As you fall asleep, you hope that you don’t have some mystical nightmare in your sleep...

Luckily for you, you managed to sleep peacefully without any disturbing dreams. During the first half of the next day, you were busy with your usual routine activities. The jailers brought you food and drink and you had breakfast. Then the jailers took you to a small room, inside which you were able to wash yourself a little. In addition, you were able to take a short walk around the castle courtyard, accompanied by an armed escort. One of your guards said that Ser Vincent ordered that you be allowed such walks so that you could stretch your muscles and restore normal blood circulation in your body.

In the afternoon you were questioned again by Ser Vincent.

This time we were talking about the events that took place in the village of Garon's Ford. Or, more accurately, it was about a bloody battle that took place in this small forest village. You described in detail every detail of the events that took place in which you were directly involved. Your interlocutor, as usual, asked many clarifying questions.

You described a surprise attack by traitors on the militia, during which elite armored warriors cut down a dozen militia at once.

Ser Vincent commented: “It is a good thing that the militia of this village were assembled and armed at this moment. Probably, the proximity to the eastern border **** the local residents to show increased vigilance and always keep their weapons at the ready... And one more thing: apparently the headman of this village is not such a useless old idiot as he might seem... The headman gave orders to gather the militia as quickly as possible... It’s not difficult for me to imagine what happened if the militias would just sit at home and be unarmed..."

You nervously swallow the lump in your throat. You understand that in the absence of armed militia on the streets of this village, you and Duke Caelan Lamitrin would have long been corpses that would fertilize the earth and be a mouth-watering delicacy for maggot worms...

You continue your story. It's about how you managed to inspire the militia of the village of Garon's Ford to resist. You describe your actions.

Your interlocutor grins and says: “You are a smart person, Ulkin... Publicly accusing these armed armored warriors of heresy, demon worship, cannibalism, human sacrifice... A smart move: to play on the kindred feelings and prejudices of commoners... Lies can be an effective tool if it is used in in moderate doses and at the appropriate time..."

You say in annoyance, “Yes, I had to use a lie! Otherwise I wouldn’t be able to survive!”

Vincent replies: “I don’t blame you one bit for that. I'm not a prude. I have always been a supporter of efficiency and proper prioritization.”

You feel a slight twinge of conscience because many of the militia could have survived if you had not used manipulative techniques to involve them in the battle as much as possible. Probably, all the remaining militia would simply run away and hide (for example: in the forest). Obviously, the armored warriors would not have pursued them... Well, you are aware of the indisputable fact... In fact, you sacrificed the lives of a dozen militiamen to increase the chances of your own survival...

However, you are **** to continue your story.

You describe the moments of the battle in detail. Your blows... Attacks of opponents... Your wounds...

Your interlocutor looks at you somewhat surprised.

He asks: “Where did you learn to handle weapons, Ulkin?”

You answer: “My mother worked in the city guard of the city of Ranelborg... She and her guard friends taught me... And at a young age I often fought on the streets of the city... And in these fights I did not always limit myself to using my fists...”

You continue to describe the events of the battle in the village of Garon's Ford.

Finally, you talk about the moment when you were almost stabbed to ****. About that moment when you were lying on the wooden floor of the village chief's house. About what you saw in the last moments before you fell into unconsciousness. You chose not to talk about the delirium that you imagined while your **** body was lying on the floor.

When you finish your story, you feel some soreness in your throat. You are tired of a long, hours-long interrogation.

Your interlocutor says: “Well, thanks to your stories, the circumstances of what happened become clearer. Thank you, Ulkin."

You gather your thoughts and ask: “Will this information help you begin mass arrests of the conspirators?”

Vincent replies: “The events that took place in the village of Garon's Ford will not receive wide publicity...”

You say in surprise: “But how can this be? It is obvious that the organizers of the attempt on the Duke’s life remain at large!”

Vincent continues to say: “The main public attention will be focused on the attacks of the Orc tribes, which were able to overcome the defenses of the eastern border in several places. These orc attacks will be used to create conditions for strengthening the ducal power and to suppress the secret influence of hostile political factions ... "

You ask, “What exactly do you mean?”

Your interlocutor is sorting through the scrolls that lie on the table.

Then he says: “I mean war... A large-scale military campaign against the orc tribes that live in the Delknar forest near our eastern border. It doesn’t matter which of these tribes participated in the attack on the duke’s mansion... Our troops will strike all the tribes that adjoin the eastern border of the duchy... The troops will occupy new territories, destroy orc settlements, capture slaves to work in the mines, build fortified forts that will become a new line of defense for the eastern border. What will be the outcome of this war? A triumphant victory and expansion of the territory of the duchy to the east... This will strengthen the political position of our duke and that influential group of persons who support him... In addition, during military operations, certain emergency measures that would cause outrage in times of peace will be completely justified and acceptable... Obviously, in wartime many unexpected events can happen..."

You realize with fear that your interlocutor would hardly tell a half-orc commoner such information about upcoming events... Does he really plan that you will not leave Ravenkeep alive?

You say with fear: “What are you planning to do to me?”

Vincent smiles and replies: “You have no reason to be alarmed, Ulkin... It is obvious that I would not speak so openly with you on sensitive political topics if I did not have the intention of using your abilities for the benefit of the duchy...”

You mentally decipher this phrase: “You will work for me and for a group of influential persons who are manipulating the Duke of Caelan...”

Vincent continues to say: “Listening to your detailed explanations of the tragic events that occurred, I was convinced of your reasonableness and intelligence. Therefore, I am confident of your favorable reaction to my proposal...”

You think: “Probably these words mean that if I refuse this offer, then my corpse will not even be found...”

You ask: “What is the essence of your proposal?”

Vincent replies: “You and a group of warriors (I think a hundred warriors will be enough) will go to the eastern border. Your group will follow the advancing troops. The troops will continue to advance, and your group will remain in the occupied forest area. Your group will build a border fort using the forces of orc prisoners of war and the forces of mobilized peasants from the convoy. You will be the commandant of this border fort. Your tasks: organizing the clearing of the area, logging, keeping prisoners of war, supplying troops with supplies... You will report directly to me... As you can see, Ulkin, it is not at all necessary to have a noble title in order to take the post of leader. The main thing is to have the appropriate abilities and be in the right place at the right time..."

You froze. What was said by Ser Vincent was extremely unexpected for you... What is remarkable: he does not even ask for your consent...

Vincent makes some notes on parchment scrolls that lie on his desk.

Then he says in a decisive tone: “Our conversation for today is over. Tomorrow you will travel to the city of Ranelborg. A group of warriors who will be under your command will set out from the city of Ranelborg in an easterly direction in a week ... "

Having said these words, Vincent calls two prison guards who led you to the interrogation room. These two guards will escort you to your cell.

The cell is locked again, and you lie down on your wooden bed.

Your mind is excited by what you have learned about upcoming events...

You think: “War... Large-scale hostilities along the entire eastern border of the Forest Reach duchy... And I will become the commandant of a border fort in the captured territory of the orc tribes... I don’t even know what to say here?! On the one hand, if I manage to do everything right, then I will have a good career! On the other hand, if I’m unlucky, my bloody corpse will lie somewhere in the Delknar forest... Or in a castle dungeon cell..."

You are lying on the bed and looking at the stone ceiling. Your wounds hardly hurt. Ten minutes later you fall asleep...