"Have you decided to come with us?" An Yang asked when he saw that Bard was carrying his bow and arrows and had changed out of his old windbreaker into clothes more suitable for traveling.
"Your decision isn't a wise one. I can't stop you, but I don't want the fate of all Lake-town tied to you!" Bard said coldly.
"So you plan to tie it to yourself instead?"
"Rather than trust people I've never met, I'd sooner trust the archery I've spent my whole life perfecting!" Bard replied.
"Let's go." An Yang smiled. "But your children can't come with us. Leave them here. I'm sure Bain will protect Tilda and Sigrid. Bain, don't you agree?"
"Of... of course!" Bain answered instinctively.
Only after replying did he realize something was wrong. He had intended to go with his father himself.
"Good boy. Your sisters need your protection." An Yang smiled approvingly, then immediately headed outside with the Black Arrow and spear in hand. "We'd better hurry. We aren't pressed for time, but no one knows when the Orcs' pursuers might catch up."
The group set out at once, heading for the Lonely Mountain.
Lake-town was practically next to the Lonely Mountain. That was true, but as the old saying went, you could run until your horse dropped dead and still not reach a mountain. Climbing such a massive peak was certainly no old man's exercise routine!
In fact, after leaving Lake-town, they still had to pass through the abandoned Dale. This city had once been a prosperous and famous metropolis beneath the Lonely Mountain, and traces of its former glory could still be seen. But after the dragon destroyed it, no one dared set foot there because the dragon had occupied the Lonely Mountain, and the city gradually fell into