As Breson took the found food and medicines back to the spot in Belredo Forest where Brand met the old soldier Madden—or rather the current Buqi Guard Captain Madden, the return of the youngsters from the third squad of the militia caused a sensation in the valley.
Markmi, Eke, Essen, Beisha, Little Phenix, and the Nipetto brothers, each of them was the eldest son or daughter of a family in the village. Their relatives had originally thought they had sacrificed in the battle that night and were even prepared to accept this reality—but now they have returned alive and unharmed.
The fleeing crowd boiled over, even though they were not all residents of Buqi. Some might come from Qing Village or Weibin, but the fervent atmosphere affected everyone, after all, this was the first good news they had received in two days.