Ch. 85 - Bunnales, The Torch

At this moment of speaking, Earl Torch's procession had arrived in front of the square. Paladin immediately stopped talking. He simply ignored Andrew's direct line of sight and the expression of Kanarawa's sneer. He just observed the Earl of Torch, whose name he had heard but never seen him. Only to see a man riding a red-clad warhorse, walking in the front of the group. The red armor draped on the horse had a distinct torch pattern painted on it. Presumably it was the torch himself.

Thick blonde hair with curls shoulder length, spacious forehead and very thick eyebrows give an image of loyalty and kindness. However, the tiny blue pupils and the tightly closed thin lips gave off a mean and sinister taste. There is gorgeous and sturdy armor on the outside of the chain armor inside. Under the sunlight, his expensive armor reflected a cold light. This is a man of contradictions. Even his face contained extreme ambivalence. It made everyone who saw him for the first time wonder what kind of person this Earl of Torch, who was rumored to have never been on a battlefield, was like.

Some of the upper-class nobles of the principality, however, secretly talked about it in private. Each has their own opinion. Gentle and kind, warm and open, big noble. Or the sinister and silent. The stubborn, stone-faced ones who don't say a word. Bunnales, the torch. Inherited the title of his father, Torch the Hurl. As a great noble, he has been educated in all kinds of manners, literature, poetry, fencing, history, politics and so on.

As the only son, he inherited his father's wealth and territory without any accident. There were no outstanding performances, no special enemies, and no scandals that would concern the commoners. It was as if he was a marginal man among the great nobles, without a mistress, and now at the age of thirty-one he had not even married! Many great nobles, including the Marquis of Carmon, have personally come to his door to propose marriage, but have been politely declined one by one. To say that the most mysterious nobleman in the Duchy of Kasmi, it must be him, Bunnales, the Torch.

Tak-dak-dak. Listening to the powerful sound of horses' hooves echoing in front of him and suddenly stopping. The thick and gentle voice immediately filled one with good feelings: "Your Excellency, Bishop Andrew, hahaha. I have kept you waiting for a long time." Only a snap of steel was heard. Earl Torch rolled over and dismounted, and Andrew immediately greeted him with a smile on his face and said respectfully, "My Lord, are you really only thirty-one? It seems like you're even younger than last year!" "Hahahahaha."

Earl Torch laughed cheerfully. Casually waving his hand, the endless procession behind him immediately stopped in its tracks. The knights erected the lances with their heraldic banners pinned in their hands. Then the sergeants with spears and the heavily armed soldiers with shields and long swords behind them. One after another, they stopped their heavy footsteps. There was a solemn look in their eyes.

Earl Torch stepped forward and said to Andrew: "Old Andrew, you are getting fatter and fatter." As he said so, his eyes were looking at Kanarava and Paladin beside him. Paladin stood up first, crossed his arms in the air respectfully and said, "My lord Earl, you are on this expedition."

But before Paladin could finish his sentence, Kanarawa came up to interrupt Paladin and said to himself, "Lord Earl, I am the abbot(Dean) of Edley Abbey and the head priest of Edley Cathedral, Kanarawa. I am honored to meet you. I hope I can get…" But this time, before he could finish his turn, the Earl immediately interrupted him, looking slightly displeased although he was smiling: "I am talking to this priest, doesn't His Excellency the abbot know manners?"

Kanarawa was slightly taken aback, and immediately suppressed his anger and apologized: "My lord, this priest is actually..." "You don't need to say any more." The Earl of Torch directly ignored Kanarava on the side, and looked at him with a smile on the contrary. Paladin said: "Father, what did you just say?" Paladin snickered to himself, but said very calmly: "My lord, my name is Paladin, Flamel." After saying that, he saluted Earl Torch with the etiquette of a subordinate noble meeting a superior noble. Bowing with one hand floating on the chest above the heart.

"Oh!" Earl Torch was a little surprised. He didn't expect to meet a nobleman. Suddenly he thought of Paladin's surname. He immediately sighed and said, "Father Flamel, the tragedy that happened to your family has made us nobles very angry. Don't worry, we will make the despicable Forest of Hellitte pay the appropriate price!"

The cold-eyed Andrew saw Count Torch finish his words and immediately smilingly stepped forward and reminded, "Lord Earl, this Father Paladin is not only our Auxiliary Bishop, but also the priest who will accompany you to the army." "Even?" Count Torch let out an exclamation. But from the tone of his voice, there was really no exclamation. But at that moment, a person resembling a nobleman's butler suddenly ran over quietly and whispered to Earl of Torch, "My Lord Earl, you have been delayed here for a long time. Let the accompanying priests follow and leave the city quickly."

Earl Torch nodded silently. Suddenly, he smiled friendly at Paladin and said, "It's a long journey. If you are not used to military life, Paladin, you can come and sleep in my tent." After inviting Paladin with a smile, the Torch Earl remounted his horse. Andrew also turned around and said to a dozen or so priests with bags standing behind him: "It's your honor to join the army this time. Go, Bishop Paladin is your commander. Even with a sword and blood and sweat, you can't violate the teaching of the true God, Amen." Paladin took a deep look at the dozen or so priests who went with him, some of them had sad faces, while others had resolute faces. Paladin took deep note of the sad-faced man. These people are the most likely to become their own group.

When Paladin and a dozen priests with magnificent cross scepters in their hands walked on either side of the procession. While murmuring the Bible in a low voice. The big bell in the tower at the top of the cathedral immediately let out a dong dong dong sound. The procession immediately resumed its march. The civilians around immediately shouted enthusiastically again. Because the bell represented this army, which was favored and blessed by God Enos. May they receive the supreme glory and return home on white horses.

Paladin didn't even look at Andrew. He keenly noticed that many of the army were familiar faces he usually met in Edley. Looking at the civilians on both sides who saw their loved ones in armor with weapons, cheering excitedly and scattering roses and purple orchids. Paladin's heart sank straight down. That is to say, most of the soldiers in this army are new recruits. Had not experienced real war, nor had they undergone long training.

Paladin could even imagine, through the memory of his clone, that these recruits would stand there stunned and trembling after seeing the blood of their compatriots stained red after encountering vicious enemies on the battlefield. Paladin really wanted to know, how could the Earl of Torch, who could secretly connive with his subordinates to plunder everywhere, and who could collect armor and weapons in large quantities in violation of the law, make such a mistake? Could it be that this guy has never been on a battlefield before, and doesn't know the horror of the battlefield?

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