Chapter 52: Rebirth

Roberto's patience was like a wick burning down to its end. He furrowed his brows and raised his voice:
"Carlo is no ordinary squire. He is my cousin, and his decisions are equivalent to mine. We share the same blood, and his wisdom and kindness are more than enough to earn my trust."
Gervais nodded hurriedly, bowing as he replied:
"Very well, very well, I shall go and gather everyone right away."
Before long, Gervais and Nicolas had brought together the people from both villages.
During the gathering, Gervais took out two gold coins and, alongside Nicolas, purchased a generous amount of food to distribute among the villagers.
By now, night was falling. In the center of the makeshift shanty area, a bonfire blazed fiercely, casting its glow upon the exhausted yet hopeful faces of the villagers.
They sat together in a circle, cheerfully sharing food and wine. Ever since the outbreak of the war, they had toiled desperately every day, yet their lives remained precarious, lacking even a decent place to live.
At this moment, the warm bonfire and delicious food were truly precious to them.
Ressadit, Carlo, Roberto, and the two village elders stood upon a slight rise of earth. At a signal from Ressadit, Nicolas cleared his throat and shouted loudly to the villagers:
"Villagers of Suur, our valiant knight, the great Lord Ressadit, has returned! Tomorrow, we shall bid farewell to these days of hardship and return to our village, with no need to labor bitterly in the city of Calais any longer!"
A rare smile appeared on Ressadit's face. He raised his goblet high and called out to the villagers:
"Eat and drink your fill tonight, everyone! Tomorrow we set out on the road back to our homeland!"
Upon seeing Ressadit and hearing this joyous news, the villagers of Suur broke into cheers, their faces radiant with joyful smiles and their eyes gleaming with the light of hope.
On the other hand, however, the villagers of Gers appeared rather subdued, watching quietly without much reaction. At this moment, Gervais stepped forward, cleared his throat, and introduced to the crowd:
"Villagers of Gers, this is Lord Roberto, the newly appointed knight by the noble Countess Lady Joan. Tomorrow, we too shall be able to return to our village together!"
Roberto took a few steps forward, standing at the edge of the earthen mound. With a resolute gaze, he looked out at the villagers of Gers and said in a loud voice:
"Dear villagers, from this day forth, I am your lord, and you are my people. I swear upon the honor of a knight that I shall protect you all with my life and ensure that you lead a peaceful and stable existence."
The villagers of Gers merely murmured in low whispers among themselves, punctuated only occasionally by a few scattered, sparse claps. The atmosphere became exceedingly awkward.
This fell vastly short of the enthusiastic scene Roberto had imagined—of a knight raising his arms to a cheering throng with the masses responding in unison. He could not help feeling somewhat flustered, a flash of disappointment crossing his countenance.
Carlo observed this, a sense of helpless resignation rising within his heart as he thought to himself:
"Why are these villagers so cold? Could it be that they lack trust in us?"
He frowned, took a large stride forward to the very front of the earthen mound, and shouted aloud:
"All villagers of Gers and Suur, I know that this cruel war has brought immense losses to everyone, and have we not suffered likewise?
Lord Ressadit's former squire, Louvain—he was my predecessor and a truly valiant, good man!
He was like an older brother to us, leading me forward to charge into battle.
Yet he remained upon the battlefield forever. To safeguard our homeland and protect everyone here, he laid down his precious life!"
Carlo's voice choked slightly, and tears glittered in his eyes. He paused for a moment to steady his emotions:
"The few of us fought our way from the naval battle of Sluys all the way to the great battle of Tournai, doing battle with the Englishmen nearly every single day.
What a harrowing scene that was! Smoke billowed across the battlefield, the cries of war shook the heavens, and crimson blood stained the earth.
You must have heard of Lord Ressadit's valor and fearlessness, and this newly appointed knight, Lord Roberto, is likewise a man who is courageous, kind-hearted, and imbued with the true spirit of chivalry.
Now that he has become the lord of Gers, he will surely lead everyone out of adversity and grant you all a good life!"
Carlo's words plunged the villagers into deep contemplation.
It was as if they were witnessing with their own eyes the dreadful, horrifying sights of the battlefield, and truly sensing the hardships and tribulations Carlo and the others had endured along the way.
Hearing of Roberto's heroic deeds in combat, the crowd involuntarily betrayed a deep sense of reverence in their eyes.
The once dreary and oppressive atmosphere gradually grew warm and lively.
Seeing this, Carlo struck while the iron was hot. He stepped up onto a large nearby boulder, raised his arm high, and continued to shout at the top of his lungs:
"Putting everything else aside for the moment, let everyone report your losses in detail to the two village elders. Lord Ressadit and Lord Roberto will compensate you for every single loss you have suffered!
We shall not let you suffer in vain!"
The crowd instantly erupted like a boiling cauldron, everyone talking at once in spirited discussion.
At that moment, a rough, hoarse voice rang out:
"Who are you? What gives you the right to make us trust you? Can you guarantee that the two lords will actually listen to you?"
Carlo's brow furrowed, a flicker of displeasure crossing his face as he thought with annoyance:
"Where on earth did this troublemaker pop up from?"
Yet he forcibly suppressed his anger and patiently replied:
"My friend, though I, Carlo, possess no earth-shaking abilities, having followed the two lords through thick and thin for so long, I still carry a bit of influence.
I dare stake my life on the oath that they will surely compensate everyone!"
Another villager nearby chimed in:
"Carlo, it is not that we do not wish to believe you, but these times are simply too chaotic, and we have been deceived far too often."
Ressadit and Roberto exchanged glances, both feeling a sense of helplessness in their hearts. Roberto thought to himself:
"I had assumed becoming a lord would be smooth sailing, but I never expected to encounter such a setback."
Yet after a brief exchange of looks, they raised their voices together in a unified shout:
"Carlo's words are our words, and we endorse every decision he makes!"
Upon hearing this, the crowd finally set their minds entirely at ease, and cheers immediately rose one after another, echoing up to the heavens.
As night descended, at Carlo's insistence, cheerful music struck up within the shanty area.
The people picked up their instruments and began to play melodious tunes.
The melodious notes of the flute were like shimmering stars in the night sky singing softly.
The elderly flute player closed his eyes, completely immersed in his own musical world, the wrinkles on his face seeming to sway with the notes.
The joyous sound of the drum resembled a herd of galloping horses careening across the vast grasslands.
The drummer was a sturdy young lad, beads of sweat covering his forehead as he swung his drumsticks with rhythmic power, his body swaying along with the beat.
The crisp, clear sound of the lute was like a babbling brook flowing gently through the mountains.
"Hey, everyone, let's dance together!"
Carlo shouted at the top of his lungs, his face beaming with a radiant, brilliant smile.
Inwardly, however, he muttered to himself:
"Don't just stand there staring, show some support and get moving! If you don't know how to dance, just shake it out!"
In his hand, he waved a colorful handkerchief, which traced brilliant and dazzling arcs through the night sky.
Like dazzling fireworks blooming in the dark, every single arc seemed to summon the joy dwelling deep within people's hearts.