Candles swayed in the medium-sized council chamber. In the middle of the hall sits a large oak table, covered with a huge map, showing the land of the Valley of the Hearth down to the smallest detail. Six men sat at the table, talking to each other. At the table sat Tirio, staring at an area on the map that showed a wooded area surrounding the ruins of a tower. In contemplation, Tirio showed no interest in the advisors' unsubstantiated claims. He couldn't let that haunting question tuss his mind—who saved him and brought his horse home?, he distinctly remembered the orc saluting him, and he allowed the creature to breathe a sigh of relief during the battle. Maybe the savage creature still had some sense of honor, Tirio mused. No, this must be wrong. Orcs are sinful and savage. They don't know anything about humility and mercy, he reminded himself. However, his heart still told him that the orc had saved him.

His thoughts were interrupted when the door opened with a whine to enter a tall, lanky young man. His silver armor was dazzling, and his dark green cloak followed him, and Buthras looked like a sweeper paladin in every way. Despite being nearly 30 years younger than Tirio, Basshras kept his oath and as a Silver Hand Paladin, he did as holy as his elder paladins. As usual, Basshras walked unsteadily, just to say hello to the other people in the room. Hastily and somewhat egotistical, Baseras rarely greets people who are not Paladins blessed by the Light.

As he entered, Tirio stood up and saluted the young man.

"Hello, Batheras. I thank you for your treatment. Without you, I might be on my way to joining the Light," Tirio said, touching his still-aching ribs. Even though his wounds had been completely healed, his body still hurt at the touch of it. Bathras shook his head disdainfully and returned the salute to Tirio.

"That's nothing, sir. If it's the other way around, I'll do what you would do to me," Basselas said confidently. "I really wish I was facing that orc. If it were me, its head would now grace the battlements of the castle. Tirio noticed several advisors exchanging glances of surprise with each other. Under normal circumstances, the young paladin's passion was almost arrogant. Tirio smiled at the young man with the patience he had become accustomed to. "Of course," Bathras continued, "that doesn't mean you can't defeat the beast yourself, sir. ”

"Well, at least, I'm sure you've brought the Coalition's panic to this, Bassoras. For now, I still need none of you to talk about it with anyone else. I don't want to muddy the conversation of the civilians until we have a better understanding of what we're dealing with," Tirio said.

Bathras was almost speechless. "Sir, respectfully, are you suggesting that we remain silent, even as the enemy creeps in and passes through our territory unhindered?

"You're taking it for granted that there are a lot of orcs out there, Batheras. I was there and didn't see anything. Nor will I sound the armed alarm before the facts have been confirmed. This is not the time for us to chase after the wind. We have to stay calm and be vigilant. ”

"Catch the wind, a troop of orcs somehow sneaked into our territory without anyone noticing, and one of the members beat you to the mud, and you still have to keep calm? The young man's audacity gasped for a few advisors, but Basshras continued, without any hint of toning. "We should mobilize a search team now!"

Tirio clenched his fists, trying his best to keep his voice even and smooth. The advisors remained quiet during their heated exchange of opinions, but seemed enraged by Basshras' disrespectful shouting.

"You have to pay attention to the tone in which you speak to me, child. I am still the governor of the province and your immediate supervisor as a paladin. I've been in business for so long, and we're going to deal with things the way I feel fit. Stand down, and stay in the castle until I command you to do anything else. Got it?" Tirio roared.

Bathrath angrily sidestepped herself aside. "I hope and pray to the Light that the Lord is not so shaken by his recent defeat that he is afraid to do what he ought to do. ”

"That's enough, Bathras! A member of the council shouted. Filled with rage, Tirio walked up towards the young paladin, looking into his gloomy gaze.

"You can leave my council chamber now," he said to Bassoras.

The young paladin held back his anger and stood firm. He visibly calmed down. "Of course, sir," he said in a taut voice. "I will eagerly await your orders. With that, he gave a neat salute and left the room.

"Yes, I'm sure you will," Tirio said strictly. When the tension was drained from the house, it seemed that everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Tirio wiped his eyes wearily, then sat back.

An advisor said. "Sir, he is impatient and rude, but he is kind-hearted. I promise he didn't mean to-"

"I understand what is going on with him. Also knows what he wants to say. Bathras was always dominated by his various emotions. This makes him better than the average paladin. However, it also creates a disadvantage for him in tricky situations," Tirio said. He felt tired, like an old man. "Once he's calmed down, he'll come back. He always did. ”

"But sir, what if he's right, if there's more orcs out there waiting to attack us, then we'll sit here and do nothing?" The advisor asked.

Tirio's finger swiped across the map and landed on a spot that indicated the broken tower. "If there's no situation, we'll stay put, old man. I'll take care of it myself. They were about to argue further on this point when he got up and walked towards the exit, leaving the advisors staring at each other in confusion. But there is a very small chance that he was right...... May the Light assist us all. ”

Later that evening, Tirio sat alone in the castle's spacious dining room. The food on his plate was cold, and he ate absentmindedly with his fork. He thought about the old orc again. Could it really be that orc who saved his life? If Basselas was right, then everything he had worked on before would have failed at any time.

From behind him, he heard the sound of his little feet shuffling lightly. Looking around, he saw a sleepy-eyed Tylan emerge from the living room next to him.

"Aren't you supposed to be asleep, little adult?" He asked. The boy climbed onto his lap and looked up at him with fear. Tirio smiled at his son, thinking how much he looked like his mother. Brown and blonde hair. Big blue eyes. He must have been a lovable and innocent child, Tyrio thought.

"Will the greens come back again, Daddy?" Tyran asked. Tirio nodded, stroking the child's hair back and forth.

"Yes. But you don't have to worry, son. You are safe in the castle. ”

"Are you going to fight the greens, Daddy?" The boy asked. Tirio's eyebrows furrowed.

"I don't know yet, son. I really don't know. (To be continued.) )