Chapter 231: Offloading The Animals

Darion directed the wagon men to the new pens. The structures stood solid and waiting, their wooden frames dark against the night sky. The pens were ready. The animals were here. Now it was time to bring them home.

The wagon men moved quickly, their bodies weary from the long journey but their spirits high. They had made it.

They had survived the ambush, the chase, the long, slow trek across the desert and grasslands. And now, finally, they were here.

The animals were led out one by one. The cows came first, their heavy bodies moving slowly, their eyes wide and curious.

They had been on the road for days, and they were ready to rest. The wagon men guided them into the main pen, their voices calm, their hands steady.

The cows walked through, their hooves settling into the soft earth of the pen. They stood still for a moment, looking around, then lowered their heads to graze.

The goats came next. They were more restless, their energy still high from the chase earlier in the day.

They bleated and kicked, their eyes darting around the unfamiliar surroundings. But the wagon men were patient, and they guided the goats into their designated pen. The goats settled slowly, their nervous energy fading as they found their footing.

The chickens were carried in their cages, their clucking filling the air. The wagon men set the cages down gently, opening the doors to release the birds into their new home.

The chickens hesitated for a moment, then stepped out, their feathers ruffled, their eyes scanning the unfamiliar space. They quickly found their footing, pecking at the ground, settling into their new surroundings.

And finally, the Moatts. The massive creatures were led out of their wagons, their huge bodies swaying with each step. They moved slowly, their docile nature making them easy to guide. The wagon men led them into the largest pen, their voices calm, their hands steady. The Moatts stood still for a moment, their eyes scanning the space, then lowered themselves to the ground, their massive bodies settling into the earth.

Darion watched the process, feeling a quiet satisfaction settle over him. This was what he had been working toward, actual livestock in actual pens on actual farmland. The pens were filled with animals. The farmlands were alive. The barony was growing.

The wagon men finished their work, securing the gates and checking the fences. They gathered their belongings, their faces weary but satisfied. Darion approached them, his steps slow, his expression a smile.

"Thank you," he said. "For everything. For the journey, for the hard work and for staying calm when things got dangerous."

The lead wagon man nodded, a small smile on his face. "We should be the one thanking you, m’lord. For protecting us. If you hadn’t been there, we would have been dead."

Darion shook his head. "You would have figured something out. You’re experienced."

Darion was just joking though. They wouldn’t have figured anything out. How were they supposed to face nine skilled sand ambush men?

They were wagon drivers, not soldiers. They carried goods, not weapons. If Darion hadn’t been there, they would have been slaughtered alongside the animals. The joke was a kindness, a way to make them feel better about the danger they had faced.

But deep down, Darion knew the truth, they had been completely helpless.

The wagon man laughed. "Experienced, yes. But not experienced enough to fight off nine armed men in the middle of the desert."

Darion smiled. He reached into his pouch and pulled out the remaining balance of their payment, plus a small bonus for the danger they had faced. "Here," he said. "For the extra work. And for the risk."

The wagon men’s eyes widened as they saw the coins. The bonus was generous, more than they had expected. They took the coins with grateful hands, their voices filled with thanks.

"Thank you," one of them said. "This means a lot to us."

"You earned it," Darion said. "Safe travels back."

He looked at them seriously now. "And avoid paths that would produce attackers. The desert route is dangerous. Stick to the main roads, even if they take longer. It’s not worth the risk."

The wagon men nodded, their faces solemn. "We will. We’ve learned our lesson."

The wagon men mounted their wagons, their voices calling out to their horses. The wagons creaked as they pulled away, their wheels turning slowly, their forms disappearing into the darkness.

Darion watched them go, then turned back to the pens.

Darion, Garren, and Seren stood at the pens, watching the animals settle in. The night was quiet, the only sounds the soft rustle of the animals and the distant chirping of crickets. The torches flickered, casting long shadows across the farmland.

Darion brought up the ambush. "We came close to disaster," he said. "If I hadn’t been there, the wagon men would have been killed, and the livestock would have been stolen."

Garren nodded, his face serious. "And if they had attacked us earlier, before we reached the desert, we wouldn’t have been able to protect ourselves. We don’t always travel with that many people. If we had been alone, we would have been easy targets."

Seren pointed out how the attackers had sand covering everything except their faces. "They must have been trained and experienced," she said. "They were lying in wait for hours, maybe even days. They knew the terrain. They knew how to ambush travelers."

Darion reflected on how vulnerable they still were, even after everything they had built. The ambush was a reminder that danger was always nearby. "We can’t let our guard down," he said. "We have to stay vigilant."

Garren and Seren nodded in agreement.

Darion looked at the livestock, the pens, the farmland. He knew they had made progress, but he also knew there was more to do. The animals were here, but they needed to be cared for. The farmlands needed to be expanded. The barony needed to grow.

He felt a quiet gratitude for his team — Garren’s reliability, Seren’s presence, the knights’ loyalty. And a quiet determination to keep building, keep protecting, keep moving forward.