The villagers of Ismololari became nervous as they saw the young nobleman who had come out of the snow and started to approach the area. "Stop, or we'll let go of the arrows!" One of them screamed nervously.

"I'd like to speak with your lord," said Eshu, who approached slowly, and to show that he was not hostile, untied his wolf axe from his waist, stuck it in the snow, and walked over with his bare hands, then stopped about ten paces from the fence and raised his hands, "I'm alone." ”

Eshyus's words were quickly relayed to Donovan, who was equally swift in obtaining permission, and although Essho had disarmed himself, Donovan assigned two militiamen to search him and make sure he was not carrying any sharp weapons before escorting him towards the south of the village - this was what Donovan meant, and he did not want to leave his command post, which Eshyu did not dispute. He finally made it to Ismolola, albeit in a way that was incompatible with his lordship. After Eshu entered the village, two villagers stepped out of the wooden fence and tried to pull out the tomahawks from the snow and take them away, but one of them let out a strange "whoop" as soon as he grasped the handle of the axe with his palm, and then jumped away in a hurry.

"Shouting what?"

"It's hot!" The villager shook his hand incessantly, grabbed a puff of snow and kneaded it vigorously, but until the snow melted by the temperature of his palm, he still grinned in pain. The other villager, bewildered by his companion's reaction, also tried to pick up the tomahawk - he didn't get much better, and finally both men stuck their hands in the snow and looked at each other awkwardly. The wolf axe slowly fell in front of them, smashing heavily into the snow. A villager hesitantly stretched out his other hand, and his fingers shrank back in fear halfway: "You say, it's so hot, why hasn't the snow melted?" ”

The overall layout of Ismolola presents a closed multiple ring, with the wooden fence being the largest outer ring and the only fortification of the village; The stone house and the simple sentry posts attached to it form the middle ring, and the corners of the brick walls are badly worn, showing a mottled sense of age. If each of them had a family of three, the village in the most remote part of the north would have unexpectedly thriving population—it certainly wouldn't be full now, but the empty and vacant houses still project a thriving scene. The village was built quite well, and I don't know if it was due to the previous lord of Ismorola, or the previous one, but whoever it was, it had already disappeared into the corner of the years with the change of kingship in the north, and Gregory IV did not even know that such a place of exile existed in his own jurisdiction; In the center of Ismolola is a raised snow-hill surrounded by a fence—the inner ring—the inner ring—on which stands a primitive wooden house—and the size of the wooden fort is not too large, from the walls to the roof, made of stout logs, and the decoration is not rich, but it is absolutely grand enough to match the status of the lord.

Eshyu was brought to Donovan, and the two looked at each other. As soon as Eshu wanted to speak, Donovan raised his hand: "Take it." A few slightly stronger militiamen swarmed up and cut Estheau's hands. Donovan untied the leather whip from his waist and tied Essho's arm firmly. Eshua was indifferent during the whole process, and even took the initiative to tighten his shoulders to match Donovan's movements.

"As the lord of Ismorola, I owe it to you to thank Your Excellency, after all, you stepped up to protect the village when the villagers asked for help." Eshua turned his back to Donovan and spoke unhurriedly, "Therefore, even if Your Excellency's current actions are contrary to the original intention of the talks, out of respect, I will not resist for the time being." ”

"You've become a prisoner, and you're still putting up the lord's shelf?" Donovan pulled the knot hard, "I won't resist for the time being, and you Pande people have a unique sense of humor, did that old man judge you?" Do you need me to remind you of whose hands your little life holds? ”

"Your Excellency doesn't really think that tying my hands will make you able to slaughter me like an animal at will, right?" Estheu turned his head and asked rhetorically with an expressionless face.

Donovan didn't say a word, but just tightened the whip with all his might, the cord of which was deeply entangled in Estheu's wrist. Both of them were very bright in their hearts, before outside the village, Eshu did not give the order to attack, and for the same reason, Donovan really didn't dare to do anything to Essiu, he knew how the elite troops outside the village were deterrent. He had been training the villagers of Ismolola for some time, living together in the camp and marching together on the battlefield, and could read their minds in many subtle movements. Although the villagers obeyed him, they were equally reluctant to engage in bloody clashes with the new and powerful lords. Estheus's tolerance and restraint kept him from completely antagonizing Ismolola – he was a lord, not a robber. And the support of the villagers is Donovan's greatest reliance.

"I've seen the northern part of the village," Essho continued, "and it's remarkable to be able to lead Ismolola out of an invasion of that magnitude, and I'm sure Count Arnold of Oldenburg had another reason for dismissing Your Excellency." But how long can you hold on? It's not just bandits roaming the snowfields. Spring hasn't passed yet, and there will be a tide of ash in populated places, and Ismolola isn't immune to the covetousness of the Misty Mountain tribes just because she's remotely located - they've already been there, right? Eshyu's gaze fell on the militiamen in gray-and-white leather armor, "You may have repelled them this time, but what about next time?" ”

"There are no settlements here, only exiles from the Misty Mountains." Donovan rudely interrupted Estheu, "Don't worry, come and run a few times." ”

"If Your Excellency thinks so, it's probably because you don't know enough about the Misty Mountains." Esthew replied. The Misty Mountains Exiles are notorious in the North. Although the Misty Mountain tribes were often ridiculed as barbarians, there is no shortage of documented records of simple but sacred laws circulating among the tribes, and those who disobeyed them were banished from the tribe and cursed by Vijovis. The exact content of the law is unknown, except that the number of exiles who are expelled each year is quite large. They are a completely marginalized group, and neither the North nor the Misty Mountains welcome them, as desperation becomes more insidious and vicious. When the ash tide recedes each spring, the wandering exiles become a nuisance to the villages of Livingston, ambushing caravans, plundering civilians, fighting other groups of wanderers for a cave to live in, and even eating human flesh when starving—more like mad beasts than vicious robbers, acting on their instincts to forage for food. For most of the people of the North, the anecdote of the Omenwolf is nothing more than a dark and bloody history, but the "exiles" threaten their lives at all times.

"So how many times will they come? How many times can you hold out? Do the people of Ismolola allow such a confrontation to be consumed? How long has it been since the villagers went hunting? Ismolola is my territory, and it is my duty to protect its inhabitants from abuse. The two of us have the same position, and there is no need to oppose each other in the first place. You have done a great service and deserve a reward commensurate with your gratitude, and I hope that you will be able to serve as a militia instructor in Ismolola in the future, but for now, I need your Excellency to clear the way and have my troops stationed in Ismolola so that I can fulfill my duties as a lord. ”

"Huh, that's what you're trying to do with me?" Donovan was unmoved, "But I have a better idea - what about using you as a hostage to blackmail your troops?" This elite force you brought with you will only play a greater role in my hands. ”

“…… What if I don't say yes? ”

"Then I will strip you of your clothes, tie you naked to a stake and plunge into the snow, whip your noble body, and choke your throat with filthy snow and ice. If you don't want to lose face in front of the troops, you should be obedient. ”

"Last chance, Lord Donovan." "I don't want to show off force, but I don't want to spared the means of violence when necessary." ”

"You can free your hands first and then talk to me about the 'means'." Donovan gripped the handle of the whip, "I'll take you for a ride outside the village first." He tugged hard, only to find that Eshu on the other end was not moving.

"Then it will be as you wish." Esshu said, then easily breaking the whip from his wrist.