The torches atop the cliff flickered. Bolin the Blacksmith stared for a long time at the silent darkness below the mountain, dotted only by points of firelight.
The two bandit leaders beside him, Thornhead and Broken-Tooth, exchanged an uneasy look.
Thornhead licked his cracked lips: "Is Mad Dog really dead?"
"The messenger of House Ryger was also captured," Broken-Tooth added, his voice carrying a trace of panic. Everything is finished.
Bolin the Blacksmith touched the longsword at his waist, remaining silent.
The moonlight was obscured by dark clouds. Several torches suddenly lit up under the cliff.
Under the protection of several shield-bearers, Lauchlan walked to the edge where arrows could barely reach.
He dragged the messenger of House Ryger like dragging a sheep by a rope, pulling constantly, making the dawdling messenger speed up his pace.
Lauchlan's voice pierced the silence, shouting loudly: "People on the cliff, listen!!"
"The messenger of House Ryger who made promises to you is here with us!!!"
He kicked the messenger. The messenger let out a painful groan and fell directly to his knees.
"All the promises he made to you cannot be fulfilled! And he will soon be sent to Riverrun! To face trial!!"
There was a commotion atop the cliff. Heads moved, wanting to hear Lauchlan's words clearly.
Seeing more and more people gathering on the wooden wall, Lauchlan constantly recalled the words Lord Solomon taught him. He raised his voice to the highest pitch:
"Lord Solomon has decided!!"
"We will besiege you until you starve to death!! We have plenty of time!! No one will save you!! House Ryger won't even admit this ever happened!!"
"This is your last chance!! Surrender!! Lord Solomon will forgive your crimes!!"
"Otherwise! We will kill you all!!"
Thornhead and Broken-Tooth's faces became extremely ugly. They came here for money and House Ryger's promises, not to die in battle for House Ryger. If not for there being only one path out of this place, they would have run long ago.
"He's right..." Thornhead looked at the Blacksmith and Broken-Tooth beside him. "We must think of a way..."
Broken-Tooth also spoke urgently, looking at the two: "The Black Lion's current army size is about the same as ours. They may not want to attack hard. We can take this opportunity to talk. At least it can let us leave safely."
Broken-Tooth gritted his non-existent, gap-filled teeth: "Or! We break out now!!"
Bolin didn't speak, just stared fixedly at Lauchlan down the mountain, firelight reflected in his eyes from the torches.
Seeing the intense reaction on the cliff, Lauchlan knew the time was right. He shouted: "If you want to talk! Send someone down now!"
"Okay!"
Thornhead was about to agree.
Thwack!
A sharp arrow broke through the air, carrying a sharp whistle. A shield-bearing soldier reacted quickly, raising his shield. The arrowhead nailed deeply into his shield. They were almost at the edge of the arrow range, yet the force was so great it shocked the shield-bearer.
The shield-bearing soldiers immediately raised their shields, protecting Lauchlan and the messenger in the center.
Thornhead and Broken-Tooth looked back in shock, seeing Bolin the Blacksmith slowly lowering the longbow in his hand.
"Are you crazy!!!" Thornhead roared. "Do you want to get us all killed!!!"
"This is a noble's lie." Bolin the Blacksmith's voice was cold as ice, so steady, without any emotional change. "Once we are separated, they will hang us one by one on the trees."
After speaking, he drew his bow and notched an arrow again.
Thwack!
The second arrow shot toward the shields, not to hurt anyone, but to send a signal of absolute rejection.
Lauchlan cursed Bolin the Blacksmith constantly, retreating under the cover of shield-bearers, quickly disappearing into the darkness.
The air atop the cliff seemed to freeze. Thornhead and Broken-Tooth stared daggers at the Blacksmith, anger twisting their faces. This bastard made a decision for them without discussing it.
"Who do you think you are?!!" Broken-Tooth gritted his teeth, looking at the Blacksmith. "Our boss!!?"
"You piece of shit!!!"
Bolin put away his longbow, ignoring the reply. He turned and walked down the wooden ladder without giving them another glance.
Thornhead and Broken-Tooth looked at each other, seeing the signal in each other's eyes. They quietly gathered their trusted aides, whispering something, their eyes glancing warily at Bolin and his nine silent subordinates from time to time.
Bolin felt the cold gazes behind his back. He knew it would be like this. He sighed and whispered a few words to his men. Those people immediately gripped their weapons tightly, gathering together vigilantly.
Daylight finally arrived. The expected fierce attack did not come. Instead, it was endless harassment.
Solomon's army was like a swarm of annoying flies, buzzing around Offshore Cliff day and night without interruption.
Lushen led a team of soldiers, blew the charge horn under the cliff, and started up the mountain, causing chaos atop the cliff.
When the defenders hurriedly mobilized manpower, they found nothing happened, and retreated again.
Half an hour later, the horn sounded again, as if an offensive was about to unfold, but still nothing happened.
When they ignored the enemy and rested, they really started approaching the wooden wall. The bandits on the cliff were run off their feet, nerves tense at all times.
At night, the torture intensified. The soldiers below lurked under the cliff wall.
They threw stones at the wall, making clatter, clatter sounds, and scraped rocks with daggers, creating tooth-aching climbing noises.
Various loud noises rang out from all directions, making it impossible for the defenders to sleep, exhausting them.
As soon as they relaxed slightly, the horn would sound down the mountain, torches would light up again, as if an attack would be launched in the next second. Mental torture was more terrifying than physical wear and tear.
"Fuck his mother!!" Thornhead kicked over the brazier in front of him, sparks flying. He rushed to Bolin, eyes bloodshot. "We can't go on like this!!!"
"A decision must be made!!!"
Broken-Tooth also followed, his face equally haggard. "Bolin, either we rush out and fight them to the death, or we talk to them!"
The two of them completely didn't understand what this blacksmith was thinking. He didn't allow them to negotiate, nor did he allow them to break out.
"Rushing out is suicide." Bolin's voice was hoarse. He automatically ignored the option of negotiation, and he hadn't closed his eyes for a day and a night either. "Only death."
"Then talk!!!" Thornhead roared. "What the fuck are you thinking!!!"
"I don't trust nobles." Bolin lowered his head, wiping his longsword, speaking slowly. "Nobles' words are all lies. Their promises are worthless."
"Fuck your nobles!!!" Thornhead exploded completely, almost pointing at Bolin's face. "We just want a way to live!! If you won't talk! We'll go talk ourselves!!"
"You can try." Bolin looked up, staring at them coldly. "My men won't participate. See if he will let you go."
People from all three sides gathered around, hands on sword hilts. The atmosphere was daggers drawn.
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