the room, lunging for Duncan.

But Dunca... Duncan did not move.