Chapter 68: The Long Eared Guardian 8

He saw the elders lined up together facing him. He pulled the reins of his horse and stared at the elders. They are staring at him with hateful eyes. He knew that they are hateful on what he is planning to do. He doesn’t blame them but still, he kept his heart brave.

“Where’s the girl?”

He said.

“She should be here.”

The elder said. He looked displeased.

“Are young to do it here?”

“What do you mean?”

He narrowed his eyes.

“I mean if you plan to kill her in this place and bring her head back to the sun’s crown.”

“The High Priests wanted her back alive if possible. The God of Light is merciful and there are second chances. But that depends on how dangerous she is.”

“Pweh”

He heard someone spat on the ground. It left a bit of distaste but he didn’t let it bother him. The elders continued staring at him with eyes that don’t believe him. They knew the reputation of the sun’s crown and their executioners.

The executioners are not the most logical of people. They prefer dealing with the problem immediately. He isn’t an executioner and merely a fetcher or the killer. The priest said to him to fetch the half blood with blue hair that was wandering with a nomadic tribe. Doing so would relieve him of the ‘dishonor’ he did when he spoke too much. It would allow him to return to the heir of Altria.

Bring the girl and wipe the dishonor. Simple it may sound but if the girl resists then he has the right to defend himself. The priest told him it’s okay to bring the half blood crippled. He doesn’t know why the priest wants to bring the girl but it doesn’t matter.

“Where’s the girl?”

He asks again.

“Like we said she should be here soon.”

“I felt the Mana around. Where is she?”

“Wait, and don’t move a muscle Ser.”

He stepped forward but they put their hands near the grips of their weapons. The rasp of a scabbard sounded and he could feel their intent to kill and the menacing mutters they have. He kept his left hand on the hilt of his sword while his right hand held the reins of his horse. I hope they don’t kill us here partner, he thought to his horse.

There are about five elders in front of him. There are four wielding axes on the left. And other five with swords drew in the far right. There are kids being hidden behind the camp by some nanny. He could rush there and try to kidnap some of the kids if things go badly. Before he was a knight he did everything to survive. From hiding inside barrels to crawling on the dead monster’s rear to survive a massacre brought upon by a horde.

He has done well to survive most occasions and even this situation only fazes him a bit. The hubbub of the other nomads could be heard nearby. He didn’t move and just waited for the girl to arrive. The nomads weren't welcoming him, that was a given.

“I have arrived.”

A person said. He looked at the person and saw the blue-haired long-ears of the girl. She wore a mask. She was mythical to the degree it was akin to seeing a rare animal. This girl strides near to him. The girl saw him and didn’t say anything. Her head lowered, she paid respects to the elder.

“I am glad that you are here...about this situation,”

The elder stepped up. He’s probably the village father, he thought. The man walks to the girl with half blood and started detailing who he was. He listened to the village father tell him how he came chasing after her. How the village’s life is in danger if she doesn’t surrender to him. The girl asks if she can kill him. This made him rather feel fear considering how nonchalant it is.

But he noticed the sadness in the voice of the girl. It was the ‘sadness’ of being betrayed. He could tell for he heard that kind of tone a lot in his lifetime. The girl did nothing but stare at the ground. Her eyes straightly staring at the snow coated soil. How sad, he thought. He’d rather not see ladies cry but still, he has a job to do.

He was already lucky that they are not attacking or being hostile. Things could have ended much worse but nonetheless with the fear of the sun’s crown weighing on them. How could they resist? How could they face the authority that governs the southern continent of old?

He also answers to the sun’s crown. The heir he wanted to help also answers to the sun’s crown. The sun’s crown, the given authority that is blessed by the God of Light could not be offended. The nomads will have a hard time if they make enemies with the sun’s crown.

The sun’s crown, the sigil, glistened on his chest. Every time they have thoughts, they only need to stare at the sun’s crown with dread. It is hard for them. The villagers were biased at the girl, he could tell. No human in the continent of old, especially in the south, western plains and eastern tall lands would hold love for humanity’s greatest enemies.

Humanity is surrounded by enemies. And the only way for them to survive is through being the strongest and the many. Humanity is relatively weak compared to the other races. Only their religious fervor and unbending will that they somehow made it this far without succumbing to the other races.

The sun’s crown makes sure that humanity will always be united. And that’s why the village elders can feel the weight of the sigil of the sun’s crown. The emblem puts fear on their heart. Thus the girl with half blood can only lower her head.

She knows that she can only obediently answer him. He, who has the sun’s grown embroidered on his breast.

...

She was about to kill the man in steel armor. But she saw the sigil of the sun’s crown in his breast. The sun’s crown is a well-known insignia in the continent. She heard tales of the sun’s crown and the justice it serves. She knew that if she kills one wearing the sun’s crown. They inquisitors will surely come after her. So she held back and let the man with the sun’s crown on his chest and his rather tall steed in the camp.

Then she learned about the situation from the village father. He explained that she could choose. Either she kills the sun’s crown bearer and endangers the whole tribe. They will support her if she does. She could see how legit it was the moment they drew their weapons for her. Or she could surrender quietly and let the man in steel armor take her back to the sun’s crown to be judged merely because of her blood.

Lafiel knew the racism of humanity towards the other races. Can you blame them? Can blame them for hating them when their fathers, forefathers, and ancestors have been defending the land and killing them? She could not blame humanity but still, it made her sad.

The tribe would fight for her. It was surprising to hear them say that. She at first thought they hated her but now that danger has come. They stood for her and were willing to defend her. Her heart was touched. She felt kindness and she needs to do what is right. She cannot allow her tribe to be done in by the sun’s crown. No matter how selfish she was or how cruel she was. She couldn’t let her tribe be damned because of her. They are willing to die for her but she isn’t willing to sacrifice them. The logical thing to do was to surrender. The lives of the kids in the tribe outweigh her. They still have so much to live for and she doesn’t have the heart to forbid them from seeing the beautiful world.

Thus she accepted her fate.

She is the long eared guardian of this tribe after all.