Capítulo 99: End of life (3/3)
"This is an order! If you do not comply, we will consider you enemies!" The soldier in charge of the gates shouted back, his voice edged with authority.
"What's going on here?" Avice demanded as she stepped down from her carriage and approached the guards of Fitsburg. Her presence commanded attention. "I am Avice, wife of Baron Frederic, lord of Calistoga. I demand an audience with Count Edwin."
The soldier hesitated, clearly caught off guard, and his uncertainty only deepened when Avice revealed her family insignia. The square piece of shiny metal bore the engraving of a lion breathing fire, the same image emblazoned on the flags of the kingdom.
The quality was impeccable, making it nearly impossible for any ordinary blacksmith to forge a copy.
Moreover, everyone knew the consequences of attempting to counterfeit such a symbol. If the authorities discovered someone trying to falsify an insignia, that person and their entire family would be tortured and executed publicly as a grim warning to others.
Sweat beaded on the guard's forehead as he finally caved in, ordering a soldier to inform the count. "Please, milady, wait just a moment for Count Edwin's reply." Minutes later, the soldier returned and whispered something into the commander's ear.
"Count Edwin accepts Baron Frederic's request. He, and only he, can come with us to the castle," the commander announced.
"Baron Frederic has entrusted me with full responsibility for this meeting, so I will go in his place," Avice insisted, her tone brooking no argument.
"The Count's orders were explicit—Baron Frederic is to meet with him personally. You are not him," the commander replied, his resolve wavering under her piercing gaze.
"He is unwell, which is why he has sent me, his wife, in his stead. Are you really going to defy a Baron's decision? Remember, Count Edwin is waiting," she pressed, her voice cold and commanding.
The man glanced around, desperately searching for someone to help him navigate this situation, but finding no one, he finally nodded and instructed Avice to follow him.
Rafael had overheard the exchange but chose to let Avice handle it. I'm no noble, and I sure don't know how this stuff works, he thought, squinting up at the sun as it blazed down from its zenith, scorching the land and the peasants toiling in the fields for a meager meal at day's end.
Their caravan was now mere meters from the gates, surrounded by a crowd of desperate people pleading for help—food, water, anything. Mothers clutched their babies, their eyes hollow with despair, while children, gaunt and fragile, clung to any hope they could find.
The stares from the onlookers bore into them, full of hunger and resentment.
What the hell is wrong with this world? Rafael thought bitterly, watching as Bella helped Ella down from the carriage.
"Wow, look at this wall," Ella marveled, gazing up at the towering structure.
"If only we had something like this back at Calistoga…"
"Don't worry. We'll win this war and take back our city," Rafael reassured her, trying to sound confident. He joined them, his gaze sweeping over the grim scene. "We're just restocking our supplies. After that, the capital is our destination."
"But why did mother have to go alone to meet this Count? Why are they treating us like enemies?" Ella asked, confusion evident in her voice.
Rafael sighed, his gaze shifting to the crowd. "I think I know why. Look at these people," he said, pointing to the emaciated figures barely able to stand. "Who do you think they are? They're refugees, just like us."
"They barely have the strength to stand, let alone work or carry anything," he continued, pointing out the peasants struggling to remain upright nearby.
"This… Why are they like that? Aren't they eating?" Ella asked, her innocence stark against the harsh reality before her. Rafael and Bella exchanged a glance, both thinking the same thing: You're the spoiled daughter of a Baron; of course, you wouldn't understand.
"Please, please! Give me something! I haven't eaten in two days!" A frail woman in filthy clothes staggered toward them, only to be shoved back by the soldiers.
"Step back!" one of them barked.
"Please, sir! My children are dying! If they don't eat, they'll die! Please help us!" A man cried out, trying to approach the caravan, but he too was pushed back. As more and more people began begging for help, the soldiers tightened their formation around the carriages.
"Stop! We don't have food to give! Step back! I'm ordering you!" the commander shouted, his voice laced with frustration and fear as the masses pressed closer.
"Isn't there something we can do?" Ella asked, her voice trembling, but Rafael's answer was firm. "No, at least not now."
"Soldiers, draw your weapons!" The commander barked, hoping the sight of cold steel would scare the crowd into retreating. Instead, it merely caused the people to halt, their eyes locked on the soldiers, now close enough to touch.
The city guards stationed outside the walls found themselves surrounded as well. Amidst the cacophony of pleading voices, one, almost inaudible, broke through with something different.
"Why? Why do you people have everything while I have nothing?!" The voice came from somewhere within the crowd, tinged with quiet fury.
"Why?!" the voice repeated, rising above the chaos. "I'm tired of living off your scraps!" From within the throng, a man suddenly emerged, his eyes wild with desperation. "Down with your reign of blood!" he screamed, lunging at the nearest soldier and sinking his teeth into the man's face.
"Aaahh! Get him off me!" The soldier's screams echoed as his comrades frantically tried to pry the man off, but the crazed attacker clung on with ferocious strength. Finally, one soldier made a quick decision and drove his sword into the man's back. The attacker gasped, his strength failing as he slumped to the ground, his body thrown back at the feet of the onlookers.
A heavy silence fell over the scene. No one moved. All eyes were on the man bleeding out on the dirt, his face twisted in a final expression of pain and rage.
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