Chapter 116 The Winter Orc

Chapter 116 The Winter Orc

Gedhe's eyes were distant and lost in some kind of delusion, preventing him from noticing the weight of the king's hand on his shoulder. The burly barbarian focused all his strength on trying to free himself, determined to return to his job of asphyxiating the fire. In order to stop the man from moving, who was utilizing all his strength to break free, Henry had to reinforce his body with Mana. Gedhe's natural body was much stronger than his own.

"DO NOT MOVE!" - Henry bellowed impatiently, his leg moving with lightning-fast precision as it targeted the back of the barbarian's knees. The force of the impact sent the adversary tumbling to the ground, his balance shattered, leaving him on his knees. Not content with just that, Henry delivered a powerful and unmerciful punch to the man's face. The result of the attack was a resounding crack that broke the barbarian's nose and left Henry's fist stained in crimson.

The warmth of his blood touching his lips and the pain spreading from his face immediately jolted Gedhe back to reality. In a daze, he fixed his gaze on the imposing and somewhat angry figure of the king standing before him. The king's gray eyes shimmered like a purple flame, a mysterious glow that seemed to conceal itself when he looked deeply into it.

"Finally awake?" - Henry asked, a tinge of impatience and concealed anger evident in his tone. His hand fell on Gedhe's shoulder again, gripping it tightly, prepared to deliver another punch if he gave a wrong answer. Pleasantries and patience were a luxury he couldn't afford at the moment, there was a war to be fought, and perhaps an even more dangerous situation loomed on the horizon.

Upon hearing the voice, Gedhe shook his head to wake himself up, yet he remained on his knees, Henry's hand pressing him down - "I am sorry, my king. I have momentarily lost my reason..." - Gedhe apologized, bowing his head, his voice carrying a mix of emotions that Henry couldn't immediately discern.

Seeing Gedhe's eyes regain focus, Henry withdrew his hands from the barbarian's shoulder. Slowly, the barbarian raised his head, his eyes briefly glancing at the thin line of smoke coming out of the bonfire, like a dying man taking its last breath. Despite the opportunity to rise, Gedhe remained on his knees, a lesson drilled into his brain by Luther: always stay at a level inferior to the king, never looking down on the ruler of these lands, for the king could never be beneath someone.

"Good!" - Henry exclaimed, crossing his arms in deep thought. His gazed fixated on the gray skies that covered the Frozen Forest all year round, not allowing the sun to shine over these white lands that seemed to be cursed by the gods themselves.

"Don't say anything to anyone and keep it between ourselves. We have a more pressing matters to deal with at this moment"- Henry declared decisively - "I will arrange for someone to bring all the women, children, and elderly to the capital to remain safely behind the walls. However, right now, I need you to gather all those who can fight. I promised to protect everyone. You don't need to worry, I will keep my word."

Henry's gaze departed from the never ending gray skies and settled on Gedhe, who was looking directly at him. Upon hearing the king's words, the barbarian's eyes seemed to shine with a sense of gratitude and even some loyalty mixed within it, something that was difficult to spot, even after these few years. "My decision was right." - Gedhe thought, remembering his decision of killing the elder and following Henry, entrusting the village's well-being in the king's hands. He was someone reliable, one that would fulfill his promises. Gedhe wouldn't mind trading his life for his people and if they had the opportunity to grow, he was ready to even forsake his ancestors.

Unaware of Gedhe's thoughts, Henry was thinking about the repercussion of his action.

"The barbarians might face some troubles given the lingering resentment within the hearts of Stahl's citizens. Although the hate has diminished through the commerce and the numerous encounters over the past years, with the figure of the barbarians becoming more welcoming, there are still hate" - Henry pondered - "I am not sure if this decision will be beneficial and serve as a catalyst to ease the tension lingering between these people. However, we have no option at the moment.

Overcoming a hatred that had persisted through generations posed quite a challenge, especially if he wanted to end it within the next decade. The barbarians had taken the lives of countless citizens of Stahl, and those of Stahl had never allowed them to find a home under the sun. It was a complex and delicate situation, but one that Henry had to address during his reign if he wanted to utilize the barbarians to their maximum extent, and not only as gatherers.

"I will find a way." - Henry said - "But I need to end this war first."