Ash Rufate approached him head-on. For a moment, Aqiu almost thought his protector had hit the spear. But the fact was that he rushed in without any injuries from the bandits' chaotic formation and knocked away one by one. The rest of the bandits ran away from all directions, and were then chopped and killed one by one by hunting. In order to escape the enemy's swords and horse hooves, the last few bandits escaped into the bushes in despair, but Ash Rufate immediately jumped into the bushes and chased them. When they were entangled by the bushes and were inconvenient to move, they cut off their heads effortlessly like games.

After the bloody battle, the war horse escaped from the entanglement of the bushes and returned to Aqiu. Ashrufate jumped off the war horse and handed a hand to Aqiu.

"Can you stand up?" he asked.

Aqiu looked at him in horror, but finally nodded. She knew that if the bandits just now had made this man feel bad, she would have no chance of being spared. But although she was frightened and uneasy, Ash Rufate did not ask any questions. She just silently led her to continue moving forward.

"Master Ash Rufate." After a while, Aqiu himself could not bear this disturbing silence. "Why don't you... ask me?"

"What should I ask you?"

"You don't ask me... who am I... why those bandits... say that..."

"This... Actually, someone said something to me like this, 'If a girl has any secret and refuses to say it, but a man insists on her telling it, then this man must be very bad!'. Because I don't want to be a very bad man, I have to restrain my curiosity."

"Master, are you dissatisfied with Carrie?" Carrie's words rang out in her mind, the tone of crying with grievance.

"Aqiu is just my nickname, my official name is Irina. My father is the king of Casilos, and my mother is the only daughter of King St. Gene."

"So you are a princess. However, although I know Casilos seems to be going to war with Paro, what are they trying to want you as a girl?" Asu Ruffat asked casually.

"I...I..." Aqiu's voice suddenly choked. When he looked up at Ash Rufate, his eyes were filled with tears. "...just...I'm left...my father and mother...my brothers...all dead..."

"I escaped alone... My father asked several knights to protect me and escape. But later...there are more and more pursuers... In order to protect me, the knights led the enemy away again and again... Then I encountered a pack of wolves..." Her voice became lower and lower, almost inaudible.

Ashu Rufate gently wiped her tears with his hands.

"I'm sorry, Aqiu." He called out another name softly. "I shouldn't have aroused your sadness. I also know that I can't soothe your inner pain. I just want to tell you one thing, since your father asked you to escape alone, he will put his last hope on you. No matter what, you must not let his hope down. You must find a way to survive and become strong. Since you are a princess, let me act as the princess' knight for the time being. In any case, I will try to send you to Berleon."

Irina looked at Ash Rufate's face and suddenly couldn't control her emotions and burst into tears.

"Berleon has my grandfather living in seclusion. My father told me to escape here and he would help me." After calming down, Irina said.

"I have also heard of it. People say that the king of St. Gene had some troublesome illness and could not handle daily affairs, so he lived in seclusion in Berleon."

They had already traveled through these mountainous areas with few people and walked onto a path. This path must be a road extended by a certain village or even a town. If the direction is not wrong, they were already close to Berleon. They walked into a narrow valley. The roads here were obviously sorted out and repaired.

Ashu Rufate suddenly stopped fighting horses.

"What's wrong?" Irina asked.

"Aqiu, be careful, we are surrounded. If we want to run away later, you must hold me to avoid falling off the horse." Ashu Rufate whispered.

He narrowed his eyes and looked around.

A horn sounded. The next moment, many people in disguise costumes suddenly appeared on both sides of the valley. Hundreds of bows and arrows were pulled apart, aiming at the two people in the middle of the trap and rode. In the front and behind, someone pulled up a bunch of squats from the ground.

The trap is perfect, and if he intends to risk his escape at the speed of his horse, it will become a suicide.

"Master, you must summon your armor, otherwise..." Carrie's voice rang, but Ashu Rufate forced her voice out of her mind.

A figure walked out from behind a large rock on the side. Unlike the ambush archers, the figure appeared in armor. His breastplate was depicted with a big snake with wings. The man stared at the prey in the middle of the trap. Although it was far apart, Ashu Rufate could feel the sharp gaze like an eagle.

"Surrender, young man! Put down the girl in your arms!" the mysterious man said loudly.

"Grandpa Thomas!" Before Ash Rufat answered, Irina in front of him took the initiative to jump off the horse and rushed towards the man. The man took off his helmet, exposed his snow-white hair, and then hugged the girl who rushed over in his arms.

"My little princess, it's great to see you safe..." The old knight named Thomas screamed happily.

"Grandpa Thomas." Irina was almost too breathless to breathe by the other party, but in the end she explained the facts in time.

"He is not an enemy, he is the knight who has protected me all the way. His name is Ashurufat. The Ashurufat, the Earl Thomas. He is the lord of this area and my grandfather's best friend."

...

When Ashu Rufate walked into the tent, there was no joy of reunion in the tent. Thomas was fine, and Irina was sobbing at the table. It was Thomas who asked her about the specific situation of the fall of the royal city, which aroused the girl's sad memory.

"Young man, thank you very much for saving the princess." Thomas thanked Ashu Rufat. "As for the offense just now, I apologize."

"No, nothing." Ashu Rufat looked at the old man named Thomas in front of him.

According to Irina, Thomas was over 80 years old. But he looked far from his old age. Thomas had broad shoulders and a well-proportioned figure, and was not as fat or thin as the usual old man. In fact, he had always worn heavy armor and weapons and moved with ease. There was no doubt that he could still drive war horses and wield weapons to fight. This man was not just an elderly man, not an old falcon.

"Irina, I will send you to see Your Majesty immediately." Thomas said. "I have informed all the lords nearby and asked them to gather in Berleon immediately. The Paros are absolutely unwilling to give up. They will gather troops to launch an attack with the fastest speed. The war will begin soon. But their speed is too fast... They are not familiar with the terrain, so how could they chase so tightly?"

"It's the Greyhound Knights." Irina stopped crying. "The Paro people brought the bandits and robbers over, gave them a title of the Greyhound Knights, and then asked them to pursue me."

"No wonder..." There is such a quest that is familiar with geography and understanding the situation, no wonder it cannot gain a foothold all the way.

"Sir Thomas, can I ask a small question?" Ashu Rufate asked.

"What's the matter?"

"I heard that the lord of the Berleon region is an invincible veteran general who is victorious in every battle."

"Hahaha... it's just that people who don't understand are just talking nonsense. The battles I have fought in my life are less than fifty times in total. Where can I win every battle?"

"Master Earl." A voice sounded. Ashurufate turned his head and saw a strange young man walking into the tent.

"Irina?" The young man saw the princess whose tears were not dry and screamed in surprise.

Irina looked up at the young man, but her face showed a confused expression. It was obvious that she did not know the man.

"Irina...have you forgotten me? I'm Ryan...huh?"

"Don't be stupid, Ryan. You have grown up so much, and even your face has changed. Of course Irina will forget you. You can let go of these reminiscence first. Sir Ryan!"

"Here, sir!"

"I want to escort Princess Irina away immediately, and I will leave it here for you to command. Remember my combat plan!"

"As for the order, sir! If the Paro people chase after them, I will definitely teach them an unforgettable lesson!"

"Ryan...Ryan..." After they left the camp, Irina kept recalling the name. Suddenly, she remembered. "Is it the one who put the blueworm on my head before..."

"Hahaha... That's right! Little princess, you finally remembered it. The naughty guy from back then has become a handsome young man now." Thomas laughed.

"Why is he here?"

"He is my disciple now, and he follows me to learn the art of military strategy. He is also a good student." Thomas sighed softly.

This period was not too long. Because people familiar with the road led the way, they arrived at the city at dusk.

“We’re here.”

Berleon was supposed to be a small town, but now it is a combination of a small castle and a large village. Thomas must have started preparing for war long ago, and it has become a large barracks.

Ashu Rufate walked in and immediately felt something unusual. People were running and busy. This was an indescribable and contradictory feeling. They looked busy but carefully observed but found orderly; they looked messy, but thought carefully but had reasonable points; they looked messy, and the key positions always arranged necessary sentries.
Chapter completed!