Troubled Ambition.

By the time they finally got inside, the head of the family and the lady of the house seemed somewhat bewildered to have the three of them present and didn't know what to put out to make them feel at home, so they ordered that only the best be prepared, while they spent time on the food, it was served to you.

He passed through the double doors, somewhat alarmed to see them, and hoped his son hadn't gotten into trouble. "Sorry I'm late. I came as soon as I heard you were here." He regained his composure once he sat down.

"It's about your son," the saint said bluntly.

“Whatever the f…”

"Your visions increasingly reveal greater evils. Know that you have decided to embark on an evil that may be beyond you, and the worst part is that we cannot send help without risking Lasha in the process. For this, I apologize on behalf of the Holy Faith." She bowed even while seated, looking like someone worthy of her status.

"Please explain this a little more to me. I'm afraid this is all too much for me." He held his forehead, wondering whether to apologize or get angry.

“The young man in question arrived at my castle in a hurry, and somehow, perhaps thanks to Alba’s help, he was able to stand before me with the haste that this kind of problem entails. After a moment of conversation, I authorized him to leave Lasha. He spoke of the nobility of sacrifice and the fervor his family holds dear.” For a moment, he wondered whether to apologize or demand an explanation. “At first, I hesitated; it could be seen as favoritism toward a particular house, which would greatly undermine my authority. But when he told me about his vision, it was urgent, and I hurriedly silenced his request to leave. He left my castle, promising to bring good news and a fiancée.” He omitted much, in order to expedite his part of the explanation and catch the rest.

"Pardon?" The last word was the only one that made him jump, even though the first thing was a priority. "So, in your vision, I say, an omen."

“The young man doesn't yet know what visions are, and it's disconcerting that he doesn't require a ritual to experience them. I myself have difficulty connecting with what's coming.”

“Continuing after verifying that my letter was in order, I asked to take it to the Saint, lest the young man confuse dreams with his visions.”

“After I was able to take the offering and learn more about what would happen, I could see it with relative ease. His son would arrive, a little older, with a consort. From what I saw, they were happy. But the other possibility is one that bodes ill for us.” He swallowed, hoping it would be easier to swallow with a little tea, as he revealed the wound on his shoulder. “In the vision, the warrior carrying the skull of an animal could see me and ordered his warriors to attack me. I trusted him, and it was only the cut of the axe that brought me out of my trance, and the wound with it.” A servant retied the wound, which was beginning to turn yellow.

“As you know, the day many children were made adults, there was a major assault. There were many casualties. Half of the cloak bearers fell, and only one Master of the Cloak survived that day. We are preparing all our troops for the possible battle that may come.” I point to the saint with some concern, noticing the blood on the white cloth. “If he could wound the Saint like that, it will be a battle we won't be able to spare any warriors.” I hope you understand my position. One of the many children of the House of Sol, it is not worth losing a kingdom. I apologize.” I bow my head, partly feeling helpless.

"The Holy Faith must also prepare. I've already ordered the arrival of a second praetor, but it will take time to train one, and if what I saw in my vision comes to pass and they don't arrive in time, I apologize." He bowed again.

"The kingdom is in a difficult situation. The remaining slaves belong to the merchant Murol, and they aren't even combat-grade slaves. I've put out a call for those who decide to join the wall guard to participate. I'm afraid we don't have the strength to support your son." He bowed like the other three. "On behalf of Lasha, I apologize, Vlad of the House of Sol, and I ask that everyone pray for your son to emerge victorious from this difficult situation."

Things had gotten more complicated than they'd imagined, as the woman squeezed the head of the family's shoulder, giving her the answer no one wanted to mention. "I hope Alba gives us a miracle."

Shortly after being able to talk to the rest of the noble houses, everyone entered a more or less similar state, no troops or resources, dealing with the slave trader the same and they spoke with other nearby tribes, kingdoms and empires to see if someone could help them, always with the idea of preventing information from reaching the cursed kingdom, since they were the closest to always meddling in important matters and making everything go in their favor.

Fortunately for everyone, Abaddon did not turn out to be the only hope. In order to improve things, the Argol tribe offered their services as a fighting force. Being so close to Lasha, with a difference of one day's travel, they were the best option. However, the only problem that could exist arose: the vision never indicated that it would be at the final farewell of dawn, and since the same day had not passed, they decided that the young man would be delayed in reaching his destination, which gave them hope that reinforcements would arrive, but at the same time, they knew that they would have to pay even if they did not fight.

There was no offering to find out the young man's fate, much less where he was, since he left no instructions on his departure, only a cargo carriage full of supplies, and not even the driver knew where he went and was surprised that the boy knew how to drive a carriage.

Other tribes with important positions in the Holy Faith responded to the call, bringing supplies for a war that could come at any moment and with the same gratitude, as well as the examination of the saint for her recent problem, being that 4 arrived to verify the same vision, but all saw the fire and small clusters of Bones and nothing that identified a clearer date, but the first part that followed them seemed easy to interpret, a young man arriving with a fiancée and by the difference in height they took that it was at least 3 to 5 more rituals.

Some appealed to the maid who, in all the rush, had been left waiting at the entrance and managed to find out that there was talk of a mine, but the area had no such thing nearby; they had never counted on one even close by, so they thought of something beyond the borders.

After putting everything in order and Lasha resuming her order, the warriors were paid and sent back, of course with sufficient supplies as promised in the contract, but more importantly, preserving much of everything they received from around them.

—0—

The warrior rushed in with even more urgent news. “My lord, we have received a disturbing report.”

“Speak up, I’m getting nowhere with my current plans to raid Lasha again.” He sipped the wine in frustration.

“They have greatly reinforced Lasha, 5 saints are present, they hired two warrior tribes and many other kingdoms around have deployed part of their white guard to reinforce Lasha, the reason is not yet known, but among the speakers, there seems to be an omen of doom that caused this event.”

“There are ways to question young Abaddon about this.” He gripped the bridge of his nose tightly.

"I'm afraid he's the problem. He's been on the lips of the nobles about his noble sacrifice and other things about the Sun worshippers." I pointed out the last term contemptuously.

A woman suddenly entered with a map. "Chief, I have an idea. We could tunnel under the wall from this area." She pointed to a small hill on the map with no watchtowers nearby.

"Officially, any attempt to attack is suspended; they have just reinforced it to the extreme."

"But now that they're not even in order is the best time to attack. We'd have a chance to recover a lot of supplies if that's true." From the way he crossed out the area, he knew his idea was accepted.

“We can't. At least five Saints are in Lasha. They'll see us coming days before we decide to leave. It'll be best to stay cool…” I pondered for a moment, and judging by the way I told him about the troops, it could be the other way around. “GATHER EVERYONE!” The panic he hadn't felt before was coming on strong. “We're retreating.” He began to dismantle the blackboard, now with a clearer mind. “If we have a spy among the freed people, they'll be here soon.”

"With all due respect, the boy isn't capable. He doesn't even know we're here," the warrior pointed out in disbelief.

"I don't care what you think. The risk of losing the entire expedition outweighs any good idea. I've given the order. We return to the cursed kingdom as a priority." I sense both of their displeasure.