We got ready throughout the day, one of the hunters found some poison berries in the forest. All the men started poisoning their arrows and weapons. I didn’t know what to do. I certainly didn’t have enough man, my plan was Gloria and Alfred depleting each other so I would have the greatest negotiating power. Then if Alfred wins, I would kill him if Gloria wins, I would force her to end serfdom, and make her promise not to seek revenge against me. Then return home with a great bounty. While I was waiting one of my men I left in the hilltop camp returned and said “Something happening in the enemy camp.” I ran to the cave and returned to the camp. With a white handkerchief I got to the enemy camp, alone.

Two of the mercenaries brought me to Brad. He welcomed me. He was praying he was sad. I asked him what was happening . He pointed toward someone galloping a horse two hundred meters away, and the rider was wearing clothes like a peacock. He was Alfred Herch. His horse collapsed, probably died from exhaustion he started to run. He ended his prayer and said “Few days ago many of the believers of Altus died. Altus had few believers among humans nowadays. Their death saddens me. Also with the death of your fake oracle belief Altus might get harmed.” I nodded. I said “I don’t understand, if you are happy is making your god popular again why you try to prevent us.” He said “You are making him something he is not, he hates the weak, don’t protect them, unless they have left their weakness and started to go their way of becoming strong. He does not protect the innocent, he does not be angry at a wolf because it eats a sheep, he doesn't go angry at a ram who manages to kill a wolf. He likes those both because they prove their strength.” I nodded “But we turned the sheep into ram, we helped them with revenge” He nodded. “That is why Altus didn’t curse you. But because you introduce him to the masses as an avenger of the innocent he does not support you. He helps people who help themselves, not people who wait for someone to avenge them.” I understand better. But at that moment Herch puffs and pants come to us. He waited for a minute to catch his breath. He didn’t even seen me he just looked at the Brad and started “You, you mercenary now come, I need your army against the traitors” Brad looked at him and said “When we signed the agreement you know what I said” He said “No, This is not a impossibly dangerous thing. She only has a few hundred men. You can defeat them, they are just stupid traitors. They can’t even understand I can’t be defeated”

Brad asked “Why did your men leave you?” Herch was about to cry out of anger and frustration. “They called me an idiot, they said if we continue to chase Gloria while goblins burning villages and the crazy cult of Altus making them rebel I would have nothing left to pay them. Then they claimed I had nothing left to pay them. How could a nobleman have nothing left.” Brad smiled “I heard you leveraged the entire town of Baldenburg to a usurer. So you can pay us and golden claws. That's why I wanted all my money in advance. So I assumed you didn’t made same deal with Blue eagles” He started to shout “You idiotic peasant, how can you dear to criticize a noble person of the noblest of bloods, you country bupkin…” Brad just slapped him. He wouldn’t even put any real strength to his slap but Alfred was on the ground. Then he saw me In my eyes there wasn’t any hatred, any anger. I looked at him with condescending pity. He raised his finger “You, you are, I remember you” He rose on his feet and tried to attack me, I just slapped him too. He was again on the ground.