Medieval: Kingdom Come: Deliverance

The battle ended, and Peter and his team successfully completed their mission.

They acquired eight new laborers, one set of plate armor, seven sets of heavy armor, eight swords and spears, three shields, two sets of bows and arrows, eight storage chests, and 60 Groshens.

"Doug, as the chief carpenter of my camp, you will work with Master Martin to gather the prisoners. From now on, these people will all belong to the carpentry team."

Peter called out Doug, the carpenter who had been a burden since the start of the war.

"The carpentry team? Yes, sir, I'll keep a close eye on them and make sure they provide more timber for the camp so we can build more houses."

Doug felt very proud that he was becoming more and more valued in the camp.

Seeing Doug strut arrogantly up to John's group of eight and lecture them, Peter nodded in satisfaction. This was called "split the conflict." The reason he insisted on bringing Doug along, this burden, was precisely for this purpose.

For the time being, the camp's main tasks remain logging and building. Land clearing and farming are contingent on completing the felling of trees, digging up the roots, and leveling the land. Therefore, the workload for Charlie's Seven and John's Eight will be enormous. Naturally, resentment and conflict will arise.

As the leader, Peter couldn't do such hateful things himself; he had to delegate them to his subordinates. Old Brother Martin, responsible for ideological work, wasn't fit to take the blame, so it was up to the carpenter, Doug.

Doug's participation in the raid gave him a psychological advantage over the prisoners, making him more authoritative in his future dealings. Furthermore, as the chief carpenter, he had a more accurate understanding of the required timber quantities, which made things easier for him with his existing lumberjacks. He gained power, but he also had to bear the burden of the lumberjacks' complaints and anger after their hard work.

After taking stock, we didn't linger there and hurried back to camp overnight, just in case something went wrong.

As dawn broke, the group finally crossed Devil's Canyon and arrived at their new camp. Bojina and Pavlena, who had worried all night, had prepared a large meal.

With wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys and the beautiful woman craning her neck in anticipation, Peter finally felt that this campsite truly felt like home.

"Lord Peter, it's so good to see you back safely."

Pavlina jogged over to meet him and, noticing Peter's torn clothes stained with blood, asked worriedly, "Are you injured?!"

"Don't worry, have you forgotten? I am a blessed knight. Even if my head is shattered, it's fine. What's a minor injury? It's already healed."

Peter smiled and pulled open his shirt, revealing his perfectly tanned, bronze skin.

Pavlina glanced at it, somewhat mesmerized.

"Cough cough"

The old woman, Bodina, coughed twice to remind Pavlyna to come to her senses, and continued, "Lord Peter, the meal is ready. Please, victorious warriors, dine."

"Ah, yes, yes, we've prepared a big meal. I, I'll go and get it ready for you."

Pavlina, realizing her mistake, blushed with embarrassment and turned to run towards the kitchen stove.

"Ah, Miss Pavlina is so lovely, even more so than Matilda."

Carpenter Doug watched Pavlena run away and said excitedly.

"Can't you see the young lady's feelings for Lord Peter? She might become his woman. Aren't you afraid of his wrath?"

Pharmacist Romeo offered a reminder.

Doug shook his finger and said, "You don't understand. To like someone is to silently give to them and sincerely wish them well, without asking for anything in return. Is giving with expectations still liking someone? That's just being despicable and greedy for someone else's body! If Pavlyna becomes Lord Peter's woman, I'll be happy for her, because such a good girl deserves that kind of happiness. I, Doug the Pavly, am just that kind of pure-hearted person."

Handsome Charlie tossed his hair and said, "Although Lord Peter is a little bit more handsome, a little bit smarter, and a little bit stronger than me, I'm still not without a chance. The day I become a free youth, I'll definitely pursue Miss Pavlina and compete with Lord Peter!"

Doug's gaze suddenly sharpened. Handsome Charlie harbored such treacherous ambitions? He wanted to collect enough points to gain freedom from 100 trees? That depends on whether I, the carpentry foreman, will allow it!

Romeo shrugged, utterly unable to comprehend why these two were so obsessed with women.

Ignoring their whispers, Peter addressed the crowd behind him: "Victory favors the brave; the courageous enjoy the world first. Come, let us drink and eat heartily to celebrate our victory!"

"Oh oh oh"

"Celebrate, celebrate!"

The 12 participants became excited. They were starving after a night of work, and seeing the roe deer and grouse roasting by the campfire, the beer and liquor piled on the solid wood table, and the freshly baked rye bread, they couldn't help but drool.

First, John and his eight companions were tied up and locked in the house, and then the celebratory feast officially began.

The campfire crackled, and dripping fat from the roasting roe deer onto the embers, sending up plumes of fragrant smoke. The grouse was roasted to a golden-brown crisp, and Pavlena carefully drizzled a final coat of wild berry sauce over it with a wooden spoon. Old Bojina, carrying a rough earthenware pot, filled each wooden cup with frothy malt beer. Around the long wooden table, twelve tired yet excited faces gleamed in the firelight.

"For Lord Peter!"

The old hermit Martin was the first to raise his wooden cup, unusually refraining from quoting scripture.

Peter's contribution to this battle was undoubtedly immense. Whether it was his solo infiltration and stripping of the camp or his subsequent victory in a one-on-one duel, it all seemed incredible. But this is also why they were willing to follow him: powerful, mysterious, caring towards his subordinates, and willing to share the glory.

"For Lord Peter!"

The crowd responded with a roar, their wooden glasses clinking together and beer foam splashing everywhere. Tom and Jerry, the two lovable clowns, had already eagerly torn off a roe deer leg, grimacing from the heat but refusing to let go. Romeo, on the other hand, was much more elegant, cutting off a slice of breast meat with his dagger and presenting it to Bodina: "Madam, your cooking has elevated this roe deer to a whole new level."

"Eat more meat, and flatter less."

Bojina was sharp-tongued, but her wrinkled eyes held a smile; these were all good kids.

Charlie's group of seven also sat in a circle, placing their beer cans directly on the ground, stabbing large chunks of meat into their knives, wolfing down their food while pounding each other's shoulders with their greasy hands, reminiscing about the raid the previous night.

"Hey! Did you guys see that? The look on that big guy Andrei's face when he couldn't find his axe—his eyes were practically bulging out of their sockets!"

"And that skinny monkey, Monkey, he peed his pants! Haha!"

"The most amazing thing was Lord Peter's disarming technique during the duel. It was truly shocking! Even a powerful guy like Big Mouth John was knocked to the ground in an instant, and even lost his sword."

"Of course, there's also our Lord Doug, who's practically a wizard with invisibility magic. You can't see him the whole time, but he's the big winner in the end."

Doug, holding a large glass of beer, didn't catch their sarcastic remarks. Instead, he felt elated and puffed out his chest: "That's right! I'm the chief carpenter for the adults, and now the foreman of the carpentry team. Building houses is like a magician creating something from nothing—I possess magical power! From now on, you'll follow me. I'll tell you to go east, and I'll tell you to go west. Anyone who dares to slack off will have points deducted!"

After saying that, he took a big gulp of beer and let out a loud burp. Charlie and the others smiled, but in their hearts they were cursing, "What a dog who got to the top by flattering the adults!"

Peter sat in the main seat, with Pavlyna quietly beside him, occasionally cutting meat and pouring wine for him. The firelight danced on her fair face, casting gentle shadows on her long eyelashes. She would occasionally glance up at Peter, her eyes meeting briefly before quickly looking down again, like a startled fawn.

"My lord," her voice was soft, almost drowned out by the noise, "you...you really won't die?"

Peter set down his glass, took her hand resting on his lap, and felt her tremble slightly. "Pavlyna," he looked directly into her eyes, "my life belongs to a higher purpose. But at this moment, I only want to protect this camp, and protect you."

He picked up a piece of bread covered in berry sauce and brought it to her lips. "Mrs. Bojina's cooking is truly impeccable."

Pavlina blushed, took a small bite, and the sweet sauce smeared on the corner of her mouth. Peter naturally wiped it away with his thumb, the warm touch from his fingertip making her heart pound. Bozhena watched from the side, gave a soft hum, and turned her head away. This silly girl was completely hopeless.

..........

The banquet continued for over an hour.

In stark contrast to the commotion outside was a makeshift wooden hut in the corner of the camp, serving as a prison cell. Eight men, their hands and feet bound with rough hemp rope, leaned against the cold wooden wall. John sat with his back to the door, silently watching the sliver of light filtering through a crack in the wall. The wound on his elbow had been hastily bandaged, but every slight movement brought excruciating pain, a stark reminder of his humiliating defeat.

Although they admitted defeat, the contrast between the lively celebrations outside and the way they were treated still left them feeling uneasy.

Some people cursed under their breath, some huddled in a corner, some had empty eyes, some looked outside, and some kept twitching their noses.

The wooden door creaked open, and the old hermit Martin entered, carrying a large wooden bucket and eight wooden bowls. Behind him followed Peter, carrying a wicker basket of bread. The aroma of broth and toasted bread instantly filled the small space, causing all the captives' stomachs to churn.

"Lord Peter personally brought you food. Thank God, and be grateful to Lord Peter."

The old monk Martin untied the eight men's hands and handed them wooden bowls. Then he ladled hot broth, seasoned with wild celery and salt, from a bucket into their bowls.

Before you eat, repeat after me the "Song of Thanksgiving".

The old monk then pulled out a Bible from behind his back and began to teach them word by word.

"Eat Peter's food, wear Peter's clothes, take Peter's axe, and suffer Peter's torments. God is watching over us, sins are being cleansed, all thanks to the Lord. Amen."

"Amen!"

"Amen!"

"Praise be to God, thank you Peter!"

"Praise be to God, thank you Peter!"

"Eat, and remember today's ritual. This is God's will." Martin's voice was calm and even, revealing no emotion, yet it gave people a sense of utmost conviction.

Peter took the opportunity to step forward and hand them slices of black bread. Although the bread was coarse, it was quite substantial and had a warm, slightly charred aroma after being roasted over a fire.

"Thanks."

John's voice was hoarse. His gaze swept over the steaming bowl of thick soup and the basket of bread. The soup was murky, but he could see bits of meat floating on top and slivers of bright green wild celery. The bread, though coarse, was quite large. For a prisoner, this was truly good treatment.

He struggled to lift the wooden bowl. The bowl was scalding hot, but he felt nothing, only staring down at his distorted reflection in the soup. John the Big Mouth, who once roamed the mountains, calling himself a "Robin Hood," and striking fear into the hearts of passing merchants… was now a prisoner. Alas…

The other prisoners also drank the broth heartily. The scalding hot soup, with its salty and meaty flavor, slid down their throats, warming their bodies and extinguishing any thoughts of resistance. Everyone drank in silence, not glancing at their companions again.

"You'll rest for half a day this morning, then start cutting down trees this afternoon. Once you've felled 200 trees, you'll be free!"

Peter reiterated his commitment.

The crowd lowered their heads, drinking meat soup and munching on bread. Words like atonement, labor, and freedom swirled in their chaotic minds, and in their confusion, they seemed to see a glimmer of hope for freedom.