Seeing the tension between the young man and the old knight grow more and more palpable,
another knight tried to defuse the situation. Besides, tearing down a lord's ancestral keep, even for the sake of defense, was hardly wise.
He decided to offer advice from another angle and hurriedly rode forward. "That's right, my lord."
"The soldiers have traveled a long way. They're exhausted, and making them do this kind of hard labor now will only waste their strength."
Jarell rudely cut them off. What the hell was wrong with these bastards? If his father were here, would they dare treat his orders with such contempt? "Shut up!"
"Do I need you to teach me how to wage war?"
He surveyed the weary soldiers, a contemptuous smile appearing on his face. "Carry out the order!!!"
Under their officers' shouted commands, the soldiers reluctantly picked up tools and even weapons, then headed toward the stone tower.
Dull blows soon rang out, accompanied by the rumble of falling stones. The soldiers cut down the banner of House Foulkeep that had flown from the Little Tower.
Jarell watched it all, and the anger in his heart seemed to ease a little. But it wasn't enough.
He turned his horse and rode toward the village by the river.
Looking at the shabby houses built from reeds and mud, he casually spat out two words: "Burn them!!"
Torches were thrown onto the thatched roofs. The dry reeds caught fire in an instant, and greedy flames leapt upward. Soon the village was swallowed by a sea of fire, black smoke billowing into the sky and even blotting out the afternoon sun.
Jarell Leger listened to the crackle of wood, felt the acrid stench in the air and the waves of heat rushing toward him, and watched