You are trying to find at least something useful for defense against enemies.

Your eyes quickly search the room on the second floor.

There must be at least something here...

At least some things that will help you defend against enemies.

Under the bed there are only old dirty shoes.

In the corner of the room (on the chairs) you see a pair of old torn pants and a worn-out woolen coat.

Chests.

There are two small wooden chests near one of the walls.

You quickly run towards them and you try to open them.

Unsuccessfully!

Both chests are locked!

You turn to your two frightened companions. You grab the trembling headman of village by the collar of his camisole.

You shout in a threatening tone to this weakling who is close to panic: "Is there anything useful in the chests? Answer quickly, idiot!"

He mumbles: “In the chests... There are clothes, some money, paper and parchment, a bottle of ink... Ah! I remembered! In the left chest, in addition to clothes, there is a small crossbow and a quiver with iron bolts for a crossbow!”

You can barely contain your urge to punch Buford in the face.

You order: “Key! Quickly!"

Buford takes a set of keys from his pocket with trembling hands. He shows you exactly what key you need to open this chest (this is a medium-sized copper key with the top in the form of three small rectangles).

You quickly open the left wooden chest with the key.

You throw the useless rags out of the chest and you take out a small crossbow and a quiver of crossbow bolts.

You place the crossbow and its ammunition in the hands of Duke Caelan, who looks at you with an expression of horror in his eyes.

You say: “I hope you know how to use this weapon. Look out the window and shoot at your enemies!”

Caelan tries to object: “I... I... am afraid... What if they do something?... Something dangerous...”

You respond angrily: “Don’t talk bullshit! I saw that they only have melee weapons! These are elite armored warriors with shields and steel weapons like spears or swords! They don't look like archers or crossbowmen at all! Do as I say, coward! We need to take every opportunity to slow them down!”

The room has only one small window, which is closed with oak shutters.

You make Caelan come to the window.

Then you carefully open the window shutters.

Caelan looks warily outside.

You ask, “What do you see? Are they close to home yet?

He replies: “There are a lot of corpses lying on the ground... A lot of blood... They killed all the peasant militias! They're heading towards the house! A couple of dozen armored warriors with bloody weapons! They will kill us! What do we do?!"

You shout: "Don’t complain like a weak woman! Aim and shoot!"

Caelan loads his crossbow. He then raises the crossbow, looking out the window a little. He tries to take aim.

Shot!

You carefully look out the window. You see how one of the armored warriors, who did not have a shield (probably, for some reason he dropped his shield during the battle with the remnants of the local peasant militia), falls to the ground.

A crossbow bolt was embedded in his right leg (just above the shin), which was able to pierce his armor.

This is a non-fatal wound.

But thanks to this shot, one of your enemies has become less mobile. Another warrior stopped next to the wounded man to help him. You are pleased with the result: a couple of your enemies have been slowed down and distracted from going into the house to kill you.

You tell Caelan: “Load your crossbow and keep shooting while you can!”

Then you turn towards the headman of village.

What you see would be funny if the situation did not threaten you with imminent ****.

Buford hid under the bed.

He trembles, quietly sobs and cries in fear.

You would like to figure out how you can use this coward to improve your chances of survival.