Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 338 Fleeing

   Iron Peaks, Gervodin.

   Even if the age difference is not big, elder sister and elder brother still treat younger brother or younger sister with the mentality of elders. This makes the former often subconsciously see the latter as a childish and immature individual - Anna is the case.

   Before Mr. Leo arrived in Ironpeak, Anna had seriously considered sending Catherine home.

  Although she never confided her feelings to her sister, Anna knew that this willful adventure would eventually come to an end. It's just that in what way it should end, she doesn't know.

   The smell of gunpowder smoke that has not yet dissipated also reminded her that Iron Peak County is not safe. What will happen next day, next month, next year? no one knows.

   So Anna paternally made arrangements for Catherine: as long as the road was clear, she would immediately send someone to **** Catherine back to Hailan, whether Catherine would like it or not.

  Because of this, when Catherine held Anna's hands and said seriously "you shouldn't stay here", Anna was not surprised.

  In Anna's opinion, it's normal for her sister to want to go home, because Catherine complains about Iron Peak all the time: it's too cold, too closed, too boring... Honestly, Anna feels the same way.

   However, the reasons given by Catherine do not belong to any of the above.

   Little Navarre held her sister's hands, looked at her with pity, and said softly, "Anna, this dream should end."

   "What nonsense are you talking about again?" Anna's heart contracted violently.

   "If you don't want to figure it out yourself, then let me tell you." Catherine's eyes didn't blink: "You love that man crazy, right?"

  Anna's cheeks instantly became hot, she was anxious and annoyed: "You...what are you talking about? Who said...who said I..."

   The word that my sister said without changing her face, but Anna couldn't say it anyway because of her sense of shame. She tried to take her hands away angrily, but Catherine's grip was unexpectedly tight, and Anna couldn't move.

  Catherine ignored her sister's defense and continued: "So, so you should leave. If you have any reason, you will come to this conclusion."

  Anna frowned and rebuked: "You hurt me!"

  Catherine also looked at Anna reproachfully: "Since childhood, everyone said that you are stable and smart. But look at you now? When did you become so stupid? Sure enough, women can't fall in love, otherwise they will definitely become idiots..."

  Anna's body became stiff, she no longer tried to take her hands away: "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the obvious." Catherine's voice was clear: "If you want 'Anna Navarre' to officially become 'Anna Montagne', there is only one way from beginning to end - he will come back with you Hai Lan. But...will he leave here for you?"

   "Who said I was going to marry him?" Anna asked angrily.

  Catherine nodded, noncommittal.

   "I'm going to rest." Anna got up to leave.

"Anna - my dearest sister, listen carefully." Catherine took her sister's hand, bit her lip and said, "There are thousands of unmarried ladies, widows, old maids in this world, each of them - each and every one of them. more fit to be 'Madame Montagne' than you are."

Catherine usually refers to Winters by [Mr. M], but this time she used her full name in a rare fashion: "Anyone can marry Winters Montagne - so can you, but that will destroy you ."

  Anna laughed angrily: "Why?"

   "Because you love him." Catherine released her hands and replied softly, "They don't love him."

   "I..." Anna was extremely ashamed and annoyed at the same time: "What's the point of this?!"

  Catherine gathered up some loose hair, leaned back on the bench, and sighed. She didn't answer directly, but asked an irrelevant question: "Have you ever thought about how you would face if Mr. M had a mistress one day?"

  Anna's breathing became rapid: "He...he won't..." But looking at the mocking smile on Catherine's face, Anna couldn't say a thousand rebuttals.

   "If you want to be Mr. M's mistress, I will not stop you." Catherine covered her lips and chuckled: "Would you like to?"

  Anna grabbed the small pillow beside her and smashed it hard at her sister.

"You ask me why all women are better suited to marry Mr. M than you? I can answer you now." Catherine hugged her sister: "Because they don't love him, they won't ask him to show equal feelings. In In marriage, they provide the ability to produce offspring and the dowry—property, power. In return, the more power that person grabs, the more wealth they have, the higher the position they stand, the better they want.”

   "But, Anna, my dear sister, you are different." Catherine hugged Anna tightly, with tears in her eyes: "What you want is love! What you want is love!"

   There were also tears in Anna's eyes.

"For love, you can endure everything now, and you can pay without reservation. Look at you! From the moment you left Hailan, you were paying, constantly paying, paying for nothing, paying no matter the cost. You are now a complete fool who is carried away by love." Catherine choked a little:

"But have you ever thought about it, one day love disappears, he doesn't love you or you don't love him anymore, what should you do then? How do you deal with yourself? What is everything you give? I am you My sister, there's no one in the world who loves you more than I do! I can't—I just can't stand you going on like this. Winters Montagne wants you? Then let him go back to Lamarine and be upright to marry Ana Navarre. Otherwise, I will never allow him to continue to bully you like this."

   Tears rolled in Anna's eyes. Catherine's words were too heavy, and Anna didn't know how to answer. If she is really, as Catherine said, a fool who is carried away by love, she needn't be burdened.

  Unfortunately, she is not.

   Katherine hugged her sister. Big Navarre didn't cry, but Little Navarre sobbed.

   The winter wind is howling outside the house, and the firewood in the fireplace is beeping.

  Anna stretched out her arms, hugged her sister gently, and comforted her in a low voice: "It's okay, it won't..."

  …

  Anna stayed awake almost all night.

  When the rising sun illuminated Gervodin, Anna wiped away the tears and got up to freshen up as usual.

  Catherine became a little sick after the deep conversation last night, even Scarlett couldn't make Catherine smile.

  Anna was desperate to see Winters, not for reassurance or vent. At this moment, she just wanted to see Winters.

   But Anna failed to do so, and Mrs. Medellin quickly brought back the news: "Not long after dawn, Lord Budd took Lord Montagne out of the city."

   In the afternoon, Madame Medellin brought news again: Her Excellency Montagne went to the garrison after returning to the city.

   After that, Winters went out of town again. Winters did not return to the apartment until late at night.

   "What's the matter?" Winters was surprised to see Anna waiting in the living room. He noticed that Anna's mood was a little unnatural: "What happened?"

   "Nothing." Anna leaned against Winters, her voice weak: "Nothing."

   "I have something to tell you."

"Um."

   Winters felt Anna's body temperature, but he couldn't say it. He rubbed Anna's hair: "Forget it, I'll write to you."

   "Hmm." Anna was a little tired.

  The two cuddled quietly for a while, and Anna asked in a low voice, "Can you dance?"

   "Court dancing is one of the compulsory courses in the Lu Academy." Winters was slightly embarrassed: "But I'm afraid I've forgotten all about it."

"I teach you."

  Although they were guided by Anna, the movements of the two could hardly be called dance steps. Just hugging in front of the fireplace, swaying slowly and rhythmically.

   "Speak." Winters suddenly couldn't help laughing.

   "Hmm." Anna leaned against Winters' shoulder and wiped away her tears.

   "Do you know how Lu Yuan's dance class is held?"

"how?"

   Winters coughed lightly and said embarrassedly: "There are no female students in Luyuan, so the dance classes are...all with partners at the same time, that is, men dance with men..."

  Anna smiled.

"...So everyone is not interested, and it's over to deal with the past." Winters, who was trying to explain, heard Anna's laughter, and heaved a sigh of relief: "It's not in vain for me to tell the most shameful experience, finally You're funny."

   "I didn't make you laugh."

   "It doesn't matter if you don't admit it."

   Another moment of silence.

   "Mr. Montagne?" Anna whispered.

"Um?"

   "Let's get married." Anna's voice was weak, as if she was saying something trivial.

   "Okay." Winters agreed without hesitation and asked with a smile, "I'm going to find Father Kaman now and ask him to witness the marriage?"

  On winter nights, only the fireplace radiates weak heat.

   After a long silence, Anna, who was holding Winters, let out an inaudible sigh: "Forget it, I don't even have a ring, it's too cheap for you."

   Winters sniffed Anna's long hair and muttered like a self-judgment, "Yeah, I'm too cheap."

   After an unknown amount of time, Anna was sent back to her room by Winters.

   The next day, Anna, who woke up in her own bed, learned that Winters Montagne had left Gervodin, leaving her only a letter.

  …

  …

   West of the Big Horn, the wasteland.

   There was no snow in the wasteland, but the withered branches and leaves were covered with frost.

   A small convoy was driving on the wasteland, and the riders who escorted the convoy were all fully armed. But there were no flags, nor did the carriage have any emblems of identity.

   "Brother." A young man with a young face in the rider asked worriedly: "You just leave like this, is it really okay?"

   "Let's go?" A man who was tightly wrapped sat leaning on the carriage, tugged at the blanket on his body, and commented faintly: "Obviously he was running away."

   "Yes, escape." Winters laughed mockingly at himself. He looked at the man in the carriage, and asked with some seriousness in his joke: "Lieutenant Colonel, please give me a treat."

  Charle did not understand the meaning of this sentence.

  Moritz was slightly startled, then closed his eyes and took a nap, he yawned: "It's all your own business."

   "Respect each other's choices" sounds like a universal formula that can never be wrong.

   But in some cases, the so-called "respecting the other's choice" is really just pushing the dilemma to the other side - Winters thought bitterly - selfish and mean, so this is me.

   "Stay, stay in the dangerous new land, make a clean break with your mother, give up everything that once belonged to you, and I can't give you anything."

   These words, Winters could not say.

   "Return to Hailan, wait for me, and one day I might go back alive and marry you."

   These words, Winters also couldn't say it.

   So he handed the choice to Anna—probably the most appropriate, and possibly the worst choice.

   "If there's such a thing as a soul, the men and women who sacrificed know I'm feeling sorry for myself." Winters couldn't help thinking, "Maybe they'll regret it?"

  The sound of hoofs interrupted Winters' thoughts, and the three riders jumped off the hill in front and galloped towards the team.

   Lieutenant Colonel Moritz yawned and changed to a more comfortable sleeping position.

  The three cavalry ran until they stopped in front of Winters. The leader was dressed in Palato's costume, and the two who followed were dressed in Heard's costume.

  The two riders dressed as Hurd rolled off the saddle, pressed their right hands to their chests and saluted respectfully, and murmured a series of Hurd's words.

   Winters greeted the interpreter.

The interpreter talked a few words with the two Hurd riders, and replied: "Your Excellency, they are saying 'Champion of Palatu, Chief Taichi sent us to guide you. Chief Taichi has prepared a feast for you. '."

   Winters nodded. He didn't understand Held, but he could tell the difference between "Bathu" in the other side's mouth.

  The shortest route between Tiefeng County and Chihe Department must pass through the area controlled by Teltown Department.

   For everyone else, plunging headlong into Terdun barbarian territory would be suicidal. For Winters, though, the danger is far less.

  Because the territory of the Teltown Department currently belongs to Taichi in theory, although Taichi also has troubles with Taichi, it is always possible to provide a guide and room and board.

   At this moment, Tai Chi also needs Winters to mediate between him and the White Lion.

   Winters looked at the two guides with a vaguely familiar face: "I seem to have seen them, those rabbit-hunting brothers? Mr. Translator, ask them for me, do you still remember me?"

   Interpreting the words of Winters, the young guide immediately became excited, and the older guide signaled his brother to be quiet with his eyes, and took his brother and gave him another salute.

   "The older one said." The interpreter said with a smile: "Thank you for remembering them, they are honored."

"According to the etiquette of the Heard tribes, they should be given some gifts - or rewards?" Winters also laughed: "But we are so poor that we can't get gold and silver. Charles, pick two guns for them."

  Ciel responded and quickly returned with two light arquebuses.

  The elder brother among the guides respectfully took the musket. The younger brother muttered a few words in a low voice, and the older brother glared at him.

   "Your Excellency." The interpreter whispered: "The little one said that they don't have gunpowder and lead. If you give them a musket, they won't be able to use it either."

   Winters laughed, turned and told Ciel: "When the guides leave, get them some ammunition."

  The two guides returned to their horses. As they spoke, the interpreter said, "The older one said, go forward an ox-long road, and three families have set up felt tents, and they can spend the night there tonight."

   "Okay, let them lead the way."

  The fleet that stopped briefly re-started, heading towards the endless wilderness.

  I don't know how to climb a few more hills, and Lieutenant Colonel Moritz also took a nap from sitting, gradually turned into a nap on the back, and finally turned into a big sleep lying down.

   Just when Winters wondered how Lieutenant Colonel fell asleep in such a bumpy environment, Moritz instantly tensed up like a wild cat who woke up.

   "What?" Winters asked.

   Moritz frowned and said slowly, "Someone is chasing after him."

   Winters listened, and it took a while to discern the subtle hooves.

   The sound of hooves is getting closer and clearer, soon. Three more riders appeared on the horizon behind them.

   Seeing the first rider wearing a monk's robe, Winters also frowned: "Kaman?"

   "Father Kaman?" Charles was very surprised: "What is he doing here?"

   Winters couldn't be sure that the other party was Kaman, he waved his hand: "Alert."

  The guards that Andre had selected for Winters took out their sabres one after another, and several of them with short guns began to load the short guns.

   The straight-line distance between the two hills was less than two kilometers, and the three riders behind quickly caught up.

  Father Kaman's cold voice came before anyone else: "Why are you making such a big battle?"

   "Disarm." Winters reluctantly ordered.

  The already loaded riders fired their empty guns into the sky. The thunderous sound of gunfire echoed in the wilderness, startling flocks of birds.

  Winters dismounted to greet Kaman. He opened his arms and planned to give Kaman a warm hug from a Veneta: "I've only been gone for a day, and you miss me?"

  Kaman snorted softly: "Who let you go so unfortunately, someone came back after just one day of leaving."

  Winters then noticed the giggling big boy behind Kaman-Washika.

   "Vashya!" Winters couldn't believe it. He grabbed Vashka's shoulder. "Where's Pierre? Where's old Mr. Mitchell? And your father, Berrian... they're back too?"

  Washika's shoulder was hurt by Winters' grip, and he grinned and replied: "Centurion, this is a long story..."

   "It's okay, talk slowly." Wentesla led Vasya toward the convoy.

  Kaman coughed lightly: "Wait a minute, and..."

   Before he could finish speaking, Winters had already suffered a heavy blow on his back, so painful that his breathing stopped.

   Before he could think about where the attack came from, his instinct had already made Winters fight back.

   He entered a spellcasting state in an instant, subconsciously using violent magic to tear everything behind him. But in the process of turning around, he saw the most terrifying scene out of the corner of his eyes.

  It is hard to cover the water, what about magic?

   Winters desperately tried to exit the spellcasting state, and a sudden severe dizziness and stinging pain almost knocked him out - however, this [stun and stinging pain] was subtly different from the [phantom pain] that Winters was familiar with.

  Under Kaman's gaze—in full view, to be precise—Winters was pushed down.

   "You dare to run away again." A golden sword filled with the breath of a nouveau riche pressed against Winters' throat, Anna took off her hood, shed tears, and gritted her teeth: "I'll kill you and then commit suicide."

   [A little busy recently...but not a reason...try to make up the difference on weekends]

   [In order to prevent controversy, the author would like to add a clarification]

   [Catherine's remarks represent Catherine's views, not the author's. And Catherine's views are limited by the background of the times, there are bound to be limitations]

   [It is safe to say that free love has a longer history than arranged marriage (primitive society is better). But arranged marriages persisted into the twentieth century—both East and West]

   [In the historical period in which the Winters people lived, the view that 'marriage is a contract of property, power, and fertility' was more generally accepted by the world]

   [Of course, even in Winters' era, there must have been free love. The fact that "Romeo and Juliet" can be staged in the late sixteenth century means that there must be free love and marriage in the same era]

   [After all, free love belongs to a macro-person *****, which is obviously in line with the moral pursuit of the 'Renaissance' and the later 'bourgeois revolution']

   [Thank you for your collection, reading, subscription, recommendation ticket, monthly ticket, reward and comment, thank you all]

   (end of this chapter)