The sunlight was still scorching, but the atmosphere abruptly turned cold.
The three farmers seemed completely oblivious to the change. So many gentlemen on horseback, carrying swords, had suddenly arrived, and none had told them to leave. They simply stood there in bewilderment, looking at one another, unsure what to do.
Several attendants raised their shields slightly and spread out, silently closing ranks in front of Renato.
They had not drawn their swords, but this defensive stance would let them react immediately to a sudden attack.
Novak lowered his visor with a grave expression, the metal plates clicking crisply into place. His right hand tightened around the sword hilt at his waist, his thumb already pressed against the guard, ready to draw at any moment.
The old knight was an experienced veteran, nothing like those pretty boys who had never seen real combat. And for some reason, he and his men seemed to have been deeply wary of Renato, a stranger, from the very beginning.
Renato could understand their reaction. Even setting aside the Drow that had inexplicably appeared recently, a heavily armored warrior standing alone in a wheat field, equipped entirely with enchanted gear, was suspicious enough in his own right.
So the moment he made a small attempt to stall, the situation escalated, leaving almost no room to maneuver.
With that first impression already established, Renato knew perfectly well that no matter how he steered the conversation or invented excuses, Novak would scrutinize everything with suspicion. He would not be able to buy himself any time.
As his attempts at conversation met the old knight's silent advance, Renato's mind raced, dozens of thoughts flashing through it every second.
Talking my way out of this won't work. What about gold?
*Probably not. He's a noble of the kingdom. His