The street of Durnholde stood frozen between two outcomes: violence or peace. For a brief moment neither side chose to act.
Ronan stood between them.
As someone both sides could not ignore.
"This isn't the right place " he said again his voice low and steady.
Captain Varik watched him carefully.
Not with arrogance.
With interest.
The kind that came from sensing something was off.
"You're a just a lowly blacksmith. What makes you think you have authority here? " Varik said.
"We are at the borders of two kingdoms, we are not under the jurisdiction of Valtheris." Ronan said.
His gaze drifted to the houses. The villagers. They were watching. They were afraid. They were unarmed.
"This town doesn't belong to you " Ronan said finally. It was a statement. It carried weight.
Varik followed his gaze. He noticed the thing; fear, witnesses, noise and trouble. He exhaled lightly.
"You're right " he admitted. That alone made Kael tense. Too easy. Too reasonable.
Varik raised his hand slightly. "Stand down " he said.
The soldiers hesitated. Only for a second. Then they obeyed. Steel lowered. Not sheathed.
The tension didn't disappear. It shifted. It became controlled. Contained.
Varik stepped forward stopping a pace from Ronan. Close the difference between them became clearer.
Varik was trained. Disciplined. Ronan was something else entirely.
"Maybe you're not just a blacksmith " Varik said.
Ronan met his gaze. "Does it even matter?" he asked.
Varik's lips curved faintly. "It might " he said.
A pause.
Then he turned slightly glancing toward Elira. "You will remain here " he said calmly.
Kael immediately stepped forward.
"We didn't agree to anything " he said.
Varik didn't even look at him. "It is now " he said.
The soldiers shifted again. They weren't attacking. They were repositioning. Blocking. Containing.
"We'll withdraw for now " Varik continued. The word lingered. For now.
"Understand this Princess…" he added, eyes returning to Elira "We've already know where you are and you won't escape that easily."
Elira didn't flinch.
"Then why leave?" she asked.
Varik's expression didn't change. "Because capturing you here would cost more than it's worth " he said, glancing briefly at Ronan.
A beat. "And I don't like wasting resources " he said.
Kael's jaw tightened. "You expect us to believe that?" he asked.
"Maybe… " Varik said simply.
"But I expect you to remember it " he said.
Silence stretched.
Then Varik stepped back. "Fall back " he ordered.
This time there was no hesitation. The soldiers withdrew with precision.
They moved step by step formation intact eyes never leaving their targets. Controlled. Deliberate. Threatening. Until finally they were gone.
The street remained silent after. No one moved. No one spoke.
Until Tomas said quietly "I guess they'll be back."
"Yes " Ronan replied. One word. Certain.
Kael turned toward him. "You just let them go " he said.
Ronan didn't answer away. Instead, he looked toward the edge of town.
The soldiers had disappeared there. "They weren't here to fight… " he said. "They were here to confirm " he added.
Elira's eyes sharpened. "Confirm what?" she asked.
Ronan finally looked at her. Not as a stranger. Not as a blacksmith. As someone who understood far more than he should. "You and me " he said.
Silence fell again. He turned away. Walking back toward the forge.
"You have to leave this place… " he added, "Do it tonight."
Kael frowned.
"And what if we're not?" he asked.
Ronan stopped for a second. Then he continued walking. "When the time they approach you again they won't stop. " he said.
The forge door opened. Then it closed. Leaving the group standing in the fading light of Durnholde.
"He knows " Lina said softly reappearing from the shadows.
Tomas nodded. "He always did " he said.
Kael exhaled slowly. "Then we move tonight " he said.
Elira didn't respond. Her gaze remained fixed on the forge.
On the man who denied everything. Yet stood between them and an army without hesitation. Inside the forge Ronan stood in silence. The hammer rested untouched. His eyes closed.
Just, for a moment. Fragments flickered. A battlefield. Voices. A girl's laughter. Warm. Familiar. Gone.
His hand tightened slightly. Then loosened. "Not again " he murmured.
Outside the sun began to set. With it, the illusion of peace.
Because beyond the hills Captain Varik had not retreated.
He had repositioned.
By nightfall the hunt would begin.