The bleak autumn breeze blew the long hair scattered around the sideburns, dancing gently. The jewel of Heller Borla's palm, Natalie rides a pure white pony and wears a cloak embroidered with autumn flowers, fluttering in the wind. Wearing a slim velvet smock and breeches woven from wool, she looks slim and smart, and is particularly charming.

Natalie, who is the same age as Alice, has the same long brown hair as her father, two long sideburns, tied with beautiful bows, hanging on both sides of her fair face, a full and round forehead, neat bangs, two delicate eyebrows and a straight nose bridge reflected below, and two bright big eyes inlaid just right, bringing smart vitality to the whole handsome little face.

In Cesar, she is not only the pearl of her parents' palms, but also the little pearl loved by the people. When she appeared to the people, the people chanted her name, held up children to laugh at her, asked for her blessings, and sprinkled countless petals around her.

Of course, it's not just because of her beauty, but also because of her kindness and the wonderful story of Cesar's famous pearl blessing.

It was when Natalie was thirteen years old, and a farmer's wife was born prematurely, and the child was born thin and weak, and his wife did not have enough milk. The helpless farmer had no choice but to come to the castle and ask for help from the lord. In their father's absence, Natalie, who received them with their mother, took pity on the child, touched his forehead, said some words of blessing, and the mother kindly lent them a weaning ewe.

Relying on the ewe's milk, the premature baby became white and fat and full of vitality in less than half a month. The grateful farmer, grateful for the kindness of the lord's wife, and even more so enshrined Natalie's blessing as the main reason for the child's recovery.

Then the story spread.

You must know that in this dark age, having a child itself is an extremely risky thing, and the probability of a child dying is also very high. Then, simple lords began to send their newborn children to the castle and ask for Natalie's blessing.

At first, the people were just praying for some psychological comfort. However, the children who have been blessed by Natalie have all grown up well, without exception, without disease, and are smart and cute.

Eventually, it became an unwritten custom in César's collar that whoever had just given birth to a child in the family had to send it to the castle to pray for Natalie's blessing.

From the age of thirteen to fifteen, in the past two years, there were as many as forty children blessed by Natalie. As a result, Natalie's fame grew louder and stronger, and she became more and more loved by the people, and everyone believed that Natalie must be a pearl from the bright heavens to shelter the weaker children.

No one can prove that Natalie's blessing really works, and no one can prove that it is useless.

In short, the children are indeed healthy.

Newborns in the realm thrive, and for the lords, it is also a good thing to be happy about, which means that their population will grow steadily.

Because, Natalie's parents love her even more.

The sun is just right, and the canyon is quiet. Natalie rode on a sturdy pony and looked left and right with big eyes, admiring the scenery in the canyon.

"Daddy, Daddy. Why is this canyon different from last year?"

Alongside Natalie was a burly knight in the prime of life with broad shoulders and a thick waist, dressed in shiny armor, with a square face, deep eye sockets, and a full shaggy beard.

He was Natalie's father, Sir Heller Polla, in his forties, in the prime of life, and he looked majestic on a tall horse.

"Oh, I heard that it was a rainstorm, and the top of the mountain collapsed and the canyon was silted. So it looks narrower, and it's not quite the same as last year. Heller explained, somewhat absent-mindedly, and turned his head to glance at the Knights following behind.

It wasn't his Knights, but the Holy Spirit Knights appointed by Waterdeep, nominally an entourage that actually concealed the true purpose of the trip.

Blackstone rebelled, and when he heard the news, he was shocked, he didn't believe that the old man's daughter, the pious female knight, would rebel against the church and the kingdom. Then, he heard even more unbelievable news - the two sisters, Leah Sander and Alice Sander, led the people and all became infidels.

Blackstone is loyal to the kingdom, the Sander family is loyal to the kingdom, it has a history of 100 years, and the cousin has an upright temperament, strictly abides by the knight's creed, has a strict family style, and is extremely loyal.

Even more astonishing, however, was the fact that my gold-masked Inquisitor spoke to him of the Blackstone Lord's rebellion, and made it an understatement that two Holy Spirit Knights, one Templar, had been defeated and captured.

For a moment, Sir Borla felt like he was dreaming.

He knew too well the strength of the Blackstone Lord, and he knew too well the strength of the Templars.

How is this possible?

It's simply not possible.

But...... He was a judge of the church, and he had to believe it.

After he was shocked, stunned, and incomprehensible, the Inquisitor conveyed the orders of the Church, and Her Royal Highness the Princess, appointing him as an ambassador for negotiations and leading a mission to the Black Rock Territory.

Whether he wants it or not, he can't refuse to carry it out.

The time spent waiting for the departure date and the negotiation goals was nothing short of an ordeal for Borla. He didn't know exactly what was going on, he didn't know what to do, and he couldn't share it to anyone without permission, including his wife and daughter.

Until today, it finally set off. But he still didn't know the goal of the negotiations, but he was ordered by the church to contact him as a relative, and the follow-up task would be somehow informed of him.

Somehow, apparently, is the Church-appointed members of the Holy Spirit Knights, some of whom hold the true purpose of the trip.

"Dad, what are you thinking?"

"Ah...... It's nothing. At the crisp shouts of his daughter, Sir Borla came back to his senses, and his heart had not been steady for a minute since he had set out. Especially before leaving, the church also specially asked him to bring his daughter Natalie, which made him puzzled.

"I don't know if Alice will be surprised to see me. Hahaha...... "The simple Natalie didn't know the purpose of this trip at all, and thought it was just some kind of routine, so Dad specially took her to Blackstone to play."

Looking at her daughter's bright smile, Borla's eyelids jumped and she didn't speak.

If the daughter learns that Alice and Leah have become infidels, there will be no surprise, only fright.

Near noon, the envoys walked out of the valley and officially set foot on the territory of Daotan Town. Approaching the end of winter, almost all territories have entered a depression, and production and living activities have become scarce.

However, the sight in front of him surprised Bora.

In the far reaches of the wasteland as far as the eye can see, a pile of red houses rises from the ground, and the number is considerable. There are also small black dots shuttling through the wasteland, which seem to be leveling the land in full swing.

On the other side, the old town of Daotan is lifeless, and many houses are in a state of collapse.

This made Borla a little incomprehensible.

He heard the news of the capture of Daotan Town by the Blackstone Leader, and subconsciously thought that the Blackstone Leader occupied Daotan Town, as well as the Black Forest Castle, as a forward stronghold.

But what about those strange buildings in front of you?

With a heart full of confusion, more than a dozen knights came out of the Holy Spirit Knights, the first of which was a brown-haired knight, who stopped beside Heller and said in a deep voice: "The order of the church, most of them are camped here, and they are not allowed to continue to approach. Sir Excellency, please take a step to speak. ”

Sir Bora frowned, and the horse followed him a little farther away: "Why?"

"So as not to arouse hostility. The brown-haired knight's face sank like water, and his gaze fell into the distance: "I think you understand that they are heretics now. Any inappropriate behavior may cause unnecessary trouble. Therefore, we need to travel lightly and try to reduce their vigilance. ”

The dignified Holy Spirit Knight was so jealous of the Blackstone Leader?Sir Borla glanced meaningfully at the brown-haired knight and nodded, "Then let's set up camp, let's rest first......"

"There's no need to rest. The brown-haired knight shook his head, "They're staying here and camping, we'll leave now." ”

Sir Borla knew very well that he was the eye of the church, the real presiding officer, so he did not refute: "In that case, then go ahead while it is still early." It should be in the afternoon, and it will be there. ”

"Ser Borra, from now on, I am your personal guard, from your Cesar Collar, an ordinary knight. My name is Thai, Thaiwen Hehir, you can call me Thai. I don't want to reveal my Templar identity in front of anyone. ”

Sir Bora had long guessed that his identity was not simple, but he did not expect that he was a Templar.

"Understood. ”

Expressionlessly, Thaiwen pulled out a letter with golden fire paint from his bosom: "Sir Borra, you should understand the dangers of this trip. Heretics are cunning and cruel and inhumane. Once we show our feet, the consequences are unimaginable. Here, there is a secret letter, the bottom line about the ransom is included, you can read it first, and consider how to deal with it. ”

Taking the letter and opening it, Sir Borla read it carefully, and the content was indeed instructions about the ransom, including identity, what level, what the minimum was, and so on.

Slowly closing the letter, Sir Borla glanced at his daughter who was whispering to the horse's ear in the distance, and sighed softly: "It's just a negotiation?"

"Don't ask about the rest. ”

The Templars were noble and must have been born into great nobility. Even if Bora didn't like the feeling that her fate was out of control, she had to comply.

Natalie...... Daddy is sorry for you.