Sonny had thought that Scout Captain Lake had found a cave, or, as usual, an abandoned village, or that he had found nothing, but simply blew a trumpet to tell his brothers that there was no enemy ahead and that they could move forward boldly. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

Unexpectedly, when Sonny and Toller and the young knight parted ways and returned to the group, they were told that the Scout brothers had found a manor, and it was inhabited.

He could not imagine that a stone manor could be found so far from Sumer, so he imagined to himself a picture of a wooden building surrounded by a fence among the trees, but the reality was even worse: there was only a pigsty, an empty sheepfold, and a hall of branches and dirt, without even windows. The hall was long, low, with rough wood and grass on the roof, and it looked like it was in disrepair, as if it could collapse at any moment due to a gust of wind. This "manor" was built on a small slope that was hardly worthy of what could not be called a hill, and was surrounded by an earthen embankment. The perennial rain carved out eye-sized holes in the embankment, and the brown water overflowed the slope into a rushing stream that meandered westward. Because of the heavy rains, the streams that were once rich in water have become dark rapids.

To the southeast of the embankment, there is a small open door, and by the door there is a pair of long poles with animal skulls inserted: on one side is a bear's head, and on the other is a lion's head. Sonny joins the group and discovers that there is still a little flesh left on the bear's head. In the courtyard, Uncle Lawrence had already ordered the horses of the squad to line up and was busy setting up tents. In the pig barn, a group of piglets snuggle up next to a fat sow. Beside him, an old man with a slumped back was squatting in the vegetable garden pulling cabbage, and two other young men dressed as servants were preparing to slaughter a fat pig. The cattle screamed and the horses in a line responded with roars, and no matter how much Toller cursed and stopped them, the fierce horses whose manes had been washed by the rain refused to listen, and the hounds behind the courtyard also responded.

It looks like at least half of us are able to get in the house to warm up and dry our clothes. Sonny looked at the house and came to the conclusion that he might be able to fit all fifty people in it, but he suddenly remembered that Toller had said that there were people living in it, probably thirty at most, maybe twenty. So most people must have to stay outside, and it's no wonder that Uncle Lawrence ordered tents to be pitched, but where did they live? In this messy courtyard, there was nothing but ankle-deep puddles, and it was wet and muddy. It seems that if this rain does not stop, another gloomy night will be waiting for us.

Lawrence had already placed his mount in the care of a valet who had just been appointed after crossing the North City Bridge. When Sonny dismounted, the little man was washing the mud from the horse's hooves. "Your Majesty, Lord Lawrence says he is waiting for you in the hall," he declared as he looked at the King of Assyria, "and the master here seems to be a friend of Lord Lake, but anyway, there is a master here, and Lord Sersi will be there later, so please go in first." ”

Sonny smiled: "It's hard work, but there is no majesty here, only brothers." ”

The gate to the "manor" is made of two tiger skins sewn squarely. Sonny opened the door and bent over the lintel. Before him, three squad leaders had already entered the house: Uncle Lawrence, the leader of the team, Lake, the leader of the scouts, and the old Toller, who was in charge of the patrol. They were now standing around the brazier in the middle of the rotten floor, and the water was left behind by their boots, gathering into three small pools. The hall was mixed with the smell of soot, feces and wet dogs. However, the smell of smoke was strong, and the air was still damp.

Sonny remembers how he felt on the day he set out from Assyria: even though he was nervous like a young girl in love, he also longed for the miracle and mystery behind the strange horizon that kept rising ahead of him, and that he could fulfill his mother's last wish. Fortunately, now I finally found one. He looked at the smelly, dirty hall and told himself. The spicy smoke brought tears to his eyes. It's a pity that the boisterous Horn missed such a wonderful thing.

An old man in his seventies leaned against a brazier, and he was the only one sitting in the room. Even Uncle Lawrence could only stand in the middle of the hall, Lake stood behind him, his patched armor and soaked cloak, and Toller standing beside him, dressed in black like a drenched ghost.

In comparison, the old man's cloak of sheepskin vest and animal skin looked much shabby, but on his thin wrist he wore a sterling silver bracelet, which was quite heavy and shining with silver. Although he seems to have entered the end of his life, his hair has turned from black to white, and his days should not be long, but there is no doubt that he is still a very powerful man. His tall nose and drooping lips gave him a ferocious look, and he was missing an ear.

Who the hell is this man?, Sonny wondered.

"Little Lake said you're here, I didn't believe it at first. The old man opened his mouth, "To tell you the truth, I don't miss you at all. Six or seven dogs and two sheep roamed the hall, and some of the ragged servants brought a few beers, lit a fire, and began to cut cabbage and onions into the pot.

"Old Gary, stop calling me Little Lake, I'm almost fifty. The scout captain said. A dog sniffed around his legs. He flew up and kicked it screaming.

"In front of me, you will always be a child. The old man smiled, "Just after you left, blow that familiar horn. Ah, I thought I was back in the days of the Holy War, ha!"

"Holy war?" Lawrence smiled, "it seems like it was a hundred years ago. He sat on the floor and looked up at the old man. "Gary, when it comes to the Holy War, you were very brave back then. No matter what the Marshall family people do, you know everything about it, and as the Scout Captain of the Union Army back then, it's like you're a spy we sent. ”

"Haha!" the old man laughed up, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "No, sooner or later, the spy will be punished. After he finished speaking, he pointed to the missing ear, "Anyway, are you here to retake Karta? Why did my men tell me that you only brought less than fifty men? Even if it's a scout, there shouldn't be only so many people, right?"

"You don't know what's going on on this continent?" Lawrence asked, frowning. At the same time, he turned his head and beckoned Sonny to come and sit down.

"What's going on?" the old man sat up straight, leaning forward, "Could it be that Lord Kenny has brought back with his troops? ”

The corners of Lawrence's eyes twitched. "I'm sorry, old Gary, but your lord is dead. ”