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With the unignorable wake-up call, the camp was lively for half an hour. People were throwing a quick meal together breaking down camp, as well as cleaning up the debris of the broken cart from the night before.

The march back to Forell City began promptly after that. And a few hours later, they were out of the Taltin Mountains and back behind the city wall.

As the group entered the city, someone was there waiting to receive them.

“Father…” Mertin paused to make sure he wasn’t too informal with the report. “We failed to find any sign of the Mottz Patriarch’s wife in the city.”

“I already know…” Reuben briefly spoke up from the side.

Catching on, Mertin bowed to the man. “We’re deeply sorry for your loss, Patriarch Reuben.”

Nodding and offering a small, accepting smile, Reuben raised his hand to let Mertin back up.

“We’ve eradicated both bosses of Blood Moon Order,” Hurman stated, offering a report of his own. “Some assassin’s got away. But they’ll be fleeing to Prodson. After all their drastic failure this time, Prodson won’t dare to try the same thing again.

.....

“But I’m sure they’ll prepare something else for us now that they know perennials from Iron Territory are guarding Forell City. They’ll likely assume the worst rather than send a message to Leader Tranton for clarification.”

Mertin quickly followed with a deduction of his own, “So you think they’ll prepare defenses instead of a preemptive invasion of Forell Territory?”

While Hurman nodded, Tranton stepped in, saying, “We shouldn’t be having this discussion out in public. What if–”

“Leader Tranton, it’s too late for that. The people will hear about this, whether they like it or not,” Mertin stated.

Hurman added, “You know Mertin’s right. And I would rather that correct, controlled rumors get out instead of false ones filled with panic. If we want to contain this information tightly, then why haven’t you killed the Mottz mercenaries, or at least paid them off?”

Tranton didn’t have an answer.

“Besides,” Hurman continued, “we’ll be telling the city all about this ourselves, anyway. And it’s not like we’ve mentioned anything classified. Just basic logic.

“Or… Are you hesitating to make the official announcement?”

Caught by the tongue, Leader Tranton failed to reply.

However, his son Trantor spoke up, “Dad, there’s no reason to hesitate. We’ve already made our decision and signed our contracts. There’s no escaping the announcement. And just because you decided to become a vassal leader doesn’t make you any weaker as a leader. If anything, if you share a tidbit of the reality that the Forell Territory is facing, then the people will back you up more than they ever have.”

Leader Tranton suddenly started chuckling. Looking at his outspoken son, Tranton shook his head. “Even you see it, huh? I wish you were stronger already. Then I could hand the territory to you and feel much better about all this… I won’t hesitate. When do you want to make the announcement, Hurman?”

*********

Two days had passed since Hurman and the task force returned to the city. Both of those days passed by as usual, according to the general view of the public.

But today, people were gathering in the main square by the hundreds.

At the center, a platform had been built specifically for this announcement, adding to the anticipation that the Forell citizens felt. Guards were posted at each corner of the platform and chairs were already waiting for the speakers to arrive.

It was late morning when the crowd had reached the limit within the square. So when a small band of people began clearing a path to approach the platform, some people were momentarily pushed out. But once those people were atop the platform, the path closed up and even more citizens started to pile in, hearing the news that it was finally time.

“Is that who I think it is?”

“There’s no way that’s Old Practor.”

“And who are they?”

“Never seen them before…”

Murmurs and chatter spread across the crowd while the people on the platform took a moment to sit or prepare to speak.

“Citizens of Forell City!”

That voice cut through all chit-chat and drew the entire crowd’s attention to the speaker. After all, all the city folk could recognize their territory leader.

With all eyes on him, Leader Tranton continued projecting his voice, “Unbeknownst to you all, Prodson to the south launched a secret attack on Forell Territory.

“But it’s already been thwarted and stopped, so there’s no need to panic!”

Those rapid-fire statements shook the crowd. The citizens felt like they began their fall into hell only to be lifted high into the clouds the next moment, further enthralling them into the speech. Some people even cheered at the news of thwarting the attack.

“However, I was not the one to stop the attack. Nor was it anyone from Forell Territory,” Tranton stated, stunning the crowd again. “... It was thanks to Iron Territory that this city wasn’t thrown into chaos. Without Iron’s help and support, Forell City would’ve become a free-for-all battleground with noble families either battling each other while also trying to fend off the invasions of our enemies!

“Already, Iron Territory has declared war on Prodson, and Iron has already begun to lay siege against Prodson’s southern cities.

“In response to Iron’s invasion, Prodson sent more than two dozen perennials into Forell Territory to lay waste to our city!” Tranton shouted with vigor and righteous fury.

On cue, the Mottz Patriarch stepped forward, saying, “My wife was taken from me by Blood Moon Order, using her as a hostage to force me to stir up trouble within the city against Leader Tranton. That was the reason behind her sudden funeral yesterday… Because they killed her the moment they took her captive. Prodson had no intention of letting her live or helping the people of Forell in the midst of the chaos and bloodshed they hoped to spread!”

Gasps filled the crowd as Reuben stepped back and Kuldar Libarn stepped up next.

“Prodson’s attacks and secret invasions are also behind yesterday’s funeral for my second-born son, Walder!” Kuldar bellowed, keeping the crowd on a verbal leash. “They conspired with him and bribed him to smuggle two, unregistered, mid-perennial assassins into the city!

“Upon discovering this with help from Iron Territory, Fulkar Libarn, my third son and rightful heir, slew Walder on the spot and assisted in countering the invasion of more than two dozen perennial assassins! Without the help of Iron Territory, my family, along with the Mottz Family, would’ve caused the downfall and massacre of Forell City.”

Every sentence landed on the citizens’ hearts with more and more weight. And that last statement nearly sent half the crowd into a panic.

Smiling softly, Kuldar looked to a man sitting on the side, continuing, “Without the help of an old friend, Forell City would be in the midst of battle this very day… Without the aid and support of Hurman Practor, Patriarch of the Practor Family, a proud patrician clan under the banner of Iron Territory, there’s no telling which of us here today would still be alive and which of us would be dead.”

While some people were speechless due to heavy announcements bearing down on them, murmurs still managed to pass through the crowd.

“That’s really him?”

“Old Practor is that important?”

Kuldar returned to his seat. Leader Tranton kept standing but he didn’t speak again just yet. He took in a deep breath and turned to a young man whom Tranton could no longer call his son.

Rising to his feet, Trenk took center stage and the people of Forell went quiet again. They were anxious to hear more about the nearly dire situation the city was almost thrown into.

“People of Forell! I have an announcement to make, in full seriousness!” Trenk declared.

After a moment of pause and silence, Trenk clenched his fists, shouting, “No longer is my name Trenk Forell! From this day forward, my name is Trenk Practor, son of Hurman Practor!”

Mass confusion spread through the crowd like a bolt of lightning bouncing from one metal rod to another.

“This is true!” Leader Tranton declared, stunning everyone into utter silence. Even the sound of footsteps on stone and rustling clothes amidst the packed crowd vanished.

With a stiff and somewhat pained expression, Traton stated, “It is true that Trenk is no longer my son, but not because I have abandoned him. Trenk is no longer my son because it was the only way to assure the safety of my family. The only way to assure the safety of the Libarn Family. The only way to assure the safety of the Mottz Family… And it was the only way to assure the safety of your families!”

Tranton never shed a single tear. But, during that pause in the speech, the entire crowd got a perfect depiction of what a broken heart felt and looked like. It was on was full display across the territory leader’s clenched jaw, stiff face, and wounded eyes, as well as Tranton’s trembling hand.