Chapter 428: The Silent Lambs
Old Wood’s shabby tavern had recently closed down.
It was said that all the wine had been sold out. That was nothing unusual— in the town, not only alcohol but even food could no longer be bought. Keeping a tavern open with nothing to serve was, of course, aningless.
But what was strange was that, lately, there were always so people going in and out of the tavern— even though it had long since stopped doing business, not even offering leaf-infused water anymore.
Yet, those who ca out of the place seed drunk, their faces flushed red, so excited they looked as if they could burst into dance at any mont, muttering strange things under their breath.
They were truly mad.
Compared to the tavern’s closing, another matter seed minor.
Several traveling rchants had arrived in town. They carried no goods— also normal, for by the ti any rchant made it here, their wares had long been plundered.
They were forced to lodge in the town.
The rchants’ leader was a short man, friendly by nature. Many townsfolk liked him— though, thinking carefully, perhaps a bit too much.
Although the Winter Wolves’ knights had arrived, life had to go on. The townspeople tightened their belts, hid at ho, and prayed that these soldiers would leave soon.
It seed their prayers were indeed effective. Lately, the cavalry had been going out more and more often.
It all started two days ago, when a few soldiers rode out in groups and never ca back.
The townsfolk rarely ventured outside, but the rchants still did from ti to ti. According to them, the soldiers who left were scouts. They had apparently been killed, their corpses piled by the roadside, frightening many travelers.
The Winter Wolves were naturally enraged. They sent n to investigate, but those quickly returned, looking sowhat flustered.
It was said that the first batch had been gunned down.
Muskets!
Whenever that word ca up, everyone had to sigh in feigned solemnity, showing how serious the matter was.
As for how serious, that was beyond the townsfolk’s knowledge.
What they knew was that hardly anyone here had ever been killed by gunfire. It was said those weapons, when fired, brought down thunder from the heavens, striking enemies dead on the spot.
Exaggerated as it sounded, the thought of those struck down being Winter Wolves made everyone smile.
At last, one day, the townsfolk were surprised to see that the Winter Wolves seed to be leaving.
A large group of soldiers rode out of the town gates, shouting loudly.
Terrified, the townsfolk quickly bolted their doors and windows, shivering as they peeked outside through cracks.
Cavalry… it was said that in the past only noble lords could ride into battle on horseback. Yet these n were hardly different from the bandits they cursed, robbing them of everything they had worked so hard to save.
The cavalry left. Only a handful of soldiers remained in the makeshift barracks built from the marketplace. The townsfolk were uncertain, not knowing what had happened or whether they should start celebrating.
Soon, however, a group of people rushed onto the streets, shouting and gathering together.
Those just stepping outside retreated imdiately, but quickly realized they knew these faces.
“Isn’t that little York?”
“And Lillard, who always went to the tavern for leaf-water!”
“Nain? Why are you there? Have you gone mad?”
A door creaked open. An old woman in an apron stepped out with a rolling pin in hand. “Co back, Nain!”
A boy in the crowd instinctively flinched but then stiffened his neck and turned away. “I won’t!”
“You!!”
The woman ran a few steps in anger, but suddenly stopped. Seeing the people standing beside the boy, she hesitated.
“You are…”
A short man squeezed out from the crowd. The woman recognized him— one of the rchants who had recently arrived.
“Auntie, those Winter Wolf bandits have left here. We’re going to drive them out of town completely!”
“This—” fear flashed in the woman’s eyes, “how could that be possible! They’re soldiers, ard with blades. They’ll kill us!”
The man swept his gaze over the crowd, then climbed onto a low wall by the roadside, waving his arms as he shouted:
“Everyone! I am Leonard the rchant, many of you know ! I went out of town two days ago, didn’t I?”
Whispers rose from the crowd. Grizzly Town wasn’t large— indeed, many had seen him. Recently, only the rchants dared to venture beyond the walls.
“I just received news— the Winter Wolf Guard has fled! Their scouts were all killed! A large force in the Northlands drove them away!”
“You an they won’t co back?”
“Is that true?”
The crowd erupted, faces lit with joy.
“Of course it’s true! Right now, only a handful of Winter Wolves remain in the barracks. Let’s drive them out!!”
At once, voices joined in shouting: “Drive them out! Drive them out!”
From behind doors and shutters, people had been watching. Seeing that most of those outside were familiar faces, they hesitated, then slowly opened their doors.
The Winter Wolves had long driven the whole of Grizzly Town into resentnt. With only a spark from Leonard, fury flared, and they picked up pitchforks and hamrs.
Seeing their anger, the short man thrust out his finger at the barracks in the distance. “Those bandits are there! Let’s drive those scoundrels out of town!!”
He then charged forward. The group from the tavern followed right after.
So still doubted, so feared whether soldiers who could rout the Winter Wolves might also loot the town. But such faint voices were quickly drowned in the roaring shouts of anger.
The crowd was already like a powder keg. Once lit, no one could stop it. Within the mob, every person instinctively abandoned reason and thought.
Leonard and the rchants led the charge. By the ti they stord into the barracks, the soldiers finally realized what was happening.
They had never imagined they could be attacked within their own stronghold, on their own ground!
They were Winter Wolves. Always the ones to pillage in packs, never had anyone dared strike at their gates.
But donning armor took ti, saddling horses took ti, loading pistols with powder and shot took ti. They had none.
Of the twenty or so soldiers left behind, only four or five managed to draw their swords. They were quickly disard by the charging rchants and then swallowed by the mob behind.
The commonfolk— these people had always been as ek as lambs. Whether stripped of their wool or their flesh, they had always stood silently, enduring with numb resignation.
But today, they were silent no more. They turned on their shepherd dogs, reminding the soldiers of sothing they had long ignored—
They were the true masters here.
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